how to stop my bulldog puppy from biting

German Shepherd puppies , like all puppies, go through a teething phase, and their biting behavior can continue until they are around 4 to 6 months old when their adult teeth have fully grown in. But how do you get German Shepherd puppies to stop biting, and when should you seek out more help? We dive into everything that you need to know here. German Shepherds are herding dogs, and as such, they love to go after anything that moves. This could be cats, kids, hands, fingers, or just about anything else. The more they get away with it, the more acceptable the behavior seems in the future. Addressing the problem early and consistently is vital. Just like babies need something to chew on when their new teeth are coming in, your German Shepherd needs something too! First, it stops when they get their adult teeth. Second, if you try to redirect them to something that they can chew on, most German Shepherd puppies are receptive. At this time, they should have all their adult teeth, which means no more teething to worry about. But at least you know the root of the problem and can start implementing the necessary strategies to address it. Instead, get them a few chew toys, bones, and other acceptable things to chew on as they teethe. You can also throw a few of these toys in the fridge or freezer to cool them down, and this will offer even more relief for your pup when they need it! While there are plenty of techniques to try, we recommend redirection and positive reinforcement. The method is simple. If and when they start chewing on the toy or other appropriate object, give them praise. German Shepherds love to please their owners, so this is typically an effective way to train your puppy. Therefore, you should have levels of concern. If they are still chewing and nipping at the 9-month mark, you should seek obedience training or talk to a vet to see what you can do. So, get on it early and often, and stick with it! Because with just a little work and dedication you can get your German Shepherd puppy to stop biting in no time. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! Hopefully, we will have the answers to all of your questions in this guide. But, all that cuteness quickly disappears when the biting phase starts. Puppy biting is normal in all breeds, including the German Shepherd. And, luckily, we have some great tips and tricks to minimize the painful biting period. In fact, it could have a number of causes. Here are a few of the most common reasons, in a little more detail. Teething One reason why puppies of all breeds may bite is teething. This stage often starts at around 3 or 4 months of age — only a few weeks after your puppy will arrive at their new home. Luckily, it only takes a few months for your puppy to have their full set of adult teeth. So, biting from teething is not permanent. If your puppy is biting or chewing because of teething, you may notice other symptoms like drooling, irritability, and going off their food. Boredom or Getting Attention Bored puppies may learn that biting gets some fun responses from you! Just like barking can. If your puppy has learnt that they can get some attention from you when they bite, they may do it to alleviate boredom. This can explain why puppies concentrate most of their biting on one family member — the person who gives the most fun response. Natural Play Biting is a natural part of puppy play — as much as some owners might not want to hear it! German Shepherd puppies, just like any other breed, will bite whilst they are playing with you or with other dogs. If this behavior continues into adulthood, the biting can be more problematic. Responding to Rough Play Some people like to play with German Shepherd puppies in quite a rough manner. This can include pushing them, or rolling them over. Behaviors like this can make puppies very excitable, and encourage biting during play. Encourage calm play between your family members or friends and your puppy. Herding Instincts The German Shepherd breed has a history as a herding dog. The creator of the breed, Captain Max von Stephanitz, bred the German Shepherd in an attempt to create the ultimate all-round herding breed. This was all the way back in the late s. Although the history of the breed has changed over time, from herding to working dog, their origins remain the same. Many herding dogs are prone to natural chase instincts. They may chase small children or other animals — particularly those that are making lots of noise. And, these herding behaviors can include nipping at heels. Once again, your behavior can minimize biting from this cause. Exploration Another common explanation for young German Shepherd biting is their natural curiosity. And, they may do this partly with their mouths. What you really want to know is, when will it stop? However, you can minimize the period by making a few easy changes to your behavior when biting occurs. The best ways to stop puppy biting and minimize the biting period are training and prevention. This means training your puppy to be gentle with you and other people, and taking away opportunities for your excited puppy to bite humans. You may need to go as far as to completely separate your GSD puppy from small children and people who insist on rough play with puppies. We know that this can only encourage biting. Remove Yourself Calmly If your puppy starts to bite you, during play or any other time, the best solution is to calmly and quietly remove yourself. You can use tools like baby gates to keep your German Shepherd in a puppy-safe room. In fact — your puppy will learn that biting during play or cuddles only results in you leaving, and them ending up on their own! Not only will this help to show your puppy that biting is not an acceptable part of playtime, but it can also help your own sanity to remove yourself from those sharp teeth occasionally. Think About Clothing You should also think about the type of clothing you wear around your puppy. Loose, hanging clothing can be appealing to your puppy, and provide something easy to grip on with their sharp teeth. Wear tight fitting clothing to minimize the number of things your puppy can bite at. Use Distractions If you, or young children in your household, are keen to pet your puppy without being bitten, you should make the most of distractions like treats or toys. You can hold a chew for your puppy to keep their attention and mouth distracted whilst someone pets them! Often, puppy owners only think about biting whilst their puppy is actively gnawing on them. One method is to reward them with treats when you are petting them and they are not biting you. Another is to reward them for calm behavior around the house. This way they learn that acting calmly and letting you touch them without biting will earn them good things! One popular method to stop puppy biting is to squeal, squeak, growl, or make another loud noise. Some people claim that this method replicates natural puppy play and tells your GSD when they are being too rough. For some owners, this may work. If this is the case, making a noise when your puppy bites will act as a reward, and encourage your German Shepherd puppy to bite you even more. This is one reason why puppies biting children is so common. Many children will make lots of noise, especially if a puppy bites them, which can lead to further nipping. This is similar to the method above, if used alone. This is why training has to be done in small stages — first you must teach the puppy what action you want, and then you can give the action a name, or command. Punishment Methods The best methods to stop your puppy from biting involve positive rewards for the behaviors you want. Studies on dog training and behavior have shown that punishment based methods are often associated with an increase of problematic behaviors. Punishing your puppy for biting can lead to distrust and fear from your puppy. The causes of puppy biting that we looked at earlier in this guide apply to all GSD puppies. In fact, they apply to all puppies of any breed. Biting and chewing is a normal puppy behavior, and a normal part of play. As long as you react to this behavior in the right way, it is a period that will pass. The biggest fear for most German Shepherd puppy owners is that their puppy is aggressive when it bites. German Shepherd puppy biting can be accompanied by ferocious growls or snarls. It can even draw blood. So are behaviors like snarling and growling. And, if your puppy is biting hard enough to injure you, they may not have learnt proper bite inhibition yet. This is the process where your puppy learns to be gentle with his teeth on your skin. The positive reward methods we discussed earlier in this guide are the best way to teach your puppy bite inhibition. Remove yourself calmly and quietly whenever your puppy bites. And make sure to reward any calm behavior — including when your puppy lets you pet it without biting. Speak to a Behaviorist If you think your puppy is exhibiting aggressive behaviors, such as guarding their resources, you may want to speak to a behaviorist. They will be able to look at your puppy as an individual case, and analyse their behavior properly. Do Adult German Shepherds Bite? The German Shepherd breed is known for being aggressive in some circumstances — they make popular guard dogs, and are number one candidates for working dog roles in the police and military. Since puppies lack the dexterity that you and I have, they use their mouths to explore the world around them. By understanding the behavior of biting itself, you can begin to see just how normal biting is in German Shepherd puppies. Just because biting is a normal behavior in a puppy does not mean we should tolerate it or promote it. Since biting is a form of communication for German Shepherd puppies, there are many things our puppies could be trying to say! So why do Shepherd pups bite? Puppies often communicate with their siblings through biting and pawing, especially when they are trying to incite a play session. Your pup may gnaw on your hand as if it were a chew toy, especially when you are a moving target. Puppies play and bite their siblings from the moment they are old enough to do so. This is why the behavior is so common, and why our Shepherd pupswill need to learn how to transition to playing with appropriate chewing options. Not only are our hands and feet tempting enough, but even more so when a puppy has a high prey drive. A prey drive is an ingrained need to chase after moving objects, whether it is appropriate or not. A swinging hand as we walk by can be extremely tempting for a growing pup, causing them to jump up and nip. If it seems like your Shepherd puppy is always biting you when you are in motion, it may be due to their high prey drive! They Are Curious As we mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies use their mouth to explore the world around them. Biting can help them examine and understand an object, and our hands and feet can fall into that category as well! If you catch your puppy gnawing on everything around your home, it may be their curiosity getting the best of them! A dog quickly learns what behavior gets a reaction, causing them to do it over and over again. Even if their bites result in a negative reaction from you, it still counts as attention. They Are Teething Similar to teething babies, a German Shepherd puppy experiences teething pain as well. If your Shepherd pup seems to find relief when chewing on objects, they may be biting you due to teething discomfort. They Are Herding You If your German Shepherd puppy is constantly biting at your ankles, they may be displaying some herding behaviors. German Shepherds are ingrained with a need to work, especially in dogs with a working bloodline. If your German Shepherd is always nipping at your feet, running to your side when you are moving, or showing signs of anxiety or frustration when you are moving around your home; it may be herding behavior. So how can you stop this normal puppy behavior? Redirect The Behavior One of the most effective ways to stop your German Shepherd puppy from biting is by redirecting the behavior. An effective distraction is a wonderful way to end the behavior without punishment, and show them how much fun the alternative to biting can be. The next time your Shepherd pup is displaying undesirable nipping, try to pull out their favorite toy. Since this will need to be a toy that your dog enjoys, be sure to offer them the option that they find most exciting. This can be a Kong toy , rope, bone, or any other chewing option that your dog loves. By doing this each time your Shepherd puppy begins to bite you, they will begin to understand that they would much rather play with an acceptable chew option. Having a variety of chew toys can alleviate their need to bite our hands and feet, and offer them the relief they seek in this uncomfortable transition. There are so many toys created for teething puppies, that it should be easy to fill your home with plenty of appropriate options. One of our favorite chew toys is the Kong Teething Binkie. Any attention can validate the behavior, causing them to make it a habit. This shows them that the behavior is unacceptable, and does not involve any harmful negative reinforcement. Our attention is important to a puppy, and they do not want to be ignored. By showing them that biting will only result in us pulling away, they will learn to ditch the undesirable behavior. Interrupt The Behavior Sometimes a Shepherd puppy needs a sharp and sudden sound to pull them out of a bad habit. By giving a quick interrupter cue ouch, yip, eek , you can pull your puppy away from the action and gain their attention. Because of this, it is so important to offer plenty of mental and physical activities throughout your home. For example, if your puppy nips at strangers each time they walk in the door, it may be best to limit their time around the guest and send them to a separate play area. Once they begin to understand that biting is unacceptable, you can refrain from using their separate play area as often. Similar to what we discussed above about being proactive, a separate play area can help them calm down and collect themselves. Once your German Shepherd puppy begins to mature and understand that biting is unacceptable, they should require less time away. Just as there are effective methods in canine training, there are counterproductive actions as well. Do Not Hit Or Yell Since biting is a normal behavior that puppies must learn to grow out of, it is not productive to hit or yell at your puppy when they bite. Doing this can show them from a young age that interaction with you results in something negative, and can hinder your training process. By using other distractions and training methods when they bite, you can turn every bite into a learning experience for your pup! This can seem like a fun game to your pup, and can actually encourage the behavior. Try your best to go limp when they bite you, and pull your attention away from the pup. By doing this, you show them that this behavior does not offer them any extra fun. Extra attention can validate their undesirable behavior, making it challenging to break. Try your best to refrain from reacting to a bite outside of your interrupter cue, and pull your attention away from your furry friend afterward. Biting is a normal behavior in puppies of all kinds. Puppies begin to bite their siblings from the moment they can move, and will continue this behavior until they learn otherwise. A biting German Shepherd puppy is to be expected, and should not result in any discouragement on your part. As long as you are following the tips we mentioned above, your puppy should shy away from this behavior in no time! Biting in puppies is not usually a sign of aggression. Mild biting is usually a form of play, and should be easily corrected. However, there are some rare cases where biting in German Shepherd puppies is a sign of something more. If your pup is displaying any snarling, growling, ears pinned back, stiff posture, or any other signs of canine aggression, your pup may be biting in reaction to fear or pain. If you are unable to make any progress within a month of implementing the tips we discussed above, it may be time to contact a dog trainer. A trainer can not only help your pup refrain from biting, but offer other obedience training as well. Final Thoughts As you can see, biting is a normal behavior for our beloved German Shepherd puppies. Be sure to review the tips we discussed above on proper canine training, and you can banish puppy biting for good!

