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How long should puppies stay with their mother? The ideal window is between 8 and weeks-old. They are healthy and adorable, and you want to bring them home as soon as you possibly can. However, the time your puppy spends with their mother and siblings is critical for development, and so it's important to make sure they spend this growth period with their litter. The first month For the first four weeks or so, puppies depend on their mothers for everything. This milk provides all the nutrition the puppies need for the first few weeks after birth. Weaning to solid foods Puppies start to experiment with solid food as early as 3-weeks-old. They still nurse, and mothers continue to produce milk for up to 10 weeks. Some nursing is for nutrition, but it is also a comforting, bonding activity for the puppies. Most puppies are fully weaned to solid food between 7 and 10 weeks of age, although the transition can occur earlier. Learning to speak dog Just as important for puppy development is learning proper canine etiquette and communication as part of a litter. For example, as early as 3 weeks of age, puppies start learning from their mother and siblings to eliminate away from where they sleep, which helps with housebreaking later. The pups are practicing hunting and communication behaviors that they need to perfect. One of the most important skills that puppies learn through play is bite inhibition and not chomping down too hard. If a puppy bites too hard, the other will cry out, signaling that the bite was too rough. Moms will do the same thing or may gently correct the puppies for getting too rough. This is a critical lesson to learn before heading out into the world, as other dogs will be far less tolerant of inappropriate puppy play than Mom! Biting is also a common problem behavior that can land a dog in a shelter or worse later in life. Puppies will also practice a variety of vocalizations and body language, learning to communicate with their siblings and mother. Socialization Puppies have an early critical socialization period from approximately 5 to 14 weeks of age. During this time, puppies are open to learning and experiencing new things, and the things they learn will affect how they go through the rest of their lives. Breeders and other caretakers should be exposing the puppies to novel sights and sounds on a regular basis. Puppies destined to be working or sporting dogs should be exposed to things they will encounter in their future roles, such as sheep wool for herding dogs, a variety of materials and obstacles to climb over for agility dogs, and training scents for future drug and bomb detection dogs. These safe exposures should continue after you bring your puppy home, but early socialization with litter-mates and the mother are also important for building confidence. The puppies will observe how their mother responds to new people and things and then mimic her behavior. If Mom is relaxed and friendly around new people, the puppies will likely be comfortable with strangers. Research has found that puppies who are separated from the litter too early are more likely to show fear, aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity and inappropriate play biting than puppies who stay with the litter for at least eight weeks. The ideal time The exact time that is best for a puppy to go to its new home can vary by situation, but most breeders and veterinarians agree that 8 weeks of age is a good minimum. Some states have laws in place preventing puppies from being sold any earlier. Eight weeks after birth, the puppy is eating solid food on their own, they have benefited from socializing with litter-mates and observing mom, and they are well within the ideal timeframe to bond with new owners. Breeders may also opt to keep the puppies until 10 or 12 weeks of age. Toy breeds in particular are often kept with the litter until they are 12 weeks old because they are so small and fragile. This gives the pups extra time with the litter, and still has them going to their forever homes in plenty of time to form a strong bond with their new people. And anyone who has welcomed an adult dog into their home knows that dogs of any age will still bond with their new owners as long as they have had socialization with people! Keeping the puppies longer does mean more work for the breeder, since they are responsible for all the puppies during those extra weeks. But if the breeder is putting in that time and effort to give the puppies a great foundation, then the extra time with their litter can be very beneficial to both you and your new puppy. Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Puppies How to Care For a Newborn German Shepherd Puppy German Shepherd puppies are the cutest pets, but can be very fragile at an earlier stage of life, making it impossible for them to fight and survive alone. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about newborn German shepherd puppy care. However, these little babies are often born blind, deaf, and toothless. Since these pups are so fragile at an earlier stage of life, it is nearly impossible for them to fight and survive alone. Unfortunately, due to lack of care, many German Shepherd puppies easily succumb to unfortunate circumstances. It is essential to know that newborn puppies generally require a lot more care and attention than adult dogs. Here, we will dive deep into the world of newborn German shepherd puppies so you know how to take care of them. Important Things to Know About German Shepherd Puppies Newborn German Shepherds are blind until they are between 8 and 14 days old and deaf until they are 5 to 8 days old. These unique-looking puppies are typically born with dark blue or grey eyes, but their physical features keep changing and evolving as they grow. If the first litter of a German Shepherd has more than four puppies, it can render the mother incapable of providing them ample care. This means that there is a potential risk of the newborns getting sick, dying, or becoming very weak until you intervene. Care for the Pups During their Birth Once your German Shepherd has given birth, you will need to check all the puppies to ensure they are breathing properly. Generally, the mother cuts the umbilical cord and cleans up her puppies by licking them gently. She typically starts with their genitals, moves on to their legs, and then finishes with the rest of their bodies. You can start by using a disinfectant to clean the cords and then rub their bodies with a clean towel until they dry. Adjust the Temperature and Humidity Before delivering, a German Shepherd mother searches for a safe and private space enough for her puppies to be born it. So, as a dog parent, it will be your responsibility to provide your pup with a big enough box to suit her and her puppies. Therefore, adjusting the temperature of the nest is a rather significant part of keeping these pups healthy. Generally, German Shepherd mothers are the primary heat source for babies. However, if, for any reason, the mother cannot be in the box, you must provide the puppies with other heat sources, such as a warm lamp or a heating pad. The best way to maintain ideal humidity levels for the puppies is to install a humidifier or keep the nest in your laundry room. Feed the Puppies A significant part of caring for your newborn German Shepherd puppies is providing them with the right amount of nourishment. The best way to do this is to allow nature to take the wheel. The puppies will be nursed by their mother immediately after the birth, even without the pups unable to see her nipples. A German Shepherd mother typically lactates for two months. However, if the mother is unable to provide her pups with this nourishment, you will have to search for other sources. Take Note of Hygiene Maintaining the hygiene of the puppies and their nest is an integral part of keeping them in good health. However, it is best to maintain a clean environment by disinfecting the nest and replacing the blanks or towels once a day. Additionally, you must only start bathing the puppies after 45 days of their birth. Wrapping Up This article only provides you with the basics of newborn German Shepherd puppy care. Discover how to create a joyful, healthy home for your pet. Subscribe to your weekly rundown of practice, real life ideas and training tips straight to your inbox. We offer practical, real life ideas and training tips for a joyful experince, with your pet. All rights reserved. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy! Posted in Uncategorized. We are very excited to present them to the world and look forward to seeing them grow, develop, and move on to their loving forever homes. Puppies need to stay with the dog breeder for a little while after birth. During this time, they learn skills and socialize so they will be well-adjusted when they move away from the litter. Socialization Puppies should stay with the litter for about 8 to 12 weeks. Probably the main reason for this is socialization. When a puppy is with its litter and especially its mother, it learns valuable behaviors. A reputable dog breeder will never let a puppy leave before 7 weeks at the minimum. During this time, the pup will learn how to deal and live with other living things. In a sense, the dogs learn how to dog. Mostly they spend their time playing with their littermates. These are all skills that if developed well, they can use throughout their lives. They also learn how to communicate and receive commands from both their parents and humans. A dog that is not properly socialized will not be confident and may have difficulties fitting into new environments. They could be easily confused and fearful. Neither of these traits is good for both house dogs and dogs that are meant to work or show animals. Unsocialized dogs also tend to have more behavioral problems. They act out in situations in which they are not comfortable. This can mean chewing, barking, or even viciousness. Other dogs are the best trainers for a new pup, so keeping them with their littermates and parents will help them grow and develop into confident, well-behaved dogs. They are bred to be experts at detection, which is great for policing, and agility. While these traits are inbred and instinctual, they also need to be developed. These puppies are spending time with their mother and littermates, with whom their skills are already becoming apparent. The parental dogs provide a good example and play with siblings will mimic and develop these skills. The same goes for agility. There is no better training ground for a pup than an open space with their siblings. German Shepherd Puppies and Humans The fact is, the puppy will most likely be going from a place with many other puppies to a home with either none or comparatively very few. Most of the interactions throughout their lives will be with humans. Dog breeders are dog experts who will calmly and confidently help your puppy get used to human interaction in a safe and respectful way. A newborn puppy sent into a home without that buffer will be extremely stressed and have incredible difficulty adjusting. When it comes to adopting German Shepherd puppies, it is natural to be impatient. However, waiting just a few short weeks to have this beautiful and intelligent pet in your home will pay off down the road.

Low calorie but be careful not to overfeed Verdict If you want to train your Labradoodle puppy , go with Bixbi Pocket Trainers. These small treats are specially made for training young pups. It is grain-free, gluten-free, and made from natural ingredients. These treats are low in calories, so you can easily use them for training your puppy. These grain-free dog treats are made in the USA with premium natural ingredients. They contain no wheat, corn, or wheat gluten. There are also no artificial colors or flavors, which is great for sensitive digestive systems. The beef jerky bits in Wellness Core Marrow Roasts are delicious and healthy. They are a healthy option for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. These biscuits are packed with protein and vitamins. They are completely grain-free and made in the USA. Unlike other puppy treats, these ones are crunchy. Your puppy will love munching on them. Natural and Protein-Rich: In these treats, the meat is cooked in the marrow, which is infused with antioxidants to keep your dog healthy and supple. The flavor is enticing, and the ingredients are premium and wholesome. It is a natural and protein-rich treat. Grain-Free: It is one of the best grain-free treats for puppies. Besides being grain-free, these treats contain beef and chicken fat. They are made in the USA. These treats are also great for sensitive digestive systems. These treats are grain-free and contain premium natural ingredients without artificial colors or flavors. The recipe is based on the nutritional philosophy that dogs thrive on meat-based diets and is created by top nutritionists. Pros Perfect for puppies who prefer crunchy treats All-natural grain-free recipe Perfect for all breeds of dogs Best for puppies with a sensitive stomach Comes with The Wellness guarantee Cons Ingredients are sourced from around the world Verdict If your Labradoodle puppy is allergic to grain and has a sensitive stomach, you can buy The Wellness CORE Marrow Roasts Treats. These are grain-free treats made from natural ingredients. The recipe is created by nutritionists to offer better nutrition to puppies. It is rich in protein and good for your puppy. Puppies love to try new things, so make sure to give them a variety of different types. Your pup will love to eat these delicious morsels. Puppies love tasty snacks, and treats are no exception. Some of the best brands are available online, so you can save a lot of money. Most of the treats are made of natural ingredients and provide added nutrition to your puppy. Puppies need plenty of protein, and they need these nutrients. A high-quality chew will not only keep your pup satisfied but will make him feel happy and healthy. Some brands also contain other beneficial ingredients, including vitamins and antioxidants. These products will help your pup get the nutrients it needs and help him develop a healthy body. Another you should buy puppy treats for your Labradoodle puppy is because it works as positive reinforcement. You can use these treats to train your puppy from a young age. It will help you to easily teach them commands and make them obey you. It will help you in socialization as well as potty training. Treats work as a reward and naturally make the puppy do good things to impress you. When it comes to feeding your puppy, you must be aware of how many calories your dog needs on a daily basis. Generally, dogs need about to calories per day. The number of calories that your puppy consumes in one day should not exceed ten percent of their daily calorie requirement. It is important to note that these treats do not constitute a meal and do not replace it. When determining how many treats your puppy should eat, always remember that the amount of calories is dependent on several factors, including the size of your puppy and the level of activity your dog is engaged in. As a rule of thumb, the number of treats your puppy should consume should not exceed 10 percent of the total calorie intake. A ten-pound puppy, for example, needs calories per day and should only receive 40 calories from treats per day. You can also opt for low-calorie treats. When you are choosing puppy treats for your Labradoodle, make sure you consider these important factors to help you make the right buying decision. Ingredients: Before buying any treats, it is important to research the ingredients. Avoid candies with sugar because they can be harmful to a Labradoodle. Also, stay away from products with caffeine or other stimulants. Look for meat- or fish-based first ingredient. A byproduct or filler ingredient is not recommended. Make sure the treat contains natural and nutritional ingredients. Instead, look for a healthy treat with ingredients that your pup can digest and benefit from. The caloric content of the treatment is one of the most important factors to consider. Check the ingredient label to see how much protein is contained in each piece. Size: When you are choosing puppy treats for your Labradoodle, be sure to use bite-sized treats for training purposes. The smaller the treat, the more easily it will focus on your commands, and the less likely it is to tear it into pieces. For this reason, you should choose treats that your dog can easily swallow. Texture: When buying dog treats, you should pay special attention to the ingredients and texture. If your puppy is really small, you need to choose soft and chewy treats as they are easier to eat. Once the puppy develops proper teeth , you can go for crunchy treats. Taste: You also need to consider the taste of the treatment because if it is not tasty, your puppy will not eat. Puppies love tasty treats, so make sure it contains ingredients that your puppy-like. You can go for chicken, beef, or fish flavour treats. This is important because many types of dog treats are perishable. They should be bought as soon as they are on sale to ensure a long shelf-life. Frequently Asked Questions What kind of treat do Labradoodles like? There are many different types of dog treats to choose from, but the key is finding one that works for your Labradoodle puppy. Your dog is an individual, so you should try a wide variety to see which ones they enjoy. Before buying your dog any kind of treat, consider the ingredients in it. A little bit of chicken may not be bad, but it is best to avoid it if you have sensitive dogs. For optimal health and taste, try choosing a treat that contains natural meat. Labradoodles love treats that are made from duck, turkey, salmon, or chicken. Make sure the treat is low in calories and made from natural products. Can too many treats hurt my puppy? Too many treats can result in stomach upset, bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Overfeeding can lead to further health problems. Also, too many treats can lead to obesity, which will make them more likely to suffer from other diseases. As with humans, too much treatment every day can cause a large impact. Some treats can be high in calories and can lead to obesity. Too much of a sweet treat can even cause your dog to have abdominal problems. Are all treats good for puppies? Look for artificial sweeteners and potential allergens. You need to avoid treats that are high in calories. Some treats can be too hard for your puppy to eat, so you need to consider various factors when buying treats for them. Bottom Line Treats are important for Labradoodle puppies as it speeds up their training and helps you to form a bond with them. However, you need to give them the right type of treatment in adequate quantity. It should be beneficial for them and help them grow. To help you make the right buying decision, we have reviewed the four best treats for Labradoodle puppies. Our team has taken important factors into consideration like size, ingredients, taste, nutritional value, and texture to select the best treats. We plan to update this page regularly as better products are launched. 