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Keep reading to discover a reputable breeder in your area and see where boxer puppies are for sale in California! This small family-owned kennel focuses on improving and maintaining the Boxer breed via regular genetic testing, careful breeding practices, and a rigorous puppy placement process. Website: TelstarBoxers Telstar Boxers is a family-operated Boxer breeder in Temecula with a long history of producing healthy, well-trained pups. Their intense adoption policies ensure that only the most capable and caring pet parents end up with Telstar Boxer puppies. Notably, they also offer white Boxer pups at lower prices than their dark-furred puppies, making them one of the most affordable options for Californian pet parents. But in addition to the convenient location, Soleil Boxers is preferable due to their professional practices. Should you ever need to surrender your Boxer, Soleil Boxers will gladly accept the pup back into their care to make sure that it continues to receive the best care. This area is home to dozens of farms and ranches, making it an excellent place for boisterous Boxer puppies to grow up. Pet parents who want to breed Boxer dogs can also purchase studs from Encore Boxers. Things to Consider When Choosing Boxer Breeders Before you place a deposit on a Boxer puppy, be sure to take a little time to research your chosen breeder. Unfortunately, not all dog breeders are reputable, and purchasing a Boxer from an untrustworthy breeder can be a dangerous endeavor. For example, purebred Boxer dogs can develop hyperthyroidism , aortic stenosis, and hip dysplasia. However, many of the most severe health problems are entirely preventable with regular genetic testing. The best Boxer breeders in California test the DNA of their breeding pairs before allowing them to produce offspring, preventing them from puppies with life-shortening degenerative diseases. When adopting a Boxer puppy, ensure that your chosen breeder invests in genetic testing. Public Reputation Do you know what people are saying about your preferred Boxer breeder? Instead, they ensure that each puppy finds their ideal pet parent match. This process is typically done via an in-depth vetting process that may consist of a lengthy application or an at-home visit. In Summary—the Best Boxer Breeders in California The Boxer breed often gets a bad rap, but purebred Boxer pups from reputable breeders are often some of the gentlest and well-behaved dogs on the face of the earth. And those living in The Golden State have the good luck of having several trustworthy Boxer breeders from which to choose! Taking these additional steps before buying a Boxer dog can ensure that your new four-legged family member lives a long and happy life. Related Posts. His main purpose is for hunting large game. But this dog breed was also useful in guarding and driving livestock. It is said that he got his name due to using his front paws for just about anything. Boxer dogs look intimidating with their stern-looking faces and powerful bodies. But they are actually very loving family dogs that get along with children and other animals. They love being with their families, and being separated from them can lead them to develop separation anxiety. Since this working dog is highly intelligent but stubborn in nature, he is better suited for experienced owners. The average lifespan of the breed is 9—10 years. Look for a boxer puppies for sale San Luis Obispo California? Here is a brief background of this protective dog with a good sense of humour. History of the Boxer The Boxer dog breed is a descendant of the now-extinct Bullenbeisser a fighting dog with Mastiff ancestry and the Old English Bulldog. He was developed in Germany in the 19th century as hunters of deer, wild boar, and bear. Later on, he was used to guard and drive cattle. The man responsible for the creation of the Boxer breed was Georg Alt, who was from Munich. He crossed a brindle-coloured female Bullenbeisser named Flora with a local dog of unknown breed. In , the first German Boxer dog named Flocki joined a dog show in Munich. After winning the dog show, he was the first-ever Boxer dog to be listed down in the German Studbook. Modern Boxer dogs were believed to be the descendants of Flocki. He was then imported to the United States in and was accepted by the American Kennel Club the following year. The American Boxer Club was established in .In both world wars, various military tasks were given to Boxer dogs including guard dogs, attack dogs, and messenger dogs. The British Boxer Dog Club was then formed in .The Boxer breed was recognised by the Kennel Club shortly thereafter and classified under the Working Group. Versatile and hard-working, these dogs are capable of carrying out different canine work. Boxers are good choices for protection dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. Temperament and Intelligence of the Boxer puppies San Luis Obispo for sale Extremely patient and gentle, the Boxer breed is good with children. But he is recommended for families with older children as he may accidentally knock over toddlers. Befriending other pets is possible if the Boxer dog is properly socialised at a young age. It will keep him from viewing small animals as prey and reduce his tendency to dominate same-sex dogs. Is a Boxer a good family dog? Yes, the Boxer breed is a good family dog. He may look noble and intimidating, but he is actually considered the Joker of the Dog World. Boxer dogs are playful and fun-loving. They love to be part of family activities and be the centre of attention. Are Boxer dogs dangerous? Boxer dogs may be tough-looking, but they are not generally aggressive. But they will stand guard and defend their families if necessary. Boxer dogs are initially wary of strangers, but they eventually warm up to them if no danger is detected. Their protective and loyal nature makes them good guard dogs as well as watchdogs. Are Boxers easy to train? Yes, Boxer dogs are easy to train if you are already experienced in handling the breed. They are intelligent but tend to be independent and stubborn. Due to this, they are not suited for first-time owners. Boxer dogs respond better to people that are firm and consistent. However, firm does not mean harsh. Instead of strict training methods, positive reinforcements are more effective in teaching this breed basic dog manners and tricks. Boxer Breed Highlights The Boxer dog breed is a loving, loyal, and protective companion. Boxer dogs are comical companions despite their intimidating appearance. The Boxer breed has low-maintenance grooming needs. As an energetic working dog, he has high exercise needs. Boxer dogs tend to be destructive when they are left alone or unable to let off steam. Are there miniature boxers? Yes, but they are rare. Miniature boxers are either a product of mating purebred runts or cross-breeding small dogs that have similar characteristics to boxers, such as Boston terriers, pugs, rat terriers, and fox terriers. While some of these minis may closely resemble their larger counterparts, they may not act similarly. Are boxers hypoallergenic? Unfortunately, boxers are not hypoallergenic. What problems do Boxers have? Boxer dogs are brachycephalic, which means they have flat faces. This trait narrows their airway and causes breathing problems. As a result, Boxers should not be out in the sun for a long time as it can lead to heatstroke. Overexercising them must be avoided too to avoid triggering breathing difficulties. How long do Boxer dogs live? The Boxer dog breed has a short lifespan compared to other dogs. He can only live up to 9—10 years, and this is due to the prevalence of health issues in the breed. When buying a Boxer puppy, look for a reputable breeder whose breeding stock and litters are health-screened. This will help you determine how likely is your chosen Boxer puppy going to develop certain health conditions. The population was 45, at the census. We will not send you unnecessary notices in the future. My name is Tetyana and I am glad to welcome you on the site of the breed nursery. A note to all those on the waiting list. We are so sorry the website was temporarily shut down. We were having technical difficulties, So happy its back on. But we were always here to continue breeding for your fur baby. Thankyou for being patient, always look forward to helping you. We are Sublime Boxers, a family orientated breeder. We love placing our boxers with loving homes. Show quality dog, or family pet, we got them! We do a lot for our dogs. Our adult dogs get wormed every three months and updated on their shots. Momma dogs get extra worming before and during their litters to ensure the pups get less-to-none of those nasty worms that are certain in every puppy dog or cat. Then, pups get their regiment of worming before they go home, as well as their 1st puppy shot. All adult dogs are on NuVet, which is a vitamin with antioxidants to ensure the puppies are at their best before they go home. We also give you a puppy pack to get you started with your new puppy. Contents include a bag of food to lessen the stress of a new environment. All our dogs are loved, have large pens, and run around our 1-acre yard. We spray throughout the year to keep the fleas and flys at bay, as everything can affect the dogs and puppies. We have had nothing but excellent comments from owners, telling us how fantastic their puppy is in looks, smarts, temperament, and loving nature. That is why we take great pride in our dogs. Through selective breeding, we have kept an excellent line of boxers with a lovable temperament that has been consistent throughout the years, including even out most recent litters of puppies. We also give a one-year health guarantee, that you can extend to 2 years if you keep your puppy on NuVet, which is a supplement that helps your puppy with the stress of growing up by building its immune system. We hope that we can help you with finding your next loved pet.

To ensure the safety of our readers and the right fit for a new pet, we work hard to make sure only the most trusted breeders are featured on the site. We have a dedicated team that works hard and has done extensive research that involves checking both the breeder and their dogs, to verify that the breeders featured on our site are highly reputable and trustworthy. Feedback on Google and Facebook is also taken into consideration before they are listed as a breeder to have the highest standards possible. We hope that this gives you a little more information about how we list breeders on our site. Labrador Retriever For Sale in Ontario Before we get to the best Labrador breeders in Ontario, there are some things you should take into consideration before finding the best Labrador breeder in Ontario for you. Labradors come in three different colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. There are a few things you should look for when choosing a Lab puppy breeder. First and foremost, make sure they are reputable and offer health guarantees. Choosing a reputable Lab breeder is key to getting a healthy, well-behaved puppy. By ensuring that you choose a reputable breeder, you can be sure that you are getting a dog that has been raised in a healthy environment and is less likely to have behavior or health issues. Chocolate Labrador Retriever Ontario Chocolate Labrador is the purebred Labrador Retriever breeder in Ontario who has 50 years of experience in breeding Labrador which shows their worth. It was this dog that showed the breeder the true meaning of companionship. They love Labrador puppies so much that they decided to start a breeding program. Some of what they offer are: 1. Lifetime support for your Lab pup 2. No Inbreeding or Line breeding 3. Lifetime guarantee on tested genetics 5. Clients screened for suitability 7. Super premium food fed to all Labs 9. A passion for excellence inbreeding has been the cornerstone of their business from day one. For over 50 years, they have committed themselves to deliver a superior Labrador Retriever experience by focusing on excellent health, outstanding intelligence, and even temperament within all breeds. As a result of this dedication to detail and quality control, every single puppy is guaranteed healthy as well as intelligent with an easy-going disposition that will make them perfect family pets or hunting retrievers who can easily fit for any situation you put them through! They have a variety of bloodlines, including Search-and-Rescue and Diabetic Alert lines. All puppies come from well-titled working, hunting, conformation bloodlines as well as families with autism companions or search and rescue capabilities. So your future family member will be bred to excel in all aspects! All pups are micro-chipped and dewormed 4 times before going to a new home. All pups are well-socialized with people and other pets. Once they reach 4 weeks of age, They start crate training them so that their first home will be a breeze! Labrador Retriever Breeder Info:. Our Lab Family Only 5 minutes outside the small town of Wallaceburg, we are living our dream having raised our 3 children in a big country home. We are both former professionals who decided to leave the world of being trapped behind a desk in an office. Raising Lab puppies has become a dream come true. In the spirit of doing our part to save the planet we grow much of our own food in a garden. We have raised a couple of pigs, turkeys, chickens and have laying chickens for their fresh eggs. Although we are not farmers, we enjoy the satisfaction of biting into an organic tomato or other vegetable fresh from the garden. Clair where we fish for bass, perch and walleye and throw balls into the water for the labs to retrieve until our arms fall off. Our children are now grown and starting families of their own. Our two boys are working with us and we are passing on the knowledge of breeding service quality dogs that we have learned over the years. This will ensure our tradition of breeding genetically sound, super smart and even tempered dogs will continue in the future. They will also continue our donation of dogs to service dog organizations in both Canada and the USA. If you are interested acting as a Guardian please click for info. Click for info. Our chocolate lab puppies and silver lab puppies are a result of a Breeder focus on health, intelligence, and temperament. Click to read more about our level of quality, how we operate and the cost of our Labrador Retriever puppies. Trained Labrador Retrievers for Sale Looking to skip the small puppy stage? The crying, up through the night, jumping on guests…. .One of our Trained Labs may be for you. Click for more info. Labrador Retriever Frequently Asked Questions Some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers about our Labrador Retrievers and the Lab puppy adoption process. We Love our Labs Becoming a Chocolate Labrador Retriever Breeder means raising, playing with, training and grooming our dogs is all we do. Our chocolate lab puppies have been placed all over Ontario, Canada and the US. Meeting all the wonderful people who adopt our dogs and seeing their faces when they arrive to pick up their lab puppy is one of our favorite things! We Truly Care Our belief is that a fur ball is a friend for life not just a cute puppy. This could mean 12, 15 or more years. We make a promise to our extended family of continued support for the life of your Lab. Our goal is 0 of our Labs in shelters and we will take your Lab back until we find a suitable home if necessary. Respect and love for those who dedicate their lives for others is our focus. Click to see them. Click here to visit! Have you just searched for dog breeders near me and are looking for Looking for Chocolate Labrador Retriever Puppies for sale in Ontario? We are committed to strengthening the characteristics of the Labrador Retriever breed. Our focus as a breeder is to breed puppies with excellent health, outstanding intelligence and even temperament. This breeding focus has resulted in top quality family pets and hunting retrievers. It is because of these qualities that the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world by registered ownership. These dogs have an excellent memory and can thrive if exercised properly even if they live in an apartment. They are excellent water dogs, service dogs , family dogs and are used for many things including police and customs work, search and rescue dogs, seeing eye dogs and assistant dogs for people with disabilities including Autism, Emotional Support USA and Comfort Dogs , Diabetes, Blindness, Seizure alert dogs and PTSD. Just have a look through our Facebook Page LuckyLabsPuppies and you will be able to view many of the families we have given puppies to over our many years as a Labrador Breeder. When looking for a Labrador puppy, a Lucky Labs puppy is simply the best friend you could ever hope for. A Yellow Labrador Retriever is not to be mistaken for a Golden Retriever as they are a different breed. Golden Retriever puppies are different primarily in the fact that they have a longer coat than a yellow lab. When searching for puppies in Ontario, Lucky Labs can help provide you with a puppy you will enjoy for years to come. Pups come with a four year written guarantee for all major organs. Hip and elbow guarantee is 14 months which gives your dog time to grow and be tested. Genetic testing is also carried out on the bloodline to ensure your dog is bred from lineage free of health problems. Lab puppies normally travel very well, for more on this click this link. If you are looking for a puppy and health, are not too old for a Lab puppy, intelligence and temperament matter to you, we have a Lab puppy for you! Welcome, and please read through our site to get to know us and our amazing dogs. You might want to begin with this article on the 10 most common Labrador Retriever questions. You will then have two weeks to get to know your new furry house guest before committing to adoption. At the end of two weeks, if you choose not to move forward with adoption, we simply ask that you continue to provide a safe and loving home until their new forever family can be found. Each bio was created by our rescue partners based on their interactions with the dogs. Many of these dogs are coming directly from the shelter and so you should expect there to be a transitional period. Be prepared to deal with common issues like potty training, leash walking and socialization. Cat and kid safety assessments are often based on their personality and not necessarily on actual interactions. Where possible, the majority of vetting will be completed prior to coming to Canada, however foster-to-adopt families may be required to travel to our partner vet Mississauga, ON for further vet care. If you choose not to see your dog through to adoption, you will forfeit your deposit. Foster-to-adopt families will be expected to provide their own supplies. Like your awesome childhood memories, this Pogo is a happy-go-lucky pal, who has many canine friends. He has not been cat tested and would recommend a home without cats at this time. He may not jump around on a pogo stick, but he does love playing with his toys! Pogo also loves belly rubs. Toys, belly rubs and endless love is what this boy dreams of. As with all adolescent dogs who have had no formal training, he will need someone committed to helping him learn the basics as well as boundaries. Pogo is excited for you to work with him on walking like a champ on the leash and perfecting his crate and house training. Pogo has shown that he is very intelligent and excited to learn, which will make relationship building a fun task for both of you. Pogo would love a family who is able to implement some structure and boundaries into his daily routine. He still has puppy tendencies and often plays through his mouth. He has been doing well with redirection to toys, and continuing this will be beneficial for him and lead to success. When Pogo was younger, he was hit by an ATV. Because of this accident, the bones in his back hind leg have fused together, giving him a spring in his step. Pogo isn't in any pain, and the leg does not bother him at all, but he may have a bit of trouble in a home with a lot of stairs. Otherwise, nothing holds this guy back. Pogo is ready to go go home with you! Showing 1 - 37 of 37 resultsPage 1 - 37 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Come get them this weekend we are available to show all weekend Only 1 male and only 3 female left, they are looking for a new home, they were born on July .They are.Muskoka We have 5 purebred black lab male puppies ready to go to their forever homes. They are fully vaccinated and dewormed and will come with their vet papers and 2nd dose of deworming. They are well cared.Both vet checked as.He was born on June 22nd and is 9 weeks old. He eats solid food and use puppy pads already. Sault Ste. They have been vet checked and received their first vaccinations , microchipped and dewormed. They have been raised in our home with a lot of interaction.They are both two years old. One male fox-red lab, and one female black labradoodle. The labradoodle doesn't shed at all. They are both very friendly. Ask for.Each comes with first vaccination, dewormed and vet check. Puppies are playful and used to being.They were born on June 22nd and are 11 weeks old. They eat solid food and use puppy.The mom is the bigger beige one in the photos. The dad is also completely beige. Great and knownfor being a nanie dog, a.Catharines Zafra and Oakleys last two female puppies looking for their forever homes! Puppies are 12 weeks old, short.Three girls Five boys Some are all Black others with some white markings a few with multiple markings. These puppies will have a vet check and vaccines at .Their mother is a black Lab and their father is Lab Bull Mastiff mix. The puppies were born on July 4, .All of.Born July .Mom and Dad have excellent temperament and are.Mom is a beautiful yellow lab on site Puppies are vet checked with their first set of vaccinations and.Played and socialized with kids and adults every day! We have 8 black and 2 yellow pups available. Mama dog is the picture of the chocolate lab, and the golden retriever is.Mother is a yellow lab , Father is a.They are lovable, cuddly, playful, and very social! Parents are on site and our family pets. Black and yellow ones to choose from Jerseyville We are a small kennel situated 10km south of Woodstock ON. We have been breeding labs for almost 15 years. Our Bailey had puppies on August 30, .These puppies will be ready for a new home end of.Outdoor trained. Catharines Nala and Harley welcomed 9 beautiful puppies into the world on July 26th 5 females and 4 males All puppies are black, some have white and brown markings. Pups are ready to go September 20th and will.She has been examined and comes with vaccines and deworming. She is very healthy, playful and friendly. Please text!!! They were born Aug. Our puppies grow.Catharines We have a gorgeous litter of 7 purebred lab puppies. Both are on site. Have shots and have been dewormed. They are eating puppy food and.Williams We have 9 beautiful lab puppies for sale. The mother is a very nice and large for a female, purebred black lab kid friendly. The father is a.They have had their vet check, dewormer and vaccines at 8 weeks old. Raised on a family farm and exposed to lots of activity and children. Please inquire.CKC reg. We are accepting reserves for these pups as well as our litters. Up to date on vaccines and is almost house trained. Check out our Facebook page Arps Labradors. Will make great hunting dogs. Both mother and father here on site. Mom is a phenomenal bird hunter. Both mom and dad are great at.Not vet checked. Very playful. I have 3 male lab puppies looking for their forever homes. Puppies have been dewormed. My pups come with their CKC Papers, as well they will receive their 1st.Both vet checked as.They are between 56 and 60 cm high and weight between 40 and 45 kg. Both are very friendly with People, Children.She had 11 puppies six girls and five boys on August 25th. Ellie is our super affectionate fox red lab. She is a family pet.They will be ready to be rehomed on October 9. Visit Website Below to Order Now! Shipping by seller 1 Left!! Handsome, adorable male! This georgeous puppy is ready for his new forever home! These puppies are so adorable, intelligent and.Call or text only. Friendly playful well tempered and seriously good.He was born on June 22nd and is 9 weeks old. He eats solid food and use puppy pads already. Muskoka We have 5 purebred black lab male puppies ready to go to their forever homes. They are fully vaccinated and dewormed and will come with their vet papers and 2nd dose of deworming. They are well cared.Males and Females to choose from. These puppies were born on August 30th and doing well. Before they go to their new homes the vet will.Puppies are starting to eat and drink on their own and are.Sault Ste. Mom is amazing at game hunting and dad is awesome at retrieving. Both parents are very mild and children friendly. They have been vet checked and received their first vaccinations , microchipped and dewormed. They have been raised in our home with a lot of interaction.They are both two years old. One male fox-red lab, and one female black labradoodle. The labradoodle doesn't shed at all. They are both very friendly. Ask for.Gorrie One sweet, 7-week-old female puppy ready for a new home next week! Has had vaccinations, vet check and deworming. Mother is on site and very good.Mom is purebread English Bulldog Dad is purebread Lab Puppies have moms wrinkles and face and dads tail. Jacobs Mixed large breed puppies for sale. Call or text us to get a quick reply. All have great personality and love to play! These sweethearts are all ready to go Dad is a short haired border collie Mom is Lab x blue heeler mix 3 sweet goofy boys 2 beautiful.Each comes with first vaccination, dewormed and vet check. Puppies are playful and used to being.Beautiful and gentle.The litter was born Sept 2, and can be rehomed as early as Oct 29, .We have bred Labs for many years but due to health issues I am no longer able to continue. These girls were meant to.Please Contact Red Siberian x lab puppy needs a good home St. Catharines Very loving and energetic husky puppy is in need of a good home. Will be ready to go home.Pups will be ready for their forever homes as of Sept 22nd. They come ckc registered, ENS, socialized in our.They were born on June 22nd and are 11 weeks old. They eat solid food and use puppy.Well socialized, used to playing with children. Vet checked, dewormed, and has first shots, will come with vet