However, we are not huge fans of the fact that there are no fruits and vegetables from whole food sources, and that many of the meats are very generally labeled, meaning they could be made from sub-par animal parts. Overall, Victor puppy food may work as a high protein, supplemental food but we do not recommend it as a regular every-day kibble for French Bulldog puppies. Though most of these grains are healthy whole food sources, for the finicky Frenchie tummy, excessive grains can lead to gastrointestinal distress. The few wholesome fruits and vegetables in this food are way down at the very bottom of the ingredient list. Food made from mostly grains and added vitamins and minerals is a cheap way to give your dog food that is good enough, but not by a lot. Quite frankly, we do not think the price tag and possibility of digestive upset to your puppy is worth this mediocre-quality food. Pros First ingredient is chicken meal No artificial dyes or preservatives DHA and antioxidants for healthy eyes Cons Few whole food ingredients besides grains Most good oils, minerals, and vitamins are additives 7. However, the lack of quality in the rest of their ingredients leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, no fruits or vegetables means that your puppy will not get the benefit of most of those added vitamins and minerals. Can I feed my French Bulldog puppy raw meat? Yes, just remember to remove any small bones that could stick in the throat or shatter. The best meats for a French Bulldog are lean meats including chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, quail, and a variety of fish. Meats like beef and pork are fine in smaller amounts but may contribute to obesity if they overindulge. Can I feed my French Bulldog peanut butter? Our puppy testers love the occasional peanut butter treat! What foods are safe for a French Bulldog puppy with diarrhea, constipation, or an upset stomach? If your pup has digestive upset, your best bet is to feed them super simple and easy-to-digest food. Nutritious, soothing foods for a Frenchie belly include rice brown is best! Substitute tablespoons of their kibble with one of those, cooked and unseasoned, for a fiber-rich, nutritious aid to their digestion. A good starting point for French Bulldogs aged 8 to 12 weeks is .These pups are notoriously fast eaters, which can cause all kinds of digestion issues, so smaller meals a day will help their belly do its job better. As they grow you will need to gradually increase this amount and can decrease the number of meals over which you stretch that amount. Do French Bulldog puppies need a special diet? Unfortunately, French Bulldogs are prone to developing food allergies and gastrointestinal issues. That means you need to pay extra attention to the ingredients in your choice of puppy food and, if necessary, search out brands with fewer ingredients that are higher quality. Being small dogs, they also mature faster and can become obese more easily than larger breeds. Nutrition for a French Bulldog Puppy Just like humans, dogs are omnivores and need a variety of nutrients from both animal and plant sources. Stick to lean meats for a French Bulldog, as your puppy will grow quickly and could put on extra weight if fed too much fat-rich meat. With the proper amount of fat in their diet, your French Bulldog will see benefits like flexible and resilient paw pads and nose, as well as a healthy coat and skin. The sensitive tummy of the French Bulldog often has trouble with simple carbs, like sugars and starches, which digest quickly and for a fast burst of energy. Most whole fruits, vegetables, and grains are complex carbohydrates that give your dog a steadier supply of energy. Complex carbs are much better for your French Bulldog puppy, as opposed to simple, because they are far more nutritionally dense and often fiber-rich. Common high fiber ingredients in dog food include rice, corn, oats, other grains, and a plethora of fruits and veggies. For a pup with a notoriously sensitive stomach, it is particularly important that the fiber-rich ingredients in the food be of superior quality and carefully chosen. Vitamins and Minerals Your French Bulldog puppy will also need an array of vitamins and minerals to support various important functions within their body. They are most bioavailable when your dog consumes whole foods that contain these nutrients. Major minerals for good health include phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Whole foods are minimally processed which makes them easier to digest and helps retain all the good and healthy nutrients they contain. That means you should be on the lookout for awesome ingredients like: Chicken or turkey Fruits, like banana and blueberries Vegetables, such as carrot and broccoli Specifically named fats from whole food sources, like salmon oil and chicken fat Organically grown foods, so no pesticides or nasty chemicals And French Bulldog puppies will benefit specifically from foods such as: Brown rice, a higher quality grain that is good for sensitive stomachs and easy to digest Sweet potato and pumpkin, which aid digestion Lean proteins like fowl, fish, and eggs Unhealthy Ingredients in French Bulldog Puppy Food Unfortunately, not all dog foods are created equal. Some brands talk big on the bag or can and regale you with mumbo jumbo about wolves or try to sell you on all the benefits of their food. Remember, dog food packaging is like the sales pitch meant to sell their food to you. Even though the information on the package cannot be technically false or misleading, it is still an advertisement. Stay skeptical and focus on the ingredients list. Wheat by-product? Hold your horses, what the heck does that even mean and why would I want to put it in my belly? Here are some common, poor quality ingredients that many companies use simply because they are cheaper: Brewers rice castoffs and fragments of processed white rice. They are moderately active, but highly social which makes them well suited to life as a family pet or companion. This is a guide to taking care of them through their early months, from birth to puppyhood. Neonatal During the first 4 weeks of your French Bulldog's life, they should spend most of their time with their mother and litter-mates. It is highly unusual for the puppy's owner to care for them during this time and is best left to a responsible, reputable breeder. Your puppy's body will double in weight as their muscles, organs and bones develop. Nutrition During the neonatal stage, your French Bulldog puppy will get most of their nutrition from their mother's milk. At around 4 weeks introduce a few dry kibbles soaked in warm water. Health During this time it is important to monitor your French Bulldog for any infections, diseases or birth defects. Puppies are unable to urinate or defecate by themselves initially, so their mother helps them but may additionally require your assistance. Keep your vet's contact details close by and educate yourself thoroughly on this stage of puppy development. By the end of this period, your puppy will be mobile and will explore the world mouth first — be sure to keep choking hazards and toxic foods out of their reach Behaviour During most of this time your French Bulldog will be asleep or inactive, but they will soon be playing with their brothers and sisters. After weeks they will go through as much sensory development as a human baby does in a few months. It is important to avoid disturbing the puppies' mother as she will be likely be protective, but some interaction with the young pups is normal so they become used to human touch. Weaning When you take your French Bulldog home usually at around 8 weeks you should shower them with love and attention. This is a formative time for your puppy and will be when they learn to walk, play, bite, hold their bladder, and interact with others. Make the most of this time and treat every interaction with your Frenchie as a learning opportunity to develop their fun, playful personality. Nutrition During the weaning stage, you should slowly introduce into their diet a nutritionally complete dog food which is appropriate to your Frenchie's small size and young age. French Bulldogs are notoriously food-driven, but if they develop a taste for human food, they will likely become fussy eaters and cause headaches later in life by refusing dog food. Be sure to familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid. Colostrum, rich in natural antibodies, proven to enhance immune response 2. DHA from omega-rich fish oil helps nourish brain and vision development 3. Colostrum proven to balance intestinal micro flora, helps protect your puppy from common intestinal upsets 4. Highly digestible quality ingredients for superior nutrient absorption 5. Easy rehydration of kibble for weaning 6. Scientifically proven antioxidants to boost immune defence 7. No added artificial colours, flavours and preservatives Know more Health During this time you should provide your puppy with a small, shallow bowl of clean water and refresh the contents frequently. Your puppy will also need to be toilet trained during this time so that they don't make a mess of your home. Your Frenchie will soon be a fun and loyal friend, but for now you will have to clean up if they have particularly unpleasant bowel movements. You can combat this by not changing their diet suddenly as this will stress their digestive system. Behaviour Due to changes in diet and environment, your Frenchie will likely be under a significant amount of stress. As a social breed, it is important that you are affectionate and supportive during this time so they feel at home in their new surroundings. Yelling at your puppy during this will only alienate your Frenchie as they are particularly sensitive to human voice — being too aggressive with them may cause fear and distrust. Puppy By the time your French Bulldog reaches puppyhood their personality will be well developed. Show them love by appealing to their intelligent and often funny personality by playing with them regularly, exercising daily and introducing them to new friends from an early age. Nutrition Your French Bulldog puppy's diet should be based around a high quality, nutritionally complete puppy food. You may also wish to introduce them to fresh, lean raw meat — however, don't feed your puppy any meat you would not feed to a fellow human being. Keep snacks such as dog treats and table scraps to a minimum during puppyhood and familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid. No added artificial colours, flavours and preservatives Know more Health French Bulldogs have a fair amount of energy and should be walked regularly to avoid excessive weight gain. Be aware that later in life, many French Bulldogs develop breathing difficulties due to their unusually flat face. While mostly up to genetics, you can reduce the symptoms of problems by keeping your puppy fit and not allowing them to exert themselves on hot or humid days. After around 8 weeks your puppy will be due for some vaccinations, so they will need a checkup at the vet and to arrange for boosters. Behaviour French Bulldog puppies are generally very friendly and well-suited to spending time around other animals and children. However, it's very important to proactively introduce them to the outside world including other people, dogs, places and children to avoid development of aggressive behaviours based on fear later in life. It is highly recommended that you take your French Bulldog to puppy training classes. Recommended Articles. Pin64 71 Shares When we first brought Claude home, we had no idea on how much food we should be giving him. We spoke to our vet, and this is what he told us about how much you should feed a French bulldog puppy. A French bulldog puppy should be fed 3 times a day whilst there are still 2 to 6 months old. Once the French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the feeding schedule down to 2 meals a day. But now having been a French bulldog owner for 3 years, I can now look back and give you some more detail on exactly what our French bulldog puppy feeding schedule was like and how it worked for us and him. French bulldog puppy feeding chart Below you can see a French bulldog puppy feeding guide I put together. It contains some rough guidance on how you should schedule and plan his feeds, and what other factors you might need to take into account. Please do print it out and put on your fridge. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Before you look at the French Bulldog feeding chart below, you might want the quick answer to how many cups of food to feed your French Bulldog. As a general rule of thumb, you should feed a French Bulldog puppy aged 8 to 12 weeks around 1 and a half cups of food a day, in 3 separate meals. As your Frenchie gets older, the number of cups of food you should feed them will change. You can see the cup amounts and frequencies in the French Bulldog feeding chart graphic below. This French bulldog puppy feeding chart tells you how much you should feed them Source: Canin The French bulldog puppy feeding chart shown above is taken from the Royal Canin dog food range. This is exactly what we fed Claude as he was growing up. They range a specific French bulldog puppy food, and on the packaging you will see a version of the chart above, including how best to feed your own puppy. Handy Hint: To stop your Frenchie from bloating and possibly choking you should use a suitable feeding bowl. Here are the best French Bulldog food bowls that vets recommend. When you take your puppy to his new home, he should already be used to eating puppy food. As I mentioned earlier, you should be feeding your French bulldog puppy 3 times a day. They need that regularity as they are growing and burning a lot of calories. You know how energetic they are! How much you feed them at each mealtime will typically be half a cup of their dry puppy food. Across the day, that will equate 1. However, their weight and health will then determine how much you feed them as they get older. Calories matter, but are hard to count As French bulldogs get older, you should try to feed them according to their weight. For every pound, they should be fed between 25 and 30 calories. However, for the rest of this French bulldog puppy feeding guide, I am just going to talk in cups. Puppy weight How can weigh your puppy at the vets or, and this is can be a more interesting and fun way if your puppy already knows how to sit, have them sit on a scale at home. It will not be as accurate as a scale at the vet, but it could be a cheap and fun experience for you and your pet. Because of this, your puppy may be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. Here is where the math gets a little more detailed, but not too complicated. When they are between 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppy should be fed about 1. This food should be high in calories since they need extra nutrients that they are no longer getting from their mother. This kind of follows the main rule when it comes to spreading out the meals to 3 times a day. But for younger pups, many owners will split the 1. Because feeding them 0. Once they are between 6 and 9 months old, they should be used to their eating routine. That is when the main rule is applied because by then, the pup will be maturing into its adult size and should weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. What about older dogs? Also, if you are wondering how much they should be fed once they start hitting their senior years, they should be fed a little less as long only if they are not as active. Make sure you still stretch out the meals to 3 to 4 times like when they were puppies because it is not uncommon for their stomachs to weaken with old age. Overweight or underweight? French bulldog puppies usually weight between 8. Once they reach 6 to 9 months, they are just at or are closer to reaching their adult weight, .If the puppy is underweight, then add very small increments to each meal every day until they are no longer underweight. It is important to not add too much food because of the possibility of them getting a twisted stomach. If the puppy is overweight, you can either slightly reduce the size of their meal until they lose weight, or you can give them more exercise. Many people prefer the later since it helps the pup to get stronger and adds more bonding time. The same methods apply to grown French bulldogs as well. Handy Hint: Read this guide which explains how to check if you have a fat French Bulldog who needs to lose weight, with tips on how to get the pounds down. If the dog does not appear to be gaining weight when they are underweight or vice versa if they are overweight, you might want to take them to the vet since it could be a sign that something is affecting their health. Health conditions Since not every animal is the same, ask your vet the next time your pup has a check-up what a French bulldog of their size and age should weigh. Health factors like diabetes yes, dogs can have diabetes , can make your pup need a more strict diet or feeding routine. Here are some different diets and feeding routines. Raw food vs. Many dog lovers say that there are too many preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and protein in dry and wet food. While the raw food diet can be more natural, especially if it is organic, you also have to make sure your pup would be getting more foods with vitamins and minerals mixed in with the raw food that your pup would need. Raw food diets can be more expensive, require more storage room for the meats and veggies, and take longer to prepare. However, you would be personally ensuring that your little French bulldog pup is getting their full daily nutrition without harmful by-products and additives. Is there a good dry food diet? Possibly the biggest questions out of all of them: is there any good dry dog food out there and how do I find them? The answer is yes, there can be some healthy dry dog food products, but it takes some time to look for. The key is to look for dog food that does not contain any preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and too much protein. Fillers basically do not provide any nutritional value and can even harm your dog since most of the ingredients they use as fillers are common allergies for dogs that can cause skin conditions, bowel issues, and more. Wheat and corn are included since they are also a popular allergen for dogs. Too much protein is even more dangerous for them since it can put more pressure on the organs, throw off nutritional balance, increase the likelihood of diabetes, and can harm dogs that already have diabetes. To see the safe and dangerous fruits list, click here. Another two meat choices would be duck and turkey, but these are a little less common to find, especially if you are looking for a French bulldog specific dog food. Your dog eats his food too quickly Another common problem is how do you control how fast your French bulldog puppy eats. French bulldogs love to eat their food and eat it fast, which is one of the primary causes of GDV. Frenchies will stop eating for a number of reasons, some more serious that others. Conclusion So there you have it, your guide to how much you should feed your French bulldog puppy. Everything in this feeding schedule and the French bulldog feeding chart you see is based on personal experience. Once in the morning, and once in the early evening. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Frenchies will stay as healthy as ours has! Provides DHA from fish oil for healthy brain and eye development Promotes regular and healthy stools with the special blend of prebiotics Gentle of small stomachs Not suitable for pups with a maize or gluten allergy or intolerance FAQs How much food does a French Bulldog puppy need? The amount of food your Frenchie puppy needs depends on how much your pup weighs, and whether you're opting to give them a wet puppy food or dry food diet. Every type of food will have its own feeding guidelines so you can use these to figure out how much food they should have compared to how much they weigh. When they get to six months, increase their food intake to up to two and a half cups daily, but only feed them two times a day. Frenchies are prone to obesity, so it's important to keep an eye on their weight. If you start to notice your pup is piling on the pounds more than they should for their age, you should reduce their portion size by half a cup. If you have any concerns about your pup's weight, speak to your vet. Can French Bulldog puppies have allergies? Allergies are a common problem with French Bulldogs. These can be genetic, but they can also be food-based. They can usually get acne that causes sores or dry, flaky patches on their body. If you spot your Frenchie pup excessively and constantly scratching, chewing or biting at their legs, paws, face, sides or their behind, it could be a sign they have an allergy. We suggest eliminating or isolating certain ingredients in their diet to find out the trigger, which can be a little trial and error. You can then opt to feed them puppy foods for sensitive stomachs as these are typically made without ingredients that dogs are commonly allergic or intolerant to. We would also recommend collaborating with your vet to find the best food for your French Bulldog puppy. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers. Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us. The French Bulldog is prone to some health issues such as brachycephalic upper airway syndrome BUAS , allergies , and obesity. Feeding them appropriate nutrition is important in keeping our Frenchies healthy. Read further to learn how to choose the best food out there for your canine friend. French Bulldogs have similar nutritional needs to other dogs. They need to be fed high quality protein and a good source of vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids. Protein is the building block for muscle and gives your dog energy. Feeding Puppy French Bulldogs Puppies need regular feeding, usually, three times a day as their stomachs are small. French Bulldog puppies grow rapidly in the first 6 months of their life and need the appropriate diet in order to grow properly. They need regular feeding, usually, three times a day as their stomachs are small. As puppies do a LOT of growing, their diets should be high in calories to give them fuel for this. Their diets should have high quality proteins with no high carb fillers or preservatives. It should be an easy-to-digest food with human-grade ingredients. Check the back of the food bag to see how much your puppy should be eating and ask your vet for advice on feeding when they get their vaccinations. Your French Bulldog puppy can start eating adult food from months of age. There are so many foods out there on the market that it can be really confusing trying to pick a food for your dog. We have some pointers when it comes to picking good quality food for your dog. First of all, look at the ingredient list. The ingredient list should be easy to read with recognizable whole food ingredients. The list should be relatively short as long lists can indicate unnecessary high carb filler ingredients. The ingredients should be high quality and clearly stated e. The diet should be free from preservatives and high carb filler ingredients like potato, rice, oats, barley, pasta, corn, or wheat. Dog foods are available in many forms such as dry food, wet canned food, dehydrated food, raw food, and lightly cooked human-grade diets. Some ingredients in certain foods can be harmful to our pooches, including excessive carbohydrates, preservatives, and poor-quality ingredients. These include excessive carbohydrates, preservatives, and poor-quality ingredients. Along with those, some human foods are harmful to our dogs too. You should avoid feeding your Frenchie these foods; Onions. Regardless, it is best to feed your puppy their old food for at least two weeks if you can. Then, you want to swap the proportions. After a few days, you can give your puppy only the new food. The most common is diarrhea. It might be worth a trip to the vet if your pup starts throwing up their meals, refuses to eat, or has allergic reactions to the new food. French Bulldog Puppy Diets French Bulldog puppy diets may consist of kibble, wet food, raw food , or homemade food. Each of these has pros and cons. Some pet owners go all in and make their own dog foods. This can get complex, as, with raw or homemade food, you have to be sure to give your dog all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. It is also typically more expensive than prepared meals kibble or wet food. However, the benefits might be important if done correctly. You know exactly what your dog is eating, no questions asked. Frenchies often have allergies and sensitive tummies. So you should avoid foods with too much protein but make sure meat is still the first ingredient! Also avoid or limit grains, soy, and wheat, as these are common allergens. The number of calories your puppy needs will depend on their age, weight, and exercise levels. Different types of food will also have different calorie levels. For example, they will generally need to eat more wet food than kibble for a balanced meal, because canned food has fewer calories. At the start of the day, weigh out the right amount on some scales and divide it between five bowls. Four of these will make up regular meals spread throughout the day, the final bowl is for you to put aside to use as training treats or to reward good behavior. This will help you to resist the temptation to use higher carb training treats. Feeding a French Bulldog Puppy Kibble The most affordable option, when considering both your time and money, is kibble. The most time-consuming and expensive are raw and homemade diets. You can find it easily at the store, and your only prep time will be to open it and pour it into a bowl. The biggest con is that there are some low-quality brands of kibble out there. As in any business, some are just in it for the money. However, these disadvantages can be overcome by choosing a high-quality brand. Look out for formulas specifically tailored for French Bulldogs. Specialized recipes are carefully shaped to help them out. Another good thing about wet food is that it keeps your dog hydrated. However, due to the water in wet food, it has fewer calories. Your pup will need to eat more wet food than dry food, making it the more expensive of the two. Wet food is also messier than dry, especially if your pup is a messy eater. It also takes time to prepare as you will need to buy the ingredients individually, and prepare the meals. Raw food also requires more clean-up time than any other food. Feeding a French Bulldog Puppy a Homemade Diet Feeding a puppy a homemade diet has many of the same pros and cons of feeding raw. Homemade food with properly cooked meats is less risky than a raw diet. It will still be costly and time-intensive though. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. There are hundreds of different options on the market all claiming to be the best, no wonder our Frenchie parents constantly turn to us asking what they should feed their puppies. The usual nutritional needs of French Bulldog A well-balanced Frenchie diet should contain the correct amounts of macronutrients: water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. However, this is only a general guideline, and a more accurate calculation can be made based on specific factors. For instance, the age and activity level of your dog are essential factors to consider. Hormonal changes can cause neutered dogs to become less active than their fertile counterparts. Store-bought vs. Most commercial dog foods and canned goods contain preservatives, flavor enhancers, coloring, and other additives. Instead of real meat, they often contain animal by-products or meat meal, which can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. Subscribe to our weekly blog newsletter: Subscribe to our blog newsletter! First name Email When you cook food for your dogs, you can be sure of what goes into their bowl. Finally, homemade meals can prolong the average French Bulldog lifespan , so we definitely recommend homemade food! Why is it so hard to find the right dog food? Feeding is an evergreen topic among Frenchie parents in our Facebook group. They know they should feed their puppy with high-quality premium dog food to keep their baby healthy and fit, but they are left puzzled when they see the plethora of different choices. The answer is actually quite simple: every Frenchie is different and what works for one puppy may unfortunately cause problems for the other. The best French Bulldog breeders will always give you advice on how to continue feeding your puppy once you welcome them home. So what are the most important things to consider while trying to find the perfect food for your Frenchie? Read on to find out! The quality of dog food is always determined by the percentage of its protein content, in other words, the amount of meat or fish it contains. So what should you pay attention to when looking at the ingredients list? This could be beef, lamb, salmon, or any other type of meat. The list usually ends with some sort of animal fat, vegetables, and fruits. Jasper, available French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Any other ingredient not mentioned above is only included to increase the volume of the dog food and to ensure the most economical production possible. So, if you see that a food contains an unrealistic amount of filler ingredients like wheat, corn, or chemical preservatives, it is definitely not a suitable and healthy choice for your Frenchie. Dog foods without chicken and grains A question that always comes up when choosing the right food for a Frenchie is whether it has to be chicken or grain-free. For that reason, we usually recommend giving chicken and grain-free food right from the start to avoid any possible problems. Makayla, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies That means that if you look at the list of ingredients, you can find companies whose food meets all the criteria we mentioned above and is much more affordable. Like with so many things, the name is not everything! On the other hand, if the kibble is too large they will have difficulties consuming the food. The flavor of the dog food When looking at dog foods, you can choose from lots of different flavors like a lamb, fish, beef, duck, etc. If one of the foods from a particular brand works fine for your Frenchie, the flavors can and should be changed as long as they have the same nutritional values. A varied diet is important not only for humans but dogs as well, not to mention that your fur baby will be very happy to taste some new flavors. The stool of your Frenchie A very important criterion and perhaps the best indicator of the given food is suitable for your Frenchie is their stool. A healthy stool should always be completely solid, which means you can easily collect it with a bag. You should always ensure a smooth transition by gradually mixing in more and more of the new food with the old to avoid any dietary issues. Signs of a food allergy in your Frenchie We have already mentioned that Frenchies tend to be allergic to chicken, but what are the actual signs of a food allergy? The most common symptoms include scratching, hair loss, dull lifeless fur, inflamed eyes and ears often with some discharge, paw licking, swelling, but also vomiting, and loose stools. You may not notice all of these and the degree to which they occur may also vary. Any of these symptoms indicate that an immediate change of diet is necessary, about which you should always consult your vet first. Eating a bit more slowly and with less appetite are usually signs telling you to cut out the middle meal. As for the amount, nice-looking French Bulldogs are a bit stockier, so you should always increase and lower the amount of their food with that in mind. Read our article to learn more about maintaining a healthy body weight for your Frenchie. Odie, French Bulldog puppy at TomKings Puppies Special recommendations by TomKings Puppies The best food for French Bulldog with a sensitive stomach For dogs with sensitive stomachs, we always recommend home-cooked food , so you can be sure of what your dog is eating. However, it is important to ensure that the transition from store-bought to home-cooked dog food is gradual. Consultation with a veterinarian can also be helpful in determining the best wet food for a French Bulldog. It is essential to choose a high-quality brand that uses real meat and avoids fillers, artificial preservatives, and additives. Look for products that are labeled as complete and balanced, which means they contain all the essential nutrients your French Bulldog needs in the right proportions. The best dry food for French Bulldogs Although cheaper dry food may appear to be similar to premium brands based on the label, there are significant differences in the quantity and quality of the ingredients. Additionally, we advise you to switch to adult food at the age of months. We always inform new parents of Tomkings puppies of the brands we used to feed the pups and we recommend to continue using the same brand for some time. The best raw food for Frenchies There are several types of raw food diets for dogs, including the Prey Model Diet, the B. To ensure that TomKings puppies receive only the highest quality food, we continuously evaluate available options and test the latest trends. We consult with a panel of experts and experienced puppy parents within the TomKings Frenchie Family, and we are proud to recommend the B. Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods diet. Consulting with a veterinarian is also recommended to determine the best course of action. In general, weight management dog foods can be a good option for overweight French Bulldogs. These foods are formulated to be lower in calories and fat while still providing high-quality protein and other essential nutrients. Avoid feeding table scraps or high-calorie treats, and make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for exercise and play. In some cases, a prescription diet recommended by a veterinarian may be necessary to help your French Bulldog achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Best food for French Bulldogs with skin allergies If your French Bulldog has skin allergies, it is important to choose a diet that is specially formulated to help support skin health and minimize potential allergens. Consultation with a veterinarian is also recommended to determine the best course of action. Some high-quality dog food brands offer special formulas that are designed for dogs with skin allergies. These foods typically contain limited ingredients and exclude common allergens such as wheat, soy, chicken, and dairy products. Instead, they may use alternative protein sources such as fish or venison and may contain added omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help support skin health. Some veterinarians may also recommend prescription diets that are formulated specifically to manage skin allergies in dogs. These diets may contain hydrolyzed proteins, which have been broken down into smaller components to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction. Even though processed dog foods might not look healthy to us, they actually contain all the nutrients that Frenchies need to stay healthy. Home-made and raw diets like B. Should I opt for dry kibble or canned wet food? Wet foods are of course more appealing to dogs, which means they get used to them easily and will not want to eat dry food again. If your Frenchie is a picky eater you can mix the dry and wet food but never give them the latter only. We recommend wet food for dogs who are ill and have no appetite. How much time does my puppy need to adjust to a new food? At what age should I switch to adult food for my French Bulldog? We usually recommend switching to adult food at the age of months old. If you notice that your puppy looks a bit chubbier or bigger compared to other Frenchies you can make this change even sooner. What is the best food for a Frenchie puppy? The best choice for your Frenchie puppy is to continue providing the same brand the breeder used to provide. This should be a high-quality brand that uses real meat and avoids fillers, artificial preservatives, and additives. What is the best food for an adult French Bulldog? You have several options. You can buy high-quality wet and dry god food at your local pet store or if you want more control over what goes into the bowl, you can feed your adult Frenchie with home-cooked food. Raw diets like B. The article is based on the expert knowledge of the TomKings Puppies team who have been breeding French Bulldogs for 10 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and their customers, and show puppies from their breed. Check their available French Bulldog puppies , or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article. May 31, Are you head over heels for your adorable French Bulldog puppy? These little bundles of joy bring so much laughter and love into our lives. Best Food for your French Bulldog puppy According to vets and French Bulldog experts in the US, the best bulldog diet should contain proteins, carbohydrates as well as an equal amount of healthy fats for brain power and energy. Just like humans, your dog could be allergic to some kind of food, such as corn or soy, but in most cases, they are actually allergic to fillers found in processed food. These fillers are used to add mass to the product, but have no nutritional value and are difficult to digest. The best way to save your dog from this kind of suffering is avoiding fillers and giving him whole food ingredients. These budget-friendly choices mostly trigger allergies and contribute to various health problems. Having earned the highest of all ratings, NutriSource is a great choice for puppies! Contains all the essential nutrients for the optimum health of your pet. Contains no animal by-products, whole corn, artificial additives or preservatives. Fromm Besides containing nearly all of the essential nutrients, the fact that you can get grain-free varieties and non-grain-free varieties is great. Salmon oil and probiotics have been added to aid digestion and promote good health. No corn and no wheat. 