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They will be able to put together a diet that is specifically formulated for your pup to ensure they get the nutrients they require. With so much dilemma regarding dog kibble, you should know that it is possible to feed your pooch freshly cooked food with human-grade ingredients. Plus the dog food is delivered right to your door. Here are our favorite dog food delivery companies that you can choose from today. Pet Plate customized for your specific dog! Over the years he realized that the food animals ate could impact their health. In , the company launched in the United States. Today, the company is headquartered in St. Royal Canin is a global company that delivers superior nutrition and devotion to the quality and safety of pet food, regardless of where you live. The company offers pet food for all stages of dogs and cats in both wet and dry forms. They offer food options for small, medium, and large cats and dogs. Yes, there have been a few recalls of Royal Canin products. Unfortunately, when pet foods are mass-produced, it can be difficult to maintain high standards and quality. This Royal Canin formula is specially designed for pure breed Pugs from 8 weeks to 10 months old. These brachycephalic dogs have short muzzles and jaws, which makes it challenging for them to eat some kibble. The cloverleaf shaped kibble makes it easy for your pet to eat and chew and you can rest assured that they will receive all the nutritional benefits their young bodies require. They get their ingredients from suppliers that comply with their high quality and food safety requirements. They are making strides to acquire their raw ingredients from suppliers that are in close proximity to their manufacturing facilities to ensure the food is fresh. Quality Testing And Food Safety Royal Canin uses state of the art food safety systems and continually invests in new technology to ensure the highest dog food standards. Rigorous testing is done on income raw ingredients, and on all the finished batches to validate composition, quality, safety, and nutrients. Make sure you shop around for the best deals as some people have said that it can be more expensive at Amazon than Chewy. Based on our research, there are several happy Pug owners that have been feeding their Pug puppies this formula of dog food. Any Any A link has directed you to this review. Its location on this page may change next time you visit. We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real. We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews. Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness. In April one of my dogs got a small amount of a can of food that was punctured on the bottom before I noticed it. The next day she was vomiting and had diarrhea. Took to ER and ended up in hospital with pancreatitis. Vet told me to call company. I sent pictures of can and sealed case it came in. The company was going to call vet, never did, then emailed and said nothing was wrong with the food after two and a half months. Totally ignored the can. Every time I called the company to check on the people had absolutely no compassion. Thanks for your vote! Fed the 3 small dogs the RC Gastro along with cooked chicken, fed the collie her dry dog food not RC along with cooked chicken. The 3 small dogs were violently ill, vomiting and pooping blood! All within 5 hours of eating. Will never, ever buy this poison again. And now this! We are fortunate to have a good vet who immediately treated them aggressively. Had an open case with Royal Canin for 2 months and they completely denied any wrongdoing. Please do not buy this dog food, or anything from them. Save your pets and please do not use any Royal Canin products. More Thanks for your vote! Report Not sure how to choose? Get buying tips about Dog Food delivered to your inbox. Email By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Unsubscribe at any time. Thanks for subscribing. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations. MariaColdwater, Other Reviewed Dec. This food nearly killed my cats. Once perfectly healthy, they both developed serious constipation after being fed this vet recommended dry cat food. I am thousands of dollars into their care to correct this situation and once my vet realized the food was causing the constipation he quickly confirmed that it's a widespread problem. I pay top dollar for a supposedly prescription food only to have it cause horrible issues and cost me a fortune. Thanks Maria 13 Thanks for your vote! The food also caused him to gain weight very quickly. I put him on Science Diet urinary and hairball formula, and he no longer has constipation issues. Thanks Stephanie 5 Thanks for your vote! It has been out of stock everywhere for quite a while and I asked when this food will be available again. The answer of their representative, Aurela X, surprised me in a negative way. Seems like Royal Canin does not care equally for their products and customers. We apologize for the frustration. We have paused many retail diets, such as the one mentioned, to refocus efforts to producing veterinary diets. Aurela X WOW! They refocus efforts to producing veterinary diets!!! And all the other customers who have been buying their products for years seem not very important to Royal Canin. I expected more from a reputable brand, and I am deeply disappointed. My little Lobo has a condition where he has many food allergies and he suffers from colitis. He is also on medication on a daily basis. The only dog food that he was tolerating was the Royal Canin prescription potato duck formula. I was informed by the company today that they suspended manufacturing of that formula until possibly January. What am I to feed my dog. I am very disappointed and extremely worried that my dog will get sick. Why would a company that claims a higher standard stop manufacturing a prescription dog food that is necessary for my and many other dogs to thrive on. I put a call into his specialist they referred me to a company that makes home-cooked meals for dogs with specific issues however, the cost is prohibitive. Thanks Kristine 13 Thanks for your vote! In January it became toxic. Both of our Kitties became ill with vomiting and diarrhea. One of our Kitties bounced back once we got the food replaced. However, our special needs blind kitty got very sick. She stopped eating and drinking and was vomiting and went from diarrhea to constipation. Pain and suffering is also a huge issue for her. More I reached out to Royal Canin and they told me without the bag they could do nothing. I store the food in a bin and had gotten rid of the bag. They should be held accountable but will not be due to me getting rid of that bag. I believe if they wanted to they could trace the bad batch. They just do not want to held accountable. The food was toxic!!! They have poor quality control issues. I know I will not get our money back nor could anything make up for the pain and suffering of our Stevie. I am writing to let the consumer know hang onto your bag if you buy from this company as they do not want to take ownership of tracking down the batch that made our Kitties sick. Coming in vacuum sealed bags guarantees freshness. Each bag has a ziplock that allows me to reseal the bag and retain freshness. Thanks Thomas 4 Thanks for your vote! I was told by RC that the product was fine. In January when I first used the food, I thought is smelled a little off. This was Jan 12, .I fed it to my cat because RC had said in December that it was fine. That evening my cat threw up twice. On Thursday he was not eating and very sluggish. I brought my cat to the vet. More It is now Tuesday January 18, and my is still not better. Not eating and not voiding as he should. He is currently at the vet on IV trying to flush his system. I Contacted RC today, January 18, .She said they have not had any complaints on this food. However, I see from this site that there has been issues before. There are also issues posted on other sites that are recent with this same issue. While the RC customer service agent was helpful with explaining their manufacturing testing process, it does not explain why these cats are falling drastically ill. I asked if they could analyze this lot. She said that the request would have to come from a vet. I'm focusing at this moment on my cat, however, when he is better praying I will continue looking into this. If your dog is suffering some kind of health issue like renal, urinary, gastro, or diabetes, these formulas will address the concerns of those illnesses with a specially tailored recipe. Price is also a factor, as neither of these brands are cheap. When should I feed Royal Canin? Even with conditions such as diabetes and renal disease, you must ask yourself these same questions. Wet or Dry? Wet food is generally better than dry, and the process offers more digestible food for our dogs. Wet food has no abrasiveness, and dry foods are also questionable — dental formulas merely contain additives to fight plaque. Some Australian vets promote Raw Meaty Bones in this respect, and I tend to agree with them completely — the gnawing and chewing action I see as a far more natural way for your dog to retain great dental health which also wards off other disease. Breed specific formulas are an excellent marketing angle for Royal Canin, but make sure you read the ingredients and consider if they sound good for your dog! The 2nd and 3rd ingredients are maize and… more maize. So very likely more maize than poultry protein as the 1st ingredient. The 4th ingredient is wheat flour. If you consider your dog a meat-eater like I do, then this seems a bit odd, does it not? We can consider maize flour and maize the same thing, so a classic case of ingredient splitting. On the subject of wheat, I find this a common cause of skin and health problems in dogs, and a possible precursor to your vet prescribing Royal Canin Anallergenic to address the issues when they arise clever, eh? Or in other words, these small inclusions are how the recipe meets requirements like AAFCO standards and how all that maize and wheat flour is possible. What are the benefits of feeding Royal Canin to your dog? I often hear from people who have visited Mars Petcare production facilities how impressed they are of cleanliness and standards. Consumer feedback in terms of sudden gastro or vomiting is rare on Royal Canin and I have to say seems common on some other Australian brands , but my real concern is the long term health impact on our dogs of feeding so much grain. Generally Royal Canin formulas seem marginally better than Hills, and with both brands the wet foods tend to have significantly more meat compared to the grain-based dry formulas. Where to buy? How do you pronounce Royal Canin? I hear Royal Canin pronounced incorrectly all the time. Many people use the pronunciation Can-in which is incorrect. The correct pronunciation of Canin would be with a French accent given the word is the literal translation of the English word canine. If you want to pronounce Royal Canin in French, simply mimic the audio provided by Google translated — Royal Canin in French press the speaker button. In English or Australian you know you can get away with saying it however you like, but the most correct pronunciation in English is Royal kay-nin. Overall Royal Canin dry dog foods contain a great deal of corn and allergenic grains like wheat. If you wish to go with Royal Canin perhaps at the recommendation of your vet , then opt for the wet over the dry, or at least a mixture of both. Feel free to add any comments or questions below! Ingredients The ingredients of Royal Canin Active Adult dog food at the time of review : Dehydrated poultry protein, maize flour, maize, wheat flour, animal fats, dehydrated pork protein, wheat, hydrolysed animal proteins, beet pulp, fish oil, soya oil, yeasts, minerals, hydrolysed yeast source of manno-oligo-saccharides.
Raising dogs for you and your family. Call or text .Every breed has different requirements, whether the space they must have or the amount of exercise they need. If you are not certain yet, check out our essential White German Shepherd breed info to find out everything about the White German Shepherd. How to find White German Shepherd puppies for sale? When buying a puppy, it is important to consider not only the pet but also the breeder. Because a responsible breeder will ensure their dogs come from the strongest bloodlines and have the best start to life. Ask about the health and temperament of their White German Shepherd pups as well as their living environment. But also find out about the breeder's practices and commitments. A good breeder will be happy to answer everything before you decide. After all, they will want to ensure that their dog goes to a good home. When you have done your research and got all the info you need, you can then choose the right breeder with confidence. To help ensure you choose a responsible breeder, all the White German Shepherd kennels you see listed here are verified by Pets4You. You will also find that the best breeders will provide a guarantee with their dog. This information, and more, is available on the breeder's website within Pets4You. Browse through our dog breeder directory with complete breeder profiles and current puppies for sale to find your dream dog. Disclaimer It is the duty of every person that is considering buying a puppy or dog to confirm all the information provided to them by the breeder is accurate. Pets4You makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the condition of any dogs offered for sale, the standards or practices of any breeder, the quality of their canines, or the accuracy of any information contained within our site. Pets4You does not endorse, recommend, or guarantee a particular kennel, breeder or dogs listed on the Pets4You website. For Buyers. Why From Us? We want to bring you a puppy that fits naturally and comfortably into your home. To bring that about, we focus on human exposure to young children and other animals to help our German Shepherd puppies socialize. We believe that early exposure to children and small animals helps our puppies fit into your home quickly and easily. We also provide a health guarantee for all our German Shepherd puppies. With OFA approval and insight, you can trust in the health of any puppies you buy from us. Call to learn about our puppies today. Reserve your puppy, Call for more information. We make it simple to match you with your new best friend! We might have puppies that are not on this photo list, just call we love to talk German Shepherds. Reserve your puppy now. Call us for prices. As deposits are received that is the order you pick your puppy. Deposits are non-refundable. All puppies will be up to date on shots and worming meds. All are AKC Registered. Call if you have any questions. Pictures of the puppies will be provided. You can pick out with a photo or come here and select your puppy. Shipping can also be provided for an additional cost. Heidi has puppies. They will look like this at 8 weeks old. More puppies to come, call if you want to reserve. Reserve you new best friend, just call. Heidi is a great momma. See who is in heat by calling us. Raquel is the mother and Ranger is the father. All our puppies have all shots and worming meds. Female, white collar Raquel is the mother and father is Ranger. Full of fun. Our puppies go fast, call to reserve yours. Male, Yellow collar Raquel is the mother and Ranger is the father. He is full of cuteness and very alert. Pink collar, female Raquel is the mother and Ranger is the father. Ready for a forever home. Full of fun and great color. Good size boy. Red collar, male Lacee is the mother and Baron is the father. Full of fun! All puppies have all shots and worming meds. Lacee is his mother and Baron his father. Black collar, male Baron is the father and Lacee is his mother. Full of personality. Green Female The leader of her group and full of personality. Lacee is her mother and Baron is her father. Fun loving. Call with any questions. He is sweet and ready for you. Found his forever home. If you would like up to date photos on a certain pup just call. Our dogs have mellow, affectionate, and playful temperaments, love water, and especially children. They are living as trustworthy family members, as emotional support dogs, service dogs, and medical alert dogs around the world! Content Link Block Polarbear is our Name. Or perhaps just looking for the total package in a dog? Health and longevity remains the foundation of all we do. Take for example, the standard German Shepherd dog as seen in this photo: View fullsize …Dogs bred with these traits often end up with crippling disabilities and premature death. This is so inhumane. The focus of our kennel, on the other hand, is to produce dogs with straight backs, broad heads, and short coats, as in the photo of Polarbear's foundation sire, Shack Von Hammer below. Aside from their magnificent appearance, Polarbear White Shepherds are calm, sociable, and affectionate. They are gifted empaths and comedians at heart. Their goofy personalities and love of children make them perfect nannies for even the youngest child. They love water, retrieving frisbees, and diving into the occasional swimming pool. What kind of dogs do all that? And they are living fulfilled lives, as medical detection dogs, service dogs, and family and companion dogs in nearly every state in the United States! World Map of our Clients Before leaving, you might like to click on some of our pages. Our "Words of Warning" for those purchasing a purebred dog for the first time on the internet is a favorite. Just remember this quote…. No amount of training or special food will fix a problem dog. If you want to view videos of our dogs, check out our Youtube Channel page. If you appreciate our breeding philosophy and love what we do, do let us know by becoming a fan! Home of Champions and Grand Champions! Our dogs live and are raised in our home. We live on 7 acres surrounded by mountains and wild life. Our goal is to produce healthy dogs in body and mind who can live long disease free lives. They will be great companions, service or competition dogs. We focus on health and temperament. We breed only healthy dogs who can pass along worthy traits, such as a solid temperament, correct conformation and excellent pigment. We avoid tight line breeding and prefer to breed dogs who have no common ancestors in 4 to 5 generations. All our dogs are DNA tested, non-carriers of any detectable diseases. Only those dogs that pass the health and temperament test are introduced into our breeding program. To her I owe much of my knowledge, hands on experience and a very successful first breeding in December .Foxhunt Lust for Life is our first love, he inspired us on educating our selves about the evolution of this breed. It is indeed and evolution since the White Shepherd was not meant to be a breed of its own at the origin. It is because of politics and the Parent Club's definition of beauty that the White Shepherds became outcast from their original breed. You may ask, what is the original breed? It is the German Shepherd dog. To tell you about the origin of the German Shepherd is beyond the scope of this introduction. I will only point out that the German Shepherd creator , a German Cavalry Captain, Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz bought what he felt was the benchmark prototype of what a working dog should be: intelligent, strong with endurance, loyal and beautiful. Around , he found all these pre-requisites in Horand von Grafrath who he renamed Hektor von Schwaben. Stephanitz declared him the very first German Shepherd dog. He then proceeded to mate Hektor with other " worthy" mates. Among them there were white dogs. The writing under the picture , literally translates to: "long coated stock German Shepherd dog". It also happens to be white. I believe this is how the white , long coat gene of German Shepherd dogs was introduced into the German Shepherd breed. In Europe it has become a different breed. The history is fascinating and I will tell in greater details in other parts. At the moment I invite you to get to know us and to be patient as we build our web site.