They are purebred German Shepherds. The blonde coat is simply a variation in coloring, just like how some GSDs are sable, black, white, or gray. The blonde gene is recessive. Both parents must carry it for there to be blonde puppies. Because of this, blonde coats are fairly rare even among purebred litters. But these pups are just as genuine as their black and tan counterparts. Most will end up a light tan or cream color. This change happens because puppy coats shed and adult fur comes in around months. The new coat often differs in shade. Some blondes stay light their whole lives. But be prepared for your bright blonde puppy to turn into more of a tan teenager! Blonde Shepherds Have Black Pigmentation Even with their light fur, blonde German Shepherds still have black noses, paw pads, and lips. This dark pigmentation helps set them apart from truly albino dogs. You may also notice darker hues on the ears, tail, face, and back. This black shading is perfectly normal for blonde Shepherds. But make no mistake: blondes are not albinos. True albino dogs lack melanin and have pink noses, paws, and eyes. Blonde German Shepherds have melanin…it just expresses as light fur. Breeders charge this premium since blondes are unusual. It takes careful planning to produce a blond litter. Make sure to find responsible, ethical breeders who health test their dogs. A good breeder focuses on temperament and health over fads. They prove their dogs are purebred and have sound structure. Never get a dog from a puppy mill or irresponsible online seller. They are intelligent, loyal, courageous, and highly trainable. Blondes have the same herding instincts and protective nature too. In terms of health and structure, they are identical as well. Blonde is just a fur color, not a separate breed! For dog shows and breeding, dogs must closely match the written standard for their breed. It likely stems from variations in genes that control fur pigment. The dilution gene may be involved, which inhibits production of eumelanin black pigment. More studies are needed! Blonde Shepherds can serve just as well as police dogs, service animals, or any working role. Adopting a Blonde rescue is an Option Have your heart set on a blonde German Shepherd but turned off by the premium price? Consider adopting one from a shelter or rescue group! While less common, blonde Shepherds sometimes wind up in need of new homes. Contact local shelters and German Shepherd specific rescues to browse their available dogs. Grooming Needs Blonde and white coats show dirt and stains more than darker fur. Be prepared to wipe down your Shepherd after playing outside. Bathe your blonde pup as needed with a gentle dog shampoo. Brush their coat times per week to control shedding and prevent matting. Trim nails regularly and clean ears to avoid infections. Make sure to brush teeth and inspect skin as part of a thorough grooming routine. Exercise Requirements German Shepherds of any color are extremely active dogs. Be ready to provide minutes of exercise per day. This could include long walks, playing fetch, or hiking. Mental stimulation through training sessions and puzzle toys is also essential. Without sufficient activity, Shepherds become bored and destructive. Training Tips Start training and socializing your blonde Shepherd puppy early on. Attend puppy kindergarten classes for basic obedience. Practice commands daily at home. German Shepherds excel at advanced training for canine sports or working roles. Use positive reinforcement and be patient — Shepherds are smart but also independent. Stay consistent with training to get the best results. Watch for Health Issues All German Shepherds are prone to certain health conditions, including hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, and degenerative myelopathy. Ask the breeder about health testing done on the parents. Monitor your dog for any emerging issues and maintain vet visits. A blonde coat does not cause any unique health problems. However, lighter skin needs sun protection. Apply dog-safe sunscreen in summer. Socialization is Key German Shepherds can be wary of strangers without proper socialization. Make sure your Shepherd puppy meets all types of people starting at weeks old. Introduce them to other pets and dogs too. Ongoing socialization prevents overprotectiveness or skittishness. Attending training classes and neighborhood walks assists with this. Let guests interact with your Shepherd often so they learn to distinguish between threats and friends. Common Temperament Blonde German Shepherds have the same temperament as their black and tan peers. When properly socialized and trained, they are loyal, brave, highly intelligent, and eager to please. However, Shepherds tend to bond very closely with one person. Separation anxiety is common if left alone for long periods. They should live indoors with their family. Always supervise interactions with new people, especially children. Be wary of breeders fixated on off-standard colors. No matter how you expand your family, a blonde German Shepherd will bring you years of love and loyalty. Enjoy learning about these unique pups! FAQs 1. Are blonde German Shepherds purebred? Yes, blonde German Shepherds are full-blooded German Shepherds. The blonde coat is simply a recessive genetic variation in coloring. Both parents must carry the gene to produce blonde puppies. Do blondes have different personalities? No, a blonde German Shepherd has the same temperament as German Shepherds of other colors. Their coat color does not affect their personality or abilities. They are intelligent, loyal, and protective dogs. Why are blonde Shepherds more expensive? Breeders charge a premium since producing blondes requires careful planning and there is high demand. Is a blonde German Shepherd right for me? Blonde German Shepherds need the same amount of training, exercise, and care as any Shepherd. Consider if you can provide min of daily activity. They also shed year-round. If you want this active breed and are drawn to the unique color, a blonde could be a great choice. Where can I find a blonde German Shepherd puppy? Your best option is locating an ethical, responsible breeder who focuses on health and temperament over color trends. Avoid pet stores or puppy mills. You can also search for blonde German Shepherd rescues available for adoption. Do blondes have health problems? No, the blonde coat does not cause any specific health issues. Make sure the breeder health tests their dogs. Will my blonde puppy change color as an adult? Most blonde German Shepherd puppies get darker once their adult coat grows in around months old. They often end up a light tan or cream color. Some remain blonde, so be prepared for lightening or darkening. Conclusion Blonde German Shepherds stand out with their rare cream coats, but they share the same qualities that make the German Shepherd breed so popular. They are intelligent, trainable working dogs with an instinct to protect. Their striking blonde fur simply makes them eye-catching specimens of this noble breed. While still quite uncommon, blonde German Shepherds make devoted companions for any owner willing to put in the time for proper training and care. No matter their color, German Shepherds represent the best of what dogs can be. Related posts:. A cream hue is the prominent shade here and will cover most of their body. This hue may be interspersed with a darker golden color. When you imagine the color of a Blonde German Shepherd, think of the shades you may associate with a yellow Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever. These dogs have a coat that is a similar shade. Apart from the coat color, though, you will find that the blonde German Shepherd shares the same features as any other German Shepherd. This includes a black nose and paw pads. Their eyes may be darker as well. German Shepherds come in all colors, although blonde is undoubtedly more unusual. You may have heard about white German Shepherds and may be curious about whether blonde and white German Shepherds are the same. No, they are not. White German Shepherds are pure white — a similar color to snow. They are also solely white. Blonde German Shepherds, on the other hand, are a darker cream color. If they are side by side, you will be able to tell the difference between the two colors easily. They may look different from the traditional tan and black dogs typically associated with this breed, but they are identical to other German Shepherds. The differences in their coat are caused by a slight genetic variation. In every other way — physically and mentally, however, these dogs have the same genetic material as other German Shepherds. It is important to ensure that you get your blonde German Shepherd from a reputable breeder. If you can prove that a blonde German Shepherd puppy has two purebred German Shepherd parents, this will guarantee that your dog is purebred. If you find a blonde German Shepherd in a shelter, there is a chance that your dog may be a mixed breed. This is true even if your dog has all the physical characteristics of a German Shepherd. Such a dog may have been mixed with a blonde Labrador or a Golden Retriever. How Unique are Blonde German Shepherds? It is difficult to know just how rare blonde German Shepherds are. This is largely to do with the fact that the blonde coat color is caused by a recessive gene. Not only does this gene not show up very often, but it can also be overshadowed by other dominant genes. Their unusual coat color can also be considered a flaw. Due to this, many breeders may shy away from actively breeding dogs with this coat color or genetic component. The reality is that no one is quite sure how Blonde German Shepherds exist or reproduce. This is because the genetics resulting in this unusual color is tricky to understand. There are some theories, however. For instance, experts know that pheomelanin plays a role here. When certain genes interact with this pigment, it causes red to be diluted to cream colors. There is no accounting for how black portions typically found in German Shepherds are somehow diluted to a similar light or cream color. For this color dilution possibility, scientists have put forth the theory of pheomelanin being expressed by an ee genotype. If you want to get a blonde German Shepherd, there is a significant aspect to keep in mind. Their coat color can change throughout their life. This is a rather common occurrence with blonde German Shepherds. In some cases, it is genetic or pigment-related. Some believe that diet, health, and environmental factors play a role as well. This transformation generally takes place at around eight weeks old. There are some dogs who experience coat color changes when they are much older as well — around 2 years or so. If you want to get a blonde German Shepherd, you do have to accept the fact that they may grow darker with age. They may end up being a darker golden yellow or even a light brown. They do not, however, accept blonde German Shepherds as an official color. This is why owners or breeders who typically deal with show dogs will actively stay away from blonde German Shepherds. Bear in mind, however, blonde German Shepherds have the same physical capabilities as other German Shepherds. This allows them to excel at various dog sports and activities. Blonde German Shepherds can make excellent working dogs. They are intelligent dogs who adapt to training very easily. They also love having a job to do and excel when mentally stimulated. That being said, it is uncommon to find blonde German Shepherds in such a position. These dogs are prized for their uniqueness. They are most likely to be petted. As stated above, blonde German Shepherds are still quite a mystery to most breeders. Yes, there are some hypotheses, but not enough research has been done into this breed of German Shepherds to get a clear answer. As a result, it is difficult to know whether a particular German Shepherd carries a gene that can potentially produce blonde puppies. To add to this, it is possible that the blonde gene is either a mutation or a recessive gene. There is no way to know whether this gene can be passed onto puppies. Technically, it is possible that German Shepherds with the pheomelanin pigment may be more likely to produce blonde German Shepherds than other dogs. Similarly, those who are liver-colored or white may also give birth to blonde German Shepherds as there is already a preexisting genetic variation with these dogs. It is best to think of blonde German Shepherds as a fluke. They simply turn up in a litter without any warning. There are many things that can impact the cost of a German Shepherd puppy. In most instances, dogs that are most likely to adhere to AKC requirements and come from good stock are top contenders. They may not be able to win competitions, but the breed is prized for its rarity. As blonde German Shepherds are so uncommon, the puppies can be quite expensive. This drives up the price even further. It is important to note that blonde German Shepherds are like regular German shepherds. These are affectionate and loyal dogs who require a home where they will be cared for and loved. You will also have to train and socialize them as they grow up. There is no one-off costs involved with blonde German Shepherds, either. You will have to budget for food , bedding, toys , shelter, and vet bills. No, blonde German Shepherds are certainly not easy to find. In this case, how can you snag one of these puppies for yourself? To begin with, you will need to cast out a wide net. In many instances, you will have to look out of state for them. The internet can often be a good place to search for breeders in other regions. There is no guarantee when you can find a blonde German Shepherd. If a blonde German Shepherd is about to give birth, there may be a chance that at least one puppy will be blonde. Breeders will often post about blonde German Shepherds once they are born. Due to this, you will often have to be patient and there is no telling how long you will have to wait before you get your hands on this unique pup. Instead, pay attention to the breeder and research them carefully. They should be a reputable breeder who runs genetic health tests for the parents and even grandparents of the puppy. A good breeder is concerned with the health of the puppy and not how much profit that they can make off of a rare blonde German Shepherd. Make sure that any potential breeder has all the proper paperwork and can prove that several generations of the bloodline have been deemed healthy. In doing so, you will be able to increase your chances of having a healthy, happy dog who will live a long life. The blonde German Shepherd is certainly a fascinating and unique version of this breed. As you take a closer look, however, you will see that only a genetic mutation of pigments separates this dog from the rest of its breed. It is still interesting to learn about and can make you appreciate the blonde German Shepherd even more. 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. Color breeders often overlook the important health-related aspects of breeding, which can lead to unhealthy pups that achieve color preferences. Avoid purchasing these pups from pet stores as these animals always come from irresponsible breeders and puppy mills, with the exception of a handful of states that require pet store pups to be from rescues. You can also consider adopting a blonde German Shepherd. If you get a blonde puppy, you may end up with a dog that is tan or brown later in life. This means that blonde coats can occur in most breeding programs, even responsible and respectable programs. Part of this is due to the lack of understanding pertaining to which genes are directly responsible for the coat color. The other part of this is that many people think that blonde German Shepherds are mixed breeds, so many responsible breeders avoid breeding light-colored dogs in their programs. Image Credit: JB-Photography. They Cost a Pretty Penny Although undesirable coat colors often cost less, blondes may cost more than desirable coat colors due to their rarity. Albino is distinctly different from other colors, and they are all distinctly different from the blonde coat color. Blonde German Shepherds do have melanin, so they are likely to have brown, black, or tan eyes, and they will have darker colors on the nose and paws, usually from tan to black. The reason color breeding is a problem is because it overlooks health conditions present in the parents or their genes for the sake of breeding out a specific color. Blonde German Shepherds should have the same temperament as other coat colors, making them loyal, intelligent, and highly trainable. Related Reads:. Blue and liver are considered among the rare GSD colors, but even less common are blonde German Shepherds. What is a Blonde German Shepherd? Instead, the color of their coats is closer to that of a Golden Retriever or a Yellow Labrador. These are phaeomelanin and eumelanin. By default, eumelanin produces the color black while phaeomelanin produces the color red. Genes modify these pigments to produce a wide variety of coat colors. For example, gene dilution in the eumelanin pigment can produce liver or blue german shepherds. On the other hand, phaeomelanin can produce red in different shades. Genes can also influence it to produce orange, gold, and yellow coats. Some speculate that blonde GSDs might come from white parents. However, white coloring in canines is caused by the absence of pigment. So, genetically, white coats cannot become blonde. A study published by the Journal of Heredity in could be a clue to this incredibly unusual color. According to the research, the genotype ee at the MC1R gene produces the cream color in German Shepherds. How Rare is the Blonde German Shepherd? Blonde German Shepherds are remarkably rare because it takes a very unusual genetic combination to produce such offspring. Additionally, it is not among the coat colors that are considered desirable in show dogs. So, professional breeders are not motivated to produce them. Breeders also fear that blonde GSDs might bring up doubts about their pedigrees not being purebred. Are Blonde German Shepherds Purebred? When a blonde GSD puppy is the product of two purebred parents, the puppy is undeniably purebred. The color of its coat might be unusual, but it is only caused by a unique genetic combination and not because it is a crossbreed. Nevertheless, blonde-coated German Shepherds can also be mixed-breed dogs. They retain the general appearance of the German Shepherd parent but the coloring of the other breed. This is the reason why there can be speculation about whether Blonde GSDs are purebred in some instances. Apart from their color, these dogs are exactly what you would expect from a typical German Shepherd. As long as they are purebred, blonde German Shepherds will have the same build and general appearance as their GSD parents. They will also have the same grooming requirements. Additionally, you can expect their personality, temperament, and intelligence level to be comparable to any other dog of the same breed. Owning one means you need to be ready to offer strong leadership and take the time to socialize, train, and mentally stimulate your dog. The closest color it recognizes is white, but even that is considered a serious fault. So, blonde German Shepherds would not be allowed to enter conformation events. Because they are such athletic dogs, they are expected to perform well in canine sports such as Agility , Flyball , and Dock Diving. How Much is a Blonde German Shepherd? Because they are so rare, there is no documented average pricing for blonde-coated German Shepherd puppies. No, blonde and albino German Shepherds are vastly different from one another. Blondeness is a dilution in the red coloring. On the other hand, albinism is caused by the absence of the pigment eumelanin. An albino dog will not just have a completely white coat but also a pink nose and eye rims. Eye color is also affected, where it turns out to be light blue or, rarely, red. Final Thoughts Owning a blonde German Shepherd will definitely be a unique experience because they are incredibly rare. If you are not quite sure that the blonde GSD is your best option, you might also want to check out liver-colored , black , panda , or blue German Shepherds. No, Blonde German Shepherds are not hypoallergenic. They shed all year round and shed heavily twice a year during spring and fall. Blond German Shepherd food and diet Depending on his activity level, age, and size, an adult German Shepherd would need at least 2 cups of dog kibble daily. It is recommended to spread it into two meals to prevent bloating and stomach torsion, which most German Shepherds are prone to. Blonde German Shepherd health issues German Shepherds are one of the healthiest dog breeds. However, they can also be prone to some health issues that you might want to look out for. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus GDV Also known as bloating, this condition happens when the stomach expands with gas that can cause it to twist. Hypothyroidism A condition when there are not enough thyroid hormones produced which causes lethargy, weight gain, and hair loss. Osteoarthritis A degenerative disorder when there is inflammation of the joints due to cartilage deterioration. Blonde German Shepherd lifespan Blonde German Shepherds have an average lifespan of 9 to 13 years with females living at least one year longer than the average male. Blonde German Shepherd breeders When it comes to searching for a Blonde German Shepherd breeder, the most important step is to find one that is ethical, responsible, and reputable. Do not consider buying from puppy stores because you have no idea where these pups come from. The point here is to stop supporting puppy mills. Ethical breeders will not think twice about allowing buyers to physically visit their kennels. Second, reputable breeders will show you proof of health certificate. Third, most of these responsible breeders have their puppies microchipped before releasing them to the owners. As mentioned above, start by finding a reputable and ethical breeder that has German Shepherds. The Blonde German Shepherd puppies should be active and sociable but not too domineering. To determine if the German Shepherd puppies Blonde color have pleasant personalities, they should welcome you with wagging tails and not appear like they are retreating or afraid to greet you. Also, the Blonde German puppies should show confidence when walking such as having their heads held up high. Once you have chosen your Blonde German Shepherd puppy, shower him with plenty of love. Your pup will return his love for you by protecting you and your loved ones. Blonde German Shepherd puppies for sale Since Blond German Shepherd puppies for sale are hard to find, we have made an extra effort to help you locate trusted breeders. If you are from Australia, you may want to visit Gumtree gumtree. You can fill out their adoption application form and indicate that you are interested in re-homing a Blonde German Shepherd. Blonde German Shepherd: Pros and Cons To help you decide if you want to buy or adopt a Blonde German Shepherd, we have listed below the advantages and disadvantages of having this dog breed in your home. As we stated above, there is a large array of coat colors that German Shepherds can have. Many of these coat colors are recognized by the American Kennel Club , but blonde is not. As we stated above, a young blonde GSD is likely to have a dark coat in the coming years. Unlike blonde, this coat color is a registered and recognized coat color for German Shepherds. A young GSD can easily be born with a liver coat, and it can darken over time. Not only is your GSD likely to have their coat color change over time, but the coat they had as a puppy is likely to fall out regardless once their transition into adulthood begins. This is another factor to be mindful of while watching your GSD grow into an adult dog. For every dog, no matter the breed, there are two main pigments that are responsible for the color of their coat. A light cream, golden, or even white coat can be confused with being blonde. Unlike eumelanin, this pigment only contains one color that can vary based on genes and other factors. While pheomelanin is responsible for red, this pigment can change over time and look drastically different on multiple German Shepherds. Pheomelanin can be responsible for anything from an intense, vibrant red to a light tan color. Eumelanin Contributes a Black Pigment While eumelanin is responsible for a basic black pigment, similar to pheomelanin, this pigment can change based on a variety of internal and external factors. Unlike pheomelanin, this pigment type is responsible for changing the color of other factors outside of your German Shepherds coat. From brown, to gray, to solid back, this pigment is responsible for many different colors showing up on your German Shepherd. We discussed the liver coat type earlier, stating how this coat color can be easily confused with blonde. The basic black that eumelanin contributes can easily manifest into this liver color, which is actually a more pale brown color. Unlike blonde, liver is actually recognized as an actual coat color by the American Kennel Club. As we stated earlier, puppies are likely to grow darker coats as they age into adulthood. There have been plenty of instances where young German Shepherd puppies have been born with a blonde coat color and have grown into a liver coat color. Once again, this is another common color pattern that you may find on your German Shepherd. Mixed with both black and tan coloring, this unique blend makes this GSD very special. Similar to the liver coat, the sable coat coloring is also recognized as a legitimate coat pattern by the American Kennel Club. The reason for this name comes from the fact that their dark black coat seems to have a hue of blue when exposed to certain lighting. Many blue German Shepherds puppies who were born with dark black coats that give off that blue hue usually grow up to have light gray coats. While a blue GSD is not likely to be confused with a blonde German Shepherd, both of these types of coat colors are similar in that they are both just as rare. The probability of a GSD inheriting the genes to have this kind of coat is extremely rare, seeing how they are only created via recessive genes. Once again, this color pattern is so rare that it has yet to be recognized or registered as a valid coat coloring by the AKC. This also goes for your German Shepherds eyes and nose, seeing how eumelanin affects these aspects as well. The most common underlying tone that Agouti expresses is golden, which can be mistaken for blonde a lot of the time. Once again, external factors, as well as genetics, can play a role in terms of how Agouti appears on your GSD. While not recognized by the AKC as a coat color for German Shepherds, this light wolf gray pattern can easily be mistaken for blonde, and is just as stunning as it is rare. This is nothing to worry about and a perfectly natural response to your dog entering adulthood, as we discussed previously. Your GSD has an inner and an outer layer, with the inner layer usually being undetectable and barely noticeable. The interior coat is usually one solid color, and its purpose is to keep your dog warm. The outer layer has a lot more jobs compared to the inner layer, and its duties include keeping your GSD safe from the external elements that may harm them. Hybrid breeding amongst breeders is very popular nowadays and can result in different looking breeds of all different shapes, sizes, and even colors. As long as you commit to working with a professional and health-oriented breeder, you should be good to go. However, certain colors, as previously mentioned, have a tendency to look blonde, especially on GSD puppies. White has actually become a common GSD coat color over time , as breeders have created this GSD coat color in recent years. While some may think of white as its own color, white is really the absence of pigment. Final Thoughts You should now understand everything you need to know about the blonde German Shepherd. We went over how rare this kind of GSD actually is, as well as what causes their coat to turn blonde. Health first! It is our hope that you now have an better understanding of what exactly it is that makes the blonde German Shepherd so very special! When a puppy starts to transition from a puppy coat to the adult dog coat, the first thing that happens is that the puppy coat begins to fall out. Here, this process is not unlike how the baby teeth fall out and the adult teeth grow in behind them. The single-layer puppy coat may fall out in stages as it is steadily replaced by the double-layer adult German Shepherd dog coat. Not all dog breeds have a double layer coat, but most German Shepherd dogs the long coat type excepting do have this layer. The inner coat layer is typically a solid color. It is barely visible because it is covered by the coarser, longer outer coat layer. The undercoat only has one purpose: to keep the dog warm. The outer layer of the GSD coat, in contrast, serves many functions. It has to protect the dog from wet conditions, the cold, sunburn, pests, abrasions, injuries, and more. The outer layer might be a solid color, a bi-color two-color pattern , or a multi-color pattern such as sable. Experienced breeders are often able to predict with a great degree of certainty what coat color a GSD puppy will grow up to display. However, because canine genetics are so complicated, even the most experienced breeders can occasionally be surprised. This is exactly what can happen when a blonde German Shepherd appears! There are several possibilities that can end up leading to a blonde German Shepherd or at least a blonde-appearing German Shepherd. Remember when we talked about how the phaeomelanin color pigment can have different appearances, depending on how other genes may interact with it? Phaeomelanin can lighten to the point where it is a very light blonde that can be mistaken for white. A blonde GSD coat may actually be white White coats are produced by the absence of color pigment altogether. However, in certain types of light, a blonde coat can appear white and vice versa. So it may just be that the dog actually has a white coat. While white is another unusual and rare color in German Shepherds, unlike blonde, white is also a color that is recognized in the GSD breed standard. A blonde GSD may actually be rare but possible At one point, nearly every purebred dog breed we recognize and love today was once a hybrid or mixed-breed dog. Purebred dog breeds are developed by strategic crossbreeding. In the case of German Shepherds, a former German cavalry officer named Captain Max von Stephanitz used a dog of unknown origin that had suspected wolf-dog genes to create the breed. Along the way, the Captain occasionally crossed his new emerging breed with other German herding dogs. The human understanding of the full canine genome is still quite young. A blonde GSD is actually a hybrid or mixed dog breed Hybrid dog breeding is becoming quite popular today as more breeders take steps to create new dog breeds. One day, some of these hybrid dog breeds may become registered purebred breeds in their own right. There are several reasons for this. The first, and most important, is because you want to avoid buying a GSD puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills are in dog breeding for the profit and do not do health testing or provide the parent dogs or puppies with a proper diet and nutrition. These dogs may not even be legitimate purebred German Shepherds. Speaking of health, the second reason is that German Shepherds do have some heritable health issues. The third reason is that if a breeder does not track their lineage, you have no way of knowing if your dog is even a true purebred GSD. This is most important if you plan to show your dog or breed German Shepherds yourself. But it is also important for the other reasons we just mentioned here. What to Know Before Choosing a Blonde German Shepherd Dog Now that you have a much deeper understanding of all the types of factors that may result in an adult blonde German Shepherd coat, you may wonder if it is a good idea to choose a blonde GSD. The truth is, the best way to choose a companion canine is always to work with a reputable, health-focused, responsible dog breeder who tests their parent dog pairs for all known genetic health issues. This is how you can make sure your puppy will be born as healthy as possible. Coat color should always be secondary to health. As long as your German Shepherd comes from good genes, there is nothing to worry about in choosing a dog that has a less-common coat color like the blonde German Shepherd. Frequently Asked Question Are blonde German shepherds rare? Yes, blonde German shepherds are rare. However, there are many people that do own them. In order to have a blonde German Shepherd, you will need to breed dogs that have the correct genes, as this is not the typical color. A blonde German shepherd will have a coat that is very similar in color to a yellow Labrador and a Golden retriever. It is a truly beautiful color for a German shepherd , and often people may not even register that the dog is a GSD at first glance. These types of GSD are the same as any other type, the only difference is in the color and rarity of their coat. Given that they are not overly popular, within the GSD community, they are fairly sought after. While this color of German shepherd is not accepted at shows, they are a beautiful color to own. See a Blonde German Shepherd Dog In this video , you can get a good idea of the coat coloration of the blonde German Shepherd on a fully grown adult dog. Just as with humans, there can be many shades of color in the blonde spectrum for canines. However, at some point, a true blonde may cross over in adulthood to become a liver or even a shade of gray.

I blogged about my bout with the puppy blues. I shared on YouTube and Instagram how hard it was to have a puppy in the house. And wow do I have loads to share about the experience of being a Goldendoodle owner. First things first. People choose to adopt or shop for a whole host of different reasons — many of which are highly personal. We had been wanting to add a dog to the family for years, but landed on a Goldendoodle puppy intentionally and thoughtfully. This decision was taken seriously and we contemplated a lot of options. Ultimately we wanted the experience of raising a puppy. Point being — I made the choice I made and I stand by it. We adopted our cat from a shelter and have mad respect for that experience. For us, sourcing a puppy from a reputable breeder was the right choice at the time and honestly, given the competition at shelters, the only real choice. But I digress. Who this post is for. I was in the market for a Goldendoodle puppy and was after all the info on the breed I could get. What exactly is a Goldendoodle? Goldendoodles are produced when a Golden Retriever is mixed with a Poodle. There are many different types and generations of Goldendoodles. You can also find Medium and Mini Goldendoodle options — all of which are determined by the size of the Poodle. The parent breeds of the puppy ultimately determine the generation of the puppy — and different generations are known for different traits such as coat type, temperament, body size and shape, etc. Goldendoodle generations. Like I said, Goldendoodle dogs come in a whole host of generations. This breeding variety can offer a lot of trait blends you might find in a Poodle Golden Retriever mix, from coat type to body shape and more. This is the first generation of Goldendoodle. Our dog, Lemon, is an F2 Goldendoodle. The brutal truth about owning a Goldendoodle. People will likely get upset that you chose to shop and not adopt. Yep — please refer to the above. Ironically — neither does team purebred! Folks who run in the purebred dog circuit sometimes have strong opinions about the lineage and breeding standards of a dog. Honestly, I do understand where the criticism about the Goldendoodle breed comes from. The result? A lot of really nasty, unsavory backyard breeding tactics. Many Goldendoodle breeders are unscrupulous and hard to verify. Unlike an AKC recognized breed where you can search for reputable and verified breeders, no such official list exists for Goldendoodles. This means most of us shopping for a Goldendoodle are just hitting up Google, praying to see good reviews, and maybe hopefully getting a good word of mouth recommendation from another doodle owner. There are plenty of ethical, legitimate Goldendoodle breeders out there. Kindly ask the owner where they got their dog from and if they liked the experience. Extra points if you can learn about the health of the dog. I also highly recommend only buying from a breeder that performs various health screenings on the parent dogs. Good breeders should be testing for the Goldendoodle health issues seen most commonly. There are no health testing requirements when it comes to breeding doodles, so all health tests are at the expense and discretion of the breeder. Good breeders DO test! Goldendoodle sizes vary widely — and breeders cannot guarantee them. Breeders often price their Goldendoodle puppies by size. Standard size Goldendoodles tend to cost less than Mini Goldendoodles because the Miniature Goldendoodle size is considered more popular. Goldendoodles are a mixed breed group at the end of the day — so weight fluctuates wildly. Best estimations can absolutely be made based on the weight of the parents, but ultimately no breeder can accurately promise or guarantee the end size of your dog. Sizing as advertised by a breeder is a ballpark range, not an absolute promise. Another Goldendoodle trait often promised by breeders is coat type. Goldendoodle colors and coats do change as your dog grows. Puppy coats also may be curlier or straighter than their adult coats. Unfortunately the dark curly coat you fall in love with when bringing your puppy home might in fact shed away to a much lighter or straighter coat. Also — hot take — the Goldendoodle hypoallergenic and non-shedding promise pumped out into the world by breeders is a bit of a myth. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about Goldendoodles. Goldendoodles with more Golden Retriever in them have a higher likelihood of shedding than generations with more Poodle or potentially more mixed. Goldendoodle coats require a lot of maintenance. For the most part, Goldendoodle coats do require a fair bit of maintenance. This is especially true if you like your doodles hair to be long and shaggy. Goldendoodle puppy fur is fine and both tangles and mats easily. The shorter cut is so much easier to maintain than that beautiful, long look. Goldendoodles are known for having gut issues. From allergies to just general bubble gut, doodles can tend to have finicky tummies. It also means you might need to put up with random bouts of diarrhea. Goldendoodles are known for having allergies — both food related and seasonal. Lemon wakes up every single morning with eye boogers thanks to her seasonal allergies. But in all seriousness, allergies are actually a fairly well known fact of doodles in general. Doodles are also susceptible to seasonal allergies and allergies to specific plants, grass, etc. We just give her some supplements, watch her diet, and try to discourage rolling around in freshly cut grass. Goldendoodles are expensive. Goldendoodles are wildly expensive. End of story. To purchase a Goldendoodle in , the average puppy would ring in at multiple thousands of dollars. Even in more rural areas, breeders were still able to charge a pretty penny. Many people actually fly puppies into wherever they live from rural breeders just to save money! Lemon had stomach issues from the moment we brought her home, resulting in expensive vet visits, tests, medicines, and food. For the record, I highly recommend getting pet insurance for your dood. Goldendoodles have endless amounts of energy. Somewhere along the way I feel like Goldendoodles got the reputation for being amazing for beginner dog owners and as family dogs. Goldendoodles are like Energizer bunnies. Man, do they have a lot of energy! Goldendoodles constantly need to be engaged or have something to do. But for the most part, this breed is not a lap dog nor are they a true couch potato. Goldendoodles will require a minimum of one healthy walk per day, often more. Goldendoodles can survive on less exercise, but the result is often behavioral problems that may lead them to ultimately be surrendered. Goldendoodles are smart AF. One of the most frequently asked questions about doods that I get over on Instagram is about trainability of this breed. Goldendoodles make for amazing training class dogs. These doods are sharp as a tack and genuinely love to be challenged and work with their humans. Goldendoodles are re-homed at high rates because not enough people do their research into the facts of this designer dog breed. For as expensive as these designer dogs are — they do actually end up surrendered. They just saw a cute puppy and fell in love. Some owners purchase their Goldendoodle puppy imagining a sweet, mellow, curly, non-shedding, hypoallergenic pup only to find out their puppy is, well…a Goldendoodle. Loads of energy. May or may not shed. But yes, still very sweet. I knew my pup would come home with energy, but even I was surprised by just how much energy she had to burn each day! Lemon typically gets walked twice per day. We also absolutely love taking Lemon to training classic, sport classes, and doggy daycare — all of which really wear her out. Sport classes like nosework or agility are also great energy releases! Doggy daycare is an amazing way for dogs to socialize together in a safe, supervised environment. Goldendoodles are an amazing mixed breed. Out of all the dog breeds out there — I honestly still see each and every day why my husband and I chose to go with a dood. Lemon is funny, quirky, and goofy — and so are all her siblings. Lemon is insanely smart and incredibly loving. Even after all the late night bouts of diarrhea, the endless vet visits, the tangled fur, the training woes, and the morning eye boogers — we love our dog. We love our Goldendoodle. We love Lemon. Thinking of adding a dood to the family? Feel free to drop questions into the comments below! Goldendoodle puppies are all the rage right now. However, as cute as they are—getting a Goldendoodle puppy is a big deal! Their cuteness is just an added bonus! Goldendoodle Puppy Is a Goldendoodle the right fit for you and your family? Nowadays any and every level of dog owner is purchasing a doodle—people who have only owned short-haired dogs, incredibly calm dogs, and sometimes first-time dog owners. As a result of not knowing what a person is getting themselves into when they purchase a doodle, doodle rehoming is at an all-time high! Even though many people love their doodle—a doodle may not be the right fit for you. Many people are giving away their Goldendoodles, rehoming them, or sending them to a rescue. If you skimp on the price, you could end up with a dog that is poorly bred. Which is incredibly dangerous for you, your puppy, and the breeding industry. Genetic testing helps prevent the breeding of dogs that test poorly for bad genes or health and behavioral issues. This will essentially cost you a fortune later in high vet bills, training costs, and potentially medical and lawsuit charges. Dogs in a Kennel Additionally, buying from a low-quality breeder to save money helps keep puppy mills in business. Puppy mills over breed their dogs. Those poor overbred dogs are usually stuck in a kennel their entire life—usually in a cramped space, stacked on top of each other, sitting in their urine or feces. There are also puppy mill breeders that keep their puppies in outside kennels, never getting to socialize with other dogs or humans. And they never have a chance to live a life of happiness and freedom. Why on earth would anyone want to support something so inhumane??? Remember the age-old saying, you get what you pay for. And that goes for dog breeders as well. Please choose to purchase your dog from an ethical breeder. If you purchase from a breeder that does not perform genetic testing, you are at risk for a plethora of issues. Please do your research, but due to the explosion in Goldendoodle popularity, there is a higher chance of running across a bad breeder and bad genetics because there are many who are in it for the money and not for the love and