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This way, you will know what to expect and if this is the right breed for your home. Ashford Manor Labradoodles Ashford Manor Labradoodles is one of the breeding centers you can rely on if ever looking for labradoodle dogs in Indiana. They have been in this industry for a long time now, which means they have already established a reputation among dog lovers. They have a wide variety of Labradoodle puppies for sale, and that is why you will never have a hard time choosing from them. Ashford Manor only works with the top Australian Labradoodle lines, and they go through every procedure to a tee. The dogs would not be unaware of this, but they get improved genetics in terms of superior hypoallergenic and non-shedding hair. In addition, they maintain a small breeding program to give each puppy the attention and socialization it requires for them to grow up to be loving, loyal pets. Ashford breeds multigenerational mini and medium-sized Labradoodle puppies. A professional trainer guides these pedigree puppies in fluffy, allergy-friendly, and non-shedding coats. Each puppy comes with a 2-year genetic health guarantee. Address: West Columbia St. This is why Chestnut Hill Labradoodles is one of the top breeders on the list. Chestnut Hill Labradoodles is located in Indiana, and they can provide you with all the information you need about their services and products. The puppies learn through positive reinforcement and puppy culture training because the first sixteen weeks are so important. They are best known for their multigenerational mini, medium, and standard-sized Labradoodle puppies. Not to mention that this Gold Paw enterprise is one of the favorites in Indiana for Labradoodle puppies. In addition, they offer a two-year health guarantee. Not only do they provide excellent services, but they also offer different types of puppies, depending on what you are looking for. Daffodil Hill Australian Labradoodles are popular for their mini and medium-sized puppies. They are multigenerational hypoallergenic dogs that are not only friendly but also intelligent. Each puppy will be part of your family for the rest of its life. They breed only the finest Australian and American multigenerational non-shedding Hypoallergenic miniature and medium Labradoodle for sale. Its mission is to provide loving families with the healthiest and best-natured Labradoodle pups in Indiana. Forever Friends uses a gentle and kind temperament to ensure that the puppies are comfortable in every situation, which is why Doodles from Forever Friends make excellent family pets. They breed F1, F1B, and multigenerational labradoodle puppies in both mini and medium sizes. They provide excellent services, but their pups are also highly intelligent and make great family pets. Furthermore, they guarantee their puppies for two years from genetic diseases. If you have allergies, the Harvest Labradoodles are perfect for you because they are non-shedding and very friendly, making them ideal as family pets. Address: Located on a small family farm in Madison, Indiana. Phone: Website: www. We hope that you will find it helpful to adopt one of these non-shedding and hypoallergenic dogs. They will be perfect as your new family pet, and they will have a positive impact on your life. Smaller Labradoodle breeders in Indiana offer advantages such as greater specific care for each puppy and a feeling of becoming part of the family when you buy from them. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. Ashford Manor offers important services that benefit you, your puppy, and your family! Puppy Bootcamp Your puppy is already socialized and prepared for family life, but this takes it a step further. For an additional fee and in four weeks, your puppy will begin to know basic commands. Grooming Services Australian Labradoodles are groomed in a special way. Many groomers do not this, but we do. Try us out! It takes time to search for the best products for your dog. We understand that. She is amazing, wonderful, and adorable. Nothing seems bothers her: not the noise, car horns, police sirens, fire engines, or motorcycles. You should hear all the comments I get from people who stop me to ask what breed she is and tell me how cute and beautiful she is. He is totally crate trained, and has very rarely had an accident inside. He slept the first night and every night from 11pm-6AM better than any of my 4 kids! People with dogs say that we are very lucky and have such a great dog! She is always the smartest one in the class as she is such a quick learner! Izzy is pretty much completely potty trained — she regularly rings the bells — though she has figured out that ringing the bells get her the attention she likes, so she does that for fun sometimes too. He is just a doll and the grand kids love him. Kids absolutely adore her — thank you for such a wonderful puppy. Questions about Labradoodle puppies for sale in Indiana? We have answers. Give me an overview of Labradoodle puppies for sale in Indiana. Soft, Cuddly, Cute Australian Labradoodles are famous for being cute, but just wait until you see our puppies! Extremely Intelligent Aussie Labradoodles mix the smarts of the Poodle with the trainability of breeds such as the Labrador Retriever, combining to create one super-smart puppy. The Uptown Family Bringing home one of our Labradoodles automatically makes you a part of our family. Perfect Family Pet Adaptable and laid-back, Australian Labradoodles can fit right in with almost any family—from those with lots of kids and pets, to solo globetrotters, to retirees looking for a quiet companion. Labradoodles just love people, no doubt about it. Highest Indiana Labradoodle Breeder Standards We enforce strict standards to keep both our parent Doodles and puppies in tip-top shape. That means making sure our mommy dogs live in awesome guardian homes, that our pups enjoy the best conditions possible, and that we have breeding age and litter limits for our mommy dogs. We do that by focusing on the traits that make Labradoodles so awesome, while attempting to minimize and eliminate genetic diseases. Our breeding program includes Labradoodles from Tegan Park and Rutland Manor, the originators of this clever breed. We are dedicated to preserving the Australian Labradoodle, by insuring sound breeding practices, excellence and the highest standard of ethics. Our dogs and puppies live in our home as loved pets. They are well socialized and used to children and other animals. Proper socialization is important to the puppy you will adopt so much attention is given to your new puppy. While in our home we take the utmost care of your new puppy. Your little prince or princess will be treated like royalty. You can be assured that the best care and attention is given to all aspects of breeding, and that we are devoted to advancing and preserving this unique breed. Only sound Labradoodles are allowed to participate in our breeding program. Our adherence to these policies backs up our guarantee in providing only the best Australian Labradoodles. It is my goal to produce the finest companion for your family and am honored that so many families come to me for their puppy. Australian Labradoodles. We also offer older trained pet puppies!!! The hard part is already done for you! She is already crate trained sleep through the night and is doing excellent on potty training with no accidents in over a week!!! She is learning to walk on a leash and getting well socialized. For more info on this sweet girl call Pat at .See our facebook page for more pictures and updates! Uriel loves her humans! She likes to be a shadow and be right by anyone in the house! She enjoys car rides and snuggles! She loves to run and play outside and then cool off on the air conditioning vent! She would do best with older children and adults. Her very favorite activity is laying on the bed next to her human and snuggling in for a long nap! For more info call Pat at .This little girl is just so much fun! Ursula is a fun loving, spunky, playful girl, that would thrive in an active family. She would also love a family that has another dog for a playmate. Ursula loves car rides and loves to play with her toys and retrieve them for you! She is doing well with crate training, and potty training and learning to walk on a leash. For more info on making this fun loving girl a part of your family call Pat at .Possibility of all colors solid and parti. Call Pat at to reserve a puppy. We take calls 7 days a week from 9am-9pm. We are on Eastern time. Puppies expected winter See our facebook page for more pictures and updates! We reserve the right to retain potential breeding stock puppies from any litter. We reserve the right to deny anyone one of our puppies. We also reserve the right to change mating pairs based on circumstances.

It should be noted that not all Labradoodle breeders are good enough to handle them well. We give you all the information you need about the best Labradoodle breeders in North Carolina so that it becomes simpler for you to choose one for yourself or take care of your pet by training it well. We did our investigation and located several breeders through the ALAA. PuppySpot is a great place to start your search. They have a wide variety of Labradoodle puppies to choose from, with different sizes, colors, and personalities. One of the things that set PuppySpot apart is that their breeders are carefully screened to ensure high standards for health, ethics, and care. PuppySpot also offers helpful resources and services to make the process of bringing your new Labradoodle home as easy as possible. Plus, their website is user-friendly and makes it easy to search for and compare different puppies. PuppySpot is committed to responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. They refuse to work with puppy mills or substandard breeders, and they partner with animal welfare organizations to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. The Australian Labradoodle Club of America, Butch Charlton, personally picked the earliest progenitors of all their little darlings from a highly studied line in Australia in .DownUnder Labradoodles now is descended from those first dogs, who embodied a line of the greatest quality Australian doodles. You may rest assured that your Labradoodle puppy was reared in a safe environment because this Gold Paw breeder adheres to the highest quality ALAA ethical breeding standards. Until they go to their forever home, all dogs and litter stay with the family. They are de-sexed, microchipped, and come with a health guarantee from DownUnder Labradoodles, as well as lifetime assistance. Each Labradoodle puppy born here has a daily stimulation schedule, which increases their curiosity and inquisitiveness compared to their classmates. It also reduces their anxiety and terror later in life. Before adoption, each puppy is checked for hereditary eye and heart illnesses, as well as hip and elbow dysplasia. In addition, this North Carolina Labradoodle breeder socializes its puppies with men, women, and children, ensuring a smooth transition to your family. Each Labradoodle puppy is spayed or neutered, up to date on immunizations, deworming, and micro-chipped, in addition to being adaptable. Poodle puppies come in various sizes, including tiny, medium, and standard. The breeder strives to ensure you have a long and happy life with your doodle without the need for a lifetime of veterinarian costs with extensive testing taken to prevent inherited disorders. They also discovered that nothing beats compassion and meaningful time with people when it comes to a great start in life. A well-adjusted parent means a well-adjusted puppy; their mothers and sires are raised in Guardian homes rather than kennels. They never outsource their breeding to the southern hemisphere; instead, all their dogs are bred on site. Their innate disposition appears to be intended for service, intellect, boundless energy, and unwavering optimism. They only require some fine-tuning along the way. Neurological stimulation, Temperament training, and socialization are all used to help Labradoodle puppies tap into their inherent ability to learn and adapt. As a result, they produce excellent hypoallergenic service dogs for first responders, veterans, the injured, the elderly, and others. All Reservation Fees are good for 1 year from the time they are submitted. What is an Australian Labradoodle? He mixed Labrador Retrievers with Poodles. The current bloodlines were perfected by the owners of Tegan Park and Rutland Manor based in Australia. A natural by-product of this being a conspicuous lack of dog odor! Their even temperament makes them excellent candidates to become service dogs and is also a big part of what makes them exceptional family dogs. They are highly intelligent and are a preferred breed for their excellent health. Our puppies range from 18 lbs. Our dogs are incredibly loved and extensively health tested. Our dogs will never live in kennels — they live in our home or a guardian home as a member of the family. Happy, healthy, well loved and cared for parents produce healthier puppies. Our goal is to operate with the highest integrity, while producing genetically exceptional, structurally sound, well-adjusted puppies who are ready to become a loving part of your family. These methods include early neurological stimulation and creates an enriched environment early on for your puppy to grow in. Our in-home puppy play area includes early training for problem prevention such as emotional resilience, exercises using therapy toys and sound desensitization. Your puppy is introduced early to many scary sounds including loud thunderstorms, lightning, and doorbells ringing. We start potty training our puppies using a bell on the door at 4 weeks and we initiate crate training at 6 weeks. By 8 weeks, the puppies are ready for their new homes with their loving families. We strive for excellence in our dogs, our customer service and in the relationships we build with the families who entrust our family with raising their new baby. You can rest assured and trust our program for transparency, prompt communication and excellent customer service. We understand the level of trust our prospective puppy families place in us and we take our responsibility seriously. Your name is placed on our wait list in the order your Reservation Fee was received. You will remain on the waitlist until you have been offered and accepted a puppy to adopt that meets the temperament needs and preferences of your family. If we do not have a puppy of your sex or color preference, you may choose to defer to a future litter. Final payment is due by the time the puppy is 6 weeks old and the puppy can go home at 8 weeks. Ready To Get Started? Microchipping Full socialization in home environment keeping Puppy Culture principles in mind Litter registered with the Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association Comfort blanket with mom and littermates' scents on it to help comfort them in the first few days away from our home. A 3lb bag of puppy food. Crate that your puppy was crate trained in starting at 6 weeks old. You will remain on the list until you have chosen a puppy to adopt. If we do not have a puppy of your sex or color preference, you may choose to defer to a future unreserved litter. Springdale Labradoodles does not guarantee placement on our waitlist until the puppy Reservation Fee has been received. We will reply to your inquiry promptly. Springdale Labradoodles does not guarantee placement on the wait list for any litter until the puppy Reservation Fee has been received. Breeder always has the first pick. We want our puppies and their new families to have the best chances for success! We do NOT ship our puppies in Cargo under a plane, as we do not believe it is in their best interest. You are welcome to pick your puppy up at our home, or we may be able to meet you if you are coming from one of the states mentioned above. Out of state and unsure how to get your puppy home? To make for a smooth trip for you and your puppy, we will ensure that your puppy is acclimated and ready to travel in a soft-sided airline carrier prior to going home. Don't want to fly? No worries! We have our very own puppy Flight Nanny! Our experienced flight nanny will personally fly your puppy to you on his lap with love and deliver your puppy into your arms at your closest airport. Additional fees apply and will be paid directly to the puppy nanny once travel arrangements are confirmed. We will be as flexible as we can in helping you receive your Springdale puppy. Travel fees are determined on an individual basis. We do everything possible to make the transition from our home to yours as easy as possible! With respect to the well-being of the puppy, our veterinarian does not perform early spay and neuter ESN , as she does not believe that it is in the best interest of young puppies. We follow her advice. We do our best to ensure that our puppies go to wonderful forever homes. If a dog must be relinquished, you must return the dog to Springdale Labradoodles. We have a professional flight nanny service available. Please contact us for details. Making a reservation earlier will help to keep the delivery fee lower. 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 Charlotte North Carolina 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.