You are taking on the responsibility for another living thing. However, part of the process is doing the research to make sure the dog you have in mind is a good fit for your lifestyle. This pup is extremely playful. The Boxspring will throw everything into that game of fetch or tug-of-war. The Springer in your pooch has a keen prey drive and, thus, an equally strong wanderlust potential. On the positive side, neither parent breed is much of a nipper or barker. Of course, early socialization is an excellent way to curb any of these bad behaviors before they become a nuisance. The Boxspring needs a strong leader to keep his intensity in check. He just has too much energy, which will make it challenging for these individuals. The ancestry of the boxer goes back thousands of years. The early ancestors of the modern-day Boxer go back to B. Centuries later, the Germans began selectively breeding the breed, which they called the Bullenbeisser. Four German Boxers are the rootstock of the breed in the United States. All three added championships to their honors. They also sired other award-winning Boxers on the show circuit. The English Springer Spaniel has some friends in high places. The breed counts among his admirers Presidents George H. Bush and George W. He also captured the heart of royalty as a pet to Princess Grace. As a hunting dog, the English Springer Spaniel had to think on his feet—all four of them! This pooch is eager to please and will learn your routine quickly. All of these traits make him a delightful pet for the individual or family that has time to devote to his upbringing. Are These Dogs Good for Families? He may even tire out the kids first. This pooch is affectionate with just about everyone. He prefers companionship. Unfortunately, both parent breeds are prone to separation anxiety. This pup needs his people around him. After all, he often hunted with other gundogs in the field. Then, there is the prey drive. If the family cat runs from him, expect an intense chase. That instinct will likely persist, even if he is raised with another pet in the household. Remember that many pups are the product of years of selective breeding for the characteristics that serve him best in his job. We suggest feeding him a commercial food formulated for medium-sized dogs. Puppies grow quickly. The right food has enough calories and nutrients to support this rapid growth. Both the Boxer and English Springer Spaniel have a moderate tendency to gain weight, despite their high energy level. Therefore, use the ingredient on the label as a guide to how much to feed him. Monitor his size and adjust the amount accordingly. He also craves time with you. A daily walk is an excellent way to accomplish both goals—and keep you healthy, too! A dog with his strength and energy needs an owner who can manage him. Luckily, this pup is intelligent and eager to learn new things. We recommend using positive reinforcement instead of harsh reprimands when he is naughty. Both parent breeds are sensitive in that regard. The Boxspring is capable of other tasks because of his intelligence. His affectionate nature makes him a decent choice for a therapy dog or a competitor on the agility circuit of dog shows. This extra training is a great way to bond with your pet. The Boxer is a breeze. The English Springer Spaniel is another story. His long coat means more attention and professional grooming to make him look his best. The same advice applies to his nails. Handle his paws frequently so that he is accustomed to having his feet touched. You should also check his ears occasionally. The long fur of the Springer makes him susceptible to ear infections and mites. That increases the risk of genetic conditions. Both parent breeds are relatively healthy. However, we suggest that you get a dog that has had an Orthopedic Foundation for Animals OFA evaluation for joint problems. Minor Conditions. The Cocker Spaniel is a loving dog and a true bird dog. It has a cheerful disposition and is happy snuggling on the couch with the kids. The resulting Boxer Cocker Spaniel Mix is a medium-sized dog that is both affectionate and cheerful as it is tough and alert. This mixed breed is prone to the diseases inherited from its parent breeds such as eye problems, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hypothyroidism, primary seborrhea, boxer cardiomyopathy, or hip dysplasia, so make it a point to buy your Cocker Spanixer only from reputable breeders in order to guarantee that you will get a healthy and high-quality puppy. The Husky Cocker Spaniel Mix is largely an unknown mixed breed. Thus one needs to look more closely into its parent breeds in order to get a clearer picture of them. The Siberian Husky is not just a sled-type of dog but also a dog that can escape easily unless the whole area around is properly fenced by the owner. Although not known to be aggressive and is still basically a committed breed, the husky is difficult to train if the owner is not a tough and firm one, so it needs a tough obedience training from an expert. The Cocker Spaniel is an affectionate dog that came from Spain in the s and was either a toy or companion or a hunting dog and is basically more obedient and loyal even to a beginner master. The Husky Cocker Spaniel Mix is once more a mix between an adventurous, high-energy dog and a docile one, and so this mixed designer breed needs tough and firm training in order to get rid of its possible destructive behavior and tendency to escape. Do not get your Corgi Cocker Spaniel puppies from an irresponsible breeder as small, sensitive puppies of its parent breeds should come only from the most reliable and responsible of breeders. The Corgi Cocker Spaniel puppies are prone to overeating when not yet properly trained so one has to watch their diet, while they can also become extremely active. This mixed breed is recognized by the Dog Registry of America Inc. This hybrid dog is also called the Poockerspaniel, Spoodle, Cockapoodle, or the Cockapoo. The Poodle Cocker Spaniel Mix is generally sociable and energetically happy as it loves to be cuddled just like its parent breeds. The Poodle Cocker Spaniel Mix has a broader head than the purebred Poodle and can come in a wide variety of colors that go well with its tight curls. The Poodle Cocker Spaniel Mix does not shed often just like its Poodle, and the good thing is that it is potentially less allergic compared to its parent breeds. This unique designer dog does not have much information about it, but one source says that it is possible that the puppy looks more like either of the purebred parents. Since , the German Shepherd has been known for its ability to patrol a flock of sheep and to be an expert in terms of detection, search and rescue, and other police and military operations. The German Shepherd Cocker Spaniel Mix is an extremely loyal dog based on the qualities of dedication and devotion from the two parent breeds. There is a good chance though that the German Shepherd Cocker Spaniel Mix will suffer from separation anxiety if not given attention for quite some time, as this is a problem with its German Shepherd parent. This hybrid dog is a sweet, well-mannered dog that takes after the love of its parents for cuddling and playing with their owners. The Beagle Cocker Spaniel Mix needs approximately 1. The Bocker is generally friendly and well-behaved but will definitely require a tough owner to train it while it is young, although their being affectionate makes them excellent companions for singles, couples, and the elderly. The Labrador Retriever is sociable and outgoing while it is obedient to its master, and the Cocker Spaniel is very much similar. Thus the mixed breed has a stable temperament. Just avoid rabbits or squirrels that might annoy it or catch its attention. The Cockerdor is between 20 to 70 pounds in weight owing to the wide range of weight difference between its purebred parents. It is, therefore, a small dog that is extra energetic as it takes after the playful nature of both parent breeds. The Chikerspaniel may stand up to larger aggressive dogs just like its parent Chihuahua breed, and may also need extreme supervision when it is with children. Just like its Chihuahua parent, you should take care not to let it play with children under the age of 8, or an injury may result from it. The Chihuahua Cocker Spaniel Mix needs 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise as well as a strict and tough owner to make the dog obey ground rules. The Chowspaniel is another rare mix breed so you will be able to know more about its temperament and other characteristics by delving more into its parent breeds. The Chow Chow is extremely loyal but it can be very independent and aloof. It can also be unreasonably suspicious of strangers. Take your dog to the vet regularly for an eye checkup and for a total medical checkup. The Chow Chow parent breed may suffer from Entropion, an eyelid disease, and the Cocker Spaniel parent breed may also suffer from various eye diseases. The Chowspaniel may not appreciate children that much no matter how cute and cuddly this hybrid dog may seem, so make sure that it is kid-friendly before you can let your kids go near it. This hybrid dog is bred for the purpose of developing a breed that is tough enough for agility and flyball sports. Thus these dogs are intense, tough, and busy. The Border Collie Cocker Spaniel breed is a guaranteed lover of children, people, and families, but it can be sensitive to anything that moves, which include people, children, cats, squirrels, and cats. One should, therefore, take care not to create that much noise in the house, or this mix breed will continually nip, bark, and nudge. It is recommended to purchase Border Collie Cocker Spaniel Mix from a reputable breeder in order to make sure that the puppies are free from hereditary diseases and have sound behavior. The Australian Shepherd Cocker Spaniel Mix is often called Aussie Cocker or Cotralian by many people, and it is basically 20 to 30 lbs heavy and 13 to 18 inches tall. The Australian Shepherd Cocker Spaniel Mix have eyes and a tail that look like those of a cocker but a strong, lean body like that of an Australian Shepherd. The naturally dominant personality of the Australian Shepherd Cocker Spaniel Mix takes after the tendency of the Australian Shepherd to be rough with children. Train your mix breed for socialization at an early age before you let it play with the kids. The Dachshund Cocker Spaniel Mix is an interesting cross between the even-tempered hunting Dachshund and the lovable darling Cocker Spaniel. The Dachshund Cocker Spaniel Mix is generally a sweet, loving dog as it takes after the Cocker Spaniel but, like its parent Dachshund, it can be a hunter as it digs and chases rabbits and squirrels. The Docker can be very shy around people, so it needs to be trained for socialization. Its hunting behavior as a Dachshund may also make it hostile around people and children if left untrained. Thus these eyes often get injured. Take care not to expose your Cocker Pug to anything that might destroy its eyes. It is, therefore, better to keep them as house dogs and not brought outdoors often. The big problem with the Pug Cocker Spaniel Mix is that it is a cross between two dogs that have a tendency to overeat. Thus you must control the tendency of the Pug Cocker to overeat. The American Bulldog was once a working farm dog and a loving family companion, and the Cocker Spaniel is a very loyal and loving dog to the family. Thus the Cockerbull or American Cocker Spaniel is a dog that symbolizes loyalty. The Cockerbull is a dog that is not that easy to train because its American Bulldog parent could be tough although the Cocker Spaniel parent breed is relatively docile and obedient when it comes to training. The Cocker Spaniel parent breed may be a frequent barker, but the Cockerbull hybrid dog does not bark often. The American Bulldog Cocker Spaniel Mix needs constant physical activity for up to 45 minutes every day because of the laid-back nature of the parent breeds. The Shar Peipaniel is very devoted and protective of its owner and the human family that takes care of it, although it can be a bit stubborn without proper training. Train your Shar Pei Cocker Spaniel well using positive reinforcement training in order to keep your children safe around the dog. This hybrid dog can become very strong-willed even around children. The Akita is powerful and courageous and has been considered as the natural guardian of the Japanese royal family. It is a symbol of long life and good health in Japan. This parent breed makes the Akita Cocker Spaniel Mix dominant and tough among people unless it is properly trained. This is because shredding is a common trait of the Akita breed. Always ask an expert to train your Akita Cocker Spaniel Mix so that it will not injure your kids unintentionally. This makes this hybrid dog require tough exercise in order to stay happy all the time. The Blue Spaniel or the Blue Cocker Spaniel has an average lifespan of up to 14 years, a height of up to 20 inches, and could weigh up to 45 pounds. The Blue Heeler Cocker Spaniel hybrid dog has the appearance of a small cattle dog but with features of a Cocker Spaniel especially the ears and coat. Its thick coat will need regular brushing. These moderate shredders need constant grooming and regular clipping around the ears, tail, and head twice a month. The English Bulldog Cocker Spaniel Mix are fearful of strangers just like its Cocker Spaniel parent and are sensitive to cold weather, heat, and humidity in the same way as its English Bulldog parent. The English Bulldog Cocker Spaniel also has a tendency to overeat just like both of its parent breeds, so you must monitor its food intake closely. Keep your English Cocker Spaniel healthy through constant regular exercise because it has a tendency to be lazy. Although the parent Cocker Spaniel is active, the English Bulldog usually lives a sedentary lifestyle and does not want to go out for a walk. This hybrid dog combines the intelligence and efficiency of the Golden Retriever and the cheerful disposition of the Cocker Spaniel. Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel Mix puppies usually have the appearance of the Golden Retriever parent as seen in the moderately long golden coat, floppy ears, and a generally smaller structure compared to the parent Golden Retriever. The Golden Retriever Cocker Spaniel Mix is one of the friendliest dogs, but you have to seek expert advice or assistance in training the dog for socialization since its high energy could injure you or the kids. The Bernese Mountain Dog Cocker Spaniel Mix is a rare type of breed, so the Internet does not have a wealth of information on it but taking a closer look at both parents should help. It also has the loyalty of the Cocker Spaniel. The important thing to remember here is to make sure you will purchase a Bernese Mountain Dog Cocker Spaniel puppy from a reputable breeder so that it is free from diseases as much as possible. Take your hybrid dog to the veterinarian often as it might have inherited eye problems, hypothyroidism and allergies from the Cocker Spaniel parent. It might also have hip and elbow dysplasia tendencies just like its Bernese Mountain Dog parent. There is not much information about the Pitbull Cocker Spaniel Mix, but studying its parent breeds would give you valuable insight. The Pitbull Cocker Spaniel Mix is a family-oriented dog, but it must have acquired the aggressiveness of the Pitbull breed towards other dogs. You must keep it on a leash when walking the dog in public because the Pit Bull tends to start a fight with any dog and they tend to fight to the end. Thus, this hybrid dog may have more food, contact, and inhalant allergies as its natural problems. Always consult your vet for further information because this hybrid dog might be in for other health challenges. It is loyal as much as it is intelligent, while it is easy to please. However, give it positive training reinforcement so that it will not injure young kids. Make sure to train this hybrid dog, or it will continually bark at strangers. The French Bulldog Cocker Spaniel Mix is loving, brave, reliable, and friendly to the human family that owns it. However, you should return the favor by having it regularly checked by the vet for a propensity to deafness, eye problems, skin problems, hip dysplasia, and many more. Even when trained, the French Bulldog Cocker Spaniel may still injure young children unintentionally, thus be firm when commanding it and always supervise young children who play with it. The Shih Tzu Cocker Spaniel Mix Breed is a hybrid dog that does not often bark despite the fact that both its Cocker Spaniel parent is a frequent barker. The Shih Tzu Cocker Spaniel Mix is also extra friendly with people and other dogs because it comes from two parent breeds that are naturally friendly. The Cock-A-Tzu is basically well behaved but if you have to punish it but minimize punishments since it is a sensitive hybrid dog. This hybrid dog lives up to 15 years of age, but you have to make it do regular exercises because it comes from a rather inactive parent Shih Tzu parent breed. This hybrid dog is recognized by the Dog Registry of America Inc. The Doberman Cocker Spaniel Mix is an interesting cross between the highly energetic smooth-coated Doberman and the fluffy coated Cocked Spaniel. There is not much information about this breed online, so it is essential to look more into its parent breeds. The Doberman needs adequate attention and participation in the activities of its human family. Thus the Doberman Cocker Spaniel Mix is an interesting family guardian just like its two parent breeds. You need to have the Doberman Cocker Spaniel Mix trained or, just like its Doberman parent breed, it will assume the alpha role in your household. It is a rare breed, so there is not much information about this hybrid dog online. One should, therefore, look more closely into its parent breeds. The Newfoundland Cocker Spaniel Mix is a medium- to large-sized dog because of its Newfoundland parent, and it seriously needs regular grooming because of the thick coat that both its parent breeds have. Have a regular eye check-up for your Newfoundland Cocker Spaniel Mix because its Newfoundland parent is prone to Cherry Eye while its Cocker Spaniel parent is prone to many eye problems. Your Newfoundland Cocker Spaniel Mix needs plenty of exercises and mental stimulation because its Newfoundland parent needs the same thing. Cocker Spaniel Mix Food Requirements Petite or grand, you want to make sure your dog stays healthy for as long as possible. In order to do so, knowing the difference between the worst dry dog food and best dry dog food is essential. Consider the age of pooch when choosing the right kibble. If your furry pal is still a baby, consult our list of best puppy food brands and if they have already reached their golden years, best senior dry dog food will be the way to go. Cocker Spaniel crosses can result in dogs of all sizes. Picking the right chow according to their stature is crucial in order to provide them with enough nutrients. Test your luck with best dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food and see what your pooch prefers. Cancer Colitis 3. This hybrid dog will try to prove itself as independent, which makes it easy for owners to leave it at home alone. A total of 45 minutes separated into multiple times a day will keep its energy levels down. Both of the parent breeds are easy to groom because of their short coats. Applies to all dog food recalls in the U. The Poodle Boxer cross is a hyperactive dog. It loves to run full-speed in an open area. It is essential to tire out this hybrid dog before going home to avoid damages inside the house. The Boxer Poodle mix requires at least 3 cups of dog food a day to give it the strength to perform agility tasks. A high protein diet of fish and chicken is also recommendable. This hybrid dog is an intelligent creature. It can serve as watchdogs for families and is also be useful for therapy. The Poodle Boxer cross is a hypoallergenic dog, which makes it a good choice for allergic owners. It requires minimal grooming because it rarely sheds. It is important to start training a German Shepherd Boxer cross at an early age. This dog loves to run and does not sit around for long periods. It responds well to exercises and needs outdoor time and enrichment toys. Despite being an excellent family pet, the Boxer German Shepherd mix requires supervision around children as it might knock over a kid during playtime due to its muscular size. This hybrid dog will likely have a short and thick coat. Owners will find the German Shepherd Boxer mix easy to groom. Both of its parent breeds are common household pets. The Boxer Beagle mix can pick up commands and behavior naturally when adapting to constant training. Harsh treatment may trigger its aggressive response. Owners must be patient with training this crossbreed. The daily food requirement of a Beagle Boxer cross amounts to 2 to 3 cups of high-quality dog food. This hybrid dog is prone to ear infections. Baths and weekly ear cleaning will be beneficial for the Beagle Boxer mix. The Boxer Beagle mix is an active dog that needs an outlet for its energy. It may grow taller than both of its parent breeds. Its weight ranges between 80 to pounds. The Bull Mastiff Boxer cross is a loyal and protective dog. Children within the family will be safe around this crossbreed. The Boxer Bull Mastiff mix requires brushing every other day because it can shed its coat often. It also needs a monthly bath to get rid of the dog odor. Despite its large build, the Bull Mastiff Boxer cross is a sensitive animal that owners must treat nicely. This hybrid dog does not respond well to harsh methods of training. Because it is a big dog, the Bull Mastiff Boxer mix does not do well in apartment living. Houses with a backyard can be the perfect environment for living with this hybrid dog. It is a loyal and energetic pet that loves to please its owners. The Boxer Labrador mix loves to protect its human pack. Its instincts make for a suitable guardian for kids. Boxer Labrador mixes love to take on challenges. Engage them in mental and physical activities to keep improving their intelligence. The Dog Registry of America, Inc. DRA is the only registry service to recognize this hybrid dog. First-time dog owners will have a wonderful time with the Boxer Chihuahua mix. It is a fun and loving family dog that thrives well with children and other animals. Two or three meals a day is enough to keep the Chihuahua Boxer mix healthy. Owners must pay attention to its weight to help it avoid over-eating. This hybrid dog is prone to bloat, a digestive issue that requires strict supervision. The Boxer Chihuahua mix weighs around 45 to 60 pounds, which is closer to its Boxer parent. It can also live up to 10 to 15 years. It also has a lifespan of about 15 years. The Boxer Chow Chow mix has a short and straight coat, which makes it easy for owners to groom. It can shed at times but brushing at least two to three times a week can keep its coat healthy. The Boxer Chow Chow mix rarely barks. It is a quiet dog that likes being around its owners and loves playtime with children. The Chow Chow Boxer cross needs daily exercise to stay in shape. This hybrid dog loves to take trips to the beach and ball or Frisbee fetching. The Border Collie ranks as the most intelligent dog breed in the world, capable of learning and retaining commands in under 10 seconds. Both of its parent breeds carry messages and supplies, as well as helping find injured soldiers, during both World Wars. The Boxer Border Collie mix can stand between 18 to 25 inches high with a weight of about 45 to 80 pounds. It has a medium-sized and muscular body. This hybrid dog requires daily exercise that includes longs walks, running, hiking, and other competitive sports. It is also recommendable to engage it in mental stimulation to improve its superior intelligence. The average daily dog food consumption of the Australian Shepherd Boxer cross is around 2 and three-quarters of a cup to make up for its large and muscular body. It can be destructive if left alone for long periods. The Australian Shepherd Boxer cross requires extensive physical training to keep its energy level down. Owners that are active in sports will have an excellent companion with this crossbreed. The Boxer stands around 21 to 25 inches while the Dachshund has a size of at least 6 inches at the shoulder. The Boxer Dachshund mix is a powerful and robust hybrid. The Boxer Dachshund mix is a rare breed, which makes information about it hard to find. The history of both parent breeds will be helpful for potential owners. A lot of credible breeders and online sellers are available for potential owners to find and adopt a healthy Boxer Pug mix. The Pug Boxer cross will likely inherit the watchdog abilities of the Boxer but will not bark as much as its parent. It is also friendly and affectionate to its owners. Grooming this hybrid dog is easy. It sheds lesser than the Pug breed. Weekly brushing will be enough to keep its coat healthy. The parent breeds have a lifespan of around 11 to 14 years. It is possible that the offspring will live longer than the given data. Both parent breeds are energetic and good with children. The Boxer Cocker Spaniel mix makes for a wonderful pet for families that are active outdoors. There is not a lot of credible information available for the Cocker Spaniel Boxer cross. Its parent breeds have enough date for potential breeders to research on. Boxer The Saint Bernard Boxer cross is playful, active, and gentle. It loves to play with its owners. The Boxer Saint Bernard mix can weigh between 60 to pounds but usually follows the 90 to pounds range of its Saint Bernard parent. Owners must hold off of high impact exercises until the Saint Bernard Boxer cross is at least a year old. This hybrid dog is prone to wobbler syndrome, which gives it a weaker ankle due to its rapid growth and weight gain. The Boxer Saint Bernard mix is easy to groom. It needs weekly brushing and may take its bath only twice a year if kept clean. An untrained Boxer American Bulldog mix can behave like a puppy and reach maturity at a later age than most dogs. Proper and consistent obedience training with positive reinforcement will help it improve its behavior. Both parent breeds are fighting dogs in their early days. Breeders over the years help turn them into working dogs. The Boxer American Bulldog mix can live up to 9 or 12 years. The American Bulldog Boxer mix will likely be a large and muscular dog due to the physical features of its parents. There is a lot of history available on the parent breeds to help owners with research. The Boxer Cane Corso mix promises to be a fun sports companion because of the playfulness of the Boxer and the athleticism of the Cane Corso. The Cane Corso Boxer cross requires a lot of physical exercises to keep it in peak condition. The Boxer Cane Corso mix has a smooth and dense coat. Shampooing and bathing this crossbreed must be done only when necessary to maintain the shine of its coat. The Boxer Shar-Pei mix requires lots of exercises to keep its energy level down. It enjoys regular walks in the park and running games with its owner. This hybrid dog needs weekly brushing to keep its coat healthy. It the dog leans more to the Shar-Pei side, make sure that it is dried thoroughly after a bath to avoid yeast infections. The Shar-Pei Boxer mix will be fine being left alone for long periods, but it loves being around its family. It is playful around kids and will protect them from strangers and unexpected guests. It responds well to obedience lessons and physical obstacles in training. The Blue Heeler Boxer cross is usually healthy. Eye issues are the only major concern for this hybrid dog. The English Bulldog Boxer cross has a below-average life expectancy but keeping it healthy will assure owners that it can live up to 9 to 14 years. It is fun to watch and play with this hybrid dog. Its sense of humor and caring nature makes it a wonderful family pet. The English Bulldog Boxer cross must have two balanced meals every day. Avoid supplying it with extra food to prevent obesity. A protein-rich diet that is given in 2 to 3 balanced meals a day with plenty of fresh water is enough for this hyperactive dog. Owners must make sure that the food quantity matches the exercise the Boxer Golden Retriever mix gets in a day. If healthy and fit, this hybrid dog can live between 10 to 14 years. The Boxer Great Pyrenees mix is a rare breed. There is minimal information available for owners. It is ideal for them to know the history of the parent breeds to get a better understanding of this hybrid dog. Both of the parent breeds have strong protective instincts, making the Great Pyrenees Boxer cross a good watchdog for the family. The Boxer Great Pyrenees mix is an intelligent and independent crossbreed. It does not require constant supervision. Owners must engage it in activities to keep its loyalty to their family. Sixty minutes of daily walks and exercises will keep this hybrid dog busy and healthy. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Boxer mix is a loyal and loving dog that needs its owner to be a consistent pack leader. It will be very protective of its human pack against strangers and other dogs. Seek a reputable breeder that has the history papers of its parent breeds. Health issues with the Rhodesian Ridgeback Boxer cross usually come up at an older age, which makes it essential for owners to find a trustworthy seller. This hybrid dog is prone to skin allergies. A mild shampoo will suffice when it takes baths. It requires grooming to keep its silky and medium coat shiny and clean. The Boxer Bernese Mountain Dog mix is an excellent choice for families with children. It is playful but needs constant supervision to avoid knocking over kids with its massive frame. This hybrid dog is an obscure breed. Owners will want to take a look at the history of the parent breeds to get more information on how to take care of the Bernese Mountain Dog Boxer cross. This crossbreed is willing to please and loves to get the attention of its owners. It has a height of 20 to 26 inches and can weigh around 50 to 80 pounds. The Pitbull Boxer cross is prone to many health issues such as: Heart disease Cancer Obesity The calm nature of the Boxer may cancel out the aggression of the Pitbull, making their offspring a human-friendly pet. Owners must take this hybrid dog at least twice a day for an hour-long walk outside the house as its regular exercise. This hybrid dog enjoys a few walks every day but does not require much exercise to stay in shape. The French Bulldog Boxer cross eats at least 2 cups of high-quality dog food a day. The Boxer Catahoula mix loves to bark. It may be a nuisance to neighbors. The Catahoula Boxer cross is a child-friendly and loving dog that is very active. It is suitable for owners that love to do activities because of its high energy level. This hybrid dog can live up to 10 to 14 years. The Boxer Shih Tzu mix is a loves being the center of attention. Owners must attend to its needs to avoid letting it go stubborn. There is little information available regarding the Boxer Shih Tzu mix. The Shih Tzu Boxer cross is playful and may become feisty to other pets. Its bold personality will make it up a fighting spirit against larger dogs. The Boxer Doberman mix can stand up to 21 to 25 inches with a weight of around 50 to 70 pounds. This hybrid dog sheds at a moderate amount. Daily brushing will keep its coat healthy. The Boxer Doberman mix is a trending mixed breed because it can inherit the learning abilities of the Boxer and the loyalty and intelligence of the Doberman. Both of its parent breeds have a hard time following commands. The Boxer Newfoundland mix can live up to 8 to 12 years. This hybrid dog is prone to bloating. Owners must keep an eye on its food diet to avoid it from over-eating. The Newfoundland Boxer mix is a rare breed. Boxer Mix Food Requirements No matter the size or the age of your Boxer mix, keeping them healthy is crucial.