care of breeding a sound Goldendoodle. High Coat Maintenance The biggest complaint I hear from Goldendoodle parents is how high maintenance the coat is. Their coat requires quite a bit of brushing. Actually……a lot of brushing. At least 15 minutes a day! A little too easily. And those mats hurt and restrict body movement. Not only do you have to brush your Goldendoodle, but you also have to comb down to the skin, until the comb goes through the coat effortlessly. This means you will actually have to block out time from your day to physically brush your dog every single day. Otherwise, your doodle ends up completely knotted up. This leads to moisture becoming trapped in the coat once this happens, bacteria begins to grow and then your doodle will get hot spots and major skin issues. Putting your dog through that kind of torture for simple aesthetics is really uncool. To ask your dog groomer—who is more than likely an insanely over the top dog lover will feel awful torturing your dog for 3 hours as they try to hurriedly brush and pull out mats due to appointment restrictions. If you feel you have what it takes to brush your Doodle daily and keep them mat free, then a Goldendoodle is a great choice for you! If not. .Plus it can be dangerous, especially if you attempt to trim out matting. During quarantine I witnessed quite a few dogs with burns, cuts, nails quicked too short, and uneven faces and coat lengths. Some dogs were so burned by the clippers they needed vet attention. The cut caused the leg to get infected Luckily the dog was surrendered and ended up with a great life! They take longer to wash, dry, and trim. Almost times longer than many other dog breeds. Therefore, they cost more professionally. Your dog begins to lick these itchy areas and bites incessantly until the spot becomes red and irritated, sometimes bloody. Doodle with Skin Issues And sometimes if a Goldendoodle is bred poorly, they can have health and skin issues ranging from ear infections, hot spots, and skin allergies as well. Which is kinda gross considering your house will begin to smell the same way. I have groomed many sour-coated Goldendoodles that have smelled so bad, we had to air out the grooming salon. They tend to hold moisture and grow bacteria quickly. The trouble areas are usually underneath the ears, under the chin, their feet, and their sanitary booty and pee-pee areas. Getting on a regular bath and professional grooming schedule can help save your furniture, carpet, and bedding from getting that dog odor. Doodle Grooming Guide 7. This can sometimes be too much for people to handle. I have older clients that have Goldendoodles and sometimes they are too afraid to bring them in alone for fear of falling from being pulled holding the leash, or tripping over their Goldendoodle while trying to bring then in for a professional groom. Many times the mouthiness feels like extreme biting. However, training can fix most mouthiness cases. Goldendoodle Puppy 9. Shedding Many Goldendoodles do shed! Especially if they are a first-generation or F1, which is a Golden Retriever crossed with a Standard Poodle. And for this reason, I have witnessed many Goldendoodles either returned or given away, or sent to a rescue group or shelter. Goldendoodle Hair .Their friendliness results in jumping, barking, using their arms and feet, mouthing people, and of course—crotch sniffing. In some rare cases, Goldendoodles can be aggressive. Size Nowadays Goldendoodles come in a variety of sizes, ranging from toy to standard. I have witnessed countless Goldendoodles come out large, and large Goldendoodles come out small. They were supposed to only grow to 30lbs, but now weigh a whopping 90lbs! Dog Allergies Despite popular opinion, I can assure you that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Even if your dog is an FB doodle. All dogs have skin which sheds and all dogs have hair which sheds, some less than others. Otherwise, all of the pollen, dirt, leaves, and dust they come in contact with, will stick to their coat. Thus, creating an allergy-ridden furball running around the house. I feel like this just about covers many of the reasons I see Goldendoodle rehomed. Hopefully, all of these points can help you make a better, informed decision in regard to purchasing a Goldendoodle puppy! Join My Tribe to learn more about Pet Parenting! October 25, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? The Goldendoodle, a hybrid breed that launched into popularity in the United States in the s and never left the top list, Goldendoodles are affectionate and smart dogs whose amiable personalities are well-suited for a variety of owners and lifestyles! How do you know if the Goldendoodle is the right fit for you and your family? A Brief Background on Goldendoodles! As we quickly stated earlier, the Goldendoodle is a hybrid, a cross between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. Thanks to the success of Labradoodles Labrador Retriever and Poodle cross-breed , dog breeders began to intentionally breed Golden Retrievers with a range of Poodles, creating a variety of Goldendoodles in different coloring and sizes. What are Goldendoodles Breed Characteristics? Some distinguishable characteristics of the Goldendoodle include their sizing range, variety of coloring, and temperament. Goldendoodles can come in mini to standard size, thanks to the genes from their poodle side. Goldendoodles can weigh starting at 15 lbs for miniature sizes up to 80 Ilbs for standard. One of the most distinguishable features is their thick, soft, curly coats that are considered hypoallergenic because they shed less frequently than other dog breeds. What are Goldendoodles Personalities like? Goldendoodles love people! They are friendly, affectionate, and love to please. With the right amount of socialization, this breed will be a friend to everyone! However, their fun-loving personalities also bring a lot of high energy, jumpiness, and nippiness throughout puppyhood. This is important to remember especially if you have young children at home. Goldendoodles can make excellent family dogs, but proper training and boundaries must be started the moment you bring them home to help get them there! Think about your current living environment and where you plan to be in the next few years. That being said, if you were planning on adding a Goldendoodle to your life, consider that these pups do best in a home with enough space especially if you are getting a standard-sized Goldendoodle and a fenced in yard! While some Goldendoodles on the smaller range of the size scale work great for apartment dwelling, these are energetic breeds that need space to exercise and play. Regular walks and training sessions at a local park will help them expel some energy in a constructive way, and are highly recommended for this breed, especially if you live in a city environment! How to Care for Your Goldendoodle! Goldendoodles can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, hypothyroidism, and Gastric Dilation Volvulus Bloat. To avoid having to shave down their beautiful coats, daily brushing to remove mats is recommended, along with regular professional grooming appointments. Like all other breeds, having their nails trimmed and teeth brushed regularly will ensure they stay clean and healthy! Goldendoodle puppies are very smart and love to work! With consistent puppy training from an early age, they can master basic obedience skills quickly, and also move on to more advanced training, including therapy and service animal training. Start your puppy off on the right paw by establishing their daily puppy schedule complete with feeding, potty breaks, nap times, playtimes, and puppy training sessions! Going back to their wilder instincts, puppies will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep. Crate training your Goldendoodle puppy will help boost their confidence and resilience while learning to be alone at home. Puppy training can provide your puppy with controlled socialization with other puppies under the supervision of a puppy trainer that can watch out for rough playing or dominant behaviors between puppies. When done correctly, socialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to great people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on barking or jumping, which are common puppy behaviors when they are excited or over-stimulated when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer to help set you up for the best success! Consider advanced training to keep them engaged Goldendoodles are very intelligent which means they love stimulating activities! Along with basic obedience, dog sports like agility are a great way to motivate them and help your puppy work out their energy. Agility helps establish a stronger communication bond through body language while your puppy is participating. You will learn to communicate with more body language and signals to focus your puppy at performing tasks necessary to help individuals that are incapable of doing it themselves. Respect their alone time. This is especially challenging for young kids when they can look like real-life stuffed animals! But, this constant handling can often cause some frustration for these young pups, having them act out with more nipping to try to make the petting stops, or growling, which can lead to more serious behavioral issues down the road. Make sure to give them dedicated time through the day to rest and their own space where they can be left alone to nap, unbothered. And always monitor young kids when they are interacting with the puppy so you can easily step in to give your puppy a break when they need it! Did you recently bring home a Goldendoodle puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! Goldendoodle Size In recent years , Goldendoodles have become one of the most popular dog types for pet lovers across North America because of their wonderful Goldendoodle temperament, cuddly good looks and they make great family pets. These doodle mix pups are the offspring of two beloved dog breeds — golden retrievers and poodles. The crossbreed poodle mix of these two dogs in this breed group brings out the best of both lines. These dogs are affectionate, loving, kind, and accepting of strangers, making them an ideal choice for both new and experienced dog owners. The Goldendoodle puppy is one of the cutest! Five important things to know about Goldendoodle temperament 1. They do, however, have a very high energy level and a high activity level, and do best in households with enough space and time for lots of exercise. Goldendoodles love all the classic canine activities, such as fetch, long walks, and running. Many also love to explore water and can learn to swim, and they make great guide dogs, service dogs, and even therapy dogs. With plenty of exercises, most Goldendoodles display very little aggression and are very obedient. As your dog ages, you will want to watch for hip issues referred to as hip dysplasia. Most other health issues are minor. Though many top breeders offer trained Goldendoodles for adoption, these pups can also continue their training at home. Goldendoodles are very smart dogs and willing to learn new behaviors and commands with the help of positive reinforcement. Punishments such as hitting or shouting at a Goldendoodle are not recommended and can inhibit the Doodle training process. Crate training and alone time training are highly recommended, as Goldendoodles can suffer from separation anxiety. Socializing Is Good Goldendoodles are naturally curious, friendly dogs and calm around humans and, like their parent breeds, most are also fine around other dogs. This is especially true of professionally raised Goldendoodles that have lived around their littermates for at least the first eight weeks of life. They are both wonderful pets with beautiful curly coats, and both are easy to train. Goldendoodles can have some key personality differences, including more immediate friendliness with new people. Both of these doodle mixes benefit from an active lifestyle, but Goldendoodles can be slightly less energetic. As the offspring of two sporting class dogs, Goldendoodles share DNA with many popular hunting dogs. Goldendoodles can be known to chase smaller wild animals, including squirrels, chipmunks, and mice, so be sure to keep your friend on a leash during their first visits to the local park. In our training program, they will be introduced to other animals to build comfortability and tame curiosity. If you are considering adding a Goldendoodle to your family, you can be certain that it will bring plenty of love and fun into your home. Take a look at our available puppies or contact Pride and Prejudoodles today for more information. Speak to a member of our team to learn more You Should Know the Temperament of Goldendoodles Both the standard poodle and golden retriever were originally bred as a sporting breed. The Standard Poodle was originally bred as a retrieving dog specifically for the water! The Golden Retriever as its name would suggest was also bred to accompany his master on the hunt to retrieve game. Retrieving is a skill that requires dutiful obedience on the part of the dog and an active, alert disposition. In recent decades, the vast majority of poodles and golden retrievers have been bred for family pets rather than hunting companions, but their original roots remain. Golden retrievers in particular have been frequently bred for their obedience and service dog potential. And both breeds are quite athletic, tend to like retrieval games like fetch, and are overall moderately active dogs. Bred specifically for its small size and companionship, the Miniature Poodle tends to be more demanding of attention and can be more excitable and less docile than their standard-sized counterparts. Miniatures are still known for their intelligence and affection and combined with the little extra spunk they pack, they can make an ideal addition to the right family. This is something to consider if you are wanting a smaller version of the doodle. An amazing dog! Goldendoodles are known for their friendly, gentle dispositions and their eager-to-please attitudes. They are incredibly people-oriented and easy to train! They have a charming sense of humor and an uncanny ability to know when their humans could use an extra snuggle. This type of coat is very similar to the Golden Retriever hence the shedding. Wavy coats are still prone to some shedding but are fairly easy as far as grooming - typically only requiring brushing a couple times a week to avoid matting. This type of coat is a good middle blend between the two breeds. The curly coat will be ultra-low shedding and is best for people with allergies, but it will require more frequent brushing to prevent matting. We find that they shed about as much as a human — so you will see hair in the brush when you comb them, but it will not be all over your floors and furniture as with most other non-doodle dog breeds. Your breeder should be able to tell what type of coats the pups have from an early age. At JLDD we love our multigenerational litters. Adding more poodle generally equates to a curlier coat and less shedding as seen in a F1b or multigenerational doodle. When bred down correctly such as coat testing completed on parent dogs then a breeder can ensure to only pass on the non-shedding gene to the next generation, so the result is an ultra low-shedding dog! Helpful Tip Alert! The trademark temperament and low-shedding coat of this breed do not necessarily mean this is a low-maintenance dog. When considering the athletic breed backgrounds of this dog as well as their very high intelligence, its no surprise that goldendoodles do require a lot of human attention. This is what makes the breed incredibly easy to train and great for first time dog owners but it also means that your goldendoodle will not be happy to spend his days alone in the backyard. The same intuitive, sensitive nature that makes the goldendoodle an excellent therapy dog candidate, also means that your pup will want to be with you all the time! If you are not prepared to never watch Netflix alone again, then the goldendoodle may not be the best fit for you! Most goldendoodles tend to be a second shadow to their owners and follow them around the house and are up for being a companion on any adventure! This is not a sedentary dog and will require some kind of physical exercise several times a week in order to be at his best. Finally, many people are attracted to the Goldendoodle for its minimally shedding coat. But this does not mean the coat is low maintenance. We have had owners groom their doodles themselves to save on costs, but it is certainly still a significant commitment to keep your dood looking fresh and mat-free! In conclusion, if you are prepared for a dog that enjoys an active lifestyle, lots of human interaction and mental stimulation and you have a plan for coat maintenance, the Goldendoodle is a great fit for you! View All Articles in Goldendoodle Grooming Goldendoodle Lifespan The great thing about Goldendoodles and other hybrid breeds is that they generally live long and healthy lives. Nonetheless, Goldendoodles are still at risk of certain health conditions , so you should be aware of the risks associated with them. By the way, choosing the right breeder will also go a long way in contributing to their lifespan and quality of life. More on that later. All in all, Goldendoodles have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years. As a general rule of thumb, smaller Toy and Mini Goldendoodles tend to outlive their larger Standard Goldendoodle counterparts. This is common across all dog breeds. Therefore, we can expect the average lifespan of Toy and Mini Goldendoodles to be around 12 to 15 years. Meanwhile, Medium and Standard Goldendoodles may have a slightly shorter life expectancy of 10 to 13 years. One of the most important aspects of owning a Goldendoodle puppy is making sure that you have the space, time, and energy to care for one. Instead, you may want to consider getting a Toy or Mini Goldendoodle. Be sure to also check out our full puppy checklist here. The real work begins the moment your Goldendoodle puppy arrives home. As the day gets closer, you should also be prepared for the first night with your new puppy. This way, both of you will have a much easier time adjusting to the new family dynamic. Once your new puppy gets home, you should start with potty training , crate training , obedience training , puppy socialization , and leash training as soon as possible. This will help establish good behaviors and also help your pup to grow into a well-rounded and confident adult. If you struggle with certain behavioral problems, this guide will surely help you out. In terms of grooming and personal hygiene, this step-by-step guide on how to groom a Goldendoodle at home would be an excellent resource. Likewise, you should learn the basics of line brushing , since Goldendoodles are quite tangle prone dogs. In addition to that, our ultimate guide to dog nail trimming covers everything you should know about the topic. You may also want to learn more about Goldendoodle teething — the timeline, symptoms, and our top tips for caring for a teething puppy. For more resources on caring for Goldendoodle puppies, be sure to check out all of our Doodle Puppyhood Survival Guides. As we briefly mentioned earlier, choosing a reputable breeder is crucial if you do decide to adopt your puppy from a breeder. First of all, reputable breeders follow responsible breeding guidelines. This means that they only use health and DNA tested parents in their breeding programs, provide genetic health guarantees, and utilize various forms of enrichment methods to raise healthy, well-socialized, and well-rounded Goldendoodle puppies. You may also want to check out this article on Doodle scammers and puppy mills — a growing problem all across the globe. Goldendoodle is such an amazing breed, we cannot stop raving about these Doods! Goldendoodles are affectionate, fun-loving, social, and intelligent pups. They also tend to get along super well with children, provided that your Goldendoodle puppy has been properly socialized from an early age. For this reason, Goldendoodles make excellent companions for families with children, but also singles and couples. As intelligent and easily trainable as they are, Goldendoodles often have the tendency to be vocal. To be more precise, barking is a common problem that many Goldendoodle owners struggle with. Training is also vital here, as teaching your Goldendoodle puppy from a young age will help establish good behaviors. Are Goldendoodles High Maintenance? Indeed, some people would say that Goldendoodles are high maintenance when it comes to their coat care and grooming needs. Goldendoodles are prone to matting, which means that these pups need to be regularly brushed, bathed, and have their hair trimmed every few weeks or so. In fact, to prevent those knots and tangles from forming into full-blown mats, you should brush your Goldendoodle every single day. Goldendoodle Puppies Final Thoughts Goldendoodles make wonderful companions, but before you adopt one of these cuddly pups, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. From their size and grooming needs to their energy levels and lifespan, Goldendoodles require quite a bit of care and attention. These furry little bundles of joy will fill your days with happiness, laughter, and unconditional love.

Von Cluskey German Shepherds is dedicated to producing stable, balanced, clear headed dogs suitable for real world work, a wide variety of sports venues or as active family companions. We will never produce just for the sake of having puppies to sell, but rather because we have a goal in mind for a particular breeding and because we feel that the sire and dam of the litter are a good match and will produce puppies that will be excellent representations of the breed and who we will be proud to have represent our breeding program. All of our breeding stock is titled, usually in several venues, health tested and from top working lines. Because we do train and compete with our dogs ourselves in a wide variety of sports, we recognize the strengths and weaknesses in each dog and take these in to consideration when planning breedings. We want to produce a dog who will give his all while working or playing but who can then come into the house and be a beloved part of the family when work or play is done. Contact Have questions about our dogs or training services please don't hesitate to contact us. Von Cluskey German Shepherds. Showing 1 - 14 of 14 resultsPage 1 - 14 results Sort by Your listing deserves to be on top. Family raised under foot in the house on a farm. They are well socialized already, being Raised with.She's very playful and enjoys walks she's great with other dogs. She is 11 weeks old She is a Shephard and bully mix I can't keep her due to.They are friendly and good with children. They are black, tan and redish. Our German Shepherds are eager to learn, easy to train, We are Shepdog Kennels. We aim to breed top quality Czech Republic German Shepherds. We have Been involved with German Shepherds for the past .He is up to date with his shots. Good family pet. I put him up for adoption a few months ago but couldn't follow up as I work in Quebec. I'd be in Hamilton on weekends.Pure Male German Shepherd for sale. I work in Quebec and my family cant look after more than 1 dog hence must let him go to a good home willing to add him to their family. He is.We have 6 gorgeous German shepherd puppies available. They have been born and raised on our family farm. They are well-socialized with children and other animals. Some search tips we've found useful: Try a different or more general keyword Expand search location.