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. They are soft and fluffy, and everyone wants to hold them and play with them. During our Open House we answer many questions that our families have. We discuss potential issues that they may encounter once they bring their puppy home. To ensure a great puppy start, we give our families tips on puppy training and how to intervene and redirect when their puppy starts to chew inappropriate objects, whether it is your finger or your remote control. We use substitution, a simple behavior modification technique to teach the puppy to chew on an appropriate object instead of inappropriate object. To do this, we share with our families some of our favorite healthy and appropriate chew toys for teething puppies. It is high in Collagen, Glucosamine and Chondroitin that support healthy joints with a unique aroma and taste that is very desirable by puppies and grown dogs. These easy to digest but are safer than rawhide and will not cause digestive distress that rawhides can cause. Lamb Tripe Sticks Organic lamb tripe are a great source of probiotics, Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and support digestive, dental, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. These treats are from grass fed lamb, free of antibiotics or hormones and are perfect for sensitive stomachs that aid digestion and relieve constipation. Untouched, untreated, unbleached tripe with no preservatives, hormones, or artificial ingredients will keep your puppy busy for hours at a time. These sticks are highly nutritious and are excellent alternative to rawhide and other chew treats like antlers that may be hard on the GI tract or the teeth. Larger treats are sufficient to keep your puppy busy for hours enjoying the treat. Sweet Potato Dog Treats- Dehydrated All-natural sweet potato skins are gluten and grain free and are loaded with fiber, antioxidants and natural vitamins and minerals. These healthy treats help complete your puppy meet their nutritional needs without supplements without fat or added sugar. Natural Bully Sticks All-natural beef bully sticks are made from high-quality, free-range, grass-fed beef that are high in protein and other essential vitamins to support a healthy diet. They promote dental health through scraping away tartar and plaque through you Australian Labradoodle puppy chewing action. Free of any additives, hormones or unhealthy chemicals. Bully sticks are fully digestible and an excellent alternative to rawhide and will not splinter. Goughnuts Although this is not an organic product, we have found it helpful as it is virtually indestructible chew toy designed by mechanical and polymer engineers. In addition, this chew toy floats and is perfect an excellent fetching toy. GoughNuts are safe for your Australian Labradoodle and even if your teething puppy chews through the outside layer to expose the red layer puppy should not chew on the red , the manufacturer will replace it. Ensure that it is soft enough to provide relief from sore gums, yet tough enough to last. Many of the snacks that claim they are healthy are not. Additives and preservatives can be found in almost all dog and puppy snacks available. Texas Australian Labradoodles have tried hundreds of commercially available snacks and treats. Some of the snacks our dogs had refused to eat, and others did not look or smell naturally. Our journey took us to SugarBay Creations and we found that we shared their frustration of providing wholesome, healthy and natural products for our four-legged babies. What makes SugarBay Creations different? Lets start with their motto. Simple ingredients for healthy and happy pups. We found that our dogs and puppies loved their snacks and training treats and that they contain no preservatives or artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. We find that these two categories are sufficient for any Australian Labradoodles owner. Training Treats: Oatmeal Liver Bites is a bite sized snack that is perfect for training. These little morsels are packed with natural flavors and elicits great motivation even from stubborn pets. These training treats do not contain unnecessary growth hormones, antibiotics, or vaccines. This wholesome snack contains only three simple ingredients, including liver, organic oats and a touch of organically grown pitted green olives, these provide the optimum nutritional value to your pets. Snack Treats: Tuna Wafers are great and nutritious. These snack treats are made with organic oats and eggs from free range chickens. This treat is made from Non GMO wild caught Albacore Tuna packed in water with no added salt, which provides a healthy, protein packed choice with all the taste and none of the smell of regular canned tuna. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bones offer not only great taste but also many health benefits that pumpkin offer. These Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bones are simply made of just that! Organically grown pumpkins, all-natural peanut butter with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, free range eggs, organic coconut oil, and organic oats. Texas Australian Labradoodles have personally met and spoken with the devoted Weimaraner owner and creator of SugarBay Creations. She informed me that she was very frustrated with the expensive treats she was buying for her dogs only to have them refuse to eat them a couple of weeks after they were opened. Also, she was done spending money on snacks that smelled of chemicals after opening a sealed bag. She therefore was forced to look to other sources for natural snacks that contained no preservatives and no artificial flavorings. After a long journey researching health-benefits of common ingredients for pets, she created these training tidbits and snacks that are highly desired by all kinds of pets. May not be ideal for pups who like crunchy treats Why We Like It This treat is made with meat as the first ingredient in all of their meat recipes, they have cheddar. They are sourced and manufactured in the USA. Click here if your pup is in need of a chewy and tricky training treat! Think small. You should consider something bite-sized when you are looking for a training treat for a Labradoodle puppy. Smaller treats are usually safer for small puppies because the dog will be able to trap them in their mouth without needing to struggle to break the treat into pieces. You should make sure your pup can easily consume the treat and keep giving you their attention and focusing on the training commands you are saying. Another thing to consider is treats that you can easily tear into smaller pieces. Avoid treats high in fat, preservatives, or salt. If you are able, search for all-natural dog food. Fat can contribute to weight gain and a variety of diseases, including pancreatitis. Also, an excess of salt is not ideal for dogs. Look for nutritional balance. You will want to ensure that your dog has a healthy diet, their treats are included in this as well. Letting them try a variety of treats with different ingredients can help. What does your puppy like? This is meant to be a perfect treat, after all! These are a few tips that you may want to follow when finding the best treats for Labradoodle puppies, but you should still ask for a qualified veterinarian opinion as well. What Not To Feed Labradoodles? These apply to all dogs and the list might surprise you: grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, nutmeg, alcohol, almonds, avocado, cinnamon, coffee, macadamia nuts, green tomatoes, and chocolate are no-goes for all dog regardless of allergies or breed. The reaction your dog can have from these foods can range from an upset stomach and vomiting to death. Even food that is considered safe can be contaminated by things on this list that can go unnoticed like the spices. It is important to read ingredients and be careful about what human-food you allow your dog to eat. We recommend this product above the others because it is made and sourced in the USA. It is also low in sodium which is important for growing pups. These little guys are perfectly bite-sized and chewy for your labradoodle puppy in training. The best part for you? No greasy residue on your fingers. Just kidding, the best part for you is that your puppy is likely to respond well during training with these in your palm. Conclusion We hope you enjoyed reading this post about the best treats for Labradoodle puppies. If you loved this post, then we are sure you would love these amazing posts about labradoodles:. They contain no by-products, corn, soy, or wheat. Just chicken, vegetable glycerin, and salt go into these delicious, high-protein treats. The portions are large and can be cut in half or enjoyed whole to give your dog a healthy reward. Check the price now! Your vet can help you determine this. Once you have that number, consider what your dog eats in a day. We have to be careful not to let them overindulge though, because too many treats can cause weight gain. If you have a very active Labradoodle, they will burn more calories than couch potatoes. Your vet can help you determine the right amount of calories for your dog based on their age, weight , and activity level. Just remember to keep track of them! If your dog is going through training and needs a high number of treats each session, you can choose low-calorie treats or small pieces of carrots and apples instead. Choosing the Right Treats When browsing dog treats, choose ones that are specially formulated for dogs without a lot of ingredients. These could potentially cause allergic reactions or upset stomachs. Treats should be an after-meal snack, not before. If your dog is allergic to a certain protein, there are plenty of options available with protein of all kinds. You can easily find one that will work for them. If your dog is missing teeth or has trouble chewing, soft treats are a good solution for them. Puppies should always be introduced to new treats gradually. Their stomachs can get upset if they eat too much of a new food at once. If you have any doubt about a certain type of treat, always ask your vet before introducing anything new to your dog. They are high-quality treats with natural ingredients and have only five calories each. Adjusting their food intake to give them the proper number of calories will keep them healthy and happy. There are so many treats to choose from and some may not be a hit with your Labradoodle. After all, they have their own opinions and preferences. It may take some trial and error, but you can find a delicious treat that your dog will love. Fortunately, Labradoodles are not generally picky eaters and pretty low-maintenance when it comes to what treats they enjoy. We hope this list has given you some good options to try and that your Labradoodle is enjoying their new healthy, delicious snacks soon! She has lived with dogs for over 30 years and spends her days writing, caring for various animals, and enjoying her backyard that has become an oasis for wild creatures. Her passion for animals began at a young age when she would bring home the lost dog or cat. As she got older, she went on to bring home an injured bird or raccoon. This love and desire to help all creatures led to her work as an adult with various animal rescues, where she saved the lives of many domestic and wild animals while learning the necessary skills to care for them. Owning and operating a professional pet care service in Chicago for the past twelve years, Jessica cares for dogs in her home while writing full-time. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Known for its natural beauty, vibrant downtown, and outdoor adventures, Boise City is a fantastic place to find and raise your new Boxer companion. Our goal is to connect you with the most exceptional Boxer breeders and puppies for sale in the region, ensuring you find the perfect furry friend for your family. Discover the dynamic dog-friendly scene in Boise City, featuring pet-friendly cafes, spacious dog parks, and engaging dog events. For those passionate about dog shows, events like the Boise Kennel Club Dog Show provide an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and grace of Boxer canines while connecting with fellow enthusiasts. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our reputable Boxer breeders provide safe and affordable flight delivery, complete with a dedicated flight nanny who accompanies your new pup throughout their journey, ensuring their safety and comfort as they travel to their new home in Boise City. Many breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery, utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option allows your Boxer puppy to be transported directly to your door by a professional who understands the unique requirements of pet transportation. Begin your search for the perfect Boxer puppy on TrustedPuppies. We are down to only 3 puppies now - the other 6 have gone to their new homes - so only a few new numbers. We will be winding down this website soon, as our remaining puppies all leave for their new homes. Updated July 7, -- We added a puppies at play short video clip, and a picture gallery directly below. These puppies are so adorable! We also added one more puppy to our sold list - beautiful dark brindle Aero will be living with JH starting next Tuesday! The puppies continue their strong growth and are now about 10x their birth weight! Updated June 30, -- Each puppy has a new 6-week picture on the Meet the Puppies pages! Updated June 29, -- The Puppy Growth Chart now has their 6-week old weights, and all of these sweet and loving pups are showing very healthy gains! Also, a weight table and graph in pounds has been added, since the ounce readings are getting so big! Hunt on Tuesday, July 13 and are starting to go to their new forever homes! Ace — sold to KB, and the new name is Ryker for this strikingly handsome brindle boy! Aero — This handsome and playful dark brindle has been sold to JH! Alice — sold to SM, and the new nickname is Kat for this sweet and beautiful brindle girl! Angel — this sweet, adorable fawn has been sold to RW! Apollo — pending until July 16 to MM, who likes Apollo for the name of this athletic fawn boy! Archie — sold to EL, and the new name for this wonderful and loving brindle boy is Bodie! Arie — This beautiful, loving fawn has been sold to KM! Arlo — pending until July 16 to CM, who likes Arlo as the name but is still thinking about other names for this handsome brindle boy! Astro — This beautiful and loving brindle boy has been sold to MR! The puppies are full of energy! Here they are playing at 7 weeks - July 7, .Click the play arrow, lower left Here are a few pictures at 7 weeks - July 7, We are a family in Eagle, Idaho. These amazing puppies were born on May 18, .We are taking reservation deposits now, and they will be available for their forever homes at 8 weeks or older — Wednesday July 14, or later they are getting their 8 week puppy shots with Dr. Hunt on July .Sweet, loving, beautiful puppies from absolutely wonderful parents! Pile of Puppies - A Week Old Arie at 24 days old - June 10 Apollo - 30 days - June 16 Aero - 30 days - June 16 Ace at 6 weeks - June 30, Aero at 6 weeks - June 30, Alice at 6 weeks - June 30, Angel at 6 weeks - June 30, Apollo at 6 weeks - June 30, Archie at 6 weeks - June 30, Arie at 6 weeks - June 30, Arlo at 6 weeks - June 30, Astro at 6 weeks - June 30, Previous Next Here are a few short video clips taken when the puppies were 3 weeks old and starting to walk like toddlers — a little wobbly. One week later, at 4 weeks they were confident little runners! So fun to watch the rapid growth and development of these loving little pups. Mommy Meekah is teaching her 4-week old puppies how to play! This is the dry food we are feeding our wonderful puppies. The "Large Breed" means the adult weight is expected to be over 50 lbs. Our local stores are frequently sold out of this puppy food, but it is readily available online at Amazon, WalMart and many others. We also feed the wet food below. This is the wet canned food we use - we mix dry food, wet food, and water for feedings four times each day. The puppies have a bowl of water, and a bowl of dry food in their pen at all times. This canned food is also frequently sold out at our local stores, but is readily available by the case online.