Three to four times a day 4 — 5 months 6 months and above Two times a day Pregnant or breastfeeding French Bulldogs may eat up to three times a day within eight hours. Meanwhile, puppies require more frequent feedings than adult dogs due to their rapid metabolism. In general, a French Bulldog puppy should be fed three times daily between two and six months. Once the French Bulldog puppy reaches the age of six months, the feeding frequency can be reduced to two meals each day. As developing puppies, your Frenchie requires a consistent daily feeding plan. The feeding plan should incorporate at least three measured meals per day. Its dinner schedule is vital, as it allows ample time to digest the food and go pee or potty before bedtime. Between 14 and 18 weeks, you can begin accustoming your French Bulldog puppy to two meals each day. If your veterinarian advises you to keep your French Bulldog on a three-meals-a-day diet, this must be properly followed. Senior dogs can be fed on the same schedule when given three meals a day. Since elderly dogs do not move as much, they may develop too much weight. Consequently, you should ensure that the food contains fewer calories, more fiber, and an appropriate balance of fat and protein. Your veterinarian should have a recommended amount of treats you should give your dog. Again, it will vary according to its weight and level of activity. If you must frequently use treats for training, use tiny bits or give them a licking mat. Best Dog Foods for French Bulldog A feeding guide for Frenchie dog lovers would be incomplete without the information on the best dog food for their furry companion. There are numerous food options available for French Bulldogs. The best pet food varies from one Frenchie to another. Perhaps your French Bulldog is a fussy eater or suffers from food allergies. It is feasible to provide a balanced diet for your French Bulldogs if you use the best store-bought or homemade dog food that contains all the nutrition needed by your dog and as prescribed by your veterinarian. The list below shows the best dog food options you can provide your French Bulldog: Dry Food: Dry dog food is commercially available kibble. This can be an excellent alternative for French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs. French Bulldog puppies require high-quality dry food that is high in animal protein to aid in growth and muscular development. Wet Food: Wet food is contained in a can; it is primarily composed of water and is considered highly mushy food. However, wet food expires more quickly than dry food, making it the least practical alternative. Home-Cooked Diet: A home-cooked, protein-rich diet like a chicken meal is excellent for French Bulldogs. Unlike ordinary kibble, it contains no additives or preservatives. It supports healthy digestion and may help avoid various problems related to a bad diet, including obesity, dry skin and coat, pancreatitis, diabetes, and a low immune system. French Bulldogs are prone to developing a variety of joint and back issues. Along with other joint problems, they may develop luxating patella or hip dysplasia. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are critical components of a high-quality French Bulldog dog diet. These essential vitamins assist your French in developing the connective tissue necessary for healthy joints and spine support. Omega-3 fatty acids can assist your Frenchie to keep muscle mass and strength by reducing inflammation and soreness. Also, this can promote healthy skin by preventing itchy and flaky skin. Whether wet and dry food, raw food, or a homemade diet, each dog food offers several benefits and drawbacks. Consult a veterinarian before deciding to know exactly what food option suits your Frenchie. Any French Bulldog owner will attest that vomiting is far more common in this breed than in other dogs. While it cannot be totally prevented, you should know what human foods are toxic to French Bulldogs. Some of the foods to avoid are not only bad for Frenchie; many of them can be fatal. They may result in poisoning and, in the worst-case scenario, death. This section enumerates some of the most dangerous foods for French Bulldogs. I will discuss why these foods are poisonous and when you should contact a veterinarian. The first and most prevalent is chocolate. It contains a toxin called theobromine , which can cause a variety of health problems when consumed in large amounts. This can cause irregular heartbeats, seizures, and sudden death. Garlic and onions should also never be included in the diet of your Frenchie puppy or adult dog. Even a trace of these vegetables can result in anemia and red blood cell failure in your pup. Poisoning symptoms include lethargy, fatigue, vomiting, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. However, remember that you may not immediately notice poisoning symptoms because the toxic consequences may take a few days to manifest. Additionally, grapes are one of the most toxic foods for your Frenchie. A dog that has consumed grapes may exhibit stomach bloating and diarrhea. They need to be taken to a veterinarian immediately. In severe cases, gastric lavage is the best course of action. Candy, artificial sweeteners, corn on the cob, roasted bones, avocado, raisins, almonds, cherry, peach, plum, coconut oil, mustard seeds, alcohol, coffee, blue cheese, and tomatoes are also regarded to be unsafe for French Bulldogs. Furthermore, there are certain foods that you should avoid giving your Pitbull owing to the negative side effects they may cause. While they are not considered dangerous, they can cause nausea, diarrhea, and weight gain. Numerous dogs wind up at veterinarian clinics due to improper food intake. While prevention is always the best course of action, it is critical to understand emergency care and medication expenses. Read our article on French Bulldog costs to learn more about the medical expenditures associated with a French Bulldog. These adjustments should ideally take place over 5 to 7 days. Consult a veterinarian in this scenario, especially if you intend to switch to a raw or homemade diet. Feeding an Overweight French Bulldog French Bulldogs can quickly gain weight, resulting in various health problems. Thus, dog owners need to notice when their Frenchie gets overweight to assist the dog in maintaining a healthy weight and living a healthy life. Average adult French Bulldogs should have a body weight between 19 and 29 pounds for males, while 18 to 28 pounds for females. The most common indications that your Frenchie is overweight include lack of muscle definition and difficulty breathing during brief exercises. In terms of visual indicators, a Frenchie within their healthy weight will have a thin layer of fat covering their ribs. Meanwhile, those with excess fat have noticeable deposits in the chest and stomach area. Also, you should be able to see and feel their spine as they bend and curl into a sleeping position. Furthermore, Frenchies have an hourglass form, with a visible waistline that is smaller than their chest when they are not overweight. Regardless of these symptoms, it is always advisable to seek confirmation from a professional veterinarian. Feeding an obese Frenchie means maintaining a consistent food plan throughout the day to aid in weight loss. Additionally, this stops your dog from eating more than it requires. Apart from planned feeding times, serving the correct meal proportions is essential. If your Frenchie is overweight, owners should focus on how much food is offered to them. Reducing their daily kibble intake by half a cup can help them significantly reduce weight. Moreover, you should offer them foods with fewer calories, more fiber, and more protein. As a result, your Frenchie will burn more calories and lose weight more quickly. It is preferable to give your dog treats that contain only one ingredient, are low in calories, and contain no added sugar, such as sweet potato and blueberry bites. Alternatively, you can treat your dog with items that are already in your refrigerator, such as tiny portions of sweet potatoes, apples, and bananas. Regularly weigh your dog, monitor how many calories they intake, and establish a target body weight for them. Also, pain can make a Frenchie nervous and unable to eat, so keep an eye out for evident signs of injury. Another common reason for your French Bulldog not to eat is discomfort in the mouth caused by dental issues. Furthermore, gastrointestinal conditions, certain medicines, vaccination, overfeeding, or other serious health problems can cause a French Bulldog not to eat. As a result, you must keep an eye on your Frenchie and contact your veterinarian if the condition persists for weeks. Do French Bulldogs Eat a Lot? French Bulldogs are opportunistic feeders by nature. Thus, they will continue to eat as long as you provide pet food. They may begin to require more than is necessary to fulfill their appetite due to this behavior. Also, when a French Bulldog is agitated, it may begin to overeat. The most effective strategy to combat stress-related overeating is to thrive in a calm environment. At times, your dog may become bored and eat more than usual to keep itself occupied somehow. Thus, you must keep a watch on any of these factors. Can French Bulldogs Eat Bones? Dogs should not consume cooked bones of any kind. The bones may splinter, resulting in deadly shards that might cause injury due to choking hazards. Thus, if you wish to offer your Frenchie a bone, vets recommend raw meat bones, preferably from farm-raised chicken. These are best given after a meal to prevent them from eating too much. Remove it after around ten minutes and store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for tomorrow. To avoid bacterial contamination, it is recommended to discard it after a few days and keep it separate from other raw meat and food. Can French Bulldogs Be Vegetarians? Each Frenchie is one-of-a-kind. Simply because your French Bulldog likes veggies does not mean it can go full-on vegetarian. Also, bear in mind that many veggies are dangerous and toxic to your French Bulldog. Certain vegetables are acceptable to be fed to a French Bulldog, but only in small portions. Final Thoughts French Bulldogs are, without a doubt, playful, intelligent, and compassionate dogs. On the other hand, Frenchies are greedy eaters, and food serves as their primary motivator. Thus, a critical component of owning this breed is understanding how much, how frequently, and what food to feed a French Bulldog. You can supply dry food, wet food, raw food diets, or a homemade diet for your pet. Since Frenchie pups and adults may have food sensitivities, providing or making the best dog food for their age and nutritional requirements is critical. By doing so, you can help your Frenchie prevent undesirable health problems. This can help guarantee that your Frenchie receives the safest and healthiest diet as much as possible. Let us know in the comments below about your experience with feeding your French Bulldog! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Pin64 71 Shares When we first brought Claude home, we had no idea on how much food we should be giving him. We spoke to our vet, and this is what he told us about how much you should feed a French bulldog puppy. A French bulldog puppy should be fed 3 times a day whilst there are still 2 to 6 months old. Once the French bulldog puppy reaches 6 months, you can reduce the feeding schedule down to 2 meals a day. But now having been a French bulldog owner for 3 years, I can now look back and give you some more detail on exactly what our French bulldog puppy feeding schedule was like and how it worked for us and him. French bulldog puppy feeding chart Below you can see a French bulldog puppy feeding guide I put together. It contains some rough guidance on how you should schedule and plan his feeds, and what other factors you might need to take into account. Please do print it out and put on your fridge. How many cups of food should I feed my French Bulldog? Before you look at the French Bulldog feeding chart below, you might want the quick answer to how many cups of food to feed your French Bulldog. As a general rule of thumb, you should feed a French Bulldog puppy aged 8 to 12 weeks around 1 and a half cups of food a day, in 3 separate meals. As your Frenchie gets older, the number of cups of food you should feed them will change. You can see the cup amounts and frequencies in the French Bulldog feeding chart graphic below. This French bulldog puppy feeding chart tells you how much you should feed them Source: Canin The French bulldog puppy feeding chart shown above is taken from the Royal Canin dog food range. This is exactly what we fed Claude as he was growing up. They range a specific French bulldog puppy food, and on the packaging you will see a version of the chart above, including how best to feed your own puppy. Handy Hint: To stop your Frenchie from bloating and possibly choking you should use a suitable feeding bowl. Here are the best French Bulldog food bowls that vets recommend. When you take your puppy to his new home, he should already be used to eating puppy food. As I mentioned earlier, you should be feeding your French bulldog puppy 3 times a day. They need that regularity as they are growing and burning a lot of calories. You know how energetic they are! How much you feed them at each mealtime will typically be half a cup of their dry puppy food. Across the day, that will equate 1. However, their weight and health will then determine how much you feed them as they get older. Calories matter, but are hard to count As French bulldogs get older, you should try to feed them according to their weight. For every pound, they should be fed between 25 and 30 calories. However, for the rest of this French bulldog puppy feeding guide, I am just going to talk in cups. Puppy weight How can weigh your puppy at the vets or, and this is can be a more interesting and fun way if your puppy already knows how to sit, have them sit on a scale at home. It will not be as accurate as a scale at the vet, but it could be a cheap and fun experience for you and your pet. Because of this, your puppy may be a little stubborn about eating dry and wet food if they were only just recently weaned. Here is where the math gets a little more detailed, but not too complicated. When they are between 8 to 12 weeks old, the puppy should be fed about 1. This food should be high in calories since they need extra nutrients that they are no longer getting from their mother. This kind of follows the main rule when it comes to spreading out the meals to 3 times a day. But for younger pups, many owners will split the 1. Because feeding them 0. Once they are between 6 and 9 months old, they should be used to their eating routine. That is when the main rule is applied because by then, the pup will be maturing into its adult size and should weigh between 20 and 25 pounds. What about older dogs? Also, if you are wondering how much they should be fed once they start hitting their senior years, they should be fed a little less as long only if they are not as active. Make sure you still stretch out the meals to 3 to 4 times like when they were puppies because it is not uncommon for their stomachs to weaken with old age. Overweight or underweight? French bulldog puppies usually weight between 8. Once they reach 6 to 9 months, they are just at or are closer to reaching their adult weight, .If the puppy is underweight, then add very small increments to each meal every day until they are no longer underweight. It is important to not add too much food because of the possibility of them getting a twisted stomach. If the puppy is overweight, you can either slightly reduce the size of their meal until they lose weight, or you can give them more exercise. Many people prefer the later since it helps the pup to get stronger and adds more bonding time. The same methods apply to grown French bulldogs as well. Handy Hint: Read this guide which explains how to check if you have a fat French Bulldog who needs to lose weight, with tips on how to get the pounds down. If the dog does not appear to be gaining weight when they are underweight or vice versa if they are overweight, you might want to take them to the vet since it could be a sign that something is affecting their health. Health conditions Since not every animal is the same, ask your vet the next time your pup has a check-up what a French bulldog of their size and age should weigh. Health factors like diabetes yes, dogs can have diabetes , can make your pup need a more strict diet or feeding routine. Here are some different diets and feeding routines. Raw food vs. Many dog lovers say that there are too many preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and protein in dry and wet food. While the raw food diet can be more natural, especially if it is organic, you also have to make sure your pup would be getting more foods with vitamins and minerals mixed in with the raw food that your pup would need. Raw food diets can be more expensive, require more storage room for the meats and veggies, and take longer to prepare. However, you would be personally ensuring that your little French bulldog pup is getting their full daily nutrition without harmful by-products and additives. Is there a good dry food diet? Possibly the biggest questions out of all of them: is there any good dry dog food out there and how do I find them? The answer is yes, there can be some healthy dry dog food products, but it takes some time to look for. The key is to look for dog food that does not contain any preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and too much protein. Fillers basically do not provide any nutritional value and can even harm your dog since most of the ingredients they use as fillers are common allergies for dogs that can cause skin conditions, bowel issues, and more. Wheat and corn are included since they are also a popular allergen for dogs. Too much protein is even more dangerous for them since it can put more pressure on the organs, throw off nutritional balance, increase the likelihood of diabetes, and can harm dogs that already have diabetes. To see the safe and dangerous fruits list, click here. Another two meat choices would be duck and turkey, but these are a little less common to find, especially if you are looking for a French bulldog specific dog food. Your dog eats his food too quickly Another common problem is how do you control how fast your French bulldog puppy eats. French bulldogs love to eat their food and eat it fast, which is one of the primary causes of GDV. Frenchies will stop eating for a number of reasons, some more serious that others. Conclusion So there you have it, your guide to how much you should feed your French bulldog puppy. Everything in this feeding schedule and the French bulldog feeding chart you see is based on personal experience. Once in the morning, and once in the early evening. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Frenchies will stay as healthy as ours has! How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? Home » How often should I feed my French Bulldog puppy? Your puppy has been on unlimited food all of the time. If on the smaller side 5lbs , we recommend four times per day. If a little bit stouter, you can start with three times a day. We recommend giving them as much as they want at each setting while they are growing babies. As they age and grow you can take it down to times per day. Two feedings per day seems to be the amount of times most people end up feeding their Frenchies. When you place your puppy on a feeding schedule it helps with the potty training as well. After eating, take them outside to potty. Make sure to tell your little one how good he is for doing his duty outside. Basically you just fill the water up to the level of the dogfood. If they continue to turn their nose up at the kibble, try adding a bit of canned dogfood to the kibble. Puppies are like humans. Some overeat when stressed and some undereat. Changing to a new home is an environmental stressor even though we are sure your Frenchie is enjoying being the center of your world. Each Frenchie is different and each human family is different. Do your best at scheduling for you and your Frenchie to live your best lives. How often and how much do I feed my Frenchie puppy? Because we feed more than one puppy at the same time the rest of their litter mates , we put a large bowl full of their puppy food in their kennel and let them eat until they are satisfied. Once all of them walk away from the bowl we know they are done, and we take it away. Puppies are changing and growing rapidly, and they need to eat more frequently at least 3 times a day to provide all the proper nourishment and nutrition for their rapidly growing bodies. Make sure your Frenchie always has access to fresh water through out the day. There is a guide on the food bag that tells you how much to feed your puppy at a given weight. This is only a rough guide depending on activity level, etc. We believe PawTree has wonderful products and we recommend that you keep your puppy on one or more of their excellent products for life. These are all-life-stages products so there is no need to start with a puppy chow and then transition over to an adult chow. However, if you would like to use another high-quality chow, the transition should be made gradually so as not to upset your puppies digestive system which could cause loose stool or diarrhea. For an adult chow, you can get by with a percentage or two less on the protein and fat content, but unless you have a weight problem with your dog, generally the higher the protein and fat content the better. However, we love the grain free chows form PawTree which use sweet potato. All of the various meats are good, although if you have a very food sensitive Frenchie, turkey or duck are generally better than chicken, and fish can sometimes cause issues. If you are feeding your Frenchie a high quality chow, you can probably get by without special supplements. Our Frenchies love them like they are treats. NuVet has made a noticeable improvement in our kennel, especially with our pregnant and whelping females. We were told about this supplement by a breeder friend of ours who obtained fantastic results in her kennel by using this supplement every day with each of her dogs. She said she solved several problems from skin rashes to low milk production in mothers, along with several other nagging health issues when she started giving each dog in her kennel one of these supplements daily. When you use the number provided you can purchase these supplements at a significantly discounted rate versus the retail cost. Have More Questions? We do not claim to be veterinarians. French Bulldogs can easily become overweight or underweight , especially the lazy ones. Some french bulldogs are hyperactive while others are couch potatoes. It is also critical that you maintain a consistent feeding schedule and never slack off on feeding your French Bulldog. Even more important than that is feeding your Frenchie the proper amount of food daily. Young Frenchies have high caloric and nutrient needs. French Bulldogs aged anywhere from weeks of age need a total of 1. Spreading out the meals minimizes the peaks of energy your French Bulldog will experience due to dramatic rises and decreases in blood sugar levels between meals. Feeding only twice daily can sometimes lead to gastric dilatation volvulus. By this stage, your French Bulldog is ready to get into an eating routine that they will continue on for the rest of their happy, little chubby lives, barring no serious medical ailments later on in life. From around 6 months to 1 year of age, you can start feeding your French Bulldog a very high quality adult doggy food. It is important to maintain a strict routine for your French Bulldog. You can always supplement a few treats in between. Wink wink. A half a cup at a time will make sure your Frenchie is pleasantly tubby and happy. Some days, it seems like a French Bulldog can never get enough food. This seemingly natural hunger is relative to the breed and you should be weary of overfeeding your French Bulldog. Monitor your Frenchie as she eats and make sure she only eats her own food, especially if you feed your French Bulldog near other pets. Note that non-neutered males may grow into the low 30lb range. Always consult a vet. Ideally, 2. This sort of consult is always quick and cheap sometimes free and you owe it to your companion to get the opinion of an expert veterinarian. Overweight Frenchies can suffer from some very severe health problems, including heart disease just like humans , labored breathing, and lack of physical exercise. Never take a French Bulldog out to play in sweltering heat, they can die. Generally, older French Bulldogs will require slightly less food than their young counterparts. However, do not restrict food from your French Bulldog if they appear to be underweight or hungry. A reader pointed out in the comments below that these calculations would put french bulldogs in the 40lbs range somewhere around calories per day. This is obviously an outlier situation and no french bulldog needs that many calories. This means feeding your french bulldog less food as they age. If they look thinner than usual, you can move up by 5 calories per pound of weight until you find a magic number. No french bulldog is identical and our suggestions are based on average weights computed to a mean average calorie intake suggestion. Read: I use this calculator and a pad of paper. See this guide in order to determine the appropriate weight for your Frenchie. Subject: How much should I feed my French Bulldog?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Commit to training your German Shepherd daily. Be prepared to train your German Shepherd for at least 10 to 15 minutes a day. You should practice basic obedience training, but also include fun training games to keep them interested in their training and engaged with you. Aim for five three-minute sessions daily in the beginning, as a minimum. But start with no more than a few minutes in a short session and gradually build onto each individual session longer times. During each session work on just one or two commands so that your dog learns the right way to perform the command. Ready to start using games during your German Shepherd training? How long it takes to train a German Shepherd depends on many factors, for example, if you have a puppy or adult. It takes anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks to train a German Shepherd to learn basic obedience commands. Crate training will take about a week to introduce slowly and have your dog or puppy go into the crate on their own to relax. But if your dog has had a bad experience with the crate it could take months. Keep in mind that if you have an adult Shepherd who has already lived with another owner or many dog owners then you may have to undo improper training or behavior problems. This means that you have many months ahead of you of training. Some GSDs are aggressive or reactive and it may take years before they learn to relax around other dogs in a calm manner. While other German Shepherds have excellent dog social experiences from the start and can mix in with other dogs on a whim and quickly pick up their training basics. German Shepherd puppies are ready for simple training as young as 7 weeks old. Your puppy is capable and ready to learn at 6 to 7 weeks old many simple obedience commands. A 1 minutes session is long enough for a young puppy. After a couple of weeks, your German Shepherd puppy should know to sit, stay, and down, as well as its name. Although a reliable off-leash come recall usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks of proper dog training. It took me only about a day to train my German Shepherd to sit using lure and reward training. This means, I use one of the best, tasty treats to move her into the position I want, and then reward her with the food. My GSD took about 7 days to sit and wait at doors before barging out, but… She only takes a day to unlearn this behavior if I relax on it and let her out without waiting! Something complicated like staying in place with tons of distractions think cats or squirrels running by might take you at least 6 months to work up to. Keep in mind that German Shepherd training requires you to work in very small steps and build upon their success. You started with basic math, then geometry, algebra, and so on. German Shepherd Training: The Right Way How long it takes to train a German Shepherd depends on how consistent you are and how well you support your dog to understand. You must also consider your GSDs: age — are they an energetic puppy or more confident adult previous training — are they fresh to obedience or do they have some basics under their belt whether you are using the right training methods that are simple for your dog to understand The most effective and easy-to-understand system for German Shepherds to learn is called positive reward training. Using positive rewards allows you to mark the specific behaviors your German Shepherd performs right at nearly the exact moment they do them. Use a scientifically-based program to learn positive, reward-based training, like this Brain Training for Dogs official program. The Brain Training Program gives you step-by-step dog training to help you speed up your success rate and the time it takes you to train your GSD. Have you seen the price of in-person German Shepherd training these days? Harsh punishments and the wrong types of corrections can cause your dog to become fearful of you. Stick with positive dog training, or reward-based training, for a better bond with your special breed. Remember, any lack of training on your part is still considered training! You are the dog trainer and must learn the right ways to train a German Shepherd. Remember… Your dog is a brilliant breed, but you must give them the time and attention they need in order to see the most success. Vary up your training environments When you start your training sessions at home, you probably use a quiet room, turn off the TV, and maybe even close the door to your practice area so that you can pay attention to your training. Then, train your German Shepherd to become slowly used to following your command in those places. Train consistently Training skills will go quickly downhill without regular practice. Skills you once thought your dog knew can be unlearned without consistent repetition. If time goes by and you or your family let the training routine slip, an enthusiastic German Shepherd who likes to jump to greet visitors will resort back to their natural instincts to jump on people. Set aside time each day for specific command training, but also remember that every interaction with your German Shepherd is a training opportunity! Look for training opportunities during your day to get the most training benefits. Use high-quality rewards for high-quality learning Find out what treats really motivate your dog. Some German Shepherds will work for lower quality rewards, like their regular kibble, while others may need more motivation. Ian Dunbar, a renowned dog behaviorist, says that freeze-dried liver treats are the Ferrari of high-quality food rewards. But you can also choose other healthy treats for a German Shepherd if your dog prefers a different flavor. This will only set you back in your own German Shepherd training! Instead, build up in small steps by starting in a distraction-free area with your basic German Shepherd training commands. Even in the most desirable situations, your dog may struggle with particular commands. When you see your German Shepherd forget a command, go back to square one — the beginning of the command — and work on the training… again. Try using your phone to record you training your dog. Online training is easy and simple to follow, and the step-by-step directions guide you through the correct ways to train your German Shepherd with the best results. I use the Brain Training for Dogs program for the step-by-step online training from the comfort of home that has a done-for-you schedule. Instead, set up a daily training schedule to help you train them quickly. You can speed up training by using the right methods to train a German Shepherd… Which is positive, reward-based training. If you get tired of training, take a short break with these fun ways to make a German Shepherd happy. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Although any German Shepherd dog is trainable, they are very strong and powerful animals. If you start out with a puppy, you have the opportunity to shape and mold its personality and develop your relationship early. German Shepherds can be very protective of their family members, so you want to socialize your puppy early in puppyhood. This will get them used to interacting well with a wide variety of people and animals, which is essential. This will be a big dog, and you want to prepare the dog when they are young and small for future grooming and veterinary visits. They may need nail trimming, ear cleaning, temperature taking and other procedures. These procedures will be difficult to accomplish should your full-sized adult German Shepherd dog object. You will need to train them to sit, stay, and heel, in addition to house training them. Your puppy will not understand your commands immediately. Have patience with your dog when they don't do exactly what you ask right away. German Shepherds love to learn and they are highly motivated to follow your commands if they are rewarded with treats. Pet your puppy while they're eating, as long as they do not stiffen and stop eating when you are petting the puppy. If the puppy stiffens, stops eating or growls, you have to deal with this aggressive response immediately. Do this by removing the food bowl and feeding the dog by hand. There is no bowl to guard. Make the bowl no big deal. If a piece of food is dropped inside, let the puppy take it and praise them. Then feed nearby again. The bowl will not always have food inside. Gradually increase the amount of food you drop in the bowl as you stand or sit there with the puppy. You can also add high value treats like roasted chicken breast into the bowl if your puppy seems to need more reassurance that you bring goodness to the food bowl. Resource guarding can be a very serious symptom of fear aggression and, if you are seeing this in a puppy, it needs to be addressed ASAP so it does not escalate. You can gradually ask the puppy to look at you to get more food, then sit and wait for more food, etc. .The humans controls the resource of food and rewards the puppy for good behavior. You still praise your dog, just not offer a treat each time. If you are working to modify a command to create a faster response, add in treats again to shape the behavior until they have it down. Then start using treats to reward truly outstanding performance. Do not yell at your pet. Learn to recognize when you are losing patience and stop the training session on a happy note. Your dog can sense your frustration in your body language and tone of voice. Try another day when you are both fresh. If you continue to have problems, get a professional trainer involved. Typically, as puppies are first learning commands, one adult family member will be responsible for training. Later, when the puppy is consistent and understands the basics, other members of the family can participate in formal training. It is important for the dog to understand that not only one person in the household is to be obeyed. Your puppy should be weeks old and started on their vaccine series for this first class. There are puppy preschools designed for puppies who have not yet finished receiving all of their vaccines. The school will have certain requirements for enrollment and you will likely have to provide proof of vaccination. Calm older dogs are good for this one. Most importantly for German Shepherd puppies, it will give you a chance to work with them around other people, and different dogs from a young age. Settle on a mat German Shepherds are incredibly curious, which can make it difficult for them to relax while out and about. Leash walking — no one wants a large breed of dog pulling them down the street, so be sure you teach loose lead walking and how about some heelwork too? Recall games — Play a game of tennis with your pooch! Calling them from person to person with treats on either side. Get started with grooming and brushing sensitive areas — In long-haired German Shepherds, this is typically the case with the face, legs, and ears, which become tangled the most and may hurt when brushed. Remember to brush carefully, do a little bit of brushing on a sensitive area while feeding them treats or letting them have a lickimat, and then brush an easier to brush area. For socialisation, start working on items that are vital to your lifestyle this week, such as if you have a horse and want your puppy to be comfortable with horses, or if you enjoy sailing, having them near water will be important to you. Getting your puppy exposed to new experiences early on can help them accept them much more easily. Socialization exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Go to the pub — you deserve it! Remember that settle training you did before, take your mat and get your German Shepherd puppy to settle on it with a nice stuffed kong. Alone training: increasing time alone is important for your puppy. It gives them essential coping skills. Recall — Practise this outside, using a lead, and lots of rewards. Lead walking — Take this outside. Make sure you keep a strong pace going, since German Shepherds enjoy walking quickly, and praise often to keep your puppy interested. Pretend Nail Clips — simply holding a claw, pretending to clip , and rewarding your puppy with a treat is enough. Following on walks — Bring special toys, like the Tug-E-Nuff Pocket tugger, with you on walks to ensure your German Shepherd puppy enjoys hanging out with you. Playing with them will make you irresistible! Week 7 — Training your German Shepherd puppy The 7-week itch! Nah not really. I bet your German Shepherd puppy is doing wonderfully and growing rapidly! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — How about taking your German Shepherd to a city farm, letting them watch from afar and rewarding them for being such a calm puppy? Teach your German Shepherd puppy to stay — this will be a great one to show off at the park, trust us. So, first, take a walk with a dog that your German Shepherd puppy has already met. At first, it may be difficult for your puppy not to get distracted, so keep the rewards coming and try to keep them interested in you, rather than the other dog! Recall — off the lead Make sure you do this in a secure and confined area and bring plenty of smelly treats, a fun toy to play with, and your silly high-pitched voice so you can call your German Shepherd puppy back regularly. Remember, German Shepherds enjoy learning! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — maybe take your German Shepherd for a swimming lesson? Practice exercises in different locations — how about a train station, or in a shopping centre or mall? Teach a hand target — This is a favourite among pups and their owners. Hand Targeting or touching is the foundation for additional trick behaviours like leg weaving and closing doors. Introducing nose work to your puppy — We mean it when we say your German Shepherd puppy has a better nose than you! Play a game of hide and seek with their favourite toy to bring out those excellent search skills. Looking for more great puppy training tips? Check out our overview of when to start teaching your puppy anything , next. It will be fun they said. We go the extra mile for you. If you want a stress free puppy experience, get this downloaded! Worth every single penny! This app is very helpful. It helps you to understand and gives you a path to follow. The coaching support is excellent and super speedy. Download the app now. More about 6 month old GSD puppy training. Months GS males reach their adulthood when they are 3 years old, while females become completely mature at the age of 2. However, the end of the second year of life is considered as the finish of puppyhood for both genders. You should continue to teach impulse control, develop obedience skills, and get to more concentrated activities, such as agility, nose work, tracking, herding, and protection. The intense training of these skills should continue throughout the entire period. You also have to arrange the transition of your youngster from puppy to adult food meant for large breeds. According to some experts, insufficient house training or housebreaking is one of the most common reasons that dogs are relinquished to shelters. This is not surprising, because while house training is not a complicated process when housebreaking fails, the results can be disgusting. Just as with children, dogs must be taught the proper place to eliminate. Strangely, though, some people believe that dogs automatically know that the potty is outside. Rather than simply hoping that your dog is one of the few who magically gets it right, there are a few simple steps that you can take to start your puppy training off on the right paw and keep your floors and furniture clean. If he could, he would probably just cut to the chase and ask where the restroom is. In fact, he probably did ask, but you missed it. House training failures can almost always be attributed to the lack of two simple ingredients: scheduling and supervision. While it helps if you have realistic expectations, a little patience, and a sense of humor, you can housebreak your German Shepherd puppy if all you do is keep him in sight and take him out at regular, predictable intervals. Simple, right? Unfortunately, what sounds simple often is not. We have jobs to attend, meals to cook, and movies to watch. Yes, he can, if you show him how. Schedule Potty Breaks While Puppy Training When a meeting is called at your place of work, you are typically given such information as where to meet, what the topic of the meeting will be, and when it will end. Armed with this knowledge, you can stop by the powder room on the way to the meeting, feeling confident that all is well. Obviously, there will be times when you need to take him out before the scheduled moment arrives, especially in the beginning, but when he can rely on you to take him out to go potty at certain times or after specific events, he will begin working at holding it until the appointed time. For example, always take your puppy out first thing in the morning, not after coffee, and not after checking your email or chatting with your friends on Facebook. Take him out first thing. Next, take him out after he eats. He also needs to go out after any period of time that he has been left home alone. If you are away from home at work, school, or shopping, take him out the moment you get back. Freedom is Overrated Until your German Shepherd puppy training is complete, and your puppy is reliably house trained, you will increase the speed of his success the more you decrease the number of accidents. You already know that you must provide him with a consistent schedule, but not every potty break can be dictated by the clock. When you observe your puppy sniffing the floor, circling, arching his back, lifting his tail, or just whining for no apparent reason, get him outside quickly. During those times when you cannot watch him, you must confine him. You must. You cannot leave him free to roam your house and use it as a bathroom. Furthermore, you can place him in a crate, lock him in a safe room, use a playpen, or whatever works for you, but you must confine him. Just do not give him free access to your home. Consistency Equals Success Most house training failures are not the fault of the dog. We get busy, we have unrealistic expectations, and we expect dogs to read our minds and know what we want without training. Really, though, it all comes down to scheduling and supervision. If you can remember these two simple things, you can housebreak your dog. All youngsters need training, whether they are puppies, ponies, or children. This is not news. We send our children to school for a good many years before we consider them trained. GSD puppy training itself is not difficult. Dogs are smart. German Shepherds are especially smart because we have bred them to be independent thinkers. They love a job, and they love puzzles. This means that training can either be easy or frustrating. It is frustrating if your dog seems to be smarter than you are, which he will indicate to you through his bored body language and lack of attention span. It is easy if you know the key to really successful training. When we think of puppy training, we envision teaching the dog things like sit, down, stay, walk on the leash, and fill in the blank. The secret that all great dog trainers have figured out is how to ignite that love of learning that dogs carry deep inside. Get ready to open up a whole new world of possibilities. From the outside, enlightened training looks like any other training in the beginning. Your puppy has to learn the concept first. You start with very simple steps and build from there. Get a handful of healthy treats that your puppy loves. In a quiet area with minimal distractions, approach your puppy and call his name. Do this five times in a row, several times a day for two days. If your puppy is a genius, and if he is a German Shepherd the chances are high that he is, do the exercise anyway several times per day as described. Eventually, you can transition from using treats to simply praising him when he gets it right, but for now, use treats. To clarify one point, your puppy is not born speaking English. You can use whatever word you choose to let him know when he has done what you are asking him to do. This is the marker you will use throughout his lifetime to let him know when he has performed on cue correctly. Be consistent. You do this initially by luring his eyes to your eyes with your hand that is holding the treats. Call his name, bring your treat hand up to your face, and the instant your puppy makes the slightest eye contact, reward him. Do this several times, then move your hand a few inches away from your face. Call his name, and when he looks at your hand for a treat, do not give it to him. He will become confused, and at some point, he will look you in the eye for clarification. Instantly reward him. Practice this several times a day for a few days, gradually moving your hand away from your face until eventually, it is in a normal relaxed position by your side while your puppy looks at your face when you call him. When you have mastered this exercise, you are ready to move on. First, you will lure him into position like you did when you brought his eyes to your face, then you will transition to having him sit when no treat is offered. With your puppy standing next to you, call his name. Praise him when he looks at you, but do not give him a treat. Instead, place your hand holding the treat in front of his nose and lift your hand directly over his head. Do not pull his head up with his leash, and definitely do not push his butt down to force him to sit. Let him work this out on his own. Step away, call him to you, and repeat. Faster than you expect, he will drop his butt to the floor on cue and proudly accept his reward. As soon as your puppy will reliably sit when you give him the cue and lift your hand over his head, give him the cue but keep your hand at his side. Wait for him to work it out. If he gets frustrated and loses interest, show him the treat and try again. Eventually, he will sit without needing you to guide him, at which point you will lavishly praise him and move on to the next lesson. Do not push him down, do not pull his front legs out from under him. Wait for him to lie down on his own. If he stands up to get the treat, have him sit again and start over. Eventually, he will lower his front end to the floor. Instantly praise him and give him the treat. Once your puppy will lie down consistently when you cue him and lure him with the treat, give him the cue and wait for him to lie down without showing him the treat. You may have to go back to luring him a time or two, but because you taught him how to learn on his own, eventually he will get it. The same techniques of puppy training can be applied to anything you want to teach your dog to do. German Shepherds are smart and hard-working dogs. They are highly intelligent and therefore rather easy to train. But, it requires clear objectives and loving guidance. When consistent supervision and routine are provided, German Shepherds are very simple to house train. When should you start training a German Shepherd puppy? However, it is not. It may sound too harsh, but training should begin as soon as a puppy enters your home. In fact, training will yield better results the younger your puppy is. How to train a German Shepherd puppy not to bite? Your puppy has to learn that when he hears the click sound, he has acted improperly and should stop. To help the dog learn that he is responding correctly, the owner should reward him with a treat. Learn more about training your GSD not to bite. How to potty train a German Shepherd puppy? As soon as your German Shepherd puppy enters your home, you should begin potty training. For instance, it must be relieved after eating, sleeping, and waking up after a daytime nap. It might also need a potty after playing. Your puppy dog will pick up the rules fairly fast with the help of the routine. Learn more about GSD Puppy potty training. How to train German Shepherd puppy at home? Failures in house training can almost always be attributable to a lack of two basic components: scheduling and supervision. You can housebreak your German Shepherd puppy if all you do is keep him in sight and take him outside at regular, predictable intervals, though it helps if you have reasonable expectations, a little patience, and a sense of humor. Final Thoughts German Shepherds belong to the breed that benefits and thrives from continuous extensive training. Your puppy should know how to behave properly in different situations and in both outdoor and indoor environments. That is why it is so important to start German Shepherd puppy training as early as possible. Actually, you need to expose your little pup to some rules, exercises, and practices from the very first minutes in your home. As a result, you will get a loyal, obedient, protective, and intelligent friend and partner for all your further activities. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Reliable training German Shepherd puppy training: socialization! The first item in your German Shepherd puppy training list is Socialization. It means that you must provide your baby German Shepherd with interesting and positive interactions. If you ensure that your pup interacts, and has a positive and rewarding experience, with as many people, dogs, animals, sounds, objects, sights and experiences, you will raise a confident and reliable dog. Every new activity or interaction must be followed with a yummy treat! This will ensure your puppy will have a positive association with every new experience, object, person, animal, etc. You can use your dog's kibble or something better like chicken, beef or cheese. Commercial treats are also a good and easy to use option, but make sure you buy healthy, all natural dog treats to keep your German shepherd puppy healthy and strong! German Shepherd dogs are loyal and may have a tendency to be apprehensive with strangers. Socialization will ensure that your puppy grows a strong bond with you without developing a problematic over-protectiveness. German Shepherd puppy training socialization tips: Never separate a puppy from his mother and littermates before the age of weeks. During this time, mom teaches her puppies some important rules of the dog world like body language communication and they start to learn bite inhibition by plying with the other puppies. Unfortunately many vets will tell you not to take your puppy out of the house until they have had all of their shots. This is old school thinking and can have extremely bad consequences that will become apparent only when your canine becomes an adult. Without the full set of shots, your puppy is vulnerable to infectious diseases, however taking your pup to early socialization classes where all other dogs have also been immunized reduces the risk for becoming sick AND will make your German Shepherd a confident, well adjusted and friendlier dog. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior promotes early socialization , even before the full set of vaccines are given to the pup. Take socialization in your own hands. Spend the first 4 weeks holding parties at your home! Yes, parties! Invite all your friends and family for Karaoke, sports watching, boardgames, etc. Ask them to bring their kids too! And always make sure socialization is about positive interactions. If any of the kids or adults make your puppy a little scared, simply remove the threat and let the puppy explore other things. Back to top of German shepherd puppy training article. German Shepherd puppy training: stop the biting! Socialization is hard work, bite-inhibition is even harder! But it is one of the best things you can ever teach your pup. Dogs have really strong jaws and can learn to apply just the right amount of pressure with it. Adult dogs that have had this kind of training can get into fights and defend themselves without drawing blood. This is so important to avoid any type of dog-human or dog-dog bite accidents. German Shepherd puppy dogs have sharp teeth for a reason: to learn how to use their mouth properly. Teach your puppy to bite without hurting! To teach your pooch not to hurt human skin you will need to yelp like a puppy every time you feel teeth in contact with your skin. Engage in puppy play and Yelp Yes! Loud, sharp, high pitched and clear when you feel teeth. Your pup will most likely stop in surprise. As soon as he has stopped, wait seconds and resume play. Repeat as many times as needed. Start with those bites that really hurt or scratch. If you yelp every time you feel teeth, your puppy will think it is how you play. It may take a few weeks for you to notice that your pup is not hurting as much.Progressively teach your pup to play without hurting you. This make take a couple of months! Do not let your puppy play with your clothes, shoes, face or hair. If your puppy bites any of these, the game is over. Wait for him to calm down and start playing again. If you are tired of playing and getting bitten, grab a tug-toy or a ball and play those games instead. After a while, settle your puppy with a stuffed Kong toy on his bed or crate. Never punish your puppy for play-biting, this can lead to aggression or your puppy fearing "hands" near his face. Even though German shepherd puppy dogs are really smart, bite-inhibition requires a lot of repetition and consistency. Most of the time you will feel he is not learning anything at all, keep at it. You can add second time outs on top of yelping if needed. It is definitely worth your time. If bite-inhibition is slow, this article has more tips to help you! Another aspect of training your German shepherd puppy bite inhibition are toys! Your pup needs to learn to bite only his toys, not furniture, not the walls, not your shoes. For this reason you need to load your house with puppy toys and TEACH your puppy how to play with them. The best dog toys are interactive, this means that you can put food inside the toy and your puppy has to think how to get it out. This toys are the best because they add enrichment to your dog's life. Interactive dog toy recommendations: Feed EVERY meal inside an interactive dog toy Use interactive toys with your German shepherd when he is left alone in the house. Make sure he has plenty of toys