This way, you will know what to expect and if this is the right breed for your home. Ashford Manor Labradoodles Ashford Manor Labradoodles is one of the breeding centers you can rely on if ever looking for labradoodle dogs in Indiana. They have been in this industry for a long time now, which means they have already established a reputation among dog lovers. They have a wide variety of Labradoodle puppies for sale, and that is why you will never have a hard time choosing from them. Ashford Manor only works with the top Australian Labradoodle lines, and they go through every procedure to a tee. The dogs would not be unaware of this, but they get improved genetics in terms of superior hypoallergenic and non-shedding hair. In addition, they maintain a small breeding program to give each puppy the attention and socialization it requires for them to grow up to be loving, loyal pets. Ashford breeds multigenerational mini and medium-sized Labradoodle puppies. A professional trainer guides these pedigree puppies in fluffy, allergy-friendly, and non-shedding coats. Each puppy comes with a 2-year genetic health guarantee. Address: West Columbia St. This is why Chestnut Hill Labradoodles is one of the top breeders on the list. Chestnut Hill Labradoodles is located in Indiana, and they can provide you with all the information you need about their services and products. The puppies learn through positive reinforcement and puppy culture training because the first sixteen weeks are so important. They are best known for their multigenerational mini, medium, and standard-sized Labradoodle puppies. Not to mention that this Gold Paw enterprise is one of the favorites in Indiana for Labradoodle puppies. In addition, they offer a two-year health guarantee. Not only do they provide excellent services, but they also offer different types of puppies, depending on what you are looking for. Daffodil Hill Australian Labradoodles are popular for their mini and medium-sized puppies. They are multigenerational hypoallergenic dogs that are not only friendly but also intelligent. Each puppy will be part of your family for the rest of its life. They breed only the finest Australian and American multigenerational non-shedding Hypoallergenic miniature and medium Labradoodle for sale. Its mission is to provide loving families with the healthiest and best-natured Labradoodle pups in Indiana. Forever Friends uses a gentle and kind temperament to ensure that the puppies are comfortable in every situation, which is why Doodles from Forever Friends make excellent family pets. They breed F1, F1B, and multigenerational labradoodle puppies in both mini and medium sizes. They provide excellent services, but their pups are also highly intelligent and make great family pets. Furthermore, they guarantee their puppies for two years from genetic diseases. If you have allergies, the Harvest Labradoodles are perfect for you because they are non-shedding and very friendly, making them ideal as family pets. Address: Located on a small family farm in Madison, Indiana. Phone: Website: www. We hope that you will find it helpful to adopt one of these non-shedding and hypoallergenic dogs. They will be perfect as your new family pet, and they will have a positive impact on your life. Smaller Labradoodle breeders in Indiana offer advantages such as greater specific care for each puppy and a feeling of becoming part of the family when you buy from them. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. Ashford Manor offers important services that benefit you, your puppy, and your family! Puppy Bootcamp Your puppy is already socialized and prepared for family life, but this takes it a step further. For an additional fee and in four weeks, your puppy will begin to know basic commands. Grooming Services Australian Labradoodles are groomed in a special way. Many groomers do not this, but we do. Try us out! It takes time to search for the best products for your dog. We understand that. She is amazing, wonderful, and adorable. Nothing seems bothers her: not the noise, car horns, police sirens, fire engines, or motorcycles. You should hear all the comments I get from people who stop me to ask what breed she is and tell me how cute and beautiful she is. He is totally crate trained, and has very rarely had an accident inside. He slept the first night and every night from 11pm-6AM better than any of my 4 kids! People with dogs say that we are very lucky and have such a great dog! She is always the smartest one in the class as she is such a quick learner! Izzy is pretty much completely potty trained — she regularly rings the bells — though she has figured out that ringing the bells get her the attention she likes, so she does that for fun sometimes too. He is just a doll and the grand kids love him. Kids absolutely adore her — thank you for such a wonderful puppy. Our breeding program includes Labradoodles from Tegan Park and Rutland Manor, the originators of this clever breed. We are dedicated to preserving the Australian Labradoodle, by insuring sound breeding practices, excellence and the highest standard of ethics. Our dogs and puppies live in our home as loved pets. They are well socialized and used to children and other animals. Proper socialization is important to the puppy you will adopt so much attention is given to your new puppy. While in our home we take the utmost care of your new puppy. Your little prince or princess will be treated like royalty. You can be assured that the best care and attention is given to all aspects of breeding, and that we are devoted to advancing and preserving this unique breed. Only sound Labradoodles are allowed to participate in our breeding program. Our adherence to these policies backs up our guarantee in providing only the best Australian Labradoodles. It is my goal to produce the finest companion for your family and am honored that so many families come to me for their puppy. Australian Labradoodles. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Marion Indiana and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn More Are you looking for adorable Labradoodle puppies in Indiana? All of them follow ethical breeding practices and make sure that their puppies come from healthy, carefully screened parents. For this, ethical Labradoodle breeders in Indiana conduct rigorous health and genetic testing on their breeding dogs. Only dogs who have passed with flying colors are used for breeding purposes, which greatly reduces the risk of the puppies inheriting any genetic conditions or hereditary illnesses. Some breeders even offer a three-year health warranty! All of these organizations require that their member breeders follow their strict health testing standards, ethical breeding practices, and provide the pups a nurturing, loving, and safe environment to grow up in. Additionally, some breeders also post their customer testimonials on their websites. Chestnut Hill Labradoodles is a Puppy Culture breeder and also utilizes important puppy rearing techniques from Avidog. They make sure that all of their pups are properly socialized with children, adults, elderly, and other dogs before adoption. They also implement various enrichment methods, such as potty training, crate training, Early Neurological Stimulation ENS , regular grooming, household desensitization, and more. What Makes This Breeder Unique? Puppies receive their age appropriate vaccinations, dewormings, a microchip, free pet insurance for 30 days through Trupanion, and early spaying or neutering. We also offer older trained pet puppies!!! The hard part is already done for you! She is already crate trained sleep through the night and is doing excellent on potty training with no accidents in over a week!!! She is learning to walk on a leash and getting well socialized. For more info on this sweet girl call Pat at .See our facebook page for more pictures and updates! Uriel loves her humans! She likes to be a shadow and be right by anyone in the house! She enjoys car rides and snuggles! She loves to run and play outside and then cool off on the air conditioning vent! She would do best with older children and adults. Her very favorite activity is laying on the bed next to her human and snuggling in for a long nap! For more info call Pat at .This little girl is just so much fun! Ursula is a fun loving, spunky, playful girl, that would thrive in an active family. She would also love a family that has another dog for a playmate. Ursula loves car rides and loves to play with her toys and retrieve them for you! She is doing well with crate training, and potty training and learning to walk on a leash. For more info on making this fun loving girl a part of your family call Pat at .Possibility of all colors solid and parti. Call Pat at to reserve a puppy. We take calls 7 days a week from 9am-9pm. We are on Eastern time. Puppies expected winter See our facebook page for more pictures and updates! We reserve the right to retain potential breeding stock puppies from any litter. We reserve the right to deny anyone one of our puppies. We also reserve the right to change mating pairs based on circumstances.

Pin on Pinterest Royal Canin knows what makes your Labrador Retriever puppy magnificent is in the details. Lab puppies are energetic little learners eager to run, swim, and fetch. Although active, they also tend to overeat and gulp down their food. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support, healthy growth, weight management, and digestive care as they take on puppyhood. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you have a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or Black Lab, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your Labrador Retriever puppy with specific nutrients to help them thrive. The unique donut-shaped kibble is specially designed to help your fast eater slow down and actually chew. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Calcium and phosphorus support healthy bone structure, while a balanced energy content helps them maintain an ideal weight. Once your Lab puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult dog food for precise nutrition into the adult years. Not satisfied? Then neither are we. Just contact us for more details. Ingredients Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, corn, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, pea fiber, sodium silico aluminate, egg product, vegetable oil, monocalcium phosphate, psyllium seed husk, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, hydrolyzed yeast source of betaglucans , vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate source of vitamin E , L-ascorbylpolyphosphate source of vitamin C , biotin, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride vitamin B6 , riboflavin supplement, vitamin A acetate, thiamine mononitrate vitamin B1 , folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex], salt, trace minerals [zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], choline chloride, glucosamine hydrochloride, taurine, marigold extract Tagetes erecta L. Guaranteed Analysis. Or use express checkout methods: Checkout Order now, fast shipping and specialized vet support About this item Details Labrador Retriever puppies are some of the most affectionate dogs you can have as a companion. They quickly become part of the family, and providing them with the best possible care is important. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy offers complete and balanced nutrition so you can enjoy many happy years together! Nutritionists at Royal Canin know each dog is unique. This recipe caters to your puppy's biological profile. Firstly, this formula helps maintain your woofer's ideal weight, keeping them light on their paws. Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important during puppyhood since a weight surplus can harm your puppy's joint health. So, through a mixture of balanced calories, protein, calcium, and phosphorus, this kibble supports your puppy's development while preventing excessive weight gain. Puppies are still developing their immune system, meaning an "immunity gap" opens them up to dangerous ailments. So, Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy includes an exclusive antioxidant complex with vitamin E to boost your pet's immunity. Likewise, Labrador puppies have a sensitive digestive system, which makes feeding them the right food essential. Hence, this dry food contains prebiotics and highly-digestible proteins to support a healthy gut microbiome and promote stool quality. Lastly, this kibble's shape, size, and texture are tailored to your Labrador's jaw. Because of this, your pet will have an easy time picking up food and chewing it, making mealtime more accessible. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Puppy overview: Maintains ideal weight with balanced calories, protein, calcium, and phosphorus. Supports immunity with exclusive antioxidant complex and vitamin E. Features prebiotics and highly-digestible proteins for digestive health. Technological additives: clinoptilolite from sedimentary sources 10g. Sensory additives: yucca extract mg. Contains preservatives and antioxidants. Analytical constituents: Crude protein: .Dimensions This product is available in the sizes: 3 kg. Lab puppies are energetic little learners eager to run, swim, and fetch. Although active, they also tend to overeat and gulp down their food. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support, healthy growth, weight management, and digestive care as they take on puppyhood. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you have a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or Black Lab, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your Labrador Retriever puppy with specific nutrients to help them thrive. The unique donut-shaped kibble is specially designed to help your fast eater slow down and actually chew. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Calcium and phosphorus support healthy bone structure, while a balanced energy content helps them maintain an ideal weight. Once your Lab puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult dog food for precise nutrition into the adult years. Read more Promoting pet health and wellbeing Creating value for our entire ecosystem Committed to become certified carbon neutral by Cookie Settings. Home Delivery Select a variant to view product availability Royal Canin knows what makes your Labrador Retriever puppy magnificent is in the details. Lab puppies are energetic little learners eager to run, swim, and fetch. Although active, they also tend to overeat and gulp down their food. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support, healthy growth, weight management, and digestive care as they take on puppyhood. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you have a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or Black Lab, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your Labrador Retriever puppy with specific nutrients to help them thrive. The unique donut-shaped kibble is specially designed to help your fast eater slow down and actually chew. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Calcium and phosphorus support healthy bone structure, while a balanced energy content helps them maintain an ideal weight. Once your Lab puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult dog food for precise nutrition into the adult years. Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, brown rice, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, corn, chicken fat, natural flavors, dried plain beet pulp, fish oil, pea fiber, sodium silico aluminate, egg product, vegetable oil, monocalcium phosphate, psyllium seed husk, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, hydrolyzed yeast source of betaglucans , vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate source of vitamin E , L-ascorbylpolyphosphate source of vitamin C , biotin, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride vitamin B6 , riboflavin supplement, vitamin A acetate, thiamine mononitrate vitamin B1 , folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex], salt, trace minerals [zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], choline chloride, glucosamine hydrochloride, taurine, marigold extract Tagetes erecta L. Digestive health Combination of nutrients with high quality protein L. Product description For your Labrador Retriever puppy, growth is an important stage of life. That's why your puppy needs nutrients to support this growth phase, as well as nutrients that help to maintain optimal health during this key phase. It also helps to facilitate harmonious weight gain, to help your puppy maintain an ideal weight as it grows. What's more, they also help to contribute to good stool quality. The shape and size of the kibble makes it easy for your puppy to pick up and chew, whilst the texture enhances its overall palatability - this will help encourage your puppy to readily consume its kibble in order to get the nutrients it needs. All of our products undergo an extensive quality control process in order to guarantee the optimum quality of food as well as catering to your puppy's specific dietary requirements and lifestyle. Feeding instruction: Feeding amounts provided are a guideline. Speak to a pet professional regarding specific amounts for your pet. Fresh water should be available at all times. Store the product in a cool, dry place. Please refer to the packaging for the batch number, factory registration number and best before date. Feeding Guide. Optimal feeding amounts may vary according to your pet's temperament, activity level and environment. If you have any questions regarding your pet's health, please contact your veterinarian. Transition Instructions We recommend at least a 7 day transition before you begin feeding the new food exclusively. On the 7th day, you can feed the new food exclusively. All of our dry diets are preserved naturally with mixed tocopherols, citric acid, and rosemary extract. Our canned diets are naturally preserved and sterilized during the cooking and canning process. Where do the ingredients in Royal Canin diets come from? Royal Canin is making strides towards sustainability by attempting to obtain sources of raw materials as close to each manufacturing facility as possible. In some cases, we use international suppliers, because only those suppliers can offer raw materials that comply with our quality and food safety standards. Why do some Royal Canin diets contain by-products? Royal Canin chooses ingredients because they deliver high-quality nutrients that support our customized pet food formulas. Using chicken by-product meal instead of chicken meal for example will allow Royal Canin to maintain its highly customized nutrient standards while achieving a more secure and sustainable supply. Why do some Royal Canin diets contain grains? As always, we focus on the nutrients each ingredient provides and grains can provide many important nutrients. How do you ensure Royal Canin diets are safe for my pet? Our Quality and Food Safety systems are state-of-the-art and we continue to invest heavily in new technology to make sure they remain that way. We monitor every load delivered to our plants to verify the safety and quality of the ingredients we use to make pet food. We perform tests on finished pet foods before they are shipped to our customers. How do I know which Royal Canin diet is right for my pet? Based on size, age, lifestyle, and breed, each cat or dog has unique nutritional needs. For healthy pets, use our Product Selector to find the right diet for your cat or dog. If your pet is experiencing health issues, please refer to your veterinarian for more information. Your veterinarian will consider multiple factors when recommending an appropriate diet.