They are outgoing, active and affectionate companions who have a lot of energy and love making their owner happy. They have strong retrieving instincts as they were bred to be gun dogs, so they love both soft toys and diving into bodies of water. 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 Labrador puppy will get most of their nutrition from their mother's milk. At around 4 weeks you may wish to introduce a mush of minced protein such as beef, but always consult your vet first before changing your puppy's diet at this stage. Health During this time it is important to monitor your Lab 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 Labrador puppy 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. 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. You will soon notice their attentiveness to you and their intense love of play — many Labs keep this caring and fun attitude for their whole lives if you foster it. Nutrition During the weaning stage, you should slowly introduce into their diet a nutritionally complete dog food which is appropriate to your Labrador's large size and young age. Labs are notoriously greedy and will quickly gobble down food and snatch treats from hands. You should familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid and hide as your puppy will soon find ways to get into forbidden snacks found only in bins. Labradors puppies instinctively like to 'dig' inside their water bowls so much of their water will end up on the ground. Make sure to get your puppy used to touching inside their small ears as they are prone to ear infections and will need regular checkups. Behaviour Due to the changes in their environment, your Labrador puppy will likely be under a significant amount of stress. It's important that you provide lots of attention and positive reinforcement for good behaviour at this time to establish boundaries early. Labradors are eager to love anyone but can be overbearing, so you should introduce them to a number of different people and environments so that they are not overwhelmed with excitement later in life. PUPPY By the time your Labrador Retriever reaches puppyhood their personality will be well developed and you will have established a loving, social friend who wants to maximise time with you and others. Your Labrador puppy will do well socially and behaviourally from puppy training classes as long as treats are involved. Nutrition Your Labrador 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. Bloat is potentially fatal but can be combatted by feeding your dog two smaller meals per day, a habit you should start while they are a puppy. A rough guide is that they should exercise for minutes per day and less after 5 years when many lose their appetite for long marathons of activity. Your pup will need brushing every few days, with more frequent grooming during seasonal changes to combat shedding. Bathing should be infrequent as this can damage the waterproofing of their coats, however, you should wash them after swimming or rolling in muck. 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 after that. Studies showed that dogs supplemented with a diet of bovine colostrum had a quicker and stronger immune system response to CDV vaccine as compared to dogs fed a control diet. Colostrum supplemented dogs maintained a higher antibody level even after 40 weeks A diet supplemented with Colostrum helps bridge the immunity gap in puppies that occurs between 3 weeks and 5 months of age. Behaviour Do not be complacent with training your Labrador puppy — almost all are very gentle and well behaved, but this does not mean that training is unnecessary. Labs are very loving and patient with all that they meet, but they often do not know their own size. To combat this, they should be trained in how to act around small dogs and children to avoid intimidation or accidental injury. They will also benefit from obedience training to drop things from their mouths, avoid rushing across busy streets and make sure they come when called. Recommended Articles. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. Once they reach eight weeks, changing to dry kibble food is best. We recommend feeding a Labrador puppy dry kibble for the first months before changing to an adult food type. But to remain healthy, owners should know what to feed them. Dog owners should feed a Labrador puppy dry food kibble , wet food, or fresh human food, depending on their budget and lifestyle. There are many options for food for dogs, and it can become challenging to determine which one is the best option for the dog. We have found the best options and listed them below. They help us with our daily tasks, are always there when we need them, and bring great joy to our lives. But, it is essential to ensure that our dog gets the best nutrition possible. They have a lot of energy and need to be fed accordingly. This includes the number of calories, food type, and the number of meals per day. We will explain all of these factors to help understand what to feed these precious animals. A Labrador puppy needs high-quality protein in their diet, so they should not be fed just any type of food. This is why we recommend three food options: dry food or kibble, fresh food or human food, or wet food. We prefer using dry food or kibble in most cases, but it is beneficial to start with wet food for young puppies and transition to dry food after a few weeks. Feeding a puppy human food is possible, but it can be more expensive and requires extra work to stick to a cleaner diet at this age. We have found it to be a healthier and more convenient option for our pets. It is also a good alternative to wet food which can be difficult to store and prepare. The benefits of dry dog food are that it offers the pup a balanced diet that doesn't need refrigeration. It also offers convenience because we can buy it in bulk and store it in the pantry or freezer until needed. Dry dog food is also less expensive than wet food, which is another benefit for pet owners. Fresh Food Human Food Feeding a Labrador puppy a diet of fresh, real human food is one of the best things to do for their health and well-being. It will not only make them happy and content, but it will also keep them healthy. This eliminates the guessing game; they are only fed real, natural foods with no unknown ingredients. However, it will become expensive and require regular cooking and preparation. Wet Food Wet food is recommended for Labrador puppies when they are first born and for the first weeks while they grow. It can be either raw or cooked. Wet food is a good source of water and minerals, which are important in the early days of their life to help them grow strong bones and teeth. It should be given to a puppy as soon as it comes out of its mother's womb, but it must not be given before it starts eating solid foods because it will cause diarrhea. Once they get more mature, moving to kibbles is best. It is known for its low level of grain and carbohydrate content and high protein content. Once they reach the week mark, there are better options to help the puppy continue to develop and grow. This food also helps with digestion and weight management. It also promotes proper bone growth with antioxidants and necessary nutrients like vitamin E. The kibble is also shaped strategically to help puppies who chew fast while helping with jaw growth. Overall, this is the best food option for a Labrador puppy. It is designed for all life stages, from puppies to seniors, and we love the benefits it provides to younger labs. The product features a blend of highly digestible proteins, omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, taurine, and glucosamine. This ensures the dog gets the nutrition they need while also reducing the risk of digestive tract problems such as bloat or pancreatitis. It also has a low glycemic index and no corn, wheat, or soy in the recipe. Dog owners can also expect an excellent protein ratio when using this food. Both veterinarians and nutritionists have recognized it for its high-quality ingredients for young puppies. The Acana High Protein formula is made with a blend of chicken, turkey, and fish meals, whole eggs, and natural beef or lamb meal. The product has a limited ingredient list with no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It also has no added sugar and a low glycemic index. This food also contains probiotics and prebiotics to help the pet maintain a healthy immune system. This is the perfect dry dog food for puppies after eight weeks old. This brand is also very affordable for those who want to feed their dog a healthy diet without breaking the bank. It features a patented recipe that helps to promote healthy digestion, strong teeth and gums, healthy skin and shiny coat, a strong immune system, healthy joints and muscles, and a healthy heart. This is a high-protein food option for Labradors too. It promotes lean muscle growth and improved body health with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics 5. It is made with high-quality ingredients and has a great taste and texture for labs to enjoy. This food is to help with puppy development and is suitable for all Labradors under one-year-old. This wet food provides the perfect balance of healthy proteins to support a dog's growth while providing the energy they need to maintain its fitness levels. This can be fed as a meal or as an occasional snack between meals. It has no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or added sugar. It also contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are important for healthy skin and the dog's coat. They are large, strong, intelligent dogs that need a lot of attention, exercise, and food. These dogs can be picky eaters and usually need a lot of calories because of their size. This is especially true for puppies so they can grow properly and remain healthy due to their increased risk of health issues. Food Type Labrador puppies' most popular dog foods are kibbles and canned wet food. Kibbles are the best option for a puppy because they are easy to chew and digest. Canned food is a good option for pups who have difficulty chewing or digesting dry food and would benefit from a little moisture in their diet. The food type also depends on the owner. Dry food or kibbles are faster to prepare, while serving human food to a lab puppy requires extensive prep time. Nutritional Value When it comes to nutritional value, we want dog food that has high-quality protein and carbohydrates. This will help the puppy grow strong and healthy. This is why we need to take into account the nutritional value, quality of ingredients, and taste. It should be made with all-natural ingredients that are sourced from human-grade materials such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. A brand should have all the essential nutrients for a pup but still, be low in toxic elements and preservatives too. Dietary Restrictions Lastly, consider the dietary restrictions of the Labrador puppy before choosing a dog food option. This includes any allergies or health concerns for the dog and shopping for something that suits them best. For example, lab puppies must reach a certain carbohydrate and protein number daily. Labradors are also known to have allergies, especially young ones, so planning around this is crucial. A puppy should be fed at least three times a day, with a meal size that is appropriate for its body weight. They should also be given small daily snacks to keep them satisfied and happy, including treats to help with training. We feed our puppies the best that we can. We want to give them all the nutrients and vitamins they need. We also want to make sure that they are getting a balanced diet. The most important thing when feeding a Labrador puppy is that they get enough calories from their food every day. In the first weeks, the puppy should eat four smaller daily meals. Once the lab reaches three months, this can be changed to three meals per day. And after months, we recommend two meals per day. The key is not to change the calories much when the meals change but to simply modify the size of each meal to fit the total daily food amount. Feeding a Labrador puppy is not rocket science, but there are some things everybody should know about what to feed them and when to feed them. We have covered this basis, but changes need to be made as they age. This leads to a common question about changing food to fit the needs of a grown adult Labrador. The dog's age will determine how quickly they grow and how much energy they need. Lab puppies can stick with kibbles for up to 12 months. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. Made with real meat and no artificial colors or flavors how much should a lab eat? Allergies Labs can also have allergies. Some dogs may be allergic to wheat, macadamia nuts, etc. It can manifest as a runny nose, high volumes of shedding, rashes on the skin, and so on. Different dietary needs are crucial, especially if they display allergy symptoms. Avoid all types of human foods. You can give your lab puppy supplements You can get great quality adult dog food and puppy kibble from companies like Royal Canin Labrador Retriever, Blue Buffalo, Canidae Grain-Free, etc. Only adult food must be given to labrador retrievers who have crossed 1. Your puppy needs 4 small meals consisting of half a cup of food per meal till he is 2 months old. From 2 to 6 months, he needs 3 meals daily consisting of 1 cup of food per meal. From 6 months onwards , you can give your puppy 2 meals daily of 2 cups of dog food per meal. Is This A Problem? Yes, this is a major problem! Fat dogs are adorable but also extremely unhealthy. An adult labrador retriever should weigh at most pounds. Labs that are fatter than this stand at the risk of obesity, arthritis , and other lifelong diseases. Refrain from feeding your labrador too many dog treats. Onions and garlic: surprisingly, anything in the onion and garlic family is incredibly toxic to dogs. Meat with bones: if not chewed properly, sharp edges can rupture the throat, stomach lining, intestines, and other parts of the digestive tract. Other human foods and beverages to avoid giving your dog are alcohol, sugar, citric fruits, and anything with caffeine. Your labrador retriever should weigh between 55 to 70 pounds at full adulthood. Male labs are heavier than female labs, so they can fall on either side of the optimal weight spectrum. Some healthy treats for your labrador retriever are cut fruits and vegetables. Carrots, celery, cucumber, beetroot, apples, bananas, and berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, etc. Dogs also love peanut butter! Veggies dipped in peanut butter also make a great snack for your dog. This is entirely up to you as dog owners. If you have the time and patience to cook meals for your dog, go for it. Store-bought food is easier and is filled with the right nutritional requirements for your lab puppy. On the other hand, with the right recipe, home-cooked food works, too. What Should I Do? A dog growling at you when you go near his food bowl is most commonly a trauma response or a way to protect his food. We often see this with rescues. House training your lab puppy is equally important to avoid food aggression. Labrador Retrievers get piddly after their meals. Dog owners must take out their lab puppy as frequently as they eat sometimes even more often to let their energy out and adult labradors less frequently. A lab puppy needs a ton of exercise. The amount of kibble you should feed your Labrador puppy will vary depending on their age, weight, and activity level. A good rule of thumb is to start with cups of kibble daily and adjust as needed. Best Dog Food For Lab Puppies: The best dog foods for lab puppies include those that are high in protein and low in fillers. The food you should feed a black lab puppy is the same as for any other Labrador puppy. A chocolate lab puppy should be fed the same food as for any other Labrador puppy. A 2-year-old chocolate lab should eat about cups of kibble daily. You should stop feeding puppy food to your Labrador at around months of age. At this point, their growth plates will have closed, and they will no longer need the extra nutrients found in puppy food. Labradors live for years. They start to slow down around 7 and may develop some health problems in their senior years. You should also increase their exercise level. Lab breeders feed their dogs high-quality dog food specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. A lab puppy should drink about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily. This amount may increase as they get older and more active. A labrador needs at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This can be a combination of walking, running, and playing. Golden labs live for years. Chocolate labs live for years same like labs of any color. Labradors lose their baby teeth between 3 and 6 months of age. You can start to transition your puppy to eating twice a day at around 6 months of age. By the time they are 1 year old, they should eat only once daily. You should stop feeding your large breed puppy food at around 18 months of age. Why Are Labs So Hungry? Labradors are a very active breed of dog, and they need a lot of calories to fuel their energy levels. They are also prone to gaining weight, so keep a close eye on their food intake About The Author Shradha Kabra Shradha is a seasoned writer at Labradorandyou. Her experience as a pet owner and dog enthusiast drives her to create meticulously researched and fact-checked content, offering valuable insights on Labrador training, grooming, and health. Each article reflects Shradha's passion and dedication, enriched by personal experiences with her beloved Labradors, Tom, and Kurt. Whether exploring breed-specific training techniques or providing product reviews, Shradha ensures Labrador owners receive the most accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy information, aimed at enhancing their companions' health and happiness. Remember, Labs do not have a natural food intake regulator so you will need to monitor them with portion control. Using a cheaper brand is a poor option at half the price. You will use twice as much and you will have to clean up larger amounts of waste in your yard. To allow for an accurate control of body weight and growth rate, this amount of food can be dispensed over 3 meals per day. After 5 months of age, the feeding regularity can be reduced to two meals per day with the commensurate increase in food quantity. The amount of food a Labrador puppy requires will increase then level out during first 14 months of their life. At months, their bone density is increasing and their growth plates are set. We do not recommend desexing you pup until at least 3 years of age. This allows for an appropriate development and supply of hormone which in turn produces proper bone, muscle and vital organ development. Table foods dispensed randomly to dogs are not nutritionally balanced. We do not offer our dogs table food at all. There will be no problems if you are feeding a puppy with a homemade diet but it should be prepared from prescribed recipes that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Diets consisting of an unplanned and indiscriminate mixture of human foods particularly including carbohydrates will likely result in obesity and even dietary-induced disease. When you Lab reaches 14months of age, it should be given an adult food that contains less energy and calcium. This will decrease the risk of obesity and orthopaedic conditions. And do not feed them coffee or tea as they can contain caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. These toxic substances can dangerously affect the heart and nervous system. Onions, garlic, raisins and grapes can be severely toxic in labradors. Raw meat is potential source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria for your puppy. Eggs yokes are an excellent source of protein. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin a B vitamin. This can, in extreme cease, lead to skin and coat problems. Liver contains higher levels of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Raw liver can be a source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria. Excessive amounts of liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity. Raw bone chewing will control tartar buildup on a pups teeth. However, bone chewing can cause intestinal blockages and perforations. Never use cooked bones. Commercial Puppy Foods Most commercial puppy foods are designated for small, medium, large and giant breeds. This designation can be found on the label. Puppies of medium sized breeds are less than '25 kg fully grown adult body weight'. A full grown and lean Labrador will usually weigh between 25kg and 45kg. We feed our dogs at the 'lower' level of the recommended range. The 'Hills Body Fat Index' is a very helpful body shape indicator. The same food as the bitch You should feed your new puppy with the same brand of food as the bitch received during lactation. From 2 weeks into pregnancy, our expectant mothers are fed 'Royal Canin Labrador Puppy' food. Introducing a new brand of food If you are wanting to introduce a new brand of food to your puppy, then blend it gradually with the existing brand in increasing amounts over 3 days. This should prevent food rejection and any kind of gastric upset. It is best to choose a diet designed for large breed puppies. Selected commercial feeds should contain a limited percentage of filler compounds. Pawlinglabs uses Royal Canin Labrador as our preferred option. Growing labradors Labrador pups have a very steep growth curve, and their total daily energy needs do increase as they grow. Calculate the amount of puppy food that will satisfy that need. The feeding guidelines on the commercial pet food label provides an estimated quantity of feed for several different ranges in body size. These instructions will give you an estimated starting point for the particular brand. Medium or large? Medium breeds should be transitioned to an adult diet by 12 months of age, while large breeds between 14 — 18 months of age. Mature female labradors are medium and weight approx kg. Mature males are large and weight approx kg. Their calcium and energy content should not exceed that level recommended by a registered nutritionalist. Sound skeletal development Sound skeletal development in labradors is produced by the interaction of genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. The phase prior to weaning and the growth phase, up to 14 months are integral to sound skeletal structure. Don't take your young pup on extended distance walks and certainly not 'running' until at least 18mths of age. You must avoid stairs and slippery floors for the same reasons. Their growth plates are set at about mths of age. Feeding and Overfeeding Large breeds like Labradors are the most susceptible to skeletal disease. Feed consumption, nutrients balance and feeding methods influence our ability to produce sound skeletal development and eliminate skeletal disease. Appropriate food consumption and nutrition plays a critical role in bone development. Overfeeding will not increase or benefit the growth rate of young and growing labrador puppies. And it does not correlate with optimal adult size. However, it does increase the risk of skeletal abnormalities. The vast majority of skeletal disorders occur in large breeds including labradors and they are associated with consumption of table food and an excessive intake of a commercial food and supplementation. The large breeds like labradors are limited in their ability to cope with an excess of minerals such as calcium. The result of this over consumption is abnormal bone development and skeletal disorders. Nutritional management will be critical in the to prevention of bone and joint diseases. In most cases, skeletal disease can prevented by appropriate quantities of feed in a regulated diet with optimal nutrient levels. A complete and balanced commercial diet is essential. Dietary deficiencies will be of little concern if your labrador pup is fed with a complete and balanced commercial diet. Brands like Eukanuba and Royal Canin are specifically formulated for young, growing labradors. There is real potential for harm by over feeding and giving additional supplementation. Housing safety and activity levels Housing safety and activity levels are under the your influence. Nutrition is also under your control and it is the single most important factor affecting the development of the musculoskeletal system. Energy, protein, and calcium are the critical nutritional components affecting skeletal development. However, if they are given in excess, they will be detrimental to normal bone and joint growth. Most pet owners feed commercial dog food. These prepared diets are balanced and complete. Pawling Chocolate and Black Labradors. The source of protein matters when considering a high-quality diet. FATS The rest of the diet should be made up of fats, carbs, and vitamins. Labs need to have a correct protein -to-fat ratio, where protein takes the lead. Dogs tend to convert fat into glucose, so this is an important source of energy. Dogs rely mostly on protein and fats, but carbs are necessary. That said, a low carb diet is best for puppies. However, you still need the right percentage of carbs, since this gives your dog the sensation of being full. These include starches, fibers, and sugars. Try to opt for more complex carbs like starchy grain and veggies because these are easier to digest. Your Lab puppy will thrive when his or her diet includes: Vitamin B12 especially during puppy development , Vitamins A and E, C, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium, Potassium Each of these required vitamins and minerals contributes to a healthy, happy, and energetic puppy. They also help offset issues like obesity. Vitamins A and E are important because they help your dog burn calories and promote eye and skin health. Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, on the other hand, are part of a trifecta that works to strengthen teeth and bones. Potassium is a heart health-preserver. Labs with poor genetics are especially prone to orthopedic issues. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are common health problems for this breed. Glucosamine, an amino-sugar, together with chondroitin sulfate, helps replace and support naturally degrading cartilage during old age. Recently,"grain-free" foods are being championed as a preferred and even high-quality form of dog food. That's, not the whole story. An investigation launched by the FDA revealed that there are potential links between a form of canine heart disease and grain-free foods. So far, researchers have provided an update to this researchers have provided an update to this research staring that the issue may not just be grain-free diets. Grain-free may be part of other trends knows as "BEG"- boutique companies. Puppy diets don't' need to be complicated. They also don't need to include ingredients that humans might enjoy. Enjoyment doesn't necessarily bring any nutritional value to your puppy's development. Keep it simple, using the guidelines for fats, proteins, and carbs above and don't shy away from food with grains in them. It's not their presence that's a problem it's often the ratio. There shouldn't be more carbs or grains than protein. Nor does including only legumes, seeds, lentils, or chickpeas as the primary ingredients make the food more superior. It's perfectly healthy to include complex carb sources like starchy rice and other grains. Grain-free isn't and shouldn't be a qualifying factor for your choice in puppy food. Feeding Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is dried, pelleted food that stores well is easy to eat, and is pre-formulated with everything your puppy needs to thrive and grow in his early developmental months. There are plenty of popular brands that don't measure up to the Snowy Pines standard. That's why it's so vital for you to learn how to read puppy food labels. Puppies should stick with "puppy stage" food, while adults should stick to bags marked "adults. Instead, your dog should have regular bowel movements, allowing them to absorb all the nutrients available. You should also keep in mind that caloric intake is calculated a little differently for puppies. Kibble diets are measured by how many calories the proteins, fats, and carbs represent for each gram. For puppies, this should be 3. Sticking to these ratios will help ensure your kibble choice is a healthy one. It's also important to note that kibble calories are often higher when compared to wet food. If it's high-quality wet food, it won't have as much fat to preserve it, which means fewer calories. You may have to supplement with dry food, especially if you're trying to keep the calories of carbs, proteins, and fats in the right per-gram ratio. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. The best food for Labrador puppies to consume in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to trained breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a Labrador puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. You can do this by mixing some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, you can reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed a Labrador puppy as they get older. In their four months living with you, and once they are weaned off milk, Labradors are likely to reach almost half their adult weight. They will reach their full adult weight by the time they are 6 to 7 months old. With this rapid growth can come some risks. Labradors can be susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia and joint abnormalities that can start in puppyhood. Once your Lab puppy hits 6 months, their growth begins to slow down. Once puppyhood is over, you can move to feeding your lab twice a day instead of 3 or 4 times. Labs are still very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen at around 15 months. This is because, being a breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your Labrador puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. It is also dangerous for a puppy to overeat. Labradors are large breeds, which means they need plenty of nutrients and calories as they grow to ensure they go from being active puppies to healthy adult dogs. Labrador puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, Labrador puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. The amount of food you give your Labrador is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult Labradors, around 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female Labradors, who tend to be around 5 to 10 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, to 1, calories per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your Labrador based on how calorically dense their food is. Adult Labradors should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs may benefit from exercise after eating: especially high energy Labs with a lot of energy to burn off. You should also try to give your Labrador a high quality food that is specially designed for large breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. For example, Labradors can be particularly susceptible to obesity. As a breed, they tend to be one of the most commonly obese dogs in Australia. This is due to several factors, including a genetic predisposition to unhealthy weight gain and a famously large appetite. However, plenty of Labs suffering from obesity are simply overfed and not getting enough exercise. Choosing a low carb diet is crucial to preventing obesity in your Labrador. If you are unsure about what you should feed your Labrador, you should always consult your vet. They will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any chronic health issues, and they will be able to create a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for many years to come. Wet food for Labradors is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. Chewing on dry food can be especially good for teething Labrador puppies. A raw diet can be a good option for your Labrador as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your Labrador, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. Different dog breeds will need different kinds of nutrient support as they go through the various stages of their life. It can also be easy to overestimate the amount of food your Labrador needs to stay fit and healthy — especially if they are skilled at begging! You need to make sure that your dog is eating the right amount of food for their breed, their size, and activity level. You should also avoid foods that, while delicious for humans, can be harmful or toxic for dogs. Foods like onions, nuts, alcohol, cooked bones, and artificial sweeteners are commonly included in dinners meant for humans, but can cause serious health issues for your Labrador. No matter how old your Lab is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.

Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Height: 26 inches Ratio: .This should give you their height. For example, 26 inches times 0. Using the other example, .Since each dog is going to be different, you need to look at their overall body condition rather than a weight range. Fortunately, there are body conditioning charts that you can use to figure out if your German Shepherd is at their ideal weight. Just look at them from the side and from above, feeling for ribs and pelvic bones when necessary. Younger dogs will also typically be on the thin side before they fully fill out as adults. Years of line breeding has produced several distinct types of Shepherds. Show dogs are known for a sloped back in which the back legs are shorter than the front. This unnatural formation can cause back and hip problems along with an abnormal gait. German Shepherds bred for show will also be thinner than their hardworking cousins. As you can see in this picture, this is a show-bred German Shepherd with an obvious curved back and short back legs. Working dogs, on the other hand, are bred for a sturdy, straight back so they can work long hours without getting sore. They tend to be thicker than show dogs and will, therefore, weigh more, even at the same height. As you can see in this picture, this dog has a straighter back and longer back legs, so it has been bred for working. Something else I wanted to mention here is that, according to some sources, Black German Shepherds are larger than their bi-colored cousins, despite being otherwise the same. So, if you have one of these rare and beautiful creatures, you can follow the same charts that were listed above. If your German Shepherd is diagnosed by a veterinarian as underweight or overweight for their age, then the first thing you should do is ask him or her to help you figure out the underlying cause of the problem. This will determine what should be done next. Do you have a giant German Shepherd? What about a tiny one? Comment below to tell us more about it! About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. American German shepherds have straighter backs then German shepherds. If you have a german shepherd and their lineages are close to their German roots they will have that arch in their back. Puppyhood The first growth phase — puppyhood — has six development stages. During each of these stages, a puppy learns a lot of things. Neonatal Stage This period lasts from birth to 13 days. The puppy needs a lot of nursing from its mom because it is rather helpless. Its ears and eyes are closed, so it does not have any senses. The little pups should completely rely on their mothers for nourishment and care. By 2 weeks, they double their birth weight. They start crawling, and then their eyes and ears begin to open. The first milk teeth appear. The puppy can even stand up, but too unstably and shakily. This makes it possible for little ones to hear, smell, and taste. They even try to walk. Their baby teeth continue growing. The period between weeks is also called a transitional one. At the end of the third week, the motor skills start developing fast. The puppy can already control its temperature and body, namely, bowel movements. It begins to interact with its littermates. Nevertheless, the pup is still largely dependent on its mother. Though, you can interact with it. At the end of this period, the little cub is ready to explore the world. Its baby teeth are almost complete, and it can stand up more stably. It starts barking and growling a bit. The puppy grows quickly now. It actively interacts with its littermates. The baby dog can walk, and its baby teeth are complete. You can also consider the German Shepherd behavior stages from now. Its mental development starts because it discovers the world actively with its senses. Its walking improves, and it can make attempts to run, so it can even sometimes get in trouble. The puppy can start eating dog food. That is why it is important to begin weaning. The little one can recognize and greet its littermates and people, get interested in new things, and continue to explore the world. However, at this age, the first fear period can be experienced. Read our detailed guide about 6 week old German Shepherd puppy. It is the best period for taking your pet home. This period can be psychologically traumatic, so be careful not to expose the pet to direct sunlight because it may be afraid of it for its entire life. All the fears need your special attention. You need to nurture, but not encourage them. Read our detailed guide about 2 month old German Shepherd puppy. So, your puppy is three months old now. It is playful and active. Its teeth are complete. It is weaned and eats dog food. The feeding recommendation here is the overall one and a half cups, three times a day. It is also time to get your pet vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus. At the end of the third month, your little GSD can simulate its behavior after other dogs and humans. Training can start. Read our detailed guide about 3 month old German Shepherd puppy. Your puppy already has all its baby teeth, and adult canines and incisors begin to push through. It can even try to bite or nip you. The puppy coat begins to disappear and gets ready for replacement by the adult double-layer coat. You can see a racing stripe on its spine where the adult hair will grow. The puppy displays quick growth at this time, and it becomes stronger to withstand the possible fierce competition with its siblings if it is still staying with its family. It needs a lot of biting and chewing now for the correct growth of its adult teeth. Your pet needs consistent socialization and potty training now. After three months old, you should think about such vaccination as DHPP — distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. The juvenile phase lasts from 3 to 6 months, and it can be divided into three stages by month. Continue socializing and start more substantial training. You can consult the German Shepherd weight chart here to see whether your pup develops properly. So, be attentive to the games you play with your pet. Some of them can be dangerous and traumatic because your puppy may not know how to manage its body during them. You can give it two cups of kibble totally three times per day because it needs a lot of nutrition to grow. DHPP and rabies vaccines are recommended at this age. Your little pup is ready to explore the world. However, as a true teenager, it can become more stubborn and try not to listen to your commands. It starts to understand dominance and tries to persuade you in its leadership. Read our detailed guide about 4 month old German Shepherd puppy. During this month, it can gain about 10 pounds 4. Its ears have stably perked up by this time. It looks more like an adult dog but, as a true teenager, it is very playful and is always ready to go around. The adult teeth continue to appear. Sexual maturity starts emerging. You should feed your pet around two cups three times per day. A lot of training is also needed. Read our detailed guide about 5 month old German Shepherd puppy. It needs a lot of training and positive reinforcement. Now, your pet is fully house-trained, and it needs a lot of new experiences. The sixth month is a transition period to the Adolescent Phase. The ears are completely upright. Males achieve sexual maturity, while female puppies can experience heat cycles. Hormones start working, and male puppies can start marking the territory and looking for females to mate. The adult coat grows longer and gets its normal double layers. Adult teething is about to finish, and all 42 teeth appear. You should feed your dog with the overall two or three cups two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. Adolescence Phase Months German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years 36 months old. Females become adults when they are 2 years 24 months old. However, these criteria differ for every puppy. That is why the adolescence phase lasts from the end of the 6th month to the end of the second year of age 24 months on average. By the end of this phase, the puppy reaches its full size though it will continue slightly growing. Your dog can display testing boundaries, so disobedience is widely encountered if the dog is not properly trained. German Shepherds do not look like puppies anymore. Within this period, some dogs can display their second fear period at approximately months old , though to avoid long-lasting psychological trauma, you should ignore the fears. Some dogs may occasionally forget their skills that they have already acquired, so you may need to repeat training again. Here, the reinforced training is useful because some puppies can become entirely rambunctious. Your pet will also need more socialization since it reaches its sexual maturity, and some of its reactions can be pretty unexpected. Its sexual maturity continues, which may cause some aggression because of increases and decreases in hormones. The puppy does not gain weight so fast. Teething is finished. The German Shepherd starts looking more similar to an adult dog, with its standing up ears and well-developed muscles. The food your dog needs involves two or three cups total, given two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 7 month old German Shepherd puppy. It displays a lot of aggression. It can bark or lunge at other animals, kids, and unfamiliar people. A lot of training and reinforcement is needed. You can teach the youngster new tricks to deal with their aggression. The dog has strong adult teeth, and its ears are well-formed and perky. The transition to adulthood continues. As for food, your dog needs two-three cups in total two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 8 month old German Shepherd puppy. It does not grow fast, gaining about a couple of pounds per month. The dog needs two-three cups of food two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 9 month old German Shepherd puppy. They are very active and need a lot of attention and training. Sometimes, they can be really goofy or clumsy because they are still learning and do not know how to behave in many events. Your pup is very smart and clever but tends to display a lot of aggression if not supported and reinforced properly. The dogs should eat two-three cups in total per day. Read our detailed guide about 10 month old German Shepherd pupp y. It starts to challenge you as an owner and likes to demonstrate its leadership. You should teach it to be responsible and obey your commands. A lot of training and reinforcement is crucial. Still, give it two or three cups in total per day. It becomes a bit destructive, but be sure not to get angry or upset with it. It needs your patience and positive attitude. Such vaccines as DHPP and rabies are recommended at this age. It should also transit to adult food. Give it three or three and a half cups total twice a day. Read our detailed guide about 1 year old German Shepherd puppy. Years 1. This time is considered a transition period. The dog may have problems with fears and memory breakdowns. It may even forget how to do familiar things and should be trained again. However, its attention span is longer at this age, so it can have a more thorough obedience training. The dog should eat three or three and a half cups two times a day. Year 2 months — The Second Transition Phase This is one more transition period known as young adulthood. Your dog still displays some aggression. That is why they continue to need reinforcement, training, and socialization. It has already gained its athletic frame and strong muscle, and only several pounds are lacking for reaching its adult weight. In fact, you get a German Shepherd full-grown pet now. The DHPP vaccination is recommended at this age. Continue to feed your dog with three to three and a half cups in total twice per day. It has become a loyal and protective family pet or an obedient and enduring working dog. The young adulthood stage lasts from the second to the third year after the puppy was born. Its size is typical now for an adult dog. However, it may continue to grow slightly, but the changes are not noticeable at all. At this phase, you can also notice that your pet becomes more and more active. It needs a lot of exercise and training. A lot of physical activity is essential for the dog to stay in high spirits. The period between the second and third years of life is also called the adult growth stage. This is the time when your friend gets its excellent breed characteristics. It loves attention very much and continues to learn new things eagerly. The dog enjoys training sessions and strives for new experiences. It becomes calmer and more confident. Its hyperactivity slightly decreases. It displays a lot of self-control and discipline. Continue feeding your dog with three to three and a half cups twice per day. It will be its constant adult diet. Vaccination against rabies is recommended and required by authorities at this age. Seniority Phase This is the last phase of German Shepherd development. It may seem wonderful, but your dog can continue to slightly grow. The phase is divided into two periods — early senior years old and late senior years old. Unfortunately, you need to focus on its health rather than on training. Such health issues as hip dysplasia, joint pain, and decreased stamina can appear at this age. You need to have consultations with your vet more often. During this period, your dog does not change its weight and height considerably. Though, you can observe slight changes in weight. On average, these dogs live years. You need to attend to their health and comfort. The dog may remain energetic and playful, but it slightly slows down. It wants to rest more and gets much calmer. The animal may suffer from some pains, so it may need pain relievers for spine and joint problems and arthritis. It may also need nutritional supplements and changes to its diet. Special senior and sensitive stomach food may become the best choice. Avoid jumping and hard playing. Continuous veterinary monitoring is needed if some symptoms are worsening. The accepted proportion that is considered ideal is .The weight is usually not taken into consideration. If your pet does not correspond to this proportion, there may be a health issue you do not know about yet. That is why you need to monitor the parameters carefully. To be sure that everything is OK, multiply the length of your dog by 0. You will get the perfect height. However, there can be some divergences. If they are minor, you have nothing to worry about. The German Shepherd is rather thin, or even skinny. This results in bad proportions. The ideal weight of your German Shepherd is lbs kg for males and lbs kg for females. You can get either a heavy or obese dog, and it can be a result of overfeeding or certain health issues. How to Check the Weight of Your German Shepherd The simplest method to see whether your dog is underweight is to check whether the ribs are visible on the sides. If you can see that the shape of your dog reminds you of a barrel on the ribs, it means that it is overweight. If you cannot feel the ribs, but there is too much skin on the sides, your dog is overweight. However, if you feel the ribs and only a thin layer of skin, it is underweight. It does not matter whether your dog is underweight or overweight. In any case, it can cause health problems if you do not repair the situation. The best way to succeed is to make changes to the diet. If your German Shepherd is underweight, you should enrich the content of its food. However, do not make it eat if the dog does not want to. That can lead to more severe problems. Make a slow transition to food with higher fat content. Or you may even give your dog puppy food because it is rich in nutrients. If your pet is obviously overweight, the best thing is to cut off the food. However, you also need to do it step by step so that the dog finally can eat just half of the amount you have recently fed it. The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder and an average weight of pounds kg. Nevertheless, some German Shepherds can grow bigger and even reach pounds kg. You need to be sure about its proportions though to understand if your pet meets the standards. If you see some deficiencies, meet your vet for a more thorough evaluation. When does a German Shepherd stop growing? German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years old. Females become adults when they are 2 years old. How tall is a German Shepherd? The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder. An average male reaches inches cm in height, while an average female should be inches cm tall. The body of both males and females should be longer than their height. How big do German Shepherds get? How much does a German Shepherd weight? In general, an average male reaches pounds kg in weight, while an average female should be pounds kg heavy. This is a very strong and brave dog that can become a perfect guardian and protector. If you decide to take a GS puppy, you need to follow its growth stages accurately to be sure that it develops properly. You should follow a high-quality diet, provide your dog with a lot of exercise, and ensure its proper training and socialization. Your German Shepherd cannot stay healthy and active if it gets some health problems related to its weight or height. Sometimes, these issues are not obvious and understandable to the owner. That is why it is important to know the main development parameters of your German Shepherd growth stages to cope with possible challenges. We hope that this article, together with the weight and height chart, will become your effective and helpful guide. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. Reliable training German Shepherd puppy training: socialization! The first item in your German Shepherd puppy training list is Socialization. It means that you must provide your baby German Shepherd with interesting and positive interactions. If you ensure that your pup interacts, and has a positive and rewarding experience, with as many people, dogs, animals, sounds, objects, sights and experiences, you will raise a confident and reliable dog. Every new activity or interaction must be followed with a yummy treat! This will ensure your puppy will have a positive association with every new experience, object, person, animal, etc. You can use your dog's kibble or something better like chicken, beef or cheese. Commercial treats are also a good and easy to use option, but make sure you buy healthy, all natural dog treats to keep your German shepherd puppy healthy and strong! German Shepherd dogs are loyal and may have a tendency to be apprehensive with strangers. Socialization will ensure that your puppy grows a strong bond with you without developing a problematic over-protectiveness. German Shepherd puppy training socialization tips: Never separate a puppy from his mother and littermates before the age of weeks. During this time, mom teaches her puppies some important rules of the dog world like body language communication and they start to learn bite inhibition by plying with the other puppies. Unfortunately many vets will tell you not to take your puppy out of the house until they have had all of their shots. This is old school thinking and can have extremely bad consequences that will become apparent only when your canine becomes an adult. Without the full set of shots, your puppy is vulnerable to infectious diseases, however taking your pup to early socialization classes where all other dogs have also been immunized reduces the risk for becoming sick AND will make your German Shepherd a confident, well adjusted and friendlier dog. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior promotes early socialization , even before the full set of vaccines are given to the pup. Take socialization in your own hands. Spend the first 4 weeks holding parties at your home! Yes, parties! Invite all your friends and family for Karaoke, sports watching, boardgames, etc. Ask them to bring their kids too! And always make sure socialization is about positive interactions. If any of the kids or adults make your puppy a little scared, simply remove the threat and let the puppy explore other things. Back to top of German shepherd puppy training article. German Shepherd puppy training: stop the biting! Socialization is hard work, bite-inhibition is even harder! But it is one of the best things you can ever teach your pup. Dogs have really strong jaws and can learn to apply just the right amount of pressure with it. Adult dogs that have had this kind of training can get into fights and defend themselves without drawing blood. This is so important to avoid any type of dog-human or dog-dog bite accidents. German Shepherd puppy dogs have sharp teeth for a reason: to learn how to use their mouth properly. Teach your puppy to bite without hurting! To teach your pooch not to hurt human skin you will need to yelp like a puppy every time you feel teeth in contact with your skin. Engage in puppy play and Yelp Yes! Loud, sharp, high pitched and clear when you feel teeth. Your pup will most likely stop in surprise. As soon as he has stopped, wait seconds and resume play. Repeat as many times as needed. Start with those bites that really hurt or scratch. If you yelp every time you feel teeth, your puppy will think it is how you play. It may take a few weeks for you to notice that your pup is not hurting as much.Progressively teach your pup to play without hurting you. This make take a couple of months! Do not let your puppy play with your clothes, shoes, face or hair. If your puppy bites any of these, the game is over. Wait for him to calm down and start playing again. If you are tired of playing and getting bitten, grab a tug-toy or a ball and play those games instead. After a while, settle your puppy with a stuffed Kong toy on his bed or crate. Never punish your puppy for play-biting, this can lead to aggression or your puppy fearing "hands" near his face. Even though German shepherd puppy dogs are really smart, bite-inhibition requires a lot of repetition and consistency. Most of the time you will feel he is not learning anything at all, keep at it. You can add second time outs on top of yelping if needed. It is definitely worth your time. If bite-inhibition is slow, this article has more tips to help you! Another aspect of training your German shepherd puppy bite inhibition are toys! Your pup needs to learn to bite only his toys, not furniture, not the walls, not your shoes. For this reason you need to load your house with puppy toys and TEACH your puppy how to play with them. The best dog toys are interactive, this means that you can put food inside the toy and your puppy has to think how to get it out. This toys are the best because they add enrichment to your dog's life. Interactive dog toy recommendations: Feed EVERY meal inside an interactive dog toy Use interactive toys with your German shepherd when he is left alone in the house. Make sure he has plenty of toys interactive and others so he won't get bored when you leave. Use interactive toys when you need some quiet time because you need to work, or you have guests. Kong dog toy's are the best , you can fill them with something soft like cheese or peanut butter and let your puppy lick it for a while. Even better.Below you will see some of my favorite interactive dog toys durable and fun! German Shepherd puppy training: potty outside! Another important item on your German shepherd puppy training list is House training. It can be a bit stressful, but if done correctly, you can accomplish it very quickly. Just keep in mind that depending on your puppy in can take anywhere from 1 week to several months to complete potty training. The following info-graphic has some simple rules to follow and make german shepher potty training easy and effective: Take your puppy out for a potty break every hours. Take your puppy out for a potty the break after every meal. Take your puppy out for a potty break after a nap. Take your puppy out for a potty break after a play session. The main idea when potty training a German shepherd puppy, is to take him out or to the correct place as often as he needs to and reward him after he is done. The infographic above gives you an idea of how often a puppy needs to go out. However, you need to know your own puppy. This way you will know how often he is relieving himself. You may also notice if he does it after every meal or nap. Reward with a treat after he is done! Repeat steps 2 and 3, you should start noticing that after a couple of days or weeks your puppy chooses the correct place more often than other places. NEVER punish your dog for accidents, this can stress him and even make him do his business hidden from you which will make potty training very hard because you won't be able to reward him. You can crate train your German shepherd puppy so he learns to have quiet times in between active times. Crate training also prevents your puppy from having accidents. For more information and a puppy crate-training schedule check this article! German shepherd potty training aids The are several commercial items available to help you potty train your German shepherd dog. Regular cleaning products may take away the urine scent -you- smell but they will not remove the scent your dog smells. Enzymatic cleaners do that, they break down urine molecules to make them easy to remove. This will prevent your pet from returning to the same, incorrect, spot. Puppy pads are very popular because they are less messy than news paper. However, if you put a puppy pad and leave you puppy alone with it, you will find it in shreds! You must teach your puppy to use the puppy pads, not to chew on them. To do this, put the puppy pad on the floor and interrupt your puppy if he tries to play with it. Exchange for another toy and reward with treats for not grabbing the pad with his mouth he can however, stand or sit on it. Repeat until he learns this! If you have a backyard, a doggy-door is an excellent way to give your pup access to the outdoors without your help. You must teach him how to use it! Use a treat to lure him through the door many times until he can do it on his own! Then, every-time you take him outside, make him go though the door on his own. You can also teach your puppy to let you know when he needs to go outside! Use a doggy doorbells for this purpose. You must teach your dog how to use them! First, teach your dog to touch the bells. Then, ask your dog to touch the bells every time before you open the door to let him go outside. Finally, be alert for when he does it on his own! I do not recommend any "Not Here" or "Yes Here" type sprays. They don't work very well, specially without any training.German Shepherd puppy training: basic commands! Some dog trainers won't start until the dog is 6 months old, at which time he is past the socialization and bite inhibition period and he is probably doing all sorts of naughty things. You can start training your German shepherd puppy from the first day you bring him home. From weeks you can start teaching your canine many commands, however I strongly advice you keep your focus on socialization, bite-inhibition and potty training. If you have time to train basic commands…. Your pooch will love it! Step-by-step obedience training tutorials for your German shepherd German Shepherd puppy training "SIT": You will use this command all the time. Ask your pup to sit when a stranger wants to pet him, for attention, for the ball to be thrown, etc. To start use food to lure your pooch into the sit position. Only give him the treat once his bottom is on the ground. Repeat many times! Follow this link for detail instructions.This is useful at the vet as well as to mix and match commands. From a sit or down position lure your baby german shepherd into a stand. This link will take you to the step by step guide.Start your pooch from a sitting position and lure him into a down. Only give your dog a treat after he is completely down on the ground. Click here for a step-by-step tutorial.Why train your pooch sit, down and stand? You need three commands to mix up when you ask your dog to do something. If you have at least three options, then your smart German Shepherd won't be able to predict what you will ask. Practice Puppy Push-Ups! Sit-down-stand, Down-sit-stand, and ask you German Shepherd puppy to do one, two, or more commands to earn treats, toys and attention! Other useful cues include: Speak and Quiet , settle and ask for permission before rushing into something potentially dangerous. You can see a full list of commands on this link. Enjoy German Shepherd puppy training time and leave us your questions and comments in the box below. Tweet How big will my German Shepherd get? Along with hundreds of submissions from others lucky enough to be owned by a GSD. What the heck is FCI? Keep in mind that dog growth can be affected by genetics and environment, so take that into consideration when comparing your pup to the data in the German Shepherd growth chart. What is the normal size of a German Shepherd puppy? A German Shepherd dam will normally whelp give birth to between six and eight puppies. Puppy Growth Chart A healthy large breed puppy will normally double her birth weight during the first week. And moderates to an ultimate weight of around 70 times the puppy's birth weight. Check the puppy growth chart for an explanation of the different puppy development stages and puppy growth rate. German Shepherds normally reach physical maturity at months. Curiously, some Eastern European lines mature more slowly and do not reach full maturity until 36 months of age. Their growth rate slows noticeably at 6 months and continues minimally after .Puppy to adult in 40 seconds Here is a great time lapse video that shows GSD Dunder's growth from 8 weeks to 1 year. Standard, MO. If you have any doubt that your puppy is not changing according to the above German Shepherd growth chart, the best thing to do would be to contact your trusted vet. If you are providing adequate exercise and quality dog food , your German Shepherd's dog growth should be normal and she will have no trouble reaching her full potential. Not sure if you're feeding your GSD enough? Check out this breed specific dog food calculator to make sure. Is your GSD growing by the numbers? How is your pup progressing? Enter The Title of Your puppy growth story ex. Just type! Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph. Show off your puppy! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it. Note: Submissions without at least one picture, will likely not be published. Your Name. However, there are certain breeds that are easier to train than others. Thankfully, German Shepherds fit into that category because they are very intelligent and quick learners. This includes house training , crate training , basic obedience commands as well as learning tricks. We recommend attending a puppy kindergarten class as part of your German Shepherd puppy socialization strategy. Once your pup knows their basic obedience commands, you can enroll them in Schutzhund training aka IPO. Partnership and teamwork between yourself and your dog are the basis for this type of training. Note that the Schutzhund environment is not a place for dogs with aggression issues, neither towards other dogs nor people! If they pass that initial level which includes a temperament test, they can move on to IPO 2 minimum age 19 months and IPO 3 minimum age 20 months. That said, protection dog trainers recommend starting training classes that include bitework and high jumps once your German Shepherd puppy is 12 months old. Dutch and Czech are two other languages that commands are frequently taught in. Stanley, my former long-haired GSD dog walking client, started going to Schutzhund training when he was a little over 12 months old. His owners practiced commands in German with him on a daily basis, and I remember getting a print out of his German commands as they asked me to use them on our walks as well. Lots, ha! German Shepherds need a minimum of 2 hours of physical exercise per day, but generally speaking, the more exercise you can provide your GSD with, the more they will thrive. Remember, German Shepherds are high-energy, athletic dogs bred to be active all day long, especially if they come from a working line! Physical Exercise Ideas for German Shepherds As far as physical exercise, this can be a mix of walks, runs, bike rides, fetch and playtime. This is Nala, one of my former pet sitting clients. She was crazy about frisbees and balls. One of my favorite ways of increasing the energy and calories a dog burns on a regular walk or hike is by using a doggie backpack. Mental Stimulation for German Shepherds Besides providing a good physical workout, dog backpacks also burn mental energy. As you probably know, bored dogs can quickly become destructive as they figure out ways of entertaining themselves. For example, chewing up your furniture and shoes, scratching doors, raiding your kitchen trash can or digging up your flower beds. So do yourself a favor and make sure your GSD gets plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog, and that applies to German Shepherds as much as it does to any other dog breed! Former GSD client Remi pooped after a long walk. Bottom Line So, how big does a German Shepherd get? Well, German Shepherds are medium to large size dogs, so they can weigh anywhere between lbs. That said, the average expected weight for a male GSD is between lbs, and the average expected weight for a female GSD is between lbs. Both reach sexual maturity somewhere between months and are considered fully grown at about the 2 year mark. Keeping that in mind, your GSD breeder should be able to give you a good general idea of how big your German Shepherd puppy will grow to be! Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Barbara is a trilingual, something dog lover, e-book author, founder, copywriter, dog nutrition blogger and editor at K9sOverCoffee. 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Lethargic behavior Stiff muscles In some cases, hypothermia can get severe to the point medical treatment is needed. Hopefully, you and your pup can avoid temperatures that extreme, but being informed on what the signs look like can save a lot of pain and trouble before it starts! If your dog is primarily an outdoor family pet, it is highly recommended that you bring them indoors when temperatures reach that marker. There are many ways to prevent this from advancing into something worse. It is as simple as warming up your Golden when coming in from outdoors. Even if indoor temperatures are low and your dog seems to be chilled, there are solutions to warm them up. Whether it be an extra step before going outdoors, returning indoors, or just making smart decisions when the climate is cool. These precautionary steps include: Making sure your Golden Retriever is completely dry prior to going outdoors. Cleaning them before they return inside. Always staying with your Golden outside Avoiding shaving their hair during winter Making sure they are dry before entering the cold outdoors is logical. Think about it; if you walk out with your hair wet when it is cold, you instantly feel the chill of the cold. Same goes for your furry companion. If they are wet and walk outside into cold conditions, the chances of them becoming cold is greater. This could also increase the risk of hypothermia. Toweling off any snow or ice particles on their paws or legs can help them dry faster and essentially help them warm up quicker. Not to mention it will keep your house tidy. This will also prevent the dog from ingesting any chemicals or salt that they could have picked up along the way on their paws. Stay with your dog while they are outside so you can watch for any signals that they are cold. If possible, keep your Golden Retrievers fur long and thick until warmer weather. Their hair is what helps keep them warm. Winter Apparel and Accessories for Dogs Our dogs depend on us to keep them warm in the winter and colder months. Below is a list of a few items that do just that. Depending on how cold it is in your region, one or more of these items can greatly increase your pets safety and comfort in the cold. Warm Sweaters and Jackets. A winter coat is not necessary for most Golden Retrievers. Golden Retrievers that are healthy and active do not need to wear a winter coat. But, there are factors to consider such as age, health status, temperature, activity level and climate, that will determine if your Golden Retriever needs to wear a winter coat. Here are 5 factors you need to consider that will help you determine if your Golden should wear a winter coat: 1. Activity Level Putting a winter coat on your Golden Retriever may seem like a good idea, but it will likely cause your dog to overheat! This is especially true if your Golden is healthy and active. Double-coated breeds like the Golden Retriever are protected from the elements. This includes cold weather. The outer coat consists of guard hairs that repel moisture and dirt, and the inner coat is thick and dense. However, you still need to be mindful when the temperatures become extreme. Age of Your Golden Retriever When it gets cold outside, you need to pay special attention to your Golden if they are a puppy or a senior. Puppies: Young puppies do not have a fully developed immune system yet and tend to get cold faster. They are unable to regulate their body temperature, like a healthy adult dog. Special care is needed to keep them warm and prevent them from getting sick. Being able to regulate their body temperature also declines with age. This may make your senior Golden feel uncomfortably cold when the temperature drops. They are unable to regulate their body temperature as well as a healthy dog. This includes dogs with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or chronic conditions like arthritis. Their joints get stiff and become painful. Keeping your dog warm helps to alleviate the pain. A winter coat is beneficial for the outdoors, and a sweater may be needed to keep them warm indoors. Recovering From Injuries or Surgery Any dog that is recovering from an injury or surgery should be taking it easy to help speed up healing. Having added warmth from a winter coat while taking a short walk or going outside to pee may be beneficial to keep the immune system strong. Acclimating To A New Climate If your Golden Retriever is used to living in a warm climate and has never experienced cold weather, a winter coat will be beneficial. Just because your Golden has a double-coat does not mean they will be able to tolerate the cold. This is especially true if your Golden is used to living in sunny and warm areas. Having never experienced cooler temperatures will make your Golden susceptible to feeling cold. The same is true for Goldens who spend a lot of time indoors. A winter coat will help them stay warm and slowly transition them to their new colder climate. But, what about your Golden Retriever? At what temperature will my Golden Retriever need a coat? Cooler temps. Below 32 degrees Fahrenheit 0 degrees Celsius : When the temperature reaches below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you will want to pay close attention to your puppy, senior, or sick dog. They may need to limit their time outdoors as well as wear a winter coat. Below 20 degrees Fahrenheit .A winter coat will help keep your dog warm, but time spent outside should be limited. Most Golden Retrievers enjoy the snow and the colder temperatures that winter brings. But, they can get cold and show some subtle and obvious signs that you need to watch out for.