All of our breeding dogs are also our family pets. Our dogs are like people, having different personalities and talents. Some love to go to town and have people pet them in the stores. Some love to play ball, run with the kids; others run with the horses when we go for a ride. They run with the horses in the riverbed chasing rabbits and coyotes for extra fun. Some love the show ring and obedience trials. Their personalities and talents are glowing when they strut their stuff. Still, others enjoy just laying back and being pillows for the kids while watching TV. Our dogs bring great joy to our lives, and we hope to share that with you. Our puppies' goal is to be placed as companions, loved and loyal members of a family. Some of these families have taken some of our exceptional dogs and become part of "Search and Rescue " groups, children's 4-H projects, seeing eyes dogs, herding dogs, bomb and drug detection dogs working with police officers and living with the family, pet store models and travel companions. We have OFA certified our adult breeding dogs, doing our best to stop the terrible hip dysphasia that seems to plague our fantastic breed. As you look through our site's pages, you may have questions. So, please e-mail or call us. We are always happy to talk about our dogs and help people get just the right German Shepherd for them. The breed is well proportioned and strong with a sturdy, muscular, slightly elongated body that has a light but solid bone structure. The head should be in proportion to its body and have a little bit of a rounded forehead. The nose is most often black, but blue or liver colors still do sometimes occur. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. Its eyes are dark and almond-shaped but never protruding. The ears are wide at its base, pointed, upright, and turned forward. However, it is natural for German Shepherd puppies under about six months to have ears that droop slightly. It also has a bushy tail that reaches below the hocks and hangs down when resting. There are three varieties of the German Shepherd: double coat, plush coat, and longhaired coat. It has a double coat made-up of a thick undercoat and dense, slightly wavy or straight outer coat. Most German Shepherd dogs have tan and black or red and black hair, medium in length and tend to shed all year round. There are some other, more rare color variations such as solid black, solid white, liver and blue. The white coat version is recognized as a separate breed by some breed clubs and is called the American White Shepherd. A piebald color has also occurred and is now being called a Panda Shepherd. Discover more about our German Shepherd puppies for sale below! Disposition The German Shepherd is an intelligent and versatile breed. The breed requires an active lifestyle and makes for an ideal companion, protector, and guard dog. Very devoted to its family and home and usually maintains a suspicious demeanor around strangers. German Shepherds can be dominating and assertive towards other dogs, though normally friendly with other pets in the home. Therefore, it is important to begin training your dog beginning as a puppy in order to avoid negative behaviors later. Exercise This breed is very active and athletic. It requires a lot of physical and mental exercise. Without the proper amount of exercise, it can become frustrated and develop negative behaviors. Participating in canine activities such as agility, herding, tracking, and diving is great exercise and fun for the dog. Training Puppy socialization and training are critical, as well as continuing obedience training to ensure the puppy will become a well-mannered adult. The German Shepherd is a highly intelligent companion and extraordinary worker. Use consistent and positive reward-based training for best results. Grooming The German Shepherd sheds regularly and is a heavy seasonal shedder. As a result, it is best to brush them daily. You only need to bathe them when necessary, however, as over bathing can cause skin irritation from removal of oil on their skin. Check their ears and trim their claws regularly. Origin The German Shepherd Dog originated in Karlsruhe, Germany from longhaired, shorthaired, and wire-haired local herding and farm dogs in the mids. Its now famous qualities of intelligence, agility, speed, stealth, and courage were developed not in a police or military academy but in the sheep pastures of s Germany. The breed gained popularity in the United States during the early s due to the canine movie stars Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart. Unfortunately, because it is among the German breeds including the Dachshund it suffered a decline in popularity due to anti-German sentiment during and after both world wars. However, due to the rise of modern livestock management and the decline of herding as a dog occupation, von Stephanitz promoted his breed as an ideal K-9 worker and today is therefore the preferred breed for police and military units all over the world. See store for details on this particular puppy. American Canine Association. Questions about German Shepherd puppies for sale in Arizona? We have answers. How much do your German Shepherd puppies for sale in Arizona cost? Our goal is to match you with ethical German Shepherd businesses and breeders based on your favorite puppy preferences like breed, size, etc. How can I be sure German Shepherd puppies Arizona are ethically raised? We know that choosing the right German Shepherd breeder is a huge headache, especially with so many options out there. Have a look at our Breeder Pledge for more info. Uptown Puppies does not breed dogs. Rather, we act as MatchMakers for great families looking for awesome dogs from ethical breeders. When you work with Uptown, that means skipping past all of the unethical breeders online and getting straight to the fun part—bringing home your ultimate puppy. Can I meet my dog first? Our partners are proud of their puppies, and love introducing them to their new families. As our partner network continues to grow and expand, odds are pretty good that your dream German Shepherd is already out there waiting for you. MatchMaker is really simple. Next, will use your answers to connect you with matching German Shepherd breeders Phoenix AZ, businesses and litters based on size, temperament, etc. From there, bringing home your new friend is easy—and MatchMaker is totally free. If you want to see the difference that humane breeding practices can make, just take a look at some of our puppy alumni!

Here are some things to consider: Size Do you want a big or a small golden? Sex Do you want a male or a female? Style Or a stocky, blocky-headed golden retriever? Color Do you want a dark gold or red golden , a cream-colored golden , or something more in the middle? Personality Do you want a calm golden or more of an energetic one? Nobody will be able to tell you what you want out of a dog but yourself. Consider your lifestyle, home, whether or not you have kids , what you like to do on the weekend, etc. If you want to get a good feel for what a puppy will be like, look at their parents. Temperament and health are hereditary and no puppy test or observation will be as accurate as what their parents are like. So that being said, pick a good breeder that is breeding dogs that resemble what you want. There are two important things here: Talk to the breeder and tell them what you want Observe the puppies and look for the puppy that resembles what you want Talk To The Breeder The breeder has spent the last eight weeks with the puppies and knows them best. By telling them what you want they can help you decide the right one for you. But assuming the decisions lays in your hands, this next section will help you out. Selecting A Puppy From The Litter When we went to pick our puppy from the litter we knew exactly what we wanted: a big, calm, sweet boy. He had probably worn himself out trying to impress them because two days later we were wondering what happened to that calm puppy as a fluffy little tornado was tearing around our apartment! Are they submissive? This might give you some insight into their personality. Take note of their energy levels. Consider how your puppy interacts with people. How are they with you, whoever is with you, and the breeder? Are they fearful? A friendly dog will be outgoing and interested in you. Toss your keys or a toy. Put the puppy on their back. Either cradle them in your arms on their back, or roll them on their back on the floor. A dominant pup may squirm a lot, but a well-adjusted pup should calm down shortly. They should be ok with being handled. Shoutout to Vet Street for a few of the tips above. In addition to choosing the right puppy, you also want to choose a healthy puppy. Now even if you have your checklist and run each pup through these tests, it may all go out the window if a puppy picks you. But as we tried to give each puppy a chance and interact with all of them, Oliver kept coming back to my wife and nuzzling his nose into her to tell her that he was the one. Conclusion When picking a puppy you first want to decide what you want. Then pick a breeder that breeds dogs that resemble what you want. When it comes to actually picking the puppy from the litter, talk to the breeder about it and try to see which puppies match up with what you want. However, know that puppies may be different than how they initially appear. And finally, you might not even need to worry about picking the right puppy because the right puppy just might pick you. Have any questions about picking a golden retriever puppy from the litter? Let me know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is about to pick up a puppy, please share this with them! Related articles:. However, picking the right puppy from a litter can be overwhelming and stressful. So, what is the easiest way to pick a golden retriever puppy from a litter? An excellent way to see how your potential puppy will turn out is to take a look at his parents. Most importantly, ask the breeder a lot of questions before adopting. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! A responsible breeder is your best bet for a healthy puppy. A dog breeder like this will cut corners and overbreed in order to get as many viable Golden retriever pups to sell to unsuspecting puppy buyers as possible. Even if the price for a golden retriever puppy appears to be less initially, the potential long-term health and behavioral problems involved with a puppy from a genetically unhealthy litter will quickly surpass the cost of a puppy from a good breeder. Some of the best ways to find a quality golden retriever puppy breeder is to get referrals from your local veterinarian, a good friend, or a local golden retriever club. You can also find an excellent golden retriever breeder by attending professional dog shows. When you look each puppy over, you want to look specifically at their eyes, coat, build, and skin. Look at their eyes. They should look focused and clear. You want to keep an eye out for any golden retriever puppies that rub their eyes or appear to struggle with their vision, such as squinting. Touch their coat. The coat of your new perfect puppy should be shiny and healthy. Examine their build. Take a look at the overall shape of each puppy. Check to see if they are favoring one foot more than another foot. These could be signs of a more serious health issue. Check their skin. You want to keep an eye out for any flaky skin or skin with bald patches. Look for redness or signs of irritation. There are also instances when a puppy with anxiety will chew or scratch at their skin until the fur falls off. Things to look for when choosing a puppy from a litter. Even the runts are going to be bigger than a lot of other breeds. Many people wonder if the runt of the litter is a good choice when choosing a golden retriever. The runts are typically the pups who are weaker and smaller than the others in their litter. The mother produces the nutrients the litter needs to survive. The runts will be at greater risk of having weaker immune systems and getting infections. Choosing a medium-sized puppy will reduce your chances of getting a runt, an overeater, or a bully overly dominant pup. When it comes to temperament and size, there are differences between females and males. The most significant difference is going to be their size. A male dog will get slightly longer and taller than females, but they will also weigh more. There are also small differences in their faces. They can also come across as more territorial, but this is a very slight difference as well. While the females will still love you unconditionally, the males will be twice as doting and loving. Watch the way each member of the litter interacts with the others. This will tell you how your puppy will react to the other dogs or animals in your home. Extremely shy puppies may not have been socialized well so far, and could grow up to become distrustful dogs that are full of anxieties. Speak with the breeder or the owner of the litter. Ask them tons of questions about how socialized the puppies have been with other dogs and pets so far in their young lives. Make Sure the Golden Retriever Puppy Is the Correct Age Golden retriever puppies should stay with their mothers for eight weeks before being adopted and taken home. As mentioned earlier, the mothers produce vital nutrients that a new puppy needs to survive. If the puppy is taken away too soon, it puts them at greater risk of infections and other complications. It can also increase their anxiety, aggression and make them over-protective of their toys and food. Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! Before seeing the litter, research what a golden retriever puppy of eight weeks looks like. It will vary depending on the dog, but this will help you establish a clear idea of what the puppies will look like when you see the litter. The size and temperament of the parents are passed down to their offspring. What is the temperament of the parents? How does the puppy in question behave around dogs outside their litter? What kind of food are the puppies used to eating? Have the puppies all been dewormed? Are the puppies socialized with other animals besides dogs, such as cats or birds? Summary Adopting a puppy is a significant milestone for a family. But simply picking a Golden Retriever from the litter might not be quite as easy as it seems, remember, this pooch would be with you for the rest of its life, so you have to be sure that the Golden Retriever pup you are selecting is just right for you and your family. There are a lot of things to consider, and lots of questions to be answered: What color should I pick? What temperament would I want? Should I pick a male or female Golden Retriever? Lots of questions that require answers. Your experience with the beautiful Golden Retriever should be enjoyed. First off, is Golden Retriever the right dog for you? I assume that you probably did a lot of research on the Golden Retriever breed before picking a reputable breeder to patronize or work with. The Golden Retriever is quite energetic and clingy, and as such does require a lot of time and attention. It requires a lot of exercises to keep from being destructive and for an adult Golden Retriever, an average of hours would be required daily to properly exercise the breed. And for those allergic to dogs or dog coats, the Golden Retriever might not be the best breed for you. This is because the Golden Retriever is a moderate to heavy shedder during shedding season. You might want to consider a Labrador Retriever, checkout our comparison for more detail: Golden Retriever Vs. When trying to decide what sort of Golden Retriever is best for you, answers to these questions would be needed. Male or Female Golden Retriever? This sort of decision might be quite easy for some and incredibly difficult for others. This is because to some, any gender is good enough they have no preferences , while for the rest, specific reasons or purposes could cause them to favor a particular Golden Retriever gender over the other. Both the male and female Golden Retrievers are very lively and equally playful at this stage of their lives. The only slight difference, however, that might occur or might be noticeable between both breeds might be size, as the male Golden Retriever is only slightly bigger or larger than the female when looking at the same litter. As both Golden Retrievers approach their individual sexual maturity, you might begin to notice a lot more differences. A lot of generalization is done between both, the male and female genders of the Golden Retriever breed. Some might say that the male Golden Retriever is a lot more hyperactive and could be harder to train than the female Golden Retriever, or that the female Golden Retriever matures quite faster than the male Golden Retriever, but again, these are all generalizations and speculations. Another popular generalization or myth is that the female Golden Retriever is a lot more independent and affectionate than the male Golden Retriever, again, it could still just be a myth. What Size of the Golden Retriever should I pick? As we already stated earlier, the gender of the Golden Retriever has a huge impact on the size of the Golden Retriever. Golden Retriever males are bigger than Golden Retriever females when comparing two Golden Retrievers from the same litter. What style of the Golden Retriever should I go with? Deciding on what Golden Retriever style you would like is equally important. Are you looking for an athletic Golden Retriever or a slim Golden Retriever, or are you in search of a more stocky and blocky-headed Golden? What Color of Golden Retriever should I go with? Of course, the Golden Retriever has a variety of different coat colors that you could be interested in. Some of these colors are; red-gold or dark gold, or perhaps, maybe a cream-colored Golden Retriever. Either way, there are some interesting Golden Retriever colors to choose from. What sort of personality should I look for? This is yet another decision that can only be made by you. The personality of the Golden Retriever you choose is quite important, so you definitely need an answer to this question. Are you looking for