I'll try and be brief with my story which leads to my passion for labradoodles, I was first introduced to the Labradoodle breed during my son's lengthy hospital stay in Palo Alto, California. It was LOVE at first sight!!! My 34 year old son Tim passed away Sept 17, , from complications of a double lung transplant due to his diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis in January, .Needless to say it was a nightmare. Tim has two children ages 17 and 12 that now spend countless hours with my husband, myself and our doodles! During the long periods of Tim's hospital stays, we were fortunate enough to meet a beautiful labradoodle. Generally dogs are not allowed on the hospital transplant floors, but because we are such dog lovers as well as the severity of Tim's illness we were allowed canine visits. The minute I saw him, I was hooked head over heels in love with the breed. After Tim's passing I experienced a loneliness like never before. However, in the back of my head I could almost hear the calling to learn more about this breed. Thus my research began, I researched the breed and found the answer for my instant connection to these beautiful animals, they are truly delightful, loving, intuitive little clowns who can steal your heart in a moments glance! Our hearts will never be the same. If I am able to help others so they too may experience the love and joy of owning such a wonderful companion then I will have accomplished my mission. My commitment to keeping this breed as pure and healthy as possible is my top priority along with providing the dogs with lots of love and compassion and only selecting the same when considering placement. I recently retired from working 27 years for the state, to stay home and take care of my son, I always knew I'd find something to do. I never dreamed my desire to become a Labradoodle mom is what would find me. At Delta Breeze Labradoodles we want to help you in finding the perfect new puppy for your family! We also want to ensure that each puppy is welcomed into a caring and loving home. Life's too short not to share it with a labradoodle! At Delta Breeze Labradoodles, we have quality puppies that you will love. Apply to Adopt A little about us.Genuine Australian labradoodle puppy breeder since .Located in Monterey, California just two hours south of San Francisco. We are a small in-house breeder specializing in breeding miniature to medium labradoodles from the seeing eye dog Australian lines. We do not ship our puppies but will meet new owners at the airport. We average four to five litters a year. This gives us the time to complete early neurological stimulation starting at three days and desensitizing to fireworks, thunderstorms, etc. We give each litter and each puppy the love and attention it needs during those first irreplaceable eight weeks of your puppy's life. We take great responsibility in giving every puppy the best start in order to grow into a well-adjusted, highly socialized, and healthy member of your family for many years to come. Our puppies are born in our bedroom, raised in our kitchen and get the best of care and lots of handling from their first day. We not only guarantee genetic health but also have very strict requirements for the temperaments of the breeding dogs in our program. Puppies are examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, and micro chipped before going home. About Australian Labradoodles.Australian Labradoodles are beautiful, healthy, allergy and asthma friendly. They were originally bred to be service dogs and not a 'designer' pet. The Labradoodle breed started with a request over thirty years ago by a family needing a seeing eye dog but who also had a family member with asthma. After some research and years of breeding by leading service dog breeders, Tegan Park and Rutland Manor in Australia, the Australian Labradoodle was born. Our top goal is excellent health, fantastic temperament, and service qualities. Just like any other breed that becomes popular, though, some breeders have started breeding for the popularity of these dogs and not for the benefit of the breed itself. So here's how to make sure you're getting the dog you want. Here are some helpful tips to understand what a breeder means when they are using these phrases. The multi-generation Australian Labradoodle, which is the original Labradoodle, has a foundation stock including six different parent breeds. These dogs were developed in Australia, and hence the "Australian" in the name of the dogs. This was a breed that was developed with goals in mind for a low shedding service dog, not a designer dog. The multi-generation Labradoodle has only poodle and lab in its heritage. It does not include the other parent breeds that were originally used by the creators of the breed. These have been primarily developed later in the U. These dogs tend to shed their coat since they are more closely related to the Labrador and often have a wire hair look to them. The "Back Cross" or "F1B" is a dog from an F1 see above mated back to a poodle usually for coat correction. These dogs have not had the multiple generations of Labradoodle mated with another Labradoodle nor the addition of Australian Labradoodle foundation stock or multiple parent breeds. With 17 years of experience in breeding Australian Labradoodles, we pride ourselves on selecting only the best dogs for our breeding program, which in turn ensures that we are producing the best puppies imaginable. We work closely with our licensed vet to perform health testing, including hip and elbow testing; eyes, heart, skin, and patella testing; and a series of genetic tests, on all of our breeding dogs. We provide a temperature controlled, in home my master bedroom environment, with sound therapy to expose your puppy to lifes sounds from an early age. This helps desensitize your puppy to the sounds of life traffic, fireworks, outdoor machinery, crying baby, misc appliances, automobiles, etc. We start crate training at 5 weeks with a soothing heartbeat snuggle puppy to comfort them as they transition to sleeping alone and all the puppies love it and sleep better with minimal crying. We add nutrients and special additives for puppies to their drinking water. We add probiotics to their food for a healthy GI tract and immune system. We make special liver water, gruel, with puppy supplements, dog milk formula to their nutritionally dense food to support eyes, ear, bone, joint, coat and heart health. We expose your puppy to sunlight daily on the deck right outside the puppy nursery area. There is always a plush bedding for their cozy comfort in their play areas for those impromptu naps puppies love. Our puppies are held and played with while being bathed and exposed to water, in our walk-in shower, which builds a positive experience, with water, for their lifetime. Bath time is with a human sitting in this large shower allowing plenty of space for your puppy too roam around and enjoy water in a nurturing experience. The puppies love it instead of being in a sink with a dry human just washing them. Water is actual playtime while they get clean and build positive experiences with being wet. Instead we utilize Puppy Culture, Badass Breeder protocols and tons of love from humans that are passionate and dedicated to what they do. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We look forward to providing you with your fury best friend! When full grown, these health tested, Australian Labradoodle puppies will be approximately pounds with wavy fleece coats, curly fleece coats or the occasional straighter hair fleece coats. Our puppies can go home as early as 8 weeks old. We can also hold back a puppy if you are interested in training services. Sugar Pine Doodles on Facebook. Would you like to be a guardian for one of our breeding doodles? Please click for our Guardian Home Program to learn more. Find the Next Member of Your Family. We are a small breeder located on the central coast of California just south of Santa Cruz. Our Australian Labradoodles are a part of our family and are included in most everything we do. We are fortunate to live by the ocean where our dogs love to take long walks on the beach and play in the waves! Our adorable puppies are part of our family and with the help of our children, they are raised with the love and attention they deserve. We feel it is important that our Australian Labradoodle puppies are socialized by the whole family with lots of playtime and cuddles. We also work with the puppies continuously with crate and potty training. Your puppy will come to you well socialized with wonderful temperaments and already accustomed to a family environment. Our goal is to breed allergy-friendly, non-shedding, Australian Labradoodles, with superior health and loving temperaments. We focus on mini to medium sizes in the colors of apricot to mahogany red. Please contact us to inquire about upcoming litters Hello, my name is Laurie and my husband and I have two teenage children, Chelsea and Ross. Both adore their labradoodles and are very helpful in raising the puppies. Contact Us. Testimonials As a veterinarian I work with multiple breeders. Charl and Jerry Beauchat have been clients of mine for several years. Their dogs are always kept in great condition. Every puppy is health checked and micro-chipped prior to going to its new home. Providing healthy family members remains a priority of mine as well as theirs Jonathan CortezDVM We can not say enough about the integrity of your program. Pete and Jiffy …head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to a quality breeder…. Do yourself a favor and visit Charl and Shadow Mountain Labradoodles if you are considering a new puppy. We have made a full time commitment to our program. Three of us work full time with our dogs, puppies and families. Charl and Jerry are in Southern California, our daughter Jena, has branched out and is now carrying on our work in Oklahoma! We are also currently training 10 new Australian Labradoodle Breeders in California, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio to bless families and to protect this wonderful breed! Shadow Mountain Australian Labradoodles are bred with love and care in a home environment. We work hard to place our puppies in an environment where both the families and the puppies are set up for success. Quick Links.

Do Father dogs know their puppies? By two weeks of age, they should be alert and trying to stand. By three weeks, they should be trying to climb out of their nest or whelping box. By four weeks, all the puppies should be able to walk, run, and play. How long do puppies stay in whelping box? During the first 3 weeks most dams like to be in a warm secluded area, not in the family living area. Pups remain contently in their whelping box for the first 20 days of their life. How do you transition a puppy from a whelping box? By the time the puppies are weeks old, the mother should have an area near the whelping box, but separate from the puppies to allow her time to rest. At about this time, the puppies will start trying to leave the box to explore. They should be well supervised and have safe toys available. Can I move the whelping box? We have found that moving the whelping box or puppy pen set-up on a weekly basis exposes the puppies to new scents and air currents and increases their adaptability and development by about two weeks, especially compared to puppies who are raised in the same corner until they go to their new homes. Is whelping box necessary? As the last week of pregnancy approaches, your female dog will often begin looking for a secure and comfortable place to have her litter of puppies. Before this time comes, it is essential to create a whelping box so she becomes comfortable with it and knows this is the preferred place to have her puppies. Do 4 week old puppies need a heat lamp? Young puppies cannot maintain their own body temperature for a week or two after birth. Heating the area over the whelping box with the aid of a heat lamp is usually all that is necessary. When should I remove the whelping box? I usually take them out at about 3 — 4weeks. This is what I have in My box they just stay there all the time. When can puppies go all night without nursing? A six or seven week old puppy can go through the night without needing to feed as long as they have had enough food during the day. Should newborn puppies sleep with Mom? A newborn puppy is completely helpless and dependent upon her mother. Puppies should remain with the mother and littermates until about age eight to 12 weeks. How do you keep a puppy whelping box clean? Clean the bottom with a chemical-free disinfectant cleanser. Spray a bit of chemical-free disinfectant cleanser on the bottom and sides of your whelping box, and use a paper towel to wipe this up. When can I leave my dog alone with her puppies? Can you leave newborn puppies alone with their mom overnight? Should I leave my dog alone while she is in labor? Should I be present during the whelping? Some dogs like the owner to be with them the whole time they are in labor. Others prefer to have their puppies in seclusion. If your pet chooses to be left alone, try to avoid intruding any more than necessary. What is the best bedding for a whelping box? Many breeders use shredded newspaper to line whelping boxes, but others prefer towels and blankets, wood shavings, or even sand. Should I keep my dog in the whelping box? A whelping box is designed to keep the newborn puppies safe, warm, and comfortable. Whelping means the process where a female dog gives birth to puppies. And a whelping box is a container or box designed to keep the puppies safe and warm. Having a whelping box makes it convenient for the mother to give birth comfortably. Female dogs are very protective of their puppies. Hence the nesting box offers a sense of security. Female dogs need assistance and a safe place to give birth. Hence, a whelping pen would be of great help. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to get a box or make it yourself. For a small dog like Pomeranian, you can convert a large card box into a whelping pen. You can put your creativity into the process and make a nesting box for your dog. If your dog is big, she might probably give birth to a large number of puppies. Hence, the size of the box should be large enough to fit the puppies and the mother. Furthermore, you can get the box from a pet store if creativity and DIY are not your forte. Here are some of the factors that you need to consider: The sides of the pen should be high enough that can keep the puppies safe for three weeks. Also, make sure that the mother can move to and fro freely. The size of the pen should be spacious enough for your dog and puppies. It should have enough space where the mother can feed her pups comfortably. In addition, it should allow them to move freely. It will help to keep the pups warm when the mom is not around. These are the factors that you need to consider while getting a nesting box. It helps the mother and the pups in the long run. You would notice the growth within the first few weeks. They can move and stand up over the sides of the whelping pen. By three weeks, they become mobile and able to move towards the edge of the nesting box. However, before it reaches that stage, you should take care of it diligently. Some pups would go astray and get lost. Hence, getting a box with proper height is essential. Sometimes the mother has to go out of the box for a nature call or food. The box offers a sense of security both to the dog owner and the mother. When the puppies are born, they have no control over their body temperature. So, while the mom is out, the box will keep them warm. However, you have to make sure that the bottom of the box is covered with a soft blanket. By three weeks, they will start moving, and some puppies might even get out of the box. So, the real chaos begins when they reach three weeks. It would be best if you were more careful than ever. How to Keep the Nesting Box Clean? Taking care of puppies can be quite tiring. Once the puppies are born safely in the box, it would be better to change the sheet or the beddings. The mother will take care of it. However, from the second to the third week, the real work starts. It will help if you make sure that the box is clean. While cleaning the box, you can keep the pups temporarily in a warm blanket. You need to replace the sheet or newspaper at least twice or thrice per day. However, keeping the box clean prevents the puppies from possible bacterial infections. It also helps to keep the puppies clean. You should see that the nesting box is clean and dry. So, like a responsible dog owner , make sure that the box is clean and warm. Changing the Whelping Box to Other Areas Once the puppies have passed the first week, you place the box in other areas. It will help them to get used to the new smell and sounds. However, make sure that the place is quiet and warm. Some kids would like to hold the pups, which would be too early and maybe dangerous. During the first two weeks, puppies are pretty delicate. So, it would be best to keep far away from children. The first three weeks are a crucial moment for you and the pups. The puppies are in their developing stage, and they need a quiet and calm environment to grow. So, you should make sure that puppies are kept safe and warm. They would be too young to take the regular food and would cause indigestion. But you can keep water for the mother. They get very thirsty while taking care of the puppies. She requires good protein and energy to keep the pups fed through her milk. You can place the food in the water once they can move or walk. However, make sure that the food is easily digestible. Also, puppies tend to eat food without a limit. So, you should give the food moderately. Overeating can cause indigestion and vomiting. Hence, it would help if you were careful not to overfeed them. It offers a sense of security to the mother and the dog owners as well. Having a nesting box helps to keep the puppies from going astray. The first three weeks are crucial for the puppies to grow and develop healthily. Having the right size of the whelping box can help both the puppies and the mother move freely. It allows the mother to breastfeed the puppies comfortably. If your dog is about to give birth, it would be better to arrange a whelping box. It offers safety and assurance to both the mother and puppies. 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. A whelping box is an important item to have when puppies are about to be born. You can construct something yourself or buy a specifically designed boxes from pet stores. When can puppies leave the whelping box? Puppies can often leave the whelping box at 3 weeks old. At this age, puppies can move out of the whelping box as they become more mobile. Puppies can stand up and even climb out of the whelping box nest. At this age, puppies start to explore outside of their nest, to find out more about the wide and exciting world around them. Well, I can tell you that a whelping box will help you and the mother cope better with a horde of tiny puppies in their first few weeks. What is a whelping box? Also known as a nest or whelping pen, the whelping box is a container designed to keep the newborn litter in one safe and cozy place. The mother also likes to have a place where she can give birth to her puppies in comfort while having a sense of security. Whelping means to give birth hence the name of the box. It should be placed in a quiet part of the house and set up a couple of weeks before your dog gives birth. This gives her time to get familiar with the box. Image via Pixabay. What can I use as a whelping box? If your dog is a little girl, you could convert a large, sturdy cardboard box into a nesting box. You can make your own if carpentry is your hobby or you could go to the local pet store and buy a whelping box. What to look out for when picking a whelping box You need to make sure you pick a whelping box that takes into consideration the following factors: The sides are high enough to keep the puppies safely contained in their first 3 weeks but low enough for the mother to move in and out freely. The size is big enough to accommodate all the puppies being born. The bottom of the box may come with whelping pads or you can simply line it with newspapers and a soft blanket. Some breeders will use wood shavings to cover the floor of the box. Some whelping boxes come with an extension which is great for more active puppies who are still too young to leave the pen but are moving around quite a bit. Picking the right whelping box goes a long way to keeping mum and pups comfortable and secure. When is the right age for puppies to leave the whelping box? Puppies develop and mature very quickly in their first few weeks. A whelping box is designed to keep the newborn puppies safe, warm, and comfortable. Keeping the puppies in one place and even using a heat lamp will help keep them warm. And, when the mother needs time out, she can leave the box and get some space knowing her pups are all safe in one spot. A whelping box gives you peace of mind your puppies are well-protected, staying warm, and not disappearing once they start crawling. But be ready for the exodus once they reach 3 weeks old and might start walking! How do I keep the whelping box clean? If your dog gave birth to the puppies in the whelping box, you would need to change the bedding once all the puppies are safely delivered. Keep them warm with a blanket. Use a non-chemical cleaning detergent and warm water to wash out the box. Remove any dirty bedding and replace with clean blankets, newspapers or wood shavings. Some breeders do put in a litter box for puppies once they start crawling. This could be the first step to house training your pups. Do regular inspections throughout the day to make sure the whelping box is always dry and clean. Can I move the whelping box to other areas? Once your puppies have passed their first week, you could consider moving them to different areas in the house. But remember, you need to keep them warm so make sure there are no draughts and the puppies are not too intimidated by the new environment. Be careful also with handling newborn puppies when moving them. For the first 3 weeks, the puppies are small, developing, and can be easily disturbed by too much activity around them. Do I need to put food and water in the whelping box? The puppies will be drinking milk from their mother for the first 3 to 4 weeks, before moving onto water. For the first 3 weeks, you could keep a bowl of water in the box for the mother. She will be very thirsty while nurturing her puppies. However, once the puppies start becoming mobile keep both the water and food outside the box. Conclusion Get ready for a whole lot of fun, but also stress. She will take them no doubt but being able to help just a little with whelping boxes, nesting, and more will make it so much easier for you. You might also like…. During that first three weeks we weigh the puppies daily, trim their toenails every days, and put new collars on them every days as their growth is so rapid. The standard puppies are weighed on a regular digital scale and should gain an ounce a day at first and then up to ounces daily, whereas miniature puppies gain in a tenth of an ounce to start with and then an ounce or two a day. Jenny with litter at birth in 4' x 4' whelping box with lots of absorbent padding. Tasy in her "birthing bed" with the first three pups of the TS5 litter "Tasy" moves into her "doll crib" after the puppies are born - shown here at 3 weeks of age. We find it essential that the dam have food and water inside her whelping box the first week, however once she is willing to leave the box for short periods of time it can be set just outside the box, otherwise she will not eat and drink enough to provide all the milk needed for the puppies well being, and if you are not supplementing with goats milk, your puppies can suffer from dehydration. The standard dam has to produce almost two gallons of milk a day by the time a litter of puppies is two weeks of age. That's twice the amount a good dairy goat gives, who is at least double the dam's body weight. We find that goat milk, canned or fresh, is a much better supplement than the commercial formulas, as we have better weight gains and hardly ever have diarrhea in our puppies. If you have more than 8 puppies it is also essential that the dam's tail area and vulva be washed each time she goes out to go, as since there are not enough teats to go around there will always be a puppy trying to latch onto the vulva. The puppies can pick up bacteria and worm eggs, and a one celled organism called coccidiosis in this way which can lead to diarrhea. Mandy with AM3 Litter x Sterling at 1 week old. We practice what we call "giving the puppies an opportunity to learn" as a puppy raising method. We whelp the puppies in one corner of the living room where we have easy access to the box. We have found that moving the whelping box or puppy pen set-up on a weekly basis exposes the puppies to new scents and air currents and increases their adaptability and development by about two weeks, especially compared to puppies who are raised in the same corner until they go to their new homes. This is the first stage of their house breaking. Within hours the smartest puppies of the litter, barely able to crawl, will crawl out to use the paper and then crawl back into the whelping box. Within a few days the entire litter will usually be using the paper. Supplementing the puppies these first weeks gives us a good chance to play with the puppies feet, and get them used to their faces being handled for grooming, however even when we don't supplement we take time daily to handle every puppy and get them used to different textures, smells, and having their feet, faces, ears and tails handled. At three weeks of age when the ears open we start their cereal feeding, and use a soft clap with a "come, babies" command each time they are fed. This leads to the next step in the transition of removing the second box and the addition of a paper lined exercise pen to the whelping box at four weeks of age. At this time we start walking the puppies outside about every two hours from AM