What our customers are saying Constance McKinley Brought this gift for my grandkids uncle. This one is the most adorable little fellow I met! Love this! Deb Tilbury Amy granddaughter loves it! Shel My girls see this at the Hallmark store they ask for one every time since COVID have not been able to get to the mall it's been closed. Now it's getting close to their birthday I was suprised to find them here. They will be very excited to get their breathing puppy! KR I like them dog it's cute. I was expecting it to be higher though, more lifelike and eyes open and close for my dog. Other than that it makes a good coffee table decoration. Ron Granddaughter love it. Came with it's own bed sound breathing great and it's belly mover. Richard Robinson Love the product!!! Brenda Atkins Was as listed. Given to mom for Christmas in nursing home. Hers was put to sleep years before admit to nursing home. She loved this and kept it close by her. She died the following month. But her dog was beside her the whole time. Staff and visitors thought was a real dog as it would breathe. Well worth the money. Marc Barrera Gave this puppy to my 5yo for her birthday and she loves it! Amazon Customer The most beautiful and life like my yorkie. Cayitaurbina It is super adorable! My daughter love it! Josh This set of pretend dog toys is cute! They were designed for Perfect Petzzz brand toys. Amazon Customer Super cute! We lost our 6yo King Charles to blur-green algae. He snored and so does this little guy. Laura Karaszewski. The original toy series was produced by Kenner in the early s. Hasbro, alongside various digital media developers, has produced video games for consoles such as the Nintendo DS , Wii and PlayStation 3. This series premiered in and concluded in after episodes. Hasbro has created virtual pets to 'adopt' and play with online. In , Hasbro released their version of Blythe as a part of this toy line. A wide variety of Littlest Pet Shop products have been produced. The first series was created in , the second release in , the third release in , the fourth release in , and the most recent release in .Around the world, they are known to have code toy numbers on either the side of them or the bottom, or otherwise have them on the box which it sometimes comes with the sticker. On November 15, , it was announced Hasbro made a deal with Basic Fun! Most included magnets or simple mechanisms, such as flapping wings. This line is also often known by collectors as "Generation 1", as it is the first iteration of the toyline to be released. The line includes: —[ edit ] Note: Sets produced in are depicted. The same set released in was also remade in with different colors. Other sets are also released in .Li'l Paw Prints Pets — Choice of a yellow cat or a grey and white dog. They came on a molded plastic base that would hide a rolling stamper built into the underside of the pet. Either of the stamp ink colors can come in red and purple. Ready to Go Pets[ edit ] Happy Puppy — A Dalmatian with a purple pet carrier, an ID tag, a newspaper, a food dish, and a magnetized red brush that, when moved in front of its stomach, causes its tail to wag a revision in contained a black dog with a green brush. Hurrying Hamsters — Two hamsters with a clear container yellow lid , an ID tag, a water bottle, a bag of paper litter, and a clear pink wheel. The curved hamster has a little weight in its belly—when placed in the wheel and the handle is turned, the hamster would move as if it were running in the wheel the revision contained two-tone hamsters. Ticklish Toucan — A magenta toucan with green feet, and a light turquoise cage with lavender bars, an ID tag, a perch, a newspaper, and a food dish. Touching the toucan's head would cause her wings to flap the revision had a red toucan. Color Change Chameleon — A green temperature-sensitive chameleon with a pink container blue lid , an ID tag, a water bottle, and a desert background the version had an orange chameleon. Bashful Bunny — A white rabbit with a light turquoise basket, an ID tag, a bunch of carrots, a bag of litter paper, and a food dish green food. If the user pressed down on the rabbit's tail, her ears would twitch the revision had a brown patched rabbit and a pink basket. Pet Presents[ edit ] Cutesy Kittens — Golden and gray-white kittens brown and calico respectively in the version. It contained a cat house with a built-in litter box on the base , a food dish, a scratching post, and a magnetized toy mouse on a string. The golden kitten's head had a magnet in it and would bobble its head when the mouse was dangled in front of it. Pressing the gray-white kitten's tail would cause the arms to move up and down in a scratching motion. Mice — Three mice two of which were magnetized, grey or white in the version, black-and-white with patches in the version. A terrarium with a landscape insert, a lid that could be flipped over to become a maze, magnetized cheese, a water bottle and a food dish. Turtles — Two turtles with a terrarium green with blue shells in 92, yellow with purple and pink shells in 93 , a water dispenser, a landscape with a palm tree, and a food dish. One turtle pulls head when moved and the other turtle walks when pushed along a flat surface. Playful Puppies — Two dogs a white fluffy dog, a brown and white mutt; a grey-white splotched fluffy dog and a pure brown mutt in the version. It contained a large basket, a newspaper, a dog bone, a fire hydrant, and a food dish. Fluffy dog wags tail when head is pushed forward and mutt has a magnet, so it chases bone. It came with a doghouse with a fenced-in green grass base, a food dish, with mailbox, and a magnetized newspaper. Pressing the poodle's tail would make her scratch her ear, pressing the collie's tail would make him shake his paw and the spaniel's bobble-head was magnetized to play tug of war with the paper and bone version had beige poodle, tricolor collie and brown and white spaniel. Gerbils — Four gerbils, containing two yellow transparent plastic enclosures, connecting pipes, an exercise wheel, a food dish, a water dispenser, and a magnetic wand to move the gerbils through pipes version had clear plastic enclosures. Fish — A tank with colorful floating fish and seahorse, with temperature, aqua coral, brown treasure chest with opening lid and yellow treasure inside and shell hand-pump attached to aquarium with transparent tube. When the tank is filled with water and the hand-pump is pressed, bubbles come out of the treasure chest version had goldfish. Monkeys — A trio of monkeys, one scratching, one crouching and one standing, with a tree, two platforms, a tire-swing, a food and water bowl, and two bunches of bananas. When the scratching monkey's head is pressed it scratches stomach, crouching monkey is magnetized, so it chases bananas and standing monkey can cling to the tree branches and tire-swing version had tan monkeys. Mommy and Babies[ edit ] Each set came with 5 babies and a mother. Two of the babies had magnets inside and would suckle the mother and play with toys. Each set seems to have used multiple variations in colour. Mommy and Baby Puppies — Sheepdog mother and pups, with a bed, newspaper, food and water bowl, bone and fire hydrant. Mommy and Baby Kitties — Grey-or-white mother, kittens come in yellow, grey and white, with a platform with litter box, scratching post, food and water bowl, basket, and yarn. Mommy and Baby Bunnies — White or brown mother, brown, white and grey babies, containing a cardboard vegetable garden, grassy terrain with a hole, a basket, a bunch of carrots, lettuce, and a food and water bowl. Playsets[ edit ] Pet Shop — It came with a variety of accessories and two caged lovebirds that would kiss when lever moved the version is aqua, while the version is coral. Care Center — A veterinarian play set with a dog, a kitten, and numerous veterinarian pieces. It came with a white bed with an adjustable pillow angle, a aqua weighing table with a removable meter and two drawers , a magenta x-ray machine with a blue "scanner" which was a handle that turns the battery 'on' and 'off' , a white cast for the dog's arm, yellow tweezers, an aqua tray, a white-and-aqua syringe, white scissors, a square aqua canister, a yellow thermometer, a round yellow canister, an aqua bottle, an aqua blanket, x-rays one for the cat, two for the dog that are illuminated by an x-ray machine, a check-up list, and 5 Band-Aid stickers cut out. When the kitten is placed in warm water, the fleas disappear. The dog's arm is moveable, and the cast can be put on it. Kennel Playcase — A re-purposed pet shop play set, this set uses the same overall mold, but comes with different accessories and a differently shaped counter. Beethoven's 2nd[ edit ] Based upon the movie series , there was a number of playsets featuring the infamous Saint Bernard dogs with Beethoven and Missy with Tchaikovsky, Chubby, Dolly and Mo. Tug 'n Play Beethoven — Beethoven with wagon and turkey leg. Beethoven is magnetized, so he plays with the turkey leg. Nuzzletime Nursery — Missy, Tchaikovsky, Chubby, Dolly and Mo, with a piano, crib, slipper and overflowing extended food dish. Chubby and Mo have magnets and play with slipper and nurse from Missy. Puppy Pool — Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Chubby, Dolly and Mo, with a yellow pool with a fish that squirts water, snorkel, starfish, two towels, dog shampoo, brush and inner tube. Beethoven squirts water when squeezed, Tchaikovsky shakes head when moved, Mo floats in inner tube and Chubby moves paws to splash when tail is pushed. Backyard Kennel — Beethoven and Mo, with a doghouse kennel, skateboard, frisbee with bite-mark, double food dish and green leash and collar. Beethoven wags tail when moved and pulls Mo on the skateboard and Mo can fit the leash in his mouth and can be pulled on the skateboard by Beethoven and can also fit the frisbee. Poodle shakes head when tail is pressed, Golden Retriever's mud spots disappear when in hot water and Pug squirts water when squeezed. Beagle lifts ear off its eye when tail is pressed, Shih Tzu wags tail when pushed forward and husky chases bone. Splashtime Pets[ edit ] Swimming Ducklings — A mother duck with two ducklings, all magnetized, a bowl of food, and a pond. The ducks could be made to move in the pond by a magnetized wand. Deepsea Divers — A small tank with two separated sides that both have coral, one side is blue and the other is red with yellow coral. Hot water is supposed to go in the red side and cold water on the blue side to make the seahorse turn colors. There is an octopus that squirts water, a snail that moves with the magnet wand, a seahorse that sticks to the coral, a magnet wand and a box of fish food. Jump 'n Splash Frogs — Three frogs on lily pads, a tank with a catapult, a jar of frog food, and a frog jumping contest mat. Chatter Pets[ edit ] Chirpy Tree Friends — A skunk, a raccoon, a squirrel, a tree, grass with butterflies, and a hanging food dish. Skunk has a sweet scent, squirrel has a posable tail, perches on food dish and squeaks by pressing the squeak button on tree base and raccoon bats paws when tail is pressed on. Chirpy Birds — Four birds yellow cockatoo, two pink cockatoos, and lavender cockatoo with a clear aviary with swing hanging from top and feeder. Mother cockatoo has a magnet so she "feeds" the baby, yellow cockatoo balances on swing and lavender cockatoo perches on feeder. There was also a button on the top of the aviary that would chirp when pressed. Purry Kittens — Three cats calico cat, yellow cat, and gray cat , mouse and a kitty condo, dish of spilled milk, and a box that squeaked. Calico cat chases mouse, yellow cat chases tail when spun around and gray cat climbs up condo. My Real Pets[ edit ] Playful Persian — Persian cat with a tunnel bed, purple food dish with food, aqua brush, pink yarn ball and gold trophy. Persian plays with yarn ball. Sleek Siamese — Siamese cat with a litter box, scratching post, bucket of spilled milk, pink lavender yarn ball and silver and blue trophy. Siamese chases tail when spun around. Clever Collie — Collie with a plaid cushion, glittery leash and collar, newspaper, pink food dish and green or aqua trophy. Collie shakes paw when tail is pressed. Poodle scratches ear when tail is pressed. Lively Shih Tzu — Shih Tzu with a bright pink basket with yellow cushion, glittery aqua leash and collar, gold fire hydrant, round food dish with food spilling and magenta trophy. When Shih Tzu is pushed forward, tail wags. German Shepherd has a magnet, so it chases the bone. Littlest Pet Shop Zoo — [ edit ] Keep Me Safe Pets Jungle Bunch — An elephant, a panda, a leopard, and a parrot, with a zoo enclosure, a bowl of food, a coconut, and a branch of brown bamboo. The elephant squirts water out of its trunk when squeezed. The panda holds bamboo and raises it toward its head to "eat" when said head is pushed. The leopard bats the coconut when its head is pushed and the parrot flaps its wings when its head is pressed. Polar Pets — A polar bear, two penguins, and a seal, with an ice cave, a bucket of fish, and a fishing rod — the polar bear has a magnet in its head, and chases fish. Penguins have ball bearings on the bottom allowing them to "slide" down the iceberg and the seal flaps its flippers when the snowball on its nose is turned. Nursery Pets Baby Tiger — A baby tiger and a baby cockatoo, with a zoo enclosure, a food bowl, and a ball-on-string. The tiger shares a mold and gimmick with the Jungle Bunch leopard. Baby Chimp — A baby chimp, with a zoo enclosure with a hammock, a baby's bottle, nappies, a doll, a blanket and a bunch of bananas — the chimp wets itself. Baby Zebra — A baby zebra and a baby mouse, with a zoo enclosure, a brush, and a bale of hay — the zebra has a gear hidden in its mane, which when turned caused one hoof to kick. Comes with lavender fence pieces that attach together, bucket of hay, bale of hay, blue brush and comb, pink saddle blanket and brown saddle. Black Arabian can be posed on its hind legs and gray Arabian bobs tail when head is petted. Shy Shetlands — Shetland ponies, a mother and baby. Comes with four pale pink fence pieces that attach to each other, bucket of hay, bale of hay, brush, comb, bottle, and two saddle blankets. Mother and baby have magnets in their heads so they nuzzle each other. Indian Ponies — Two ponies, one palomino, one appaloosa. Comes with an apple, bale of hay, purple brush and comb, western saddle and red saddle blanket. Palomino has a magnet in its head so it eats the apple and appaloosa moves front leg when gear in mane is pressed. Wilderness Pets Baby Bobcat — A baby bobcat, a cave, a food bowl, and a toy mouse on a pink string — Same as pet shop standing kitties, the bobcat has a magnet in the head and will follow the mouse. Desert Parakeet — A parakeet, a purple bowl of grey food, desert terrain in enclosure with a blue lid — the parakeet flaps its wings. Fearless Falcon — A tan falcon, with the same accessories as the Desert Parakeet — like the parakeet, the falcon flaps its wings when head is pushed. Honey Bear — A bear, a cave, an orange bowl of purple food, and a mug of honey that the bear can hold — like the panda, the bear raises the honey mug to "eat". Playful Sea Lion — A sea lion with a starfish on its nose, with an ocean platform with an island and a palm tree and bucket of fish. When the starfish is turned, the sea lion 'claps'. Keep Me Safe Pets 94 release Lion Family — Father lion, mother lion, cub and macaw, with a cave and tree, yellow and magenta foliage, yellow fruit that hangs from tree and steak. Cub nuzzles mother and perches on tree, father lion opens mouth when tail is pressed and macaw perches on cave or tree. Play With Me Pets Mommy Hen — A hen with chicks in eggs with removable eggshell tops in her nest, that chirp when pressed. Baby Calf — A cow calf with red corral, bale of hay and bell. Its tail swishes when the head is petted. Baby Lamb — A lamb with yellow corral, feeder, removable woolly coat and flower wreath. Its woolly coat comes off and one part of the corral can be used a jumping fence. Zoo Playset Playset — A beige carrying case, that folds open with two internal trees, two bright green leaf canopies; one fits on top of each tree trunk, a purple chest, accessories in yellow, aqua, or bright pink: two sacks, a small bale of hay, a bag of peanuts, a bucket of fruit, a bamboo stick, a bunch of bananas, and two fish. Sparkling Ponies [ edit ] Pinto Pony — A black and white pinto pony, comes with light peach fence piece, blue star-shaped hair decoration, aqua saddle blanket, silver bucket of hay and pink brush. Rears up on its hind