an energetic Golden Retriever dog or a calmer and more gentle companion? You might be searching for a friendly and outgoing Golden Retriever or perhaps a shy or reserved Golden Retriever. The breeder should know them best, being that they have spent approximately 8 weeks with the puppies. The breeder should be able to tell in each litter which of the Golden Retriever puppies is more dominant, which is shy, which is, which barks a lot, which is calmer, and of course, which of the Golden Retriever pups is most energetic. So, by simply telling him what exactly you are looking for in a Golden Retriever, he should be able to make helpful suggestions and recommendations. This is quite common in breeders today, they usually do the picking for you based on the requests and information you give them, which I personally feel is better. These 6 tips would be quite beneficial in deciding which Golden Retriever puppy is best for you. Does it dominate the other Golden Retriever puppies or is it a more submissive puppy? Try to notice the energy levels of each Golden Retriever pup A great way to figure out the temperament of a Golden Retriever pup would be by checking out their energy levels. A Golden Retriever pup that spends half its time barking and the other half running around is a clear indication that it is anything but calm. Notice how your chosen pup reacts or interacts with people In addition to watching how your pup reacts with other littermates, you also have to watch how they react with people. When you interact with them, how do they react, also watch their interaction with the breeder and basically strangers? Do they react in a curious manner? Are they quite fearful? Or are they the outgoing and friendly type that seems to be quite interested in interacting with humans? Try tossing a toy or your keys at the pup This is a great way to identify how alert your Golden Retriever puppy really is. Once you toss your keys or a toy at the pup, try to notice how quickly your Golden Retriever reacts to it. Does your pup run after it? Or does it follow the toy or keys with its eyes? Try putting the Golden Retriever pup on its back As you pick and cradle the Golden Retriever pup, you could try placing it on its back while in your arms or placing it on its back while on the floor. For a dominant Golden Retriever pup, it should squirm or struggle a bit, while for a more submissive and calmer puppy, it should also struggle for a bit but shortly relax. Try Caressing your Golden Retriever puppy You could try caressing your chosen Golden Retriever pup by gently rubbing its ears, tails, paws, and mouth. A calm Golden Retriever puppy should be cool with it. Note: Be sure to check the health of your chosen pup before choosing. Also, your Golden Retriever might pick you. This is not new, as some dog owners have shared their various experiences. Some pups could run up to you all sweetly and cute looking for a cuddle, some could pee on you while others might even go as far as peeing on you, but all in all, when a puppy picks you, you would know. Final Thoughts Picking a Golden Retriever puppy that is just right for you and your family is not an easy task, but it is quite important as this dog would be with you for a huge part of its life. So do ensure you stay attentive when choosing. Ensure that your chosen pup is quite healthy, ensure they are well tested and strong. Following all the steps listed above should be enough to help you when selecting a Golden Retriever pup. In all you do, please ensure that you shower your new Golden Retriever with so much love and care. Drink a lot of water, eat well and of course, always stay devoted to dogs. This could cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills down the road. On the other hand, when you buy the animal from a licensed Golden Retriever breeder, you can pick out your future puppy with confidence. Not only will proof of his pedigree show that your breeder is certified, but it will also verify that your puppy is a true Golden Retriever. The best puppy breeders take pride in providing healthy dogs through careful genetic research. They should be so confident in their work that they offer you a health guarantee , which will tell you what to do if your puppy faces any unforeseen health issues. Since breeders are there from the day the puppies and their parents! And picking the right pet for your family starts with finding a breeder you can trust. No matter how nice they seem or how attractive their website looks, you should always do a little bit of research before choosing a Golden Retriever breeder. Here are important points that all breeders should address: Image Source Does the breeder give back to the breed? Breed preservation should be the primary goal of Golden Retriever breeders. They should participate in keeping the species alive through membership at a Golden Retriever breed dog club, a performance club, or an obedience club. What type of experience does the breeder have? Do they stay true to the pure genetic traits of the breed? Do they provide health screenings and health guarantees? Can you meet the puppies and parents in person? How many litters do the females have each year? Female Golden Retrievers can have up to two litters per year. However, breeders who follow ethical practices will only allow the females to have four to six litters in their lifetime. A female can breed between the ages of two and eight. Once you choose a breeder that seems like a good fit for you and your family, you should write up some questions to ask them. And in return, expect some questions about you, your lifestyle, and your home! One of the first things any breeder you inquire about should provide is a list of former buyers. Reviews posted online are one thing, but being able to talk with customers directly speaks volumes about the legitimacy of the breeder. When you speak with their former customers, ask questions about their buying experience and how their dog is doing years after purchase. Puppies should receive some level of preventative care that is appropriate for their age. Newborn puppies up to eight weeks old should stay with their mothers, but they will also receive their first round of core vaccines during these few weeks. They should have a yearly examination by a licensed veterinarian that will perform vaccines, flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, as well as general health checkups. A reputable, passionate breeder will be more than happy to receive updates and questions about their puppies well into adulthood. With that being said, the breeder should also provide a health guarantee. A health guarantee states that you are not financially liable for any genetic issues in the puppy, as long as the health condition is verified by a certified veterinarian. This is an essential point that you might not think twice about. A good Golden Retriever breeder will ask questions to determine if your household is a good fit for their puppy. Image Source 1 Why do you want a dog? This is a simple yet important question that you should have an answer to. Golden Retriever breeders that dedicate their livelihood to continuing the pure genetic bloodline will want to know what appeals to you about these energetic companions. Additionally, the breeder might ask who will be walking, feeding, and playing with the dog. Golden Retriever puppies require tons of attention, especially during the first two years of their lives. If the breeder asks this, they want to know how your children will be participating in the handling of the puppy. They also want to understand how you plan to introduce the puppy to other pets so they can coexist safely within the same home. No matter how nice a breeder may seem, you want to avoid accidentally contributing to backyard breeders or a puppy mill disguised as a reputable breeder. Doing so can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills and years of potential heartbreak. Here are some of the most critical and obvious warning signs of an untrustworthy breeder. Less experienced breeders will charge on the lower end, and more experienced breeders usually with generations of pure genetic proof! Additionally, some of the best breeders will only sell trained puppies to ensure their pooches are family- and forever-home ready. Therefore, you should receive standard documentation upon adopting your new Golden Retriever puppies, such as care instructions, registration papers, vaccination records, and necessary contracts. The contract may also state that you agree to surrender the puppy instead of adopting him out to a shelter or the pound. Some warranties will say that the breeder should have the right to reclaim the puppy in an unexpected situation like this. If you do ask for references, and they give you a list of written reviews instead of contact information for former clients, this is a red flag. A refusal for a tour means that the breeder knows potential clients may be turned away by the environment. If you are invited to tour a facility, learn about what a professional kennel should look and smell like first. The bottom line is, you need to do plenty of research. Hunters looking for an intelligent, shorter-coated retriever that will hunt from dark to dark need to research field-bred goldens. By Tony J. Peterson With a charming, eager-to-please personality and looks to match, the golden retriever has plenty to offer. Yet its skyrocketing popularity is the reason golden retrievers have become victims of their own demand. It's also why those in search of a hard-working golden need to be very careful when choosing a pup for hunting purposes. Advertisement A Rich History Among the many reasons for the golden retriever's popularity is the rich history of the breed, which, according to the American Kennel Club, dates back to the early s. Europe is responsible for a good number of our current sporting breeds including goldens, which came into being in England and Scotland well over years ago. During that time, a medium-sized sporting breed was an asset for obtaining food both in the waterfowl and upland gamebird worlds. Throughout the s the breed became even more desirable, and in it was recognized by the AKC. Goldens soon became one of the go-to breeds for many hunters and folks looking to run a dog in an obedience or field trial. They also started showing up in television shows, as well as print and television advertisements, and one needs only look at a single golden to understand why. Very few breeds are as photogenic or as easy to work with as goldens, which contributed further to their popularity. This also led to division in the breed, with an ever-increasing portion of the litters born each year to less stringent standards. Show dogs with their long flowing coats became much more common and they were bred to field-bred dogs as well as other show dogs. Advertisement It has been a couple of decades since the breed hit its high-water mark and since then we've witnessed a decline in the health and hunting-drive of the breed overall. That's not to say that excellent pedigrees don't exist, because they do. They just aren't as easy to locate as a run-of-the-mill, mystery-bred golden. If there is one person that understands this more than most, it's Jackie Mertens. Mertens has owned and operated Topbrass Retrievers since and is undoubtedly one of the most respected names in the world of golden retrievers. Every once in a while, I get to meet someone who was put on this earth to work with dogs, and Mertens fits that category. From her schoolgirl days, Mertens knew she'd work with animals, and as soon as she could she got her first golden. That dog, Ch. Mertens recalls, however, that she almost lost Torch before it all started. Advertisement "Torch had a lot of desire, she was fearless, and she was a good producer — and she did it all on three legs after getting caught in a fox trap," Mertens recalls. She had survived by eating snow and pawing up any plants she could reach. Since then, Mertens has been at the forefront of field-bred goldens, and when someone wants a great housedog, a great hunter — or both — they go to her. And it's all about the breeding. Hunters looking for a waterfowl and upland dog will often steer toward Labs for obvious reasons, but the right golden will fill the role just fine. A field-bred golden with a proper water introduction will bring ducks to hand all day long. They look a bit different and they will exhibit the right drive and retrieving desire. Now, I hear people say all of the time that their dog was the best ever, but they are comparing it to maybe a few other dogs they've owned. To have the best chance of getting a truly good hunting dog, it's field-bred or nothing. There are so many issues that can come up with poor breeding, that it's a process to ensure a healthy litter these days. For us that means looking at all health clearances like hips and elbows, of course, but other things. We use a canine ophthalmologist for eye clearances, a canine cardiologist for heart clearances, and also conduct a litany of DNA tests to ensure proper breeding. Having gone through the heartbreak of losing a golden to kidney failure when she was only six years old, I am particularly sensitive to proper health clearances. All breeds can suffer unfortunate medical issues, but goldens are exceptionally prone to them given the amount of unchecked breeding. Another golden retriever expert I asked to weigh in on this issue is Theresa Bilava, who operates Platte River Retrievers with her son Nick. She started with goldens as a child and has been raising and breeding them for 22 years. Having over two decades of experience devoted to the breed has given Bilava a unique perspective on the current state of the golden retriever, and she was more than willing to offer advice to anyone looking for a pup. Like Mertens, Bilava makes sure all of her Platte River dogs are health checked in all manners. Now people think they can pick up any golden puppy and it will hunt, but that's not the case. With us, we're breeding for athletes, not models. Our dogs are field-bred, and quite frankly, a lot of the people that contact me about getting a dog don't even know what a field-bred dog is. We want dogs that want to play the game and that will have the right temperament. All of our dogs will be companion dogs, and some will be used for agility or therapy, but many of them end up being upland and waterfowl hunters as well. As long as they are well-bred they'll become people-pleasers that will take to training and look to make you happy. A good sign of a dog that is working for you not for itself is if the dog checks back often and looks you in the eye. Goldens are well known for this trait, especially in the field where it matters most. They aren't wired the same as a Lab that might be able to run the same drill times in a row. They are different, and have to be trained differently. When I asked him why he chose to hunt with goldens he responded by saying, "The golden is a gentleman's dog. He will give you percent if you are fair to him. And he can turn it on and turn it off, which is something other breeds struggle with. When a good golden is asked to hunt, he'll give you his all. When the hunt is over, he'll transition back into that lovable housedog. They need to be introduced to water properly, and if you do it wrong it's like pushing a rope — it doesn't work. Goldens will work for you, but if you lose your cool they'll shut down. It has to be fun for them, and you've got to work with their intelligence by keeping it interesting and positive. They respond to teaching, not pressure. Finding a well-bred golden puppy that has all of its health clearances and is a true hunting dog is a different story. The right pedigree takes time to locate, and it will cost more than a run-of-the-mill dog. The upside? You'll get an amazing hunting and family dog. Nick Bilava has spent plenty of time hunting South Dakota roosters for himself and for clients while he was guiding, but his dogs can do much more than hunt ringnecks. They can hunt anything and handle any new hunting situation provided you've got them prepared. I hunt doves with my dogs, ducks, everything. They can do it all, and will, if you ask them with respect. When my pheasant opportunities disappeared with the loss of habitat, we switched gears to ruffed grouse, doves and eventually ducks. And just for fun, I threw in shed antler hunting to see how she'd do. As long as my golden got to retrieve something for me and earn a little praise, everything was just fine. This willingness to please is without question one of the greatest reasons to own this breed. Nick Bilava got into golden retrievers in no small part because his mother, Theresa, has been breeding field-bred goldens for years. Together they operate Platte River Retrievers, where they focus on producing a few litters each year that are bred to be smart, athletic and will hunt everything they are asked to hunt. For the hunter looking to have a rock star in the field and a good-looking house pet all in one dog, they are the ideal choice provided they come from a breeding program that has focused on health concerns and strong hunting instincts. Picking A Golden Puppy When shopping for that perfect golden pup, here are some things that prospective owners should be mindful of. That's the going rate, and it is worth it for the peace of mind you'll have from getting a truly high-quality, healthy pup. Your job doesn't end with research and writing a check, however. Trust Your Breeder After that, it's a matter of being honest with your breeder and allowing him or her to pick the right dog for you. Jackie Mertens stressed this by saying, "I don't let people pick their puppy. I pick it for them. Some people don't like this, but I've already spent seven weeks with the puppies and have watched how they act, and interact, so I know their personalities well. Too many people want to pick their own puppy, and they often take the first dog to run up to them but that is often a bad deal because that puppy might be the most dominant in the litter. It's better to put your faith in the pedigree and the breeder to match you up with the best bet out of a litter. You won't regret it. More Articles From How-To.