interactive and others so he won't get bored when you leave. Use interactive toys when you need some quiet time because you need to work, or you have guests. Kong dog toy's are the best , you can fill them with something soft like cheese or peanut butter and let your puppy lick it for a while. Even better.Below you will see some of my favorite interactive dog toys durable and fun! German Shepherd puppy training: potty outside! Another important item on your German shepherd puppy training list is House training. It can be a bit stressful, but if done correctly, you can accomplish it very quickly. Just keep in mind that depending on your puppy in can take anywhere from 1 week to several months to complete potty training. The following info-graphic has some simple rules to follow and make german shepher potty training easy and effective: Take your puppy out for a potty break every hours. Take your puppy out for a potty the break after every meal. Take your puppy out for a potty break after a nap. Take your puppy out for a potty break after a play session. The main idea when potty training a German shepherd puppy, is to take him out or to the correct place as often as he needs to and reward him after he is done. The infographic above gives you an idea of how often a puppy needs to go out. However, you need to know your own puppy. This way you will know how often he is relieving himself. You may also notice if he does it after every meal or nap. Reward with a treat after he is done! Repeat steps 2 and 3, you should start noticing that after a couple of days or weeks your puppy chooses the correct place more often than other places. NEVER punish your dog for accidents, this can stress him and even make him do his business hidden from you which will make potty training very hard because you won't be able to reward him. You can crate train your German shepherd puppy so he learns to have quiet times in between active times. Crate training also prevents your puppy from having accidents. For more information and a puppy crate-training schedule check this article! German shepherd potty training aids The are several commercial items available to help you potty train your German shepherd dog. Regular cleaning products may take away the urine scent -you- smell but they will not remove the scent your dog smells. Enzymatic cleaners do that, they break down urine molecules to make them easy to remove. This will prevent your pet from returning to the same, incorrect, spot. Puppy pads are very popular because they are less messy than news paper. However, if you put a puppy pad and leave you puppy alone with it, you will find it in shreds! You must teach your puppy to use the puppy pads, not to chew on them. To do this, put the puppy pad on the floor and interrupt your puppy if he tries to play with it. Exchange for another toy and reward with treats for not grabbing the pad with his mouth he can however, stand or sit on it. Repeat until he learns this! If you have a backyard, a doggy-door is an excellent way to give your pup access to the outdoors without your help. You must teach him how to use it! Use a treat to lure him through the door many times until he can do it on his own! Then, every-time you take him outside, make him go though the door on his own. You can also teach your puppy to let you know when he needs to go outside! Use a doggy doorbells for this purpose. You must teach your dog how to use them! First, teach your dog to touch the bells. Then, ask your dog to touch the bells every time before you open the door to let him go outside. Finally, be alert for when he does it on his own! I do not recommend any "Not Here" or "Yes Here" type sprays. They don't work very well, specially without any training.German Shepherd puppy training: basic commands! Some dog trainers won't start until the dog is 6 months old, at which time he is past the socialization and bite inhibition period and he is probably doing all sorts of naughty things. You can start training your German shepherd puppy from the first day you bring him home. From weeks you can start teaching your canine many commands, however I strongly advice you keep your focus on socialization, bite-inhibition and potty training. If you have time to train basic commands…. Your pooch will love it! Step-by-step obedience training tutorials for your German shepherd German Shepherd puppy training "SIT": You will use this command all the time. Ask your pup to sit when a stranger wants to pet him, for attention, for the ball to be thrown, etc. To start use food to lure your pooch into the sit position. Only give him the treat once his bottom is on the ground. Repeat many times! Follow this link for detail instructions.This is useful at the vet as well as to mix and match commands. From a sit or down position lure your baby german shepherd into a stand. This link will take you to the step by step guide.Start your pooch from a sitting position and lure him into a down. Only give your dog a treat after he is completely down on the ground. Click here for a step-by-step tutorial.Why train your pooch sit, down and stand? You need three commands to mix up when you ask your dog to do something. If you have at least three options, then your smart German Shepherd won't be able to predict what you will ask. Practice Puppy Push-Ups! Sit-down-stand, Down-sit-stand, and ask you German Shepherd puppy to do one, two, or more commands to earn treats, toys and attention! Other useful cues include: Speak and Quiet , settle and ask for permission before rushing into something potentially dangerous. You can see a full list of commands on this link. Enjoy German Shepherd puppy training time and leave us your questions and comments in the box below. Check Price on Amazon 1. If the puppy is running towards you, for example, you can begin clapping. For now, notice the following and set distinct anchors for each. For the time being, you should avoid anchors that are excessively similar to one another. My German Shepherd Willow — 8 weeks old 2. As you train your pup to understand and respond to more complex commands, this helps eliminate a lot of the resistance. As a result, the initial step should be to persuade your German Shepherd to stick close to you. We all know that dogs are descended from wolves, and wolves follow the pack leader, which means you! Needless to say, when training a 2-month-old German Shepherd puppy, you have to incentivize him to follow you. You need to build a positive reinforcement loop and let your German Shepherd establish an association between following you and receiving a pleasant experience. You can start taking unexpected turns and training your puppy to follow you despite the direction changes after your puppy has become motivated to follow you for the reward. At a young age, you should take your puppy out and about and allow him to utilize his sociability potential. One method is to pay visits to friends and family. You might also look for a dog park and take him there. Keep in mind that your pet is still learning to walk with you and follow directions. Make sure your pup has a positive experience outdoors. It is worth noting that you should socialize and introduce him to new experiences as often as you can, preferably daily. Start Potty Training You should start potty training your German Shepherd puppy the first day you bring him home. Start by showing your pup where you want him to potty, such as a sectioned-off area of your yard or garden. I cordoned off a small area and added some bark chippings. Even now, my GSD will not go on the sidewalk or hard surfaces! It has to be grass or somewhere soft. Next, you need a potty training schedule. Always take your puppy out first thing in the morning, after mealtimes and play, hourly, and before retiring to bed. Deter Biting If you read my blog regularly, you know that I am opposed to punishment-based training. In any case, using physical force or yelling at your pup will only instill fear and distrust and can actually cause aggression. If someone recommends such negative approaches, you should approach a qualified trainer and learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy not to bite. Instead, you can wait until your GSD bites during a positive activity before stopping it. This will help to anchor the result better. For example, if your German Shepherd puppy fiercely takes a treat from your hand, you can withhold the second treat until he learns to take it gently. You should act upset and convey that what he has done has hurt you. Use positive reinforcement to encourage proper behavior by rewarding with a treat. Your German Shepherd will quickly learn that good behavior is rewarded with good things. Puppies must continue to learn bite inhibition soft-mouth by continuing the work their mother taught them and what they learned from their littermates. Learn Bite Inhibition Training! Instill Patience You have to use your best judgment and patience when training your dog. In general, by the tenth week, your German Shepherd will be mature enough to understand self-control. Teach the Heel Position While your 3-month-old German Shepherd puppy will initially follow you, adjusting your pace will soon have him walking alongside you in the heel position, on your left side, without a leash, harness, or fear of punishment. To train your puppy to assume the natural heel position, use a clicker, whistle, or use your voice as a marker. Chances are, at first, your German Shepherd will also try to change his pace to walk behind you because of habit. You can avoid this problem by walking where your dog is used to. Assume Positions on Command — Sit, Down, Stand Your 3-months old German Shepherd puppy is now old enough to learn how to sit, stand, or hold a down position. You can teach him these new skills and assume a heel stance, which you have previously taught him. So by the time he is four months old, you can use the position cues and positive reinforcement to get your dog to follow. These included a clicker, whistle, clap, or saying a specific word to show your German Shepherd is doing a good job, generally followed by a well-deserved treat. Now is the time to see whether the anchors work! You used to whistle when your GSD approached you; now, you must whistle for him to start his run. This is the foundation of his recall training. While this allows the puppy to be more social when visitors arrive, an adult dog must learn to walk outside without behaving badly. Whether it is a cuddle, a pat, attention, or something tasty, you must teach your pup target training, for example, teaching him to touch a target with a specific part of his body, such as his paw or nose. Remember that your German Shepherd may end up biting or clawing to communicate if you do not teach him more acceptable communication methods. I recommend teaching your German Shepherd to use his nose to touch your hand. This is a fantastic bite substitute! Hand targeting is a fun way to train your dog to trust you while also getting him to use his brain! Begin by asking him to sit for a few seconds and gradually extend the time. Train Your Dog to Fetch If you have taken your German Shepherd to public parks and he has watched other dogs play fetch, it will be easier to teach him to retrieve whatever you throw. Your GSD may not bring the toy back to you for a second time, but he will eventually figure it out. Over the next few weeks, you can gradually turn it into a game of fetch, rewarding your puppy with high-value training treats. Continue Potty Training In the fourth month of German Shepherd training, you will continue toilet training to a degree of independence. Maintain a regular schedule and match your walks with his natural cycle to coincide with when he needs to go. Teach Your German Shepherd to Walk on the Leash Learning to walk on a leash outside is an important element of dog training. Use it to control your German Shepherd and then test his ability to follow commands off-leash. Many dog owners will opt for a rear attached harness. How to Train a 5 Month Old German Shepherd Puppy You have adequately socialized and trained your dog to recognize and associate attention, toys, walks, and food as rewards. Your five-month-old German Shepherd puppy is now ready to be put to the test for general obedience and the capacity to deal with distractions. These could be other dogs, strangers, or animals like squirrels or birds. But, if you introduce distractions gradually, your five-month-old puppy can deal with them. You must be ready for your dog to run ahead of you now! Assume, however, that you have built a strong bond with your puppy and worked on his training. In that case, he will stay close to you and prove his loyalty by sticking by your side. The good news is that all of your past training will make it easier for your dog to obey your instructions. Conclude Potty Training Your German Shepherd has had months to learn how to tell you his need to go potty. He has also likely refined how to hold his bladder instead of peeing on the floor. As a result, if your dog makes a mess, you can express your displeasure through your body language. But, all dogs can still have the odd accident up to one year old. Besides, you must be prepared for your dog to relieve himself indoors if he is excited or frightened. This is known as either excitement or submissive urination. During this time, energy levels increase , especially in larger breed dogs. While the average exercise for a pup before this is generally five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day, a six-month-old German Shepherd can exercise for one hour if you split his walks into two thirty-minute sessions. To train your 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy, start with two commands that will be most useful. As previously stated, you will be exercising your German Shepherd much more frequently from now on. You can teach these commands or tricks in any order from six months onwards until your German Shepherd is a well-trained adult. This is an excellent skill to teach your GSD and is one of the commands taught to police and protection dogs. This is a difficult task, but your German Shepherd will eventually master it if you practice and keep consistent. The eighth month is the time for training your German Shepherd to go to different places upon hearing your command word. This could be for practical reasons or to maximize the intellect of your dog. Alternatively, you might spend the ninth month teaching him a fun party trick! Teach Your German Shepherd to Spin By dangling a tasty treat in front of your German Shepherd and moving it in a circle until he starts to spin, you prime him for a command anchor. After a week or so, you teach your German Shepherd to follow your finger without first using a treat. Of course, you will still need to reward him after he obeys the command. By the third week, you should be able to ask your dog to spin without using your finger to guide him. It might take an extra couple of weeks, but I recommend this as an addition in the ninth month because it allows you to continue training your dog to learn previous commands better. You can train him to go to different places, hold or release objects, and fetch toys. You can now develop this further and teach him to roll over on command. Your one-year-old German Shepherd continues to learn at the same rate as he has since he was six months old. What will change is that your dog will interact with other people more frequently. You can train him to do additional tricks to give him a more appealing presence. This will deter him from merely barking for attention. You should also review previously taught commands and see any weak associations you can reinforce. If anything, this is the period where you tailor his training to your convenience. But now is the time when your German Shepherd must learn to be harmonious with your life. From the month mark onwards, you must train your doggo to be compatible with modern adult life within reason. Do not be alarmed if you have an month-old German Shepherd who appears to have had no previous training! Start by establishing authority by having a positive yet commanding presence. Once your new friend recognizes your authority and sees you as his leader, treat him as a six-month-old, albeit on an accelerated schedule, and train him accordingly. You should train your German Shepherd puppy for short and frequent sessions, ideally minutes, several times a day. As your puppy grows and matures, you can gradually increase the duration and complexity of the training sessions. What are the most important commands to teach my German Shepherd puppy? Come command helps to call your puppy back to you in case of an emergency or when you want to end a play session. Heel command teaches your puppy to walk calmly beside you on a leash, and Leave It command helps to prevent your puppy from eating something harmful or dangerous. German Shepherds are a highly trainable and intelligent breed. Your job as a trainer becomes even easier once you have a workable training schedule in place and stick to your routine. My month-by-month German Shepherd puppy training schedule will help you successfully train your doggo and make him into the cherished companion you always desired. Good luck with your training! Related Posts You May Like:. How to begin with training a puppy and get a running start. Everyone has to have their first puppy and, just like with having a first child, there is a lot of learning involved. What age should you start training a German Shepherd? Whether you have a puppy or an older German Shepherd. I have learned that starting as soon as you bring your puppy home. This will prevent behavior problems from developing. Some people start at 8: weeks to 12 weeks or four months to six months of age depending on how old the puppy was when they purchased. I put together a beginner mini-guide below- to help you get started with a new puppy. You want to get your puppy on the right training schedule. How to housebreak a German Shepherd puppy? It works. Morning The first thing that you should do is let your puppy