legs. Crystal Pony — A lavender pony, comes with green fence piece, blue hair decoration, blue and pink saddle blanket, silver bucket of green hay and pink comb. It has a gear hidden in its mane, which when turned its front leg moves. Sky Blaze Pony — An orange pony, comes with blue fence piece, glittery star-shaped hair decoration, purple saddle with silver trim, silver bucket of green hay and red apple. It is magnetized, so it reaches the apple. Mystic Pony — A black pony, comes with yellow fence piece, magenta hair decoration, white saddle, silver bucket of teal hay and teal brush. When head is petted, tail bobs. Lil' Saddle Filly — A baby black pony, comes with stall on green grassy base, pink hair decoration, saddle, with pink trim, purple brush and mint green bottle. Baby pony kicks front leg when back leg is pushed. Lil' Wash 'n Pretty Filly — A baby yellow pony, comes with corral on green grassy base, teal hair decoration, teal saddle blanket with pink trim, pink sponge brush, teal bottle, and teal bucket. Can be used with any soap and pony bobs when head is pushed. Lil' Brush 'n Grow Filly — A baby pink pony, comes with pink corral on green grassy base, yellow blanket with pink trim, fancy purple brush, fancy light blue bottle, two bright pink ribbons, and pink hair decoration. Hair grows. Lil' Magic Drinkin' Filly — A baby gray and pink pony, comes with blue house on yellow base, pink, teal and yellow blanket, fancy light blue brush, fancy light blue bottle, bottle with pink top with teal bow and purple bow. When head is lifted, milk disappears. When ponies are petted, their heads bob. Champion Ponies — One gray pony and one peach pony, comes with two jumping hurdles and other accessories. Peach pony can be posed on its hind legs and gray pony has a gear hidden in its mane, which when turned caused one hoof to kick. Sweetheart Ponies — One gray pony and one white pony with accessories. Ponies nuzzle. Royal Carriage Ponies — One black pony, one brown pony and a terrier, with a carriage, harness, saddle and accessories. Black pony bows when pressed, brown pony pulls carriage when harness is attached and terrier rides in carriage. Ice Palace Ponies — One gray pony, white pony and cardinal, with an ice castle and accessories. White pony kicks front hooves when tail is pressed down. Sparkling Pets [ edit ] Fluffy Persian Kitty — A persian cat that comes with a bed, a gold food dish and glittery pink brush and comb. Flips tail when head is turned. Royal Bombay — A bombay cat that comes with a throne, a gold tray, a food cup with food, and silver crown with red jewel. Licks lips when tail is moved. Proud Crested Cockatiel — A cockatiel that comes with a gold cage, pink food container and lavender perch. Raises crest when tail is pushed. Silly Yorkie — A Yorkshire Terrier that comes with a bed with green cushion, purple detachable mirror and glittery pink brush, comb and hair bow. Hair and tail can be pulled to be longer or shorter. Needin' Feedin' Puppies — A poodle and brown puppy that comes with green bed, box of food and treat dispenser. When the puppies are pushed against the treat center, the food drops down. Hungry Kitties — A white cat and yellow cat that comes with blue cushion, butterfly toy stand and pink food and water dish. When the cats are pressed against the food dish, the food disappears and lever can be pulled to reappear. Suppertime Guppies — A purple and blue fish, yellow and orange fish and orange and pink fish. Comes with fishbowl with yellow castle and box of fish food. Purple and blue fish is magnetic, so it goes for the fish food. Thirsty Guinea Pigs — A gray guinea pig and brown and white guinea pig. Comes with glittery terrarium with removable peach lid, water dispenser with gold hook that latches onto cage, glittery refill water bottle and carrots. When the guinea pigs are pressed against the water dispenser, the water level lowers. McDonald's Happy Meal — It included fantasy creatures, such as a unicorn and a dragon. Star Styles Pet Salon — Dog and mouse. Comes with salon and accessories. When the dog is placed on the runway and the magnetic wand is moved underneath the runway, the dog "walks". It also includes O. Pete and Penny are magnetized, so they attach to "kiss". Baby Shamu with Seashell Cradle — Baby Shamu and starfish, with sandy platform with blue wave, seashell cradle and bucket of fish. Baby Shamu flips tail when fin is pushed. Sir Winston Walrus bobs head when pushed forward. Dolly Dolphin on Her Dancing Wave — Dolly Dolphin and snail, with blue wave on top of pink platform with a pink handle and peg and carton of fish. Dolly Dolphin twirls when placed on the peg and pink handle is moved from left to right and squirts water when squeezed. The Shamu Family Playset — Mama Shamu, Papa Shamu, Baby Shamu and squid, with rocky base with flat transparent top, pool with diving wheel in back base with a light up base, transparent blue wave-slide and carton of fish. Mama Shamu squirts water when squeezed, Papa Shamu opens mouth when dorsal fin is pushed and Baby Shamu and family can be attached to the spinning wheel to "dive" into the water. Pets on the Move! Black and white rabbit's tail twitches when carrot is rubbed on its tummy, brown rabbit hops when back is pressed and white rabbit slides through tunnel and is pulled up on a platform when the attached carrot in the garden is pulled up. Garden Tag Pets — Sheepdog, cat and blue bird. Sheepdog chases cat and blue bird flies around on the birdbath, perches on top of birdbath and perches inside nest. Ride'n Slide Hamsters — Four hamsters two brown and two gray. The brown hamsters can slide on the teeter-totter and ride on merry-go-round while the gray hamsters run in the ball, slide on the teeter-totter and ride the merry-go-round. Pup 'n Kitty Clubs[ edit ] Clubhouse Kitties — A white cat, yellow and white cat, gray cat and two kittens. White cat climbs up a tree, yellow and white cat rides on skateboard, gray cat scratches when tail is pushed and kitten chases yarn. Fearless Friends Puppy Club — St. Bernard, Dalmatian, German Shepherd, white puppy and black and white puppy. Comes with blue awards stage, pink doghouse with purple roof, bone, red fire hydrant, plastic blue-ribbon collar, gold medal on string and purple raincoat with pockets and medical symbol which fits St. Bernard wags tail when pushed along ground, German Shepherd chases tail, Dalmatian raises one ear when tail is pressed on and white puppy chases bone. Dressed 'n Ready Pets[ edit ] Kitty Goes Camping — A cat with fuzzy bright pink teepee with teal, black, and pink geometric patterns on outside, dark blue dish of spilled milk, blue fish on purple fishing pole and pink bandana. Chases after fish. Tutu Fun Kitty — A gray and white cat with green grassy base, beige gazebo with roses attaches to base , glittery pink tutu, gold crown with red jewel and transparent red cup of gold food. Cat bows head when tail is pressed on. The mud on the puppy's feet disappears in warm water. Sweet Sleepy Puppy — A fuzzy puppy with pink bone-shaped sleeping bag, blanket, teal doll, lavender bottle, pink bucket and two newspapers. Puppy wets itself. Take Care Pup — Brown and white dog with teal bed and adjustable pillow with silver frame, white syringe with blue pusher, blue thermometer, transparent bottle with pink top and light pink pull-over hospital gown with pawprints. Liquid in the bottle disappears when flipped over. Country Fun Pets [ edit ] Mini Surprise Pets — These toys consist of carriers with a wheel that moves the pets when it is turned. Country Garden Nursery — Mother dog, puppy, mother rabbit, baby rabbit, and mother cat and kitten with floral scent. Comes with a swing, washtub, bucket and ball. When the mother dog's head is locked in the upright position and her tail is pushed forward, her head pops downward and nudges the yellow ball along a path toward the puppy, mother rabbit pushes baby rabbit on the swing and mother cat squirts water onto kitten through her paw when the washtub is filled with water poured from the bucket into the rain gutter and hole in gutter lets water drip into washtub. Perky Playful Bunnies — Yellow mother rabbit, pink, blue and purple babies. Comes with a flower garden and carrots. Mother rabbit is magnetized, so she cuddles the pink baby rabbit. When either of the puppies is placed in the mother dog's belly and her tail is pushed, the puppy pops out and the father dog plays tug of war with puppies. Comes with pink house and multiple accessories. When either of the kittens placed in the small lower compartment of the birthing cozy and the mother cat is pushed along a lever inside the cozy, the kitten pops out and the father cat's back legs move when he is pushed along the ground; he can carry the yellow kitten by placing the kitten's scruff in his mouth. Mommy Deer with Frisky Fawn — Mother deer, fawn and pink butterfly. Comes with grassy nest platform. When the mother deer's back leg is moved, she bobs her head to "nuzzle" her fawn, when fawn's tail is moved, it "nuzzles" its mother, and butterfly is magnetized so it attaches to the mother deer. Mommy Fox with Playful Pups — Mother fox, two baby foxes; one standing and one lying down and yellow glow-in-the-dark firefly. Comes with hollow log and accessories. When the mother fox's front leg is pressed backward, her head bobs and she "licks" her baby, standing baby fox's ears move when tail is moved, lying baby fox slides down and firefly is magnetized, so it attaches to the mother fox's tail. Mommy Swan with Snuggling Babies — Mother swan, two babies and dragonfly. Comes with blue pond platform and various accessories. The mother swan moves wings when head is pressed, the dragonfly is magnetized so it attaches to the mother swan's wing and when the magnetic wand is placed underneath the pond platform, the mother swan "swims". Country Home Carry Case Playset — A house carrying case, with two basket beds, two bones, two leashes, two collars, double food dish, double scratching post, and wheel barrow. Comes with pink chest, magenta crown and orange shell mirror. Mermaid rabbit blows a kiss. Swingin' Star Sea Monkey — Mermaid monkey and crab. Comes with transparent green star-shaped case, bunch of bananas with seaweed, pink shovel with yellow seashell-shaped handle and aqua coral. When coral is hanged from the top of the case; the mermaid monkey swings on it. Ocean Goin' Guppy Puppy — Mermaid puppy and fish. Comes with boat, life preserver and wooden box. Mermaid puppy nods when its tail is pressed. Mommy Mer Catfish — Mermaid cat and mermaid kitten. Comes with transparent magenta shell case, pink or white shell cradle with attached teal blanket inside and white or pink shell bottle. Mermaid cat and mermaid kitten hug. Splash 'n Play Cat and Puppy — Mermaid cat, mermaid puppy, hermit crab and lobster. When knob is turned on the back, the wheel spins and when the switch is pushed, the lobster comes out. Prance 'n Play Seahorses — Teal mermaid pony, white mermaid pony and clam. When knob is turned on the back, the wheel spins. Comes with brush, food dish and garden base with elevated pond and other features. Brown cat waves tail when head is pressed down, gray and white cat chases flowers and turtle slides down tunnel underneath pond. Twinkling Sledding Party — White husky, gray husky, brown husky and rabbit. Comes with sled, comb, food dish, igloo, pond and snow-covered ground. The set has several battery-operated lights. White husky pulls sled, gray husky spins around, brown husky chases snowflakes and rabbit rides in sled and slides down on the igloo. Dazzling Hair Pets [ edit ] Plush Dazzling Hair Pets — These plushes include a pink unicorn, pink cat, white dog, and white leopard that come with a brush. Tickled Pink Kitty — Magenta cat, comes with yellow lock of curly hair, aqua crown with pink jewel, fancy aqua comb, three blue plastic bows, purple plastic cushion with yellow tassels, mirror in yellow frame. Hair lock can be attached. The tail can be styled. Stickers can be stuck to its hair and can be styled. Fancy Curls Carousel — Bright yellow lion, comes with carousel with grassy base, pink carousel base with canopy, blue pole in center of carousel, blue pole-top, four purple seats hanging down on green rods from canopy, four purple fence pieces that attach to grassy base with four seats, purple combs, two with glittery heart stickers that can be attached to canopy, two circular purple hair decorations with hearts on them that can be attached to canopy, and two tiara-shaped purple hair decorations that can be attached to canopy. When blue knob on top of the carousel's canopy is twirled, the carousel spins around. Primpin' Guinea Pig Pals — Teal guinea pig and lavender guinea pig, comes with terrarium with green terrain inside, pink lid, gold hanging water dispenser with blue disappearing water, yellow comb and bunch of carrots. When the guinea pigs drink the water, it disappears. Fluffy Lil' Puppies — Yellow puppy and poodle, comes with purple basket with molded aqua cushion, pink bow that attaches to basket, fancy blue brush, and treat center. Silky Lil' Kitties — Purple cat and pink cat, comes with plastic aqua bed with yellow trim, mirror in yellow frame that attaches to bed, blue brush and magenta food and water dish. When the cats are pressed against the food dish, the food disappears. Royal Palace Ponies — Yellow pony, pink pony, pink dog and magenta bird, comes with a transparent glittery blue castle, front white carriage with purple canopy and wheels, two blue, iridescent, snowflake-shaped hair decorations one with rounded edges, one with sharp edges , iridescent white saddle blanket, aqua saddle, aqua harness with gold trim that attaches to carriage and fancy lime green brush. The yellow pony can pull the carriage when harness is attached and pink pony bows when pressed. Magic Waterfall Pets — Yellow deer, mermaid cat and fish, comes with a waterfall with pool on top and hidden room behind, fancy aqua comb, dark pink hair plug with pale pink curly hair, aqua hair plug with wavy magenta hair, magenta hair plug with curly green hair, along with pink and orange jewels with velcro on the back which changes color in warm water. The deer and mermaid cat's hair can be replaced and fish squirts water. Curly Tail Trio — Pink cat and two butterflies, comes with hair curler, comb and pearlized brown tree on green grassy base is that a panel of leaves folds down to reveal a room and a mirror in the trunk is revealed by turning a section of the bark. Cat and butterflies' hair can be curled. Puppy Dress-Up Palace — Orange dog and lavender puppy, comes with magenta palace with yellow top and bottom; two fold-out doors, fancy bright green comb, bright green barrette and gold cape. Lavender puppy's tail grows and shortens when crown is turned. Kenner Parker Toys was acquired by Tonka in .Under Tonka management, Kenner Products was reconstituted as a division. Tonka including Kenner was purchased by Hasbro in mid.Hasbro closed the Cincinnati offices of Kenner in , and Kenner's product lines were merged into Hasbro's. This incarnation is also known by collectors as "Generation 2", and is considered to be divided into three parts. Stuffed versions of Littlest Pet Shop toys [ edit ] The Littlest Pet Shop toy line had molds that looked more unrealistic compared to the s incarnation of the franchise, and had realistic colors that blended in. They had bobble-heads and they came with a round pink or blue magnet with a pawprint on it, this is located on the bottom of their feet — versions. Some pets were fuzzy. Later ones had a smaller blue magnet with no pawprint which didn't have a specified location on the bottom. This series of sets were released as single packages, in pairs, in packs of twenty, and with playsets. These pets have symbols in their eyes, such as a snowflake chilliest , a diamond fanciest , a cookie with a bite hungriest , a raindrop sportiest , a flower cuddliest , heart friendliest , mud splotch messiest , clover funniest , star sassiest and a wind symbol on some Comic Con-exclusive pets, although there were also glossy-eyed pets with no eye symbols. They also came in a more wide variety of colors, rather than just realistic colors. From onwards, the pets didn't have a magnet, but a circle with a shape of a hexagon inside the hole except for birds with a rectangular slot for them to perch on playsets. A C marking also showed up except for birds. The most recent releases did not have the eye symbols, and had a redesign of the LPS logo. This era of the toyline also introduced video games developed by Electronic Arts and licensed by Nintendo , one game for the Wii and four versions for the Nintendo DS : Garden, Jungle, Winter, and Spring. Some releases for the DS came with exclusive pets. This era also introduced collector stickers found in packs, and an even more variety of gimmicks, such as the Walkables, battery-powered figurines which can move at the push of a button, and the Blythe Loves Littlest Pet Shop line, which introduces Blythe as a smaller-scale doll which comes with a pet as part of a themed pack. Even more licensed Nintendo games were released in this era. Some of these releases also came with exclusive pets. Generation 3[ edit ] The line was revamped to coincide with the release of the TV series. The style and design of the toy pets was changed significantly, which garnered significant backlash from fans and collectors of the toys. Later on, they added the Sweetest Pets series pets themed after sweets , Rolleroos pet friends that are shaped like small balls , pets that came with Blythe , and the Fairies series. The pets now had different molds and a new eye style. Hasbro received many complaints about the G3 line. This iteration also introduced mobile games for the toyline, including one developed by Gameloft in , which included the use of tokens which came in purchased packs of the pets and scanned to win prizes, and another, Littlest Pet Shop: Your World, which included the use of "zap codes", codes similar to QR codes which are found in the pets themselves. Generation 4[ edit ] These pets have molds that more closely resemble the style of the TV series and were given names. Hasbro released the Pets Pawsabilities collection during this time, and in , the Pets in the City collection, which more closely resembles the pets released in G2. Due to popular demand and fan outcry over the G3 line, Hasbro brought the bobble-head pets back, which included pets from the TV show and used the same molds as the pets from the G1 and G2 lines. But it was also short-lived, as the bobble-head style was retired in mid.Generation 5[ edit ] The Littlest Pet Shop toys were revamped in , with new molds and rounded eyes similar to the second generation pets. Some of the toys released under this line include the Black and White Pop collection and the Rainbow collection. The pets in this line come in three sizes: teensie, mini, and classic the largest of the three.