They have been a Labrador Retriever state for over 20 years, with numerous Labrador Retrievers setting up in the state every year. And who can blame them? The Labrador Retriever is an awesome dog that is perfect for the family due to its calm and gentle temperament. Its high intelligence, outgoing personality, and energetic nature make it a great work dog, service dog, and hunting dog. When adopting a Labrador Retriever, helps to know the credibility of your breeder, as not all breeders are reputable. In this article, we help you make your search a little easier by recommending some of the best Labrador Retriever breeders in the state of Connecticut. These breeders care for the health of the Labrador Retriever and offer good quality Labrador Retriever puppies in Connecticut. So, get a glass of something chill and do ensure you read on to the end. Founded in , Barefoot Labradors of Killingworth are strong breeders of chocolate, black, and yellow Labrador Retrievers of superb quality. All their puppies possess a gentle temperament and high intelligence. They have a robust breeding program that allows the use of top-quality breeding lines into theirs. All their Labrador Retriever sires and dams are healthy, they possess gentle dispositions and are championed AKC dogs with a decorated pedigree to show it. The puppies are raised on a acre property in Killingworth Connecticut, where they get their name. It is a large landed property with a pond so the dogs get to swim in. They are well fed with high-quality food and sleep in temperature-regulated spaces. Each puppy enjoys a bio-sensor program or Early Neurological Stimulation from day 2. They are also exposed to various sounds like NPR and other stimulating experiences. All their puppies are microchipped and health checked by a vet. They come with a month health guarantee that frees them from genetic defects of the eye and hip or elbow dysplasia. They are also AKC registered and fully dewormed and vaccinated. Labrador Retriever Puppies For Sale! Raise them in Connecticut! Connecticut is certainly a perfect place to raise a labrador puppy. With the state having so many parks and recreational areas, as well as dog friendly common places, your young pup will surely grow to becoming a healthy, happy, and strong adult. Labrador colors! Labrador lovers also have the great liberty of choosing from 3 main different colors which one they like the most. The yellow labrador is often associated with guiding the blind, the black labrador with gundog work, and the chocolate labrador as pets at home or for dog shows. Ultimately however, it has been discovered that each of the different colors of the different labradors are able to excel in either of these known traits of above par performance. So perhaps it matters little. Labrador origins! Labradors bred for show are commonly known as English Labradors and are more common in the UK. Labradors bred for field trials and hunting are commonly known as American labradors and are more common in the USA. However, many American labradors enter dog shows and many English labradors compete in field trials and are used for hunting. The more important question to ask, is are you ready to be a labrador puppy owner? The Basic 6 Questions Have you got the space to raise a large dog? Even as puppies, labradors need quite a bit of space. Whether it is indoors or outdoors. For the space they need outdoors, it is pretty obvious. These puppies can run long and far and need to stretch those growing legs of theirs. Indoor space can be more of a challenge. Labrador puppies typically bounce off the walls and their long, thick tails tend to knock down decorations found on shelves as well as glasses and anything else it comes into contact with. You may have to move ornaments onto higher shelves and beware of their growing teeth. They may be small but they sure are sharp and can tear up delicate furniture as well as seats and other fabrics found around your house. Labradors also need to be potty trained and as puppies need bathroom breaks as often as every minutes. If you live in an apartment complex or building, doing this may be a challenge. Some dog owners are able to use doggie crates to help potty train them but these do take up quite a bit of space. Ideally, having a garden would be the best. It is a contained space in which your dog can not only run around but can also learn to use the bathroom. Just make sure that you have a good system for cleaning up after them. Do you have the time needed to love a dog? There are numerous sad stories that have come out of new puppy owners admitting that they are unable to balance their regular work lives with raising a puppy. Older dogs may be a bit more independent and less in need of your loving attention but puppies certainly require more of your time, patience, and love. In the end, a young dog should not be left alone for long periods of time and if this were to happen, one cannot expect the dog to behave as you would want him to. A healthy reminder is that dogs that are alone will make tons of noise and break things that he can get his teeth on. If you need to go out and work all day, it is best to have someone in the house with him to take him out for walks, bring him to the bathroom, play with him, train him not to break everything, teach him what he can and cannot bite, and give him water to drink and food to eat. These tasks may be a lot to ask of anyone, so be sure that who you leave these responsibilities with is someone who also loves your dog. Beyond the necessary early training of a puppy , there is also the long term commitment in training your dog to be able to co-exist in human society with being a complete nuisance to everyone around. This daily commitment and regular interaction is what will teach your dog to behave and ultimately be a good dog. Training a dog is not something that you need to do only weekends. If you try this, you will see that by the time the next weekend arrives, your dog would have forgotten everything you taught him the week before. Dogs do not have the attention span to concentrate for over an hour, this is why it is necessary to train him everyday, throughout the whole day. Besides all of this training, there is also the exercise your dog needs. Missing a day here and there will not be so bad, but making this an important habit is also what will keep your dog in tip top shape. What about your lifestyle? Buying a labrador puppy will also change your lifestyle, for the better of course! Also, if you are one who travels often and would have to leave your puppy at home, then perhaps it is not yet the right time for you to be a dog owner. Sleep ins on weekends may be harder to achieve as well, your dog is going to demand your attention and will need to be fed, and taken out to go to the bathroom, and played with. Will having this dog fit right in with your family? Think of your puppy as a human toddler. That is the sort of attention that they need. But if your kids are for example, over 5 years old and able to walk on their own, speak their thoughts, no longer need to be carried all the time, and are accepting that your pet dog has important needs too, then this might be a good age for them and the whole family will benefit from having this puppy around. Is a labrador really the right breed of dog for you? Labradors by nature are very playful dogs. They grow to a rather large size, eat a lot, but are also loving, intelligent, and loads of fun! If you want to have a Lab, call CT Breeder — .In addition to our selection of designer and purebred puppies for sale, we offer expert dog training, professional pet grooming and the best pet supplies, pet foods and pet products available at the low prices. Located in Killingworth, Connecticut , we have been providing exceptional puppies to families in the Northeast since .We breed for sound health and good temperament. We raise our puppies in a home environment and socialize them through frequent handling and play. From their third to 16th day, we give them a series of gentle neurological stimulation The Bio Sensor Program to improve cardio vascular performance, tolerance to stress and resistance to disease. We microchip all of our puppies to help in their return to you in the event they are lost or stolen. All of our pups are examined by a Vet at days and again at 6-weeks 1st immunization. They are sold with a limited AKC registration to help protect the breed from genetic faults. They come with a month Health Guarantee for hip and elbow dysplasia, and hereditary defects of the eyes. Luna and her pups Our litters are planned well in advance. Our puppies are sold to approved families that have been placed on our waiting lists. The puppies go home when they are 8 weeks old. Occasionally, we have older or retired labs to place to suitable homes. If you would like more information about upcoming litters, please email us at barefoot barefootlabpuppies. Sorry, but we cannot respond to text or phone call requests for information. Only email inquiries, please. Autumn and her litter. How to care for your new puppy Our new puppy owners might want to check out the "Caring for your new puppy" section on the left side bar. It has a lot of valuable information and tips for taking care of your pup. Also, information about Puppy Development may be of interest. Photos of recent puppies are featured below. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Nevertheless, you always want to select a Lab breeder that is reputable and responsible with all their dogs. To help you find a new addition for your home, we have put together this list of the six best Labrador Retriever puppy breeders in Connecticut. Just by taking a quick glance at their website, you can easily see how much these breeders love and respect their dogs. This club only accepts breeders that are in good standing and treat their dogs respectfully. It is the only club of its kind in the area. Their dogs are all championship grade. They only breed chocolate or black Labrador Retrievers. This is a great breeder if you want your Lab to be both a show dog and a house dog. Cross Bay Labs only breed black and chocolate puppies, and they only breed their dogs once or twice a year. All their puppies are registered, and they are diligent in ensuring that the puppies are placed in proper homes. All their adult Labs have obedience titles or are in the process of getting it. As a result, Tanzy Labrador puppies are intelligent, hardworking, and versatile. They consistently breed puppies so that you can more reliably purchase a puppy through this breeder. All puppies are registered with the AKC. In addition to breeding puppies, Woodland Kennel also offers obedience training, advanced obedience training , and even hunting dog training. They breed all three official colors, including black, chocolate, and yellow. More so, Barefoot Labradors does a great job of creating puppies with good temperaments. All of the puppies are raised inside a home environment so that they experience thorough socialization from a young age. They also provide examinations and microchips for safety and health. These efforts make the Barefoot Labs great pets. Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types. The Labrador Retriever is also the most popular purebred dog in America for the 21st straight year. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come. In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Lab can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article: The ten reasons that I am giving for children to have a dog are not listed in order of importance. All of us have different characteristics which we find more important than others. Every reason I list, however, is important to the childhood of your son or daughter. Dogs are better than popping pills or drinking elixers. Children with dogs for pets have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and fewer overall physical complaints than those without dogs. In fact, there are several diseases where dogs have been used to help those who have the disease. Two of these are: rheumatoid arthritis and emotional disturbance stemming from cases of severe abuse. Samuel B. Be sure to read the rest of her seven part article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Lab owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-date puppy information at .Did you know… Stamford was known as Rippowam by the Native American inhabitants to the region, and the very first European settlers to the area also referred to it as such. The name was later changed to Stamford after a town in Lincolnshire, England. Stamford was home to a less famous witch trial than the well-known Salem witch trials, which also occurred in .The accusations were less fanatical and smaller-scale but also grew to prominence through gossip and hysterics. Starting in the late 19th century, New York residents built summer homes on the shoreline, and even back then there were some who moved to Stamford permanently and started commuting to Manhattan by train, although the practice became more popular later. Stamford incorporated as a city in .Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! Questions about Labrador Retriever puppies for sale in Connecticut? We have answers. What affects Labrador Retriever puppies for sale in Connecticut price? Do Labrador Retriever breeders in Connecticut ship puppies out of state? Labrador breeders and businesses in the Uptown network are total pros when it comes to shipping puppies, and can send your new best friend to your nearest major airport outside of Hawaii and Alaska. And yes, your pup will be flying up in the cabin, not crammed down in the baggage hold. How do you screen Labrador Retriever breeders Connecticut? What do we look for in a partner? Peek at our Breeder Pledge for more info! We created Uptown to give great breeders a place to shine—and to give families a fast, easy, and fun way to find their dream dog. What is a puppy mill? Why are some Labrador Retriever puppies for sale Connecticut so cheap? Puppy mills are almost like puppy factories, where profit is king and the welfare of your puppy is rarely a priority. Puppy mill dogs live short lives full of behavioral issues, health problems and more—not to mention the countless, costly vet visits. Luckily, there are NO puppy mills or unethical breeders in the Uptown network. Are there any chocolate Labrador Retriever breeders Connecticut? MatchMaker is our simple but powerful method of matching customers with breeders, businesses, and puppy litters that perfectly match your preferences and expectations from your ideal puppy. Businesses and breeders in the Uptown network love puppies just as much as you do—read over some of our glowing reviews and meet our Puppy Alumni to see the difference a little love can make.

We got our name from our love of bears and English Labrador Retrievers. Hence, Three Bears Labradors! We always strive to have the best breed of English Labrador Retrievers dogs you can find. Our dogs come from some of the best bred dogs in the country. Raised in our home, we strive to breed for temperament, large blocky heads, otter tails, correct conformation, and type. We perform health and genetic testing on all of our dogs and we OFA certify them to ensure the healthiest dogs! Connie and I eat, sleep, and breathe Labradors, and are always willing to help like-minded Labrador folks. Feel free to contact us, anytime! We breed quality English black, yellow, and chocolate Labradors. We always strive to have the best breed of dogs you can find. We perform health and genetic testing on all of our dogs. We OFA certify them to ensure the healthiest dogs! Shop Available Puppies Today, our passion is breeding the finest quality labradors in the world for ourselves and the families that we are so lucky to share our lovely labradors with. Each year, we have made greater strides perfecting our breeding program through experience, commitment, excellence and relationships with fellow breeders across the world. We selectively breed to some of the greatest labrador lines in the world with champion and grand champion dogs. Trusted Breeder We breed quality English black, yellow, and chocolate Labradors. Charlie and Connie are great breeders! We have had the best experience getting two pups from them. Our boys are big, beautiful, healthy, and well socialized. From the very first conversation I had with Charlie, the whole process was great. They kept in touch as the puppies grew and sent updates and pictures. All their paperwork was in perfect order when we picked them up. It is obvious that they take great pride in breeding quality English Lab! Highly recommend if you are looking for a well bred, beautiful pup! It has amazing looks and an endearing temperament that makes it a perfect companion on four legs. It is imperative to understand that the breed was divided into the English Labrador and the American Labrador based on their roles as hunting companions or show dogs. History The Labrador breed came from Newfoundland and was pioneered by English settlers who brought their fishing and hunting companions from England for the uninitiated. Thus, all Labradors are English and were initially working dogs. When bringing a pet home, especially an English Labrador Show Dog, it is imperative to know about its appearance and temperament. Appearance This dog breed is instantly recognizable and is very popular. However, certain distinctive features set them apart from their other working-bred relatives. Its thick tapering otter tail and its chiseled head are two of its classic features. Head Its head is chiseled and is heavier and larger than other working-type labs. It has large kind eyes that seem to implore you to take him home. Shape The body shape of this dog is based on the broad theme which continues up to its tail. Well-proportioned, strong neck and deep and broad chest give it a royal look. It has a powerful and well-muscled hindquarters. Its tail is one of its major attractions, which is heavy and bushy and sweeps downwards right behind him. Sometimes its shape may give it a shorter appearance or look short-legged, but it is just an impression. When looking for show dogs, you may find them slightly shorter in the leg but is proportioned with the spine. Tail The otter tail is its unique feature which is heavy and tapers to a point. It makes the English Labrador looks more attractive and good-looking. Coat The coat of this dog is double and waterproof. It is perfect for tolerating the ice waters of Newfoundland. Thus, the coat is perfect for them to sustain sub-zero temperatures. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. There are so many things someone is looking for in a canine companion. The 7 Labrador Retriever Breeders in Mississippi 1. The dogs come with a month hip guarantee, a month eye guarantee, and of course, a general health guarantee! But while they specialize in breeding gorgeous pups, what really sets them apart is their health guarantees. The dogs come with month hip, elbow, and eye guarantees and lifetime genetic health guarantees! If you want a hunting dog, shopping at Choice Chocolate Labs is an outstanding choice. They breed high-quality British Labrador Retrievers that excel as hunting dogs. Expect to go on a waitlist and to complete a rigorous application process. Sporting Life Kennels wants to ensure that each of their pups goes to the best possible home. They also offer top-notch training courses for your Labrador Retriever, which can make everything easier for you. Each dog comes with a full AKC registration and a month health guarantee, which is among the best in the industry. All their pups come with an AKC partial registration, and you have the option to purchase a full registration. Moreover, they have a month hip guarantee, and they can deliver your puppy to you or you can pick them up in person. Related Read: English vs. Choosing a dog can be hard, but when you think about all the joy a dog will bring to your life, all the thinking and planning is worth it! Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types. The Labrador Retriever is also the most popular purebred dog in America for the 21st straight year. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Labrador Retriever owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-the-minute puppy information at .Located near Laurel Hill, NC, we deliver our world class Labrador retriever puppies and adults to locations as far away as Alaska. We can easily deliver our guaranteed Labs to your location in or around Fort Collins. For details, call Woody or Judi at .Labrador Retriever Puppies and Children In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Labrador retriever can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article: The ten reasons that I am giving for children to have a dog are not listed in order of importance. All of us have different characteristics which we find more important than others. Every reason I list, however, is important to the childhood of your son or daughter. Dogs are better than popping pills or drinking elixers. Children with dogs for pets have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and fewer overall physical complaints than those without dogs. In fact, there are several diseases where dogs have been used to help those who have the disease. Two of these are: rheumatoid arthritis and emotional disturbance stemming from cases of severe abuse. Samuel B. Be sure to read the rest of her article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! As my website states, I am not like other breeders in many ways. First, I want to explain how the average Labrador breeder raises their pups the first few weeks of their life. They expect these tiny pups without their senses fully developed to find their way to a nipple without being smothered. I understand that this is what dogs do in the wild, but this is also why many puppies die in the wild. .Then, on top of that they hope that each of the pups will get enough milk on it's own to make it through the 1st week of life. They expect the Lab mom to do all the work, so they don't have to lose a wink of sleep. This is all very sad to say but it's true. I, on the other hand, care about each individual pup's life, I care that each and every one of them survive so that they can live a full and happy life. So, I make sure that each individual pup is given outstanding care. How do I do this? I began with hand raising each one of my pups the first 3 weeks of its life. What do I mean by hand raise my pup? It means I personally make sure each individual pup is fed every 2 hours- 24 hours a day, the first 2 weeks of its life. At feeding time, I make sure each puppy gets on a nipple so they don't have to struggle to find one. I make sure that each puppy gets an adequate amount of milk. Then, once I see that they have been well fed. I pick up one pup at a time and have the mom lick it to go potty. And then I put them in their little crib to ensure they are safe and not smooth by the mother until the next feeding 2 hours later. At three weeks, we feed the pups every 4 hours. But at this point, even though the pups eyes and ears are open. I still supervise the feeding to ensure that each pup is adequately fed and again not smothered by it's mother. I believe in giving these pups outstanding care. Even if that means that I lose a lot of sleep, and even if it ends up just saving one pups life. That one pup could be the next Labrador that I get a testimony about how it brought so much joy into one person's life! So, in the end, all the work and lack of sleep is worth it. I am up now about to give my pups their 3 am feeding. Hope this helps you all understand what is put into each litter. She is from our breeding between Cash and Bella, both parents are health certified. Sugar is overnight crate trained and has some other training. She has the sweetest disposition; we absolutely love her! However, we have had a family emergency that has come up that may cause us to have to put Sugar up for sale. If you would be interested in Sugar, please email us and let us know about yourself, and the lifestyle that you would be able to give Sugar. We will be reviewing potential families who would be interested in Sugar and pick the best family for her, and make a decision later this month. They are given constant positive attention their whole time with us. We have a big game room that we call the "Labby Room" This room is designated for our labs and their lab puppies. The puppies get a lot of interaction with all our kids in this room. They also become well adjusted to all the sounds of the home life, like the sound of a vacuum. When the pups are born, I will contact you and inform you on how many pups were born. We will post up pictures of each litter soon after they are born. And try to post weekly picture updates so you can watch the puppies grow. We will also post video on our face book page. When the pups are 6 to 7 weeks of age, I will contact you to set up an appointment for you choose and pick up your pup at 8 weeks of age. If you had first deposit in for a male pup you will have first choice of all the males available. If you have second deposit in, you will have the next appointment to choose from the males that are left and so forth. This order of reserving pups would also apply to the females as well. We honor all reservations on a puppy by not selling the puppy to anyone else. So if you are interested in a litter and don't want to make a reservation until "you see the litter". An appointment can be made to view the left-over puppies when they are 10 weeks old, and no sooner. No appointments will be allowed at a younger age, except for the families that made a prior reservation. We will not allow our baby puppies to be exposed to potential life threatening viruses from people that are just "shopping". We wait until all puppies that have been reserved are safely home, before we show any left-over puppies. Any left-over pups will be at least 10 weeks of age before any viewings are allowed, to insure they have at least had 2 sets of shots in. The only other accommodation that we can offer is a zoom call, so you can see the pups before you make a reservation. Most of our sweet puppies are sold before they are even born. Reserve your puppy today!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. German Shepherd puppies , like all puppies, go through a teething phase, and their biting behavior can continue until they are around 4 to 6 months old when their adult teeth have fully grown in. But how do you get German Shepherd puppies to stop biting, and when should you seek out more help? We dive into everything that you need to know here. German Shepherds are herding dogs, and as such, they love to go after anything that moves. This could be cats, kids, hands, fingers, or just about anything else. The more they get away with it, the more acceptable the behavior seems in the future. Addressing the problem early and consistently is vital. Just like babies need something to chew on when their new teeth are coming in, your German Shepherd needs something too! First, it stops when they get their adult teeth. Second, if you try to redirect them to something that they can chew on, most German Shepherd puppies are receptive. At this time, they should have all their adult teeth, which means no more teething to worry about. But at least you know the root of the problem and can start implementing the necessary strategies to address it. Instead, get them a few chew toys, bones, and other acceptable things to chew on as they teethe. You can also throw a few of these toys in the fridge or freezer to cool them down, and this will offer even more relief for your pup when they need it! While there are plenty of techniques to try, we recommend redirection and positive reinforcement. The method is simple. If and when they start chewing on the toy or other appropriate object, give them praise. German Shepherds love to please their owners, so this is typically an effective way to train your puppy. Therefore, you should have levels of concern. If they are still chewing and nipping at the 9-month mark, you should seek obedience training or talk to a vet to see what you can do. So, get on it early and often, and stick with it! Because with just a little work and dedication you can get your German Shepherd puppy to stop biting in no time. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! Hopefully, we will have the answers to all of your questions in this guide. But, all that cuteness quickly disappears when the biting phase starts. Puppy biting is normal in all breeds, including the German Shepherd. And, luckily, we have some great tips and tricks to minimize the painful biting period. In fact, it could have a number of causes. Here are a few of the most common reasons, in a little more detail. Teething One reason why puppies of all breeds may bite is teething. This stage often starts at around 3 or 4 months of age — only a few weeks after your puppy will arrive at their new home. Luckily, it only takes a few months for your puppy to have their full set of adult teeth. So, biting from teething is not permanent. If your puppy is biting or chewing because of teething, you may notice other symptoms like drooling, irritability, and going off their food. Boredom or Getting Attention Bored puppies may learn that biting gets some fun responses from you! Just like barking can. If your puppy has learnt that they can get some attention from you when they bite, they may do it to alleviate boredom. This can explain why puppies concentrate most of their biting on one family member — the person who gives the most fun response. Natural Play Biting is a natural part of puppy play — as much as some owners might not want to hear it! German Shepherd puppies, just like any other breed, will bite whilst they are playing with you or with other dogs. If this behavior continues into adulthood, the biting can be more problematic. Responding to Rough Play Some people like to play with German Shepherd puppies in quite a rough manner. This can include pushing them, or rolling them over. Behaviors like this can make puppies very excitable, and encourage biting during play. Encourage calm play between your family members or friends and your puppy. Herding Instincts The German Shepherd breed has a history as a herding dog. The creator of the breed, Captain Max von Stephanitz, bred the German Shepherd in an attempt to create the ultimate all-round herding breed. This was all the way back in the late s. Although the history of the breed has changed over time, from herding to working dog, their origins remain the same. Many herding dogs are prone to natural chase instincts. They may chase small children or other animals — particularly those that are making lots of noise. And, these herding behaviors can include nipping at heels. Once again, your behavior can minimize biting from this cause. Exploration Another common explanation for young German Shepherd biting is their natural curiosity. And, they may do this partly with their mouths. What you really want to know is, when will it stop? However, you can minimize the period by making a few easy changes to your behavior when biting occurs. The best ways to stop puppy biting and minimize the biting period are training and prevention. This means training your puppy to be gentle with you and other people, and taking away opportunities for your excited puppy to bite humans. You may need to go as far as to completely separate your GSD puppy from small children and people who insist on rough play with puppies. We know that this can only encourage biting. Remove Yourself Calmly If your puppy starts to bite you, during play or any other time, the best solution is to calmly and quietly remove yourself. You can use tools like baby gates to keep your German Shepherd in a puppy-safe room. In fact — your puppy will learn that biting during play or cuddles only results in you leaving, and them ending up on their own! Not only will this help to show your puppy that biting is not an acceptable part of playtime, but it can also help your own sanity to remove yourself from those sharp teeth occasionally. Think About Clothing You should also think about the type of clothing you wear around your puppy. Loose, hanging clothing can be appealing to your puppy, and provide something easy to grip on with their sharp teeth. Wear tight fitting clothing to minimize the number of things your puppy can bite at. Use Distractions If you, or young children in your household, are keen to pet your puppy without being bitten, you should make the most of distractions like treats or toys. You can hold a chew for your puppy to keep their attention and mouth distracted whilst someone pets them! Often, puppy owners only think about biting whilst their puppy is actively gnawing on them. One method is to reward them with treats when you are petting them and they are not biting you. Another is to reward them for calm behavior around the house. This way they learn that acting calmly and letting you touch them without biting will earn them good things! One popular method to stop puppy biting is to squeal, squeak, growl, or make another loud noise. Some people claim that this method replicates natural puppy play and tells your GSD when they are being too rough. For some owners, this may work. If this is the case, making a noise when your puppy bites will act as a reward, and encourage your German Shepherd puppy to bite you even more. This is one reason why puppies biting children is so common. Many children will make lots of noise, especially if a puppy bites them, which can lead to further nipping. This is similar to the method above, if used alone. This is why training has to be done in small stages — first you must teach the puppy what action you want, and then you can give the action a name, or command. Punishment Methods The best methods to stop your puppy from biting involve positive rewards for the behaviors you want. Studies on dog training and behavior have shown that punishment based methods are often associated with an increase of problematic behaviors. Punishing your puppy for biting can lead to distrust and fear from your puppy. The causes of puppy biting that we looked at earlier in this guide apply to all GSD puppies. In fact, they apply to all puppies of any breed. Biting and chewing is a normal puppy behavior, and a normal part of play. As long as you react to this behavior in the right way, it is a period that will pass. The biggest fear for most German Shepherd puppy owners is that their puppy is aggressive when it bites. German Shepherd puppy biting can be accompanied by ferocious growls or snarls. It can even draw blood. So are behaviors like snarling and growling. And, if your puppy is biting hard enough to injure you, they may not have learnt proper bite inhibition yet. This is the process where your puppy learns to be gentle with his teeth on your skin. The positive reward methods we discussed earlier in this guide are the best way to teach your puppy bite inhibition. Remove yourself calmly and quietly whenever your puppy bites. And make sure to reward any calm behavior — including when your puppy lets you pet it without biting. Speak to a Behaviorist If you think your puppy is exhibiting aggressive behaviors, such as guarding their resources, you may want to speak to a behaviorist. They will be able to look at your puppy as an individual case, and analyse their behavior properly. Do Adult German Shepherds Bite? The German Shepherd breed is known for being aggressive in some circumstances — they make popular guard dogs, and are number one candidates for working dog roles in the police and military. Since puppies lack the dexterity that you and I have, they use their mouths to explore the world around them. By understanding the behavior of biting itself, you can begin to see just how normal biting is in German Shepherd puppies. Just because biting is a normal behavior in a puppy does not mean we should tolerate it or promote it. Since biting is a form of communication for German Shepherd puppies, there are many things our puppies could be trying to say! So why do Shepherd pups bite? Puppies often communicate with their siblings through biting and pawing, especially when they are trying to incite a play session. Your pup may gnaw on your hand as if it were a chew toy, especially when you are a moving target. Puppies play and bite their siblings from the moment they are old enough to do so. This is why the behavior is so common, and why our Shepherd pupswill need to learn how to transition to playing with appropriate chewing options. Not only are our hands and feet tempting enough, but even more so when a puppy has a high prey drive. A prey drive is an ingrained need to chase after moving objects, whether it is appropriate or not. A swinging hand as we walk by can be extremely tempting for a growing pup, causing them to jump up and nip. If it seems like your Shepherd puppy is always biting you when you are in motion, it may be due to their high prey drive! They Are Curious As we mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies use their mouth to explore the world around them. Biting can help them examine and understand an object, and our hands and feet can fall into that category as well! If you catch your puppy gnawing on everything around your home, it may be their curiosity getting the best of them! A dog quickly learns what behavior gets a reaction, causing them to do it over and over again. Even if their bites result in a negative reaction from you, it still counts as attention. They Are Teething Similar to teething babies, a German Shepherd puppy experiences teething pain as well. If your Shepherd pup seems to find relief when chewing on objects, they may be biting you due to teething discomfort. They Are Herding You If your German Shepherd puppy is constantly biting at your ankles, they may be displaying some herding behaviors. German Shepherds are ingrained with a need to work, especially in dogs with a working bloodline. If your German Shepherd is always nipping at your feet, running to your side when you are moving, or showing signs of anxiety or frustration when you are moving around your home; it may be herding behavior. So how can you stop this normal puppy behavior? Redirect The Behavior One of the most effective ways to stop your German Shepherd puppy from biting is by redirecting the behavior. An effective distraction is a wonderful way to end the behavior without punishment, and show them how much fun the alternative to biting can be. The next time your Shepherd pup is displaying undesirable nipping, try to pull out their favorite toy. Since this will need to be a toy that your dog enjoys, be sure to offer them the option that they find most exciting. This can be a Kong toy , rope, bone, or any other chewing option that your dog loves. By doing this each time your Shepherd puppy begins to bite you, they will begin to understand that they would much rather play with an acceptable chew option. Having a variety of chew toys can alleviate their need to bite our hands and feet, and offer them the relief they seek in this uncomfortable transition. There are so many toys created for teething puppies, that it should be easy to fill your home with plenty of appropriate options. One of our favorite chew toys is the Kong Teething Binkie. Any attention can validate the behavior, causing them to make it a habit. This shows them that the behavior is unacceptable, and does not involve any harmful negative reinforcement. Our attention is important to a puppy, and they do not want to be ignored. By showing them that biting will only result in us pulling away, they will learn to ditch the undesirable behavior. Interrupt The Behavior Sometimes a Shepherd puppy needs a sharp and sudden sound to pull them out of a bad habit. By giving a quick interrupter cue ouch, yip, eek , you can pull your puppy away from the action and gain their attention. Because of this, it is so important to offer plenty of mental and physical activities throughout your home. For example, if your puppy nips at strangers each time they walk in the door, it may be best to limit their time around the guest and send them to a separate play area. Once they begin to understand that biting is unacceptable, you can refrain from using their separate play area as often. Similar to what we discussed above about being proactive, a separate play area can help them calm down and collect themselves. Once your German Shepherd puppy begins to mature and understand that biting is unacceptable, they should require less time away. Just as there are effective methods in canine training, there are counterproductive actions as well. Do Not Hit Or Yell Since biting is a normal behavior that puppies must learn to grow out of, it is not productive to hit or yell at your puppy when they bite. Doing this can show them from a young age that interaction with you results in something negative, and can hinder your training process. By using other distractions and training methods when they bite, you can turn every bite into a learning experience for your pup! This can seem like a fun game to your pup, and can actually encourage the behavior. Try your best to go limp when they bite you, and pull your attention away from the pup. By doing this, you show them that this behavior does not offer them any extra fun. Extra attention can validate their undesirable behavior, making it challenging to break. Try your best to refrain from reacting to a bite outside of your interrupter cue, and pull your attention away from your furry friend afterward. Biting is a normal behavior in puppies of all kinds. Puppies begin to bite their siblings from the moment they can move, and will continue this behavior until they learn otherwise. A biting German Shepherd puppy is to be expected, and should not result in any discouragement on your part. As long as you are following the tips we mentioned above, your puppy should shy away from this behavior in no time! Biting in puppies is not usually a sign of aggression. Mild biting is usually a form of play, and should be easily corrected. However, there are some rare cases where biting in German Shepherd puppies is a sign of something more. If your pup is displaying any snarling, growling, ears pinned back, stiff posture, or any other signs of canine aggression, your pup may be biting in reaction to fear or pain. If you are unable to make any progress within a month of implementing the tips we discussed above, it may be time to contact a dog trainer. A trainer can not only help your pup refrain from biting, but offer other obedience training as well. Final Thoughts As you can see, biting is a normal behavior for our beloved German Shepherd puppies. Be sure to review the tips we discussed above on proper canine training, and you can banish puppy biting for good!