out of its crate and take it directly outside to go potty. An eight-week-old puppy needs to eat three to four meals each day. Your puppy should be given a bowl of water with its meal and be permitted to drink as much as it wants. Give your puppy about ten minutes to relax after it has eaten and then go back outside for potty. Before its next meal, your puppy should be taken out every hour in order to prevent accidents and should be placed into its crate whenever it will not be directly supervised. Crates are great for everyday use as they keep your puppy out of danger when it is not by your side. Afternoon Your afternoon will mirror your morning almost exactly. Your puppy will need to be taken outside if it has been crated, fed its afternoon meal and then taken outside again. When not being supervised, your puppy should be gated off into a completely puppy-proofed room or crated. Your puppy will get a meal, go outside, and be placed in a safe room or crate when not supervised. Throughout the day, use your puppies name in connection with positive things. This will help your puppy learn his name more quickly. Having a puppy in the house is fun for everyone in the family. Your job is to make sure that the puppy is given a predictable, structured environment to grow up in. German Shepherd Puppy Training: Training a puppy at a young age will prevent bad behavior from developing into big-time behavior problems. Some of us start at eight weeks, others start at 10 to 12 weeks old. Laying out the groundwork for leash training a puppy. With step by step video training guide. Video one; Leash training your puppy will be one of the first things you and I will need to do with our new German Shepherd puppy! Learning can be a challenge for many of us. Today I like to share a video with my friend Tonny and his new puppy Named Nora at 10 weeks old. This her first leash training exercise. What I have learned from my own experience; I like to practice this exercise 2 or 3 times a day for 4 to 6 minutes at a time every day- when training young pups at this age. Sometimes we as humans expect too much too fast and can forget what we learn from owning our last dog. We forgot puppyhood. I know I have made this mistake before. I have learned after training multiple German Shepherd puppies , how to spend a good enough amount of time working them by training shot training sessions to get the best results. Tony and his wife Shannon are teaching her how to walk on a leash in the street under real-world distractions. If you have never trained a puppy before learning these training skills will be challenging for anybody just learning. But done let it stop you from practicing. With just a little bit of time and patience, you and your puppy will come a long way together. I have learned this is the most important part of training our puppy and will build and strengthens our bond together for starting our new journey. Once your puppy is showing that they are understanding what the heel command means, now we can start to add in the sit-stay command. This is a command we will use every day with our puppy. Watch how Shannon works with her puppy in this video. Nora will get a little distracted when she is walking by me and her husband Tony. Dog training is all about doing things together as a team. Building trust and leadership with your new best friend. Always start off with your attention training and practicing around your home and in your yard. A little bit of practice goes a long way. I would love to hear about all your success. I will be sharing more training videos with you soon! Best of luck with your training. About the author: Dennis is the founder of German Shepherd Behavior. I have owned this breed for over 25 years and looking forward to sharing my German Shepherd journey with you.
Exercising your Labrador Another thing to consider is how much exercise will your labrador do? To exercise your Labrador you will need to walk them for at least 30 minutes every day, but this changes from when they are a small dog to when they become older and slower, as is typical with a large breed. Labradors are very active and love playing, so you will also require a big yard in which you can play with your puppy! Labrador feeding guide Feeding a Labrador is essential for your puppy to grow and develop. Labradors require a high-quality diet consisting of protein, vitamins, and minerals. When feeding my labrador puppy vets recommend buying puppy kibble from the pet store because it has been made specifically for young puppies under 12 months old. You should take your dog to get regular checkups where you can check if you are feeding it the right food. What colours can a Labrador be? What colour is most popular? Labrador pups come in various colours — black the most common , yellow which includes chocolate , red and silver. Black labradors are in high demand due to their especially gentle nature around children, they are less commonly used as a show lab. Black labs are also used a lot in country pursuits. When choosing a colour you should consider what you want your dog to do. If allergy sufferers were thinking about owning a labrador retriever then a golden one could be the best option as there would only ever be minimal amounts of allergens around the home compared to other options out there. Living costs of Labaradors Labrador living costs can vary from place to place. One of the most important costs that needs considering is what you might need in order for your dog to be kept healthy and well. The cost of getting a Labrador vaccinated on time after it has been born can vary depending on where you are based as well as how much experience they have with labradors — so always ask around, do some research online or even phone up local vets! You will also be expected to pay vet fees and feed your lab good quality food. For leads and toys, anything from anywhere! Labradors live to be about years old so the cost of raising one will go up over time as they get older. Labrador size also varies! This is where the joints in their hips or elbows do not develop properly during puppyhood, which can cause pain later on. Labrador retrievers are also prone to eye problems including cataracts nuclear sclerosis of the lens , progressive retinal atrophy degeneration of retina cells and arthritis or hip problems later in life. How to purchase a Labrador There are multiple options to consider when buying Labrador puppies. Puppies cost a lot of money, but you can avoid this cost by adopting an adult Labrador from your local shelter or rescue. If you do buy a puppy, make sure to choose the right breeder and location! This will save you future heartache when purchasing a labrador. Labradors are medium-sized dogs that have been ranked as the number one most popular dog in America for over 20 years straight. They are a very friendly large dog. Are Labrador Retrievers Good Pets? Labradors are known to be a great breed of dogs, they are a large and lively breed and make a great family pet. They are very friendly and make good pets for families with children or even other animals in the house. However, there is one drawback to owning a Labrador apart from hair everywhere — their high maintenance costs! They are known as a very active breed and require lots of exercise daily, taking them out on long walks or runs every day will become an essential part of life! If you can not get this type of physical activity into your everyday routine it might be best to choose a more relaxed dog, or something a lot smaller. Do labradors bark a lot? Labradors do bark a lot, they are known as a very vocal breed of dogs and will become more so when they reach puppyhood! If you have neighbors who can hear them barking from your property this may not be the best breed for you. Can Labradors live outside? Labradors are not the best breed of dog to live outside, they are very active and need lots of exercise daily. If you do not have time every day to take them out on long walks or runs then it might be better for your puppy if they lived inside with you! Backyards may be good enough for labradors but they will need to be let out often too. A Lab dog should still spend time in a home environment but if you leave your dog outside a lot make sure he gets regular vaccinations What is a similar breed to a Labrador Retriever? If you are looking for a similar dog to a Lab Retriever then there are many similar breeds to consider! Golden Retrievers, Flat Coated Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels are all puppy breeds that can be found in many different colours like black, chocolate, or yellow. All of these dogs should have a similar temperament too so could make great family pets for you. When will my Labrador become an adult Labs become adult dogs when they are between 12 months and 18 months old. This is the time when they will start to be more independent but they still need your guidance! Training your lab Puppy When deciding to train a lab puppy you should consider puppy classes. Lab puppies make great pets for families because they love to play with children, labradors have been known to never bite or nip. Lab puppies should be taught how to interact with humans and dogs to assure they are well behaved. Conclusion In short a Labrador dog is a very popular breed of dog. They make excellent pets and loyal companions for humans, but they do come with some costs that you should be aware of before purchasing one as your next canine companion. You may want to consider pet insurance just in case the unthinkable happens and your labrador needs veterinary care or has an accident while playing outside. We break down everything you need to know before signing up for coverage in our blog post on the subject. To summarize, here are the key points we found: The most important thing to consider when looking at rates is whether or not your dog requires any specific breed-specific treatments such as hip dysplasia treatment; if so, make sure that this condition is covered by the plan you choose. Another major factor affecting pricing is where you live — some regions have higher costs of living than others which means prices may be more expensive there too. Should you get a labrador? A Labrador dog is a very popular breed of dog. How much does a Labrador cost? How do I find labrador breeders? How much should I expect to spend on vet bills for my Labrador? How much does a puppy cost from a local breeder? This is something that you will need to discuss with your preferred Labrador breeder before bringing home your new pet. Is my Labrador from a puppy farm? To spot a puppy farm is not always easy, however, there are signs to look out for that might indicate your Labradors parents were kept in puppy farm conditions. Rupert Jones Sat 10 Oct .Read more High demand and the large sums at stake have created a lucrative market for puppy smugglers, who illegally import dogs into the country, often from central and eastern Europe. Some people have been duped out of their cash completely — often by fraudsters posing as breeders and using images from legitimate puppy adverts. Others end up unknowingly buying puppies that are unhealthy and may eventually require costly veterinary treatment, or have behavioural problems. Kennel Club research has also found that almost a quarter of those who bought a puppy during the pandemic have experienced complications — from being charged more than initially agreed or the dog looking different to the one advertised, to the puppy becoming unwell once home or not having vaccination records. One bit of good news is that commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens were banned in England from 6 April this year — hopefully spelling the beginning of the end for puppy farming. On the p up — soaring puppy prices Labrador puppies. Read more However, a price check carried out by Guardian Money this week suggests that average costs for those breeds are now higher than that and have also soared for other in-demand breeds. We searched for puppies for sale under four months old across all sellers and all locations. The upfront cost depends on the breed and where you get it from. If they are advertising many litters from different breeds, this is a red flag. Fraudsters often give fake addresses, use a variety of different mobile numbers and have multiple ads online. Do consider a Kennel Club assured breeder — to find out more, go to thekennelclub. Do make sure to visit more than once, even if it is via video call because of the coronavirus restrictions. Pets4Homes has a service where a buyer can put down a deposit that is held in escrow until the buyer and seller have finalised the transaction — although sellers can choose not to use it. Do ask lots of questions and make sure you see vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract, which gives lots of information about their parents, health, diet, etc. There is lots of help and advice out there. They visited Athens in August and while they were there a friend took them to an animal rescue centre run by an organisation called Save a Greek Stray. Costs Whippets can be sensitive to cold weather. The cost is more for a pedigree with a champion bloodline. So, for having a proper dog, finding a reputable breeder who provides healthy puppies is the key. In fact, you should also think about ongoing expenses such as food, veterinary care, and training when considering the cost of a Labrador. Young puppies will cost more. However, this high price is worth it. The reason is simple, you get them at a young age and can enjoy their company, have fun etc. Location The location also plays a crucial role in the cost of a Labrador. In general, the prices vary on the basis of the cost of living and demand in different areas of the country. For instance, in London and other major cities, the cost of living is high. So, this can drive up the cost of owning a Labrador in the city. However, in more rural areas or less densely populated regions, for example, Newcastle, the cost is comparatively less because of the lower demand and cost of living. Colour coat In general, Labrador pups come in 3 colours, black, yellow and silver. However, all Labradors are born white and the colour develops with time. The most common ones are Black labradors. But, they are in high demand. The main reason is their gentle nature around children. So, they are expensive in comparison with yellow and silver. The reputation of a Breeder A breeder with a high reputation follows all the necessary rules while nurturing the dog. From their food items to medical, they cover all the costs. Also, the dog is well-trained and in top-notch condition. Where To Buy a Labrador? You know the factors affecting the labrador dog price, but, where can you buy one? These dogs are carefully bred for health and temperament. You can verify them by referring to different websites. For instance, you can check if they are registered with organisations such as the Kennel Club and have a nice reputation in the pet community. Here, you are not only buying the dog but also providing a home to a dog in need. Many rescue centres in the UK assist people with rehoming Labradors and other dog breeds. The staff at the rescue shelter can easily provide you with this valuable information. Talking to other dog owners will get you insights into the breed and help you with your research of finding reputable breeders or rescue shelters near your area. This will help you find a good lab dog who can easily blend in with your family. First-time cost of owning a labrador Once you own a labrador, there are many additional expenses that you need to consider. Regardless, of where you get your labrador, below are some of the crucial expenses that must be covered in your pre-planned budget. However as Labradors eat a lot, this cost can easily go up. Their eating habits make them vulnerable to obesity! Because obesity can cause health issues and in turn increase the medical bill. Medical expenses Even if you manage to get a healthy dog, there are some initial medical costs. The lab dog can have health issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia at any given point. Also, if your dog is not spayed or neutered you may have to spend some money on their surgery. Training and grooming costs The double coat of the labrador dog sheds frequently and hence, they need regular grooming. In addition, a trainer may charge more if the activities or training exercises are more. Toys Labradors are energetic dogs and need activity or exercise. In fact, their friendly nature with young kids and other pets makes them good companions. Further, there are some other expenses like- microchipping, extra supplies poop scooper, and poop bags , dog license, pet insurance, dog care, etc. So, if you get into such confusion, here are some questions that you must ask yourself before thinking of acquiring one: 1 Do you have big enough space for the dog? Dogs require space, both indoors and outdoors. They need space to exercise and stretch their legs. Labradors as fairly large and active dogs and require a decent space to roam around or train. Thus you need to have at least a normal-sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Labrador puppies are energetic and demand attention from their owners. Hence, if you cannot take your dog to work with you, then you need to reconsider. When you bring a dog into the house, it impacts the lifestyle of your family. Sure, labradors are friendly in nature, but, at times kids find it difficult to adjust to their continuous presence. While the idea of buying a labrador dog seems fascinating, you have to make sure you can afford the maintenance cost i. If you are finding ways to cut-cost, the next section will show you some ways you can save money while owning a labrador. Even if you manage to get them at a low price, we saw the additional expenses that are necessary to be included in the budget. Here, one can make food treats for their dog using simple ingredients such as oats, peanut butter, eggs, flour etc. Train your dog yourself As mentioned earlier, professional dog trainers are expensive