A mixed-breed can inherit any combination of traits from their parents. Should a Pug Mix take after their Pug parent, they will be an affectionate, social dog that loves their families. A Pug tends to be playful, social, friendly, and gentle. They thrive on attention and affection and tend to get along well with children, other pets, and other dogs. As long as they are well-socialized, they also tend to be open and friendly with strangers. They can be prone to barking and it can become a nuisance behavior if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. If the other parent breed has a similar temperament, then you can expect the same from a Pug Mix. You still want to ask the breeder about the other parent breed as they will likely introduce their own potential quirks. You can also meet the mother in person to get a sense of her temperament and see the behavior she is modeling for her puppies. Although the breeder should have started socialization and training, it is up to you to continue to train and socialize a puppy once you get them home. Pugs are moderately adaptable dogs. Although they do well in apartments as well as larger homes, they are particularly sensitive to heat and cold as a snub-nosed dog breed. They also do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. If the other parent breed is similar, then you should be able to expect the same from a Pug Mix. The other parent breed could still introduce some traits that affect adaptability, so you do want to ask the breeder about them. Mixed-breed dogs can sometimes be healthier than purebred dogs, but it is not a guarantee. They can inherit none, some, or all of the conditions common to their parent breeds. From the Pug side, potential health conditions to be aware of include eye problems, luxating patella , encephalitis, and hip dysplasia. As a brachycephalic, or snub-nosed, dog, they are prone to allergies and respiratory issues. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues on to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. A Pug is eager to please and tends to pick up on things quickly. They tend to be a good fit for owners of all experience levels. The other parent breed could make a Pug Mix easy to train or more difficult, so you want to make sure you ask the breeder about them. A Pug Mix can inherit a coat similar to one of their parents or a coat that is truly a mix of both. Should they inherit the Pug coat, it will shed a bit year-round, require weekly brushing, and the occasional bath. Cutting nails once or twice monthly keeps them from growing too long. Ear checks on a weekly basis with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. Brushing teeth or using an enzyme toothpaste every day in addition to cleanings at the vet as needed are ideal dental care for dogs. Pugs tend to sit in a low to moderate energy range. Usually, daily walks and some playtime are enough to keep them happy and healthy. They may be up for more activity, but can also get easily overheated. There are safe ways to exercise flat-faced dogs to help make sure they get enough activity. If the other parent breed also has a low to moderate activity level, then you can expect something similar from a Pug Mix. However, if the other parent breed is a higher energy dog, then you will want to make sure you are prepared for the potential of a high-energy dog. Fully-grown Pugs are usually inches tall and weigh pounds. The other parent breed can have a big effect on this, especially if they are the mother. Although it is not a guarantee, you can meet the mother in person to get an idea of what to expect in a fully-grown Pug Mix. A Pug generally lives for years. Although the other parent breed may affect this slightly, but you should be able to expect a similar average life span from a Pug Mix. Featured Pug Mix Article. Vocality level 5 in 5 Disclaimer: While the characteristics mentioned here may frequently represent this breed, dogs are individuals whose personalities and appearances will vary. Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet. Temperament ACA delightful blend of dignity and comedy, the Pug is an amiable, playful, and confident companion. They can be stubborn and headstrong, but they are pleasant and generally willing to please. They love to cavort and show off. Upkeep The Pug needs daily exercise, either in the form of a lively game or a moderate walk. They do not do well in heat and humidity. They needs minimal coat care but daily cleaning of facial wrinkles. Their smooth coat needs only occasional brushing to remove dead hairs; however, the wrinkles need regular cleaning and drying to prevent skin infections. The Pug may often wheeze and snore. Health Major concerns: Pug dog encephalitis, CHD, brachycephalic syndrome Minor concerns: elongated palate, stenotic nares, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes, entropion, KCS, skin infections, hemivertebra Occasionally seen: seizures, nerve degeneration, distichiasis, allergies, demodicosis Suggested tests: eye, hip, knee, DNA Pug dog encephalitis Life span: 12—15 years Note: The Pug cannot tolerate heat and is sensitive to anesthesia. They are prone to corneal abrasion and obesity. The Pug is somewhat of an exception in the Toy Group because they are perhaps the only one to be descended from mastiff forebears. Although their exact ancestry has been lost in antiquity, the Pug retains many mastiff characteristics. The Pug is an ancient breed, one of several miniaturized in the Orient, where they were a favorite pet of Buddhist monasteries in Tibet many centuries ago. Here they became quite popular and were recognized as the official dog of the House of Orange after one saved the life of Prince William by sounding an alarm at the approach of Spanish soldiers in .Pugs were first brought to England during Victorian times and became incredibly popular with the wealthy, displacing the King Charles Spaniel as the favored royal breed. Several Pugs were brought to England from China in .A year earlier, the breed had been recognized by the AKC. Since that time, they have remained popular a pet. Related Content.

They thrive on human interaction and love to be involved in everything their family is doing. Miniature Poodles are quick learners and excel at obedience training. Very eager to please their people, they are a great choice for first-time dog owners. Mini Poodles are usually good with other dogs and children, but they can be a little bit reserved around strangers. With proper socialization from a young age, your Mini Poodle puppy will learn to interact well with people outside of their immediate family. Expect your new for-ever family member to have a lot of energy and need plenty of exercise. They need an outdoor walk every day to keep calm and centered. Check out this best-selling dog leash with a comfortable handle! While walks are a must, the Mini Poodle is not suited to be an outdoor dog. This breed has a long history as a circus dog, so this dog is a favorite choice for owners who want an athletic puppy who is open to learning tricks. Some Mini Poodles are territorial and highly excitable, but patient and consistent training can usually modify this behavior. For all of these reasons, finding homes for our Mini Poodle Puppies for sale is never challenging. Minatare Poodle Health Considerations The average life span of the miniature poodle is 13 — 15 years. Use ear cleaner wipes and eye wipes regularly to remove crust or discharge. All breeds of dogs should be brought in for regular vet checkups. Miniature Poodle Coat The Mini Poodle has a hypoallergenic coat which is excellent for allergy sufferers. Matting eventually causes skin irritation. If your Poodle has a long coat, you should brush out your Poodle every day. Check out this popular dog slicker brush and detangling comb that is perfect for your Mini Poodle. While Miniature Poodles are a fairly low-shedding dog breed, they still need coat care. Many Poodle owners opt for a short cut or trim to minimize grooming needs. When a shorter cut, you can reduce brush outs to a few times a week and get the coat trimmed up every weeks. Mini Poodles Puppies For Sale. Life Span Did You Know? The Poodle is one of the oldest dog breeds and was originally developed in Germany to hunt waterfowl. The Poodle may have originated in Germany, but they are much-loved by the French. So much so that the Poodle is the national dog of France. The Miniature Poodle is slightly more recent. This Mini version likely originated in France. The Mini Poodle has all of the same characteristics as a Standard Poodle; they just come in a smaller package. The Miniature Poodle is one of the smartest dog breeds. On top of their intelligence, they are also known to have a cheerful disposition and a sensitive nature. They get along great with children. Due to their small size, they can be easily injured by rough play or accidental falls that can happen with younger children. Because of this, they may be better suited to a home with older children. Younger children should be fine as long as they are taught how to properly interact with a small dog and interactions between young kids and puppies are closely supervised. Although they are considered part of the Non-Sporting Group, some facts about Miniature Poodles are that they are versatile and athletic dogs that are also quite playful. Provided they are well-socialized, they get along well with other dogs and tend to do well with strangers. They do tend to be protective of their home and can be suspicious of strangers coming up on the property. They are known to bark to alert you of strangers coming to the house. This makes them a good watchdog, but overall, they are more interested in making friends. This dog breed is highly adaptable. The Miniature Poodle does well in any type of home, including apartments, and fits in with just about any family type. They do well in most climates, but, as with many dog breeds, they are sensitive to heat and extreme cold. Because Mini Poodles are people-oriented, they do not like being left alone and will not handle being left alone for long periods of time very well. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to make sure they are not passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you ask the breeder about the health and genetic history of both parents and about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Miniature Poodles are highly intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please, which makes them a good fit for owners of any experience level and one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are a people-oriented breed and are sensitive to moods and tones of voice. They do not respond well to harsh training methods or harsh tones as they take it personally, get their feelings hurt, and lose respect for you. A Mini Poodle tends to respond best to consistent training that is fun and focused on positive rewards. A Mini Poodle is one of the fluffiest dog breeds and will have a curly or corded coat that can come in just about any color. Although this dog breed has a low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat, their coat still needs a lot of grooming. They need to be brushed daily to prevent tangles and matting. They should also be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their coat healthy. Miniature Poodles are high-energy dogs that require a good amount of exercise each day. Daily walks plus some playtime and other activities are usually enough for them. When puppies finish growing and developing, they often enjoy games of fetch and other activities like swimming, hiking, or jogging with their favorite human. Mini Poodles also tend to be great candidates for several dog sports, like agility, tracking, obedience, retriever hunt tests, and more. Just make sure to visit the vet and get your dog cleared for these activities before you jump in. Fully-grown Miniature Poodles usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Mini Poodles generally live for years on average. The Miniature Poodle was very popular among the French nobility. Featured Miniature Poodle Article. We, more than anyone, understand that while anatomy, hair, smooth body proportions, good teeth and health are all important, it is also important that the dog has a well-rounded poodle puppies personality. For this reason we can confidently say that when you buy a Poodle puppy from us you will be receiving a suitable and well-socialized fury partner who will spend most of his or her adorable fury life with you for years to come. All our Poodle puppies interact with children, cats, and other dogs of all sizes, so they develop an extremely stable personality and they are incredibly friendly. Quality Poodle Puppies Home Quality poodle puppies stands out as the best breeder for poodle puppies around the united states. Our team are made up of the best professional puppy lovers. Our poodle are well socialize and can survive all over the united states. We have the best shipping policy when it comes to your puppy. Shipping we ship with the best companies across the united states. Why buy from us? Poodle Puppies Home is not only the best and reliable source for you puppy but also the best place you can get advice on your puppy and how to take care of them. What a wonderful dog! We enjoy absolutely every second with him. He is still a ball of pure energy, very playful, affectionate and everything you want out of a dog. Very smart too — he learnt to sit, stay, come, drop and turn all in an afternoon of mucking around at home. Loves our cat Snoek who we got a few months after we brought him home. Also loves big dogs — the bigger the better in his eyes and runs circles around them. His colouring has also turned out beautiful with just the right amount of Poodle in him. We decided to call our new puppy Ruben. We are very happy that we have him. He just gorgeous. And the family loves him. Im just sending a few pictures , the 1st is of Ruben and the other two are George : Thanks so much. Alisa Hester Sleepy time with soft cuddle beds Playtime with a large variety of toys to challenge the mind Exceptional veterinary care Carefully selected foods, vitamins, and treats Intensive routine grooming schedule including tooth brushing Loving home environment.