to PM. During this time ,the 4th-5th week, we teach them some basic commands - "in", "out", "potty outside", "walk", "watch", and continuing with their "come" command. Once they have understanding of these basic commands we then take them out to an outside play yard, regardless of the weather. It's really important to have this set-up close to an outside door if possible, or to use sections of an exercise pen to make an aisleway directly outdoors. Puppies can be carried outdoors, however their "potty outside" is learned much faster if they walk out the door in tune to the "out" command and the "potty outside" command at the same time. Usually within two days my standard puppies have quit having messes on the paper and are actually asking to go "out" - often at AM at this stage, and I do get up to accommodate them as this speeds their training amazingly, and I have a lot less mess to deal with - and less dirty crates when that time comes along. You can see that I do sleep within hearing of the puppies - usually until those we are continuing training with for their new families are weeks old. TS5 Miniature Litter - 2nd day of cereal feeding and 1st trip outside to the "big" world. We also start the grooming training at 4 weeks of age - starting with a bath with a soft water spray in a utility tub, and using a soft flow warm air dryer and a slicker brush - brushing the coat up the body toward the head, and up the legs toward the back as it dries. We always groom on a table, or the washer or dryer, or a counter - this is essential in getting the puppies used to being groomed on a grooming table and getting over any tendency toward the fear of heights. We cuddle them in our arms on the table to help them feel loved and secure, and to build their confidence level. We try to take pictures at birth, day old individual pictures, then every week thereafter for their new families, and for our albums. We also try to take litter shots as well at the various stages. I find that special touches add a lot of enjoyment, both for us raising the puppies, and for our families who are kept in the "link" of their puppy growing from infancy to toddler weeks. A Tasy x Promise Puppy before his first grooming and after his first grooming. My, oh my, what a difference!! We also start the worming program at four weeks of age - and this is really essential if you occasionally have a puppy that coughs after feeding, or vomits back up milk or cereal. Round worms are the one type of worm that the puppies can get in utero, and they grow as fast as the puppies. A heavy case of worms can often mimic other serious conditions in young puppies. It is also essential to use a low dosage of wormer in cases of heavy infestation, and at times give the puppy a few drops of oil by mouth, and possibly even an enema with a few drops of oil to help pass the worms. We use pyrantel pamoate for our first series of wormings. It is essential to worm every days until no worms are seen - these worms look like spaghetti - and once you see a litter of puppies pass them you never forget them. The wormer works in about six hours and is very effective. We have a computer generated health record that we complete on each puppy, and note all the worming's on it and on the litter weight records as well. Once the worming has been done, and if the teeth are coming in on the entire litter we start adding softened and mashed with potato masher kibble to the puppies cereal mixture - gradually reducing the rice baby cereal. During the next two weeks we gradually start adding cooked rice, cooked oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, ground apple and carrot, and a supplement Green Vibrance which has microbials in it to their soft feed. As soon as the puppies are able to eat dry kibble well and not just play with it we gradually reduce the soft feedings to AM and PM. The puppies often prefer dry kibble during times of heavy teething, however dry kibble no matter how well promoted does not meet all of their nutritional needs. Also the more organically chemical, steroid, and low grade antibiotic free a puppy can be fed, the better for its health and longevity. We keep our puppies on microbials their whole life as this keeps their intestinal system in optimal health - they absorb more nutrients, they produce less fecal material, they are less prone to other bacterial infections, they don't have smelly gas, they are less prone to bloat typical in a number of large breeds , they have better pigmentation as a result of absorbing more nutrients. We have also found that since taking this approach to diet that puppy and show coats on adults are more luxurious. As you can see their fourth week involves a lot of changes for the puppies. At six weeks of age we start the weaning process - although most "mothers" have already started it. A poodle "mom" is the most devoted creature ever the first week or two, but after that usually reclaims part of her own life to be with her human family. She will return to the whelping box every few hours to take care of her puppies needs, but other than that spends her time on a blanket or pad outside the box. Using a higher powered water spray, a higher powered table dryer, and if the coat is still thin enough a palm pro clipper again to clip the face, feet, tummy and tail. At this time Mishelle also adds standing the puppy properly on the table and does the first scissoring around the tail head and up the rump - as much to get the puppy used to the sound and feel of the scissors as because there is that much coat to scissor off. This is also when we try to take the first pictures of the puppies in a nice stance to send to everyone. This also helps to train the puppy for standing on the table which benefits when we do the conformation evaluations at 8 weeks of age. Puppies fearful on the table are very difficult to assess. This is also essential for miniature puppies that are going to be shown. It's very sad when a miniature is put on a table in the show ring for the judges inspection, and is fearful. Just minutes a day on a table, being encouraged to stand and be touched, can make a remarkable difference in just a week. A Maddy x Calvin puppy at 6 weeks of age after her 2nd grooming Six weeks is also when we remove the whelping box, as the mother now just gets in with the puppies about 4 times a day and either sits or stands to nurse them. She also starts to regurgitate her feedings for the puppies at this stage. The teeth are starting to come all the way in at this time, and the puppies will start sparring, and at times will really yelp. They learn at this stage not to bite each other too hard, and this is the first step to them learning not to bite humans too hard. We often have families who want to get their poodle puppies at this age, especially if they are going to training in agility. We do not allow any puppies to go to their new homes until they are weeks of age, as we feel that they need the "sibling rivalry" stage to learn aggressive and defensive behavior - which is learned by their interplay with each other. Many of our poodles go to homes with runners, and I can't tell you how many times they have had to defend their owners from aggressive dogs of other breeds, and always successfully. You never know when your poodle may have to come to your defense, and the maneuvers they learn as puppies at this age are the foundation for their defensive techniques, increase their alertness, and the speed of their thinking and their reactivity time. I love watching the puppies develop their skills during playtime at this stage. It is their transition from infancy to toddlers. It is also at six weeks that we remove the whelping box replacing it with two small crates without the gates on. Our favorite crates are the Furrari's, as they just snap together, and the gates can be opened from either side and simply lifted off for this stage of training. The first night all the puppies will crowd into one small crate - then I will hear them in the middle of the night groaning and grumbling, and in the morning the puppies will be divided between the two crates. That day we add a third small crate, and go through the same process - which we repeat until there are two puppies per crate. We never put the gates on at this stage, just allow the puppies the freedom to sleep in or out of the crates, and to play with them. We estimate that a poodle puppy develops 21 years in it's first year. From infancy to toddler, to preschool, to kindergarten, to pre-adolescent, to adolescent, to pre-teen, to teenager, to post teen, and early twenties. Their intelligence is equivalent to that of many humans, and the learning of human vocabulary in a standard poodle is amazing. They are a joy to work with and to train, many almost training themselves. At this point we start giving the puppies rawhide chew bones to help with their teeth cutting, the cardboard rolls from toilet paper, paper towels, tape rolls, and small boxes that they can pack around, tear up and destroy. Much like a toddler builds a stack of bricks and then knocks it down destructive stage so also does a puppy need to go through this stage. So we give them things that don't cost anything, that are light weight, and the right size around for a puppy jaw to pick up. They love it. We also start giving the puppies soft and hard toys to play with, and also try to observe which puppies in the litter are water lovers - they play in the water and empty the container almost as fast as we can fill it. We often get asked for puppies that like water by families that boat, or live on rivers or lakes, or on house boats. We start watching closely for the different types of personalities that the puppies have, how they relate to each other, to new situations, to new people, to other animals they come in contact with. Those that are more adventuresome, more curious, more courageous, etc. We are also watching for activity levels and how they move. It is also at weeks that we take the puppies to the back yard to play - as they are then big enough to be taught to go up and down steps. We have closed back steps, and open backed steps like condos and the steps at the air cargo depots for them to learn on. This can be quite a challenge to some, and we usually have to delay this training with the miniatures for a couple of more weeks when they are a bit bigger. They are so proud of themselves when they achieve success in going up and down the steps, even though it is just three steps - and will run up and down just for the joy of it. In the back yard they also learn to drink from an automatic waterer, so that they don't fear the hissing sound as it refills. Having nice clean feet, faces, and tail head and rump helps us to evaluate the puppies much better, and they will score better when all can be seen and evaluated. We do not give the puppies any treats prior to testing, nor do we do any actual crate training in closed crates. At this age the puppies get their first bath in the grooming tub with a harder spray of water instead of in the utility tub. The Force dryer is used for the first time, and the Andis or Oster clippers. This is also the clipping that helps us to determine the color that the puppies might end up as - blues and silvers are born black, silver beige and cafe-au-lait can be born very dark brown, light apricots that are going to cream out - we study the nose, feet, heels, and under the tail and neck for signs of color change. Tasy x Promise Pup - Black - at 8 weeks! A Mandy x Sterling Pup - Silver - at 8 weeks. Silvers and blues are born black and change gradually - starting with the muzzle and feet We try to schedule temperament testing 16 tests and conformation evaluations a three page form using AKC breed requirements, International breed requirements, and Puppy Puzzle testing at 8 weeks minus or plus three days, as this is the most accurate time for assessing conformation before the puppy starts its rapid growth spurts. This is at times a little early for temperament testing, however as so many families want their puppies at 8 weeks of age, it is necessary to do this before the litter starts to go to new homes. Often our entire litters are reserved before they are even born, or at least by the time they are 6 weeks of age, and this helps us to match puppies and their capabilities and personalities and temperament to the homes they are going into, especially the puppies that are shipped across the United States. This also means asking our prospective families for lots of details about their home style, their activities, other pets or animals in or around their homes, and what they want to do with their puppy as an adult. We also help families at this point to decide the best age of puppy to suit their lifestyle, as many families in todays age have difficulty getting the time those first weeks to house train a young puppy. The weekly cost covers food, treats, training, vaccinations and wormings. Temperament testing is beneficial, although there are those that disagree. It is done in a strange place by a strange person. It's purpose is to note the natural instincts and adaptability of the young puppies, and our families have found our assessments to be pretty accurate as their puppies have developed. The disadvantage of testing at 8 weeks versus 12 weeks, is that puppies can be conceived over a ten day period. The gestation period is days, with all of the body development being in the first 50 days, and the weight gain being in the last days. If the bitch whelps according to the first puppy conceived, then the last puppy or puppies conceived may not have had much weight gain - however due to genetics it will not always be the smallest puppies. When we do temperament testing we also try to be aware of which puppies opened eyes first and last, which had teeth coming in first and last - as these can be indicative of which puppies in the litter are the oldest and the youngest - as the psychological development can also be different, with the thinking processes of the youngest not being quite as developed as the thinking processes of the gestationally oldest puppies. In temperament testing we are looking at social skills, inanimate object retrieving instincts, sensitivity testing, chase response, bird retrieving instincts, perseverance and motivation. These help to determine which puppies might be best suited as companions, service and therapy candidates, agility and obedience prospects, those with "bird" instincts, and very important today those with good search and rescue and tracking instincts. Conformation evaluations are where we literally take a puppies body structure apart and put it back together again - all on paper. We are looking for the few puppies in a litter that are the most correct by breed specifications in bone structure. As companions for runners, horse back riders, hikers, bikers, etc. Most of our standard puppies, after 10 years of breeding are quite structurally correct - however we try to match structural correctness, temperament and personality to the needs of a family. To be a pick of the litter puppy it must score high in all three areas. At times a structurally correct puppy may not have the best temperament for competitive events, and a senior family doesn't need a puppy with a high working drive. When we complete the testing we vaccinate each of the puppies and tattoo them with their individual identification number - that designates their dam, her litter number, and the number of puppy within the litter - in their left ear. This tattoo must be read and entered in the medical records of the puppy by the families veterinarian at the time of the "well puppy check" within 10 days of receiving the puppy for our 2 year from date of birth guarantee to go into effect. As soon as the testing is completed we start crate training the puppies. The first night two puppies are put into a crate with the gate on, and given 3 small treats. They are cuddled before being put into the crate, and we use the "in" command which they are used to. When they are taken out in the morning they are hugged and cuddled again, and given their "go potty outside" command as we take them "out" the front door. The second night they are crated individually, and are also crated during the day for short periods of time, to get them used to taking "naps" in their crates. They are always given three tiny biscuits when we want them in their crates, and usually within three days they compete to see who can get in the crates first and turn around for their treats. Usually at this age the puppies will crate from approximately PM to about AM without having accidents in their crates, however I do get up in the middle of the night and let them out if someone gets really fussy. In hot summer weather they at times need out during the night to get a drink just as much as they need out to go potty. We always make their last soft feeding of the day by PM, so that they have plenty of time to evacuate before bedtime. Remember poodle puppies are very smart, and if they get me up several nights in a row - I watch very carefully to see if they really needed to go - and if not they have just decided to get me out of bed for some extra attention and playtime - remember the pre-adolescent who wants another drink of water, etc. They will test their new families in the same way, and if they win they are ruling the family instead of the family ruling them. At this point the puppies are ready to go to their new homes to families living locally, or those driving from other states to get their puppies. If they are flying we keep them for two more weeks - and ship when they are approximately 10 - 12 weeks old. This allows us to start travel training and leash training of the puppies, and allow them to develop better holding capacity for daytime crating before shipping. Also it gives us time to receive family t-shirts worn until sweaty and placed in ziploc bags to give to the puppies in their crates three days before shipping. Having items of clothing which we tie into knots for a pillow or toy allows the puppy to get used to it's new families scents, and helps it to adapt and bond much more quickly. It also gives us time to ship their puppy pack to them, before the puppy is shipped. We follow up on our puppies for years, and encourage our families to keep in touch with us and contact us with any questions regarding nutrition, training problems or needs. We also board our own puppies back, which is wonderful as then we get to assess their development and personalities as adults. We have families now who purposefully plan their vacations for the Oregon Coast just so they can leave their much loved poodles with us - they come from as far away as Montana, Idaho, north eastern Washington, California, Utah, and of course the closer regions of Oregon and Washington. Unless we are expecting a litter imminently they get to come back and live in the house with us, and always enjoy playing with so many other poodles in our huge back yard, and side yard play areas. We also continue any training that is in progress on the younger puppies. A Mandy boy at 15 weeks! A Lucy daughter at 1 year - sent by her family in Idaho Many of our families also return with their puppies to take the one-on-one grooming classes with us - with Mishelle now being the primary instructor. Many of our families are now doing all of their own grooming, and even if they aren't have found the class very beneficial as they have learned what to expect from a good groomer. Many have returned for second and even third classes to learn advanced scissoring techniques, and several are now learning show grooming and handling from us as well. It's biblical that the older are to teach the younger - and we feel very strongly about this after not finding anyone willing to assist us when we first started out. We want those who have a true desire to become breeders of the poodles to start in the right way, learning to do the proper testing and research, taking part in genetic research projects, learn to groom their poodles properly, and to breed properly, caring for their whelping bitches and puppies correctly. Mishelle should have been in the picture with "Eve" but was in the Show Ring with her instead. She groomed 14 standards and 2 miniatures for this show. The poodle is a wonderful and unique breed - sharing life with it's family. Stages of Puppy Development Birth to 3 weeks The first 20 days of a pups life it is not capable of much learning. The mental capacity is about nil. The pup will react when it is in need of food, sleep, warmth and its mother. During the first 3 weeks it is VERY important to look after the dam as well. She will in turn, look after the puppies. Once or twice a day the puppies should be handled by a human and they should be weighed daily. During the first 3 weeks most dams like to be in a warm secluded area, not in the family living area. Pups remain contently in their whelping box for the first 20 days of their life. Newborn puppies sleep most of the day away. No matter what the breed, this is the time when the dormant senses wake up. From day 21 to 28 puppies are in need of their mom more than any other time as their brains and nervous systems begin to develop and they become aware of their surroundings. As mom jumps out of the box, they suddenly watch her wondering where she went. Pups may start climbing out of the whelping box at this age, so it is time to expand their home. At this stage we add a small potty area beside the whelp box. If a puppy were to loose his mom at this stage it would greatly affect his emotional wellbeing. Emotional growth is just blossoming as the puppy realizes it is alive. It is also at this age that characteristics can develop like shyness and fear. Any negative characteristics that develop at this stage in life are often permanent personality traits. The puppies sleep 20 or more hours a day. They will not go far, but they will begin to explore. At this time we expand their area to add a play and eating area in the daytime. This is the time to move them out to the kitchen and family room area, where life is happening in the home. This is not the age to be in the back bedroom, garage or barn. During this time, a puppy will learn to respond to voices, sounds and recognize different people. The puppies in their group will establish a 'pecking order', some will want to lead and some will want to follow. The dominant ones will eat first and the omega ones will wait. The dominant ones can become bullies and hog all the toys. This is an important stage to watch to learn the temperaments of each puppy and should be used for placing puppies into the proper homes. Some scientific studies prove that if there is a bully in a litter that is making others cower and be shy it can set in traits that are very hard to turn around, but it is also important to leave puppies in a social group long enough to be adventurous and for the puppy to acquire some social competitive skills. On the same note, a puppy should never be allowed to get too pushy. While shyer puppies have to learn to handle themselves in social groups, a dominant puppy needs to learn it is not acceptable to be a bully. Different breeds need to be separated at different ages. Often if the bully is adopted out first the remaining puppies will loose some of their shyness. Puppies at this age sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. By 7 weeks, a pup is considered emotionally developed and ready to learn, but the pup does not possess an adult brain yet. At 7 weeks old the breeder of the pups can start crate training for an hour or two a day with 2 pups in a crate. This helps with separation anxiety. By 8 weeks of age a puppy should be able to go in a crate alone for a nap, and it is almost ready for its new home. A puppy should never be taken away from it's mother before weeks of age. The mother dog teaches the puppies in the litter manners, respect, social skills, and proper etiquette, along with many other valuable lessons. When a puppy misses this stage it can cause the pup to have future behavior issues as most humans do not understand natural dog behavior enough to teach the pup these things. What a puppy learns now will be retained and become part of who the dog becomes and his personality. Most dams stop caring for their pups by 7 weeks, as they have teeth and she pushes them away. If a pup is left with the dam during this period it's emotional development can be altered, as it remains dependent on her. The same can happen if littermates are placed together. They rely on each other instead of the new owner and they often do not find adequate security in their mom or littermate. They need their new owner to take over the role and it is important that the humans understand natural dog behavior in order to fulfill the puppies instincts and needs. First shots should be done at 7. When a puppy stays with his litter after 8 to 9 weeks of age without adequate human contact it doesn't adjust as well to a human social life. The optimum time to take a new puppy is from 8 to 9 weeks of age. It is always best to have a pup do his learning from his new owner and in his new home. Puppies are often adopted out at 8, 9, 10 or 11 weeks. Older puppies can do just fine if the breeder has spent a lot of time socializing them away from their littermates. Ideally 9 weeks seems to be the perfect age for most breeds to go to new homes. What the dog learns from 8 to 12 weeks will be with him forever. At this time the puppy must be introduced to other people and go for walks on the pavement street avoiding dirt or grass until it has had its 2nd shots. If the first shots are done at 8 weeks and second are done at 12 weeks it is a good idea to enroll in puppy kindergarten that starts right at 12 weeks. At this age on up to several months old, puppies will sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, give or take depending on the puppies energy level and the activity around them. Sleeping more during rapid growth sprurts. The sleep is broken up between night time sleep and naps during the day. It is common for a puppy to play hard, running around with bounds of energy, then suddenly crashing into a deep sleep. It is important to keep in mind that all puppies by this time have formed a general personality. Some are natural born leaders, some are middle of the road and could go either way and some are very submissive and really prefer not to lead anything. All puppies have an instinct to have a leader who can provide structure, because in their minds without it the pack cannot survive. Therefore even the most naturally born submissive dog may feel the need to take over as an alpha should they feel everyone else around them is too weak to care for the pack. These dogs are often very stressed out about their role because they really do not want it, but feel the need to lead just the same. After all, to them it's a matter of life or death. One of the biggest questions new owners call about is that the pup is an angel for the first couple weeks and then it starts to nip in an attempt to control things around it. This happens when a puppy does not see the humans as natural born leaders to which it can respect and it attempts to get the pack in order. If this happens it does not necessarily mean you got a bad puppy, but often means you are not being a good canine owner. Owners must be calm but firm and follow through. Set the rules of the home and stick to them. Teach basic obedience and how to heel on a leash. Do not let the puppy bolt out the door. Stay calm and confident and remember that dogs can feel your emotions. If you have emotional problems your dog knows and will see you as a weak being. Always remember to a dog anger is a weakness, so take a deep breath and control yourself. Should the puppy feel it is stronger minded than the humans it will not want to be at the bottom. Puppy owners should be prepared that the pup may attempt to establish itself as the dominant one in the family. This is where you need to understand a dog's natural instincts and learn their language so you can read them. It may see whether it can physically strike out at his owner like some teens and could nip or growl. Should this happen be prepared to stop the behavior immediately. It is kind of like kids wanting dessert before dinner or to stay up later. You just have to say NO. Each dog is different, just as kids are, therefore you need to figure out what works for you and your situation. If it is being aggressive one method is to pin it on its back and hold him there with a firm NO. If a pup is allowed to get away with bad behavior it will lose respect for the owner and learn that rebelling gets him his own way. The key is for the humans to be calm, confident and firm all at the same time. If you find yourself yelling or angry you as the human are out of control and need to learn how to portray yourself as someone your dog can look up to and respect. Dogs do not listen to unstable humans and anything but calm, confident and firm, to them is unstable. There should be zero tolerance for aggressiveness. Heaps of love and understanding will not stop bad behavior. A pup must be shown fast and firmly that you are the one in charge. If you have a good breeder who understands the dog even returning him for a few days can help as the breeder gets the dog back under control and you assess your own behavior and understanding of this animal you are trying to live with. Sending a dog away to be trained without training yourself never works, as the way your dog is acting often has more to do with the humans it is living with. This goes for any dog of any age. Learn how to groom your dog. Teach it to lie still for grooming and nail trimming. If you are having trouble call the breeder or a behaviorist for help. It is best to have earned a dog's respect and trust in regards to grooming by 16 weeks of age. A pups natural instinct will be to periodically try to test the order in the pack. Especially if there are children. If the owner is submissive, quiet and week, thus making the dog feel the need to lead the home, its respect for its owner will weaken and the owner will become inferior in the dogs eyes. In these cases the owner is destined to be owned by the dog and you will surely see behavior problems emerge. A puppy should have a good start on crate training when it leaves a breeder's home. Help your puppy feel secure by giving it its own bed and crate in a place where it can be alone when it needs some quiet time. It should be crated for one or two naps per day, especially when making and eating dinner and crated at night. It should not ever have the run of the house till after 6 months of age or housebreaking and training can become very difficult. A puppy should start formal obedience by 6 months of age, preferably sooner. Remember when you choose to adopt a dog you are choosing to take an animal into your home. The animal is not a human baby and humans are not born with canine instincts. Take some time to learn about the canine and be prepared to change your way of life to accommodate the new member of the family. The puppies have arrived. They have been weighed and identified; they have nursed and are now sleeping quietly except for the normal twitching. Now what? Your job is not over yet, in fact, it's really just beginning. Nutrition and Feeding The mother will be ready for some food and water. Bring the dishes to the whelping box, as she will not want to leave the newborn puppies. Do not leave the dishes on the floor in the whelping box, as the puppies could crawl into them. Hang the dishes from the side of the whelping box or offer her food and water at least every hours to start. She should be taken outside on a frequent and regular basis to relieve herself. Within days, the mother's appetite will dramatically increase to times her pre-pregnancy intake. She will need a near constant supply of a high quality puppy food do NOT use large breed puppy formulas, which are generally lower in protein, fat, and minerals and water to maintain her weight and health while feeding the puppies. She should not look gaunt or thin if her weight is maintained. Ideally, she should weigh the same at the time of weaning, as she did when she was bred. A healthy puppy is firm, plump, and vigorous. Puppies should nurse every 2 hours or so. If they nurse until their stomachs appear round and they sleep quietly, they are eating enough. If they are crying and moving a lot, they are not eating enough. They may be swallowing air, which makes the stomach appear larger. As they become weaker, they will lay still and not cry. Their weight should double in the first days. Before, during, and after nursing, the mother will lick the stomach and perineal area to stimulate urination and defecation. She will continue to do this for weeks. Weigh the puppy daily for the first 2 weeks, then weigh at least weekly. A food scale typically works well for weighing the puppies. Failure to gain weight is often the first sign of illness in puppies. At about 3 weeks of age, the puppies will begin to imitate the mother's eating and drinking. A secure shallow water dish should now be available at least part of the day. Prepare the puppy mush by placing 2 cups of high quality dry puppy food in a blender with .This should be blended until the consistency of human infant cereal. This feeds puppies of a medium-sized breed. The puppies should receive meals a day of this to start. Once the puppies have checked it out, walked in it, and have eaten some, the mother can be allowed to finish it and clean the puppies off. Each week, increase the amount of food, decrease the amount of the milk replacer and water that is added and the time of blending, so by 7 weeks of age, the puppies are eating dry food. Once they are on dry food, it may be left in with the puppies when the mother is out of the box or the meal times can continue. As the puppies eat more solid food, the mother may be let away from the puppies for an ever longer period of time. If the weaning is not rushed, she will naturally start decreasing milk production, as the puppies increase their intake of solid food. As the puppies begin eating the puppy mush at 4 weeks of age, start changing the mother's diet back to adult food to also help her decrease milk production. Keep increasing the adult food and decreasing the puppy food until by the 7th week postpartum she is eating only adult food. Hopefully she has been fed well during pregnancy and lactation so she weighs the same at weaning as she did before pregnancy. Want to learn how to save on your dog's veterinary care? Click here Sanitation and Housebreaking During and after whelping, the mother should be allowed to go outside to urinate and defecate. Take her out on a leash bring a flashlight if it is dark , and watch her closely, as she could have another puppy. The whelping box needs to be changed at least once a day at this stage, and times a day as the puppies begin eating solids and the mother is not cleaning up after them. A large heavy paper may be laid on the bottom, several layers of newspaper over that, and a tightly stretched blanket over the newspaper. The blanket should be large enough to fit under all 4 sides of the box. If the box was made so the sides set into the floor, the sides are picked up, the blanket stretched, and the sides set down to hold the blanket in place. Puppies can become lost under blankets or under wrinkles in blankets. When cleaning, check the consistency and color of the puppy stool. It should be brown and formed, but not overly firm. Any deviations and the veterinarian should be contacted. To facilitate housebreaking, the puppies should be given definite feeding, playing, sleeping, and elimination areas. Once the puppies are mobile, they will use one area for elimination. Cover this area with a layer of newspapers with cedar or pine shavings on top. The new owners then place a small amount of cedar or pine shavings in the preferred location of their yard to aid in housebreaking. Keep the elimination area clean and dry. Puppies head toward the heat source to nurse so do not have the heat source warmer than the mother. Hanging a household thermometer on the inside of the whelping box will help you know the temperature in the box. Puppies typically lay side by side or on top of each other to share warmth. If the puppies are scattered throughout the whelping box and away from the heat lamp, the temperature is too warm. If they are all piled on top of each other, it may be too cold. Puppies need the extra heat, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature until several weeks old. Health of the Mother Each mammary gland and nipple should be checked at least once a day for redness, hardness, discharge, or streaking color. If mastitis develops, the veterinarian should be notified immediately. If caught early, milking out the affected gland and applying hot compresses will help prevent a spread of the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are necessary. If she gets multiple glands with mastitis, the puppies will need to be bottle fed. The puppies' nails should be trimmed weekly starting within days of birth. This will help prevent some of the scratches on the mother's mammary glands. The deciduous teeth start coming in around day .Check the mammary glands of the mother daily for bite marks. The mother will have a bloody discharge from her vulva which may be quite heavy for several days. It should decrease in amount and become darker and be almost gone within weeks. The mother's hair may have become very thick and luxurious during the pregnancy. Around the time of weaning, the mother starts to shed. This extreme loss of hair coat is natural and it should be back to normal in about another months. This shedding is more extreme than a normal shed cycle and some mothers become quite bald. This is often called 'blowing a coat. Click here Puppy Healthcare Puppies who are not thriving should be examined as soon as possible by a veterinarian to check for birth defects. Some defects, such as a cleft palate are not compatible with life. These puppies should be humanely euthanized. Dewclaws are removed and tails docked at days of age. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for these procedures to be done. Check your breed's standard, as some breeds need to have dewclaws left intact in order to show. Tail length changes, so again, the current breed standard should be consulted. When the puppies are at the clinic and having these procedures done, the mother should be taken for a walk around the block until the puppies are done. She should not be close enough to the clinic to hear the puppies crying. Once they are put back with the mother, the puppies normally nurse and then sleep. Vaccinations are started at weeks of age. Some breeders give a parvo virus vaccine at 5 weeks of age, if the puppies are at a high-risk. Ask your veterinarian if your puppies should be vaccinated early for parvo virus. They recommend puppy deworming for roundworms and hookworms start at 2 weeks of age and be repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. Thereafter, use a heart worm preventive medication that is also effective against hookworms and roundworms. Foster and Smith suggest that owners of newly acquired puppies obtain the deworming history of their new pup and contact their veterinarian to determine if additional deworming is needed. The mother should be dewormed at the same time as the puppies. A health check done by a veterinarian at weeks of age before the puppies head for new homes should include checks for heart murmurs, hernias, cryptorchidism, demodectic mange, other parasites, eye disorders, etc. Normal puppy development The umbilical cord normally falls off within days of birth. Infections of the umbilicus are rare in clean, well-managed kennels. Puppies normally twitch and jerk while sleeping. This helps with the development of their nerves and muscles. The puppies crawl well by days, walk at 16 days, and have a normal gait at 21 days. They need to be on footing that offers traction. By 4 weeks of age, the puppies follow each other and carry toys in their mouths. They will play-fight with each other and learn how to inhibit their bites. If a puppy bites a littermate too hard, the littermate will yelp and stop playing with him. If the puppy is allowed to bite humans, he will not learn to inhibit his bite. It may be cute as a 7-week old, but it will not be as a 7-year old. Puppies are born without teeth. The deciduous baby teeth start to erupt at weeks of age. All of the deciduous teeth are usually present by 8 weeks of age. The puppies' eyes will open around days of age. The retina matures around 21 days of age. Puppies should see clearly by 4 weeks of age. Do not pry open the lids for any reason, as the immature eye is not yet ready to handle light. If the eyes appear swollen before they open, take the puppy to a veterinarian immediately as an eye infection may be present that needs to be treated to prevent loss of vision. Some puppies will take a day to open the eyes while others will take days. The eyes will have a bluish color to them at first and then change to their adult color over time. If the eyes appear white or solid blue, take the puppy to the veterinarian right away. The ears open at days of age. They should hear clearly by 4 weeks of age. Deafness may not be noticeable while the puppies are together and first noticed when the puppy is in her new home. Interactions Between the Mother and Puppies By the time the puppies are weeks old, the mother should have an area near the whelping box, but separate from the puppies to allow her time to rest. At about this time, the puppies will start trying to leave the box to explore. They should be well supervised and have safe toys available. The box at this point should be big enough to be divided between eating, sleeping, playing, and eliminating rooms. At this stage, a crate with the door removed and lined with sheepskin or a dog bed can be given to the puppies for sleeping quarters and to familiarize them with crates. Puppy Socialization Early socialization of the puppies will help them become confident and develop fewer behavior problems. The puppies should be exposed to everything possible from metal food dishes dropping, to vacuums, garage doors opening and closing, thunderstorms, sirens, garbage trucks going past, cats, and other pets, etc. Do not try to keep the area quiet during the day. The puppies need to get used to normal household noises. Children should be allowed to play outside the whelping box supervised so they do not enter the box or drop toys in , as children behave differently than adults. Everything the puppy is exposed to now, will help her become a well-socialized, unafraid adult. The puppies should be handled several times a day. They can be picked up, their teeth looked at, ears checked, toes played with nails will need a weekly trimming , and have anything that may be done as an adult started slowly now. Play helps to develop the puppy's mind, as he needs to find solutions to problems he encounters. If the puppies are not in new homes by 10 weeks of age, they should be separated from each other for a large part of the day and given one-on-one time with humans. They can have play times during the day, but they should eat, sleep, and be handled separately. Being in a kennel group situation beyond weeks of age decreases trainability. Ready to start saving money on pet wellness care? Then take a look at Mint Wellness, the pet wellness plan that provides fast reimbursement on routine pet care. Save on vaccinations, wellness exams, preventatives, dental, and more! Understanding how dogs physically, mentally and emotionally develop from birth to 6 months — Part 1 — By Jennifer Broome, QK Owner I decided to write this article because I am amazed at the lack of understanding out there in our society when it comes to dogs. Our newer puppy programs have been incredibly successful with our diligent introduction of crate work, patience training, manners, proper socializing and obedience and it is wonderful to educate new owners. However, we sadly still see many dogs that just are handicapped mentally and emotionally as adolescents due to their owners lacking leadership and early puppy training to establish rules, confinement, patience and manners. I am someone who lives my life with dogs and for dogs. This article is not based on scientific research, veterinary information, or other technical sources rather it is based on my ongoing observations from a variety of experiences. Those include my own revolving pack of dogs over 25 years, my professional time at my kennel with dozens upon dozens dogs even upwards of at times as well as my countless hours training dogs at all levels from puppies to adolescents, problem dogs and sporting dogs from basic to advanced training. They do this for comfort, security and protection. Any good dog breeder equally has a whelping box which is typically a 4 foot by 4 foot box with sides, maybe a heated dish and nice bedding for Mom to birth her puppies. Pups are born into a sheltered environment and they feel secure. By 4 weeks Mom starts to wean her pups, all heck breaks loose as the pups now are very mobile, their eyes are opened and this weaning is the first big stressor in their lives. At this point puppy kibble is offered, the pups make a huge mess in their boxes, and soon they learn how to climb out. There is MUCH more that goes on during the whelping, nursing, puppy rearing and puppy development during these 8 weeks however I want to concentrate this article on what happens once the new owner acquires the pup. A very cleverly designed whelping box with escape resting area for Mom, sleeping area for pups and separate potty area. NOTE: I am talking about pups that come from responsible breeders and were raised in a safe, healthy environment. Sadly we see all too many rescue pups that were birthed by an already unstable, unhealthy mom, they were born under a shed, an alley, or at a puppy mill and their young lives are already stressed. Between 7 and 8 weeks is a great time to get a new puppy. I certainly do not oppose some breeders keeping pups longer I do NOT advocate pups going home before 7 weeks! As long as the pups are well monitored by the careful breeder, they can stay longer to mature more. YES, all puppies typically hate their crates at first. More like they hate the alone time as they are used to a pack of friends for safety and security. While the first week or 2 of crate training may be horrendous, noisy and stressful for you and puppy, once the pup learns to accept this alone time and controlled down time, it is one of the very best training achievements that you can master right away! There will be screaming, wailing, temper tantrums, messes in the crate and pup may sound like he is dying… BUT with patience, persistence and a good strategy crate training is typically easy to master. Why go through all of this stress? Why subject a puppy to this trauma!? Well, honestly think about it… as a baby did you sleep in a crib? Yes, that may work…. BUT what happens when you want to leave your house? Do you think that it is ok to leave a puppy home alone and loose with free roam or even confined to a room? An 8 week old puppy is about the same in maturity as a toddler. Would you leave a toddler home alone? A 6 month old puppy is like a 6 year old child. Again would you leave alone? A year old puppy is like an 8 to 10 year old child. Home alone? They are not even mature adults until 3 years old. That is like an 18 year human. We all made such great decisions and had complete maturity and responsibility at 18 right!!?? See where I am going with this? What does a crate help to accomplish? Forced down time, patience time, alone time, relaxation time. The pup can sleep or keep busy with a good chew toy to keep self-entertained. A tired puppy is a happy puppy is a happy owner! Pups often sleep upwards of 18 hours a day. Why not make those sleeping 18 hours safely confined to a crate? Maybe 8 hours overnight straight and the remaining 10 sleeping times divided up during the day. This type of schedule allows pup to be safely contained therefore not chewing, getting hurt or going potty in the house. It also enables the pup to feel secure and not just loose in a big scary area. Here is where most people go wrong, they feel the crate is cruel and they leave a pup out loose. Well, they could not be more wrong. Sadly, when a dog is left alone in an entire house, part of a house or even a room, the pup still feels the need to guard and protect that area. That is like asking a toddler to stay home alone and watch the house! Believe it or not the more rules and structure you can provide to your pup the more secure they feel! Puppies that learn to relax in a crate grow up into dogs that have a great off switch and can be loose to feel secure and safe. We talked about the importance and reasons for crate time, how about the human interactions? Do YOU instigate play jumping and biting by showing excitement around your pup. Do you rough house, play tug, chase or wrestle with your pup. Human interactions should be gentle in touch and kindness, however assertive to correct unwanted behaviors right away. If you want a bad behavior to stop, then use as little pressure as you can but as much as you need to in order to STOP the bad behavior. Just because he is a puppy does not mean he will outgrow biting, jumping, etc. Rather it will only get worse. Stop it right away. Wow I love this! I treat my dogs the same way. The more you stroke, pet, pat, or rough up a dog the more they will challenge you. Those are actually antagonistic interactions. How about you calmly, lightly, endearingly touch your pup. What spots can you find that sooth your pup to relax and fall asleep just by your touch? They close their eyes and relish in your touch. This gentle interaction calms, soothes and connects you to your dog and teaches them to chill, be still and respectful around humans. Sadly what do most people do? The wigglier a dog is, the more excited they are. Excitement in dogs is anxiety, so basically you are initiating a panic attack by causing your dog to quiver with stress. Why not use animal savvy and teach them your touch calms them. I promise! What does this mean? He or she can walk on a leash, they can learn to do stairs, get into a car, go into a crate by themselves, listen to the vacuum, and they can be exposed to early stressors and be just fine as long as you show a calm, strong, positive leadership! People are so quick to lift up their pups, do the work for them, make excuses or simply let them refuse to face a challenge. This only makes the pups better quitters and ones that show a very strong resistance with a fight, freeze or flight when asked to tackle simple physical challenge. So fellow dog lovers, I hope that this article gave you some things to think about! Whether you are getting a new puppy or can go back and think about the mistakes you may have previously made, our goal at QK is to help you better understand your dog, how they think and what you can do to help be a better leader. In turn I promise your dog will be happier, healthier and better behaved. Look ahead in the next series of this topic to explore the 6 month pup and how they grow, mature and develop. For heating the pups in the whelping box particle board construction with adjustable entrance and pig rails , we have a lectro-kennel pad in part of it. There is a window into the rest of the shop from the room; for mama dogs' sake, I wish we had a window to the outside.But it's not a kennel setup, so it's not perfect. The pups stay in this room for weeks.When they are big enough to move outside, they spend the nights in a chain-link fenced kennel about 8 x 13 feet on gravel. If they have to be kenneled while we're home, then we can open that up to an adjacent kennel the same size. Puppy pen- I wouldn't use hogwire. We've had pups almost hang themselves in the stuff really young pups can hang up in diamond chain link too ; albeit I think the hogwire type fence we used had smaller increments than regular hogwire. Anyways, we supervised them closely when they were in this pen. Size-wise I think the largest you can provide, the better, as long as it's safe. We've used 10x10 too but it just seemed too small especially when they were weeks old. The cement blocks should work fine. Our puppy pens are on the grass and then we just move it around the yard when the grass seems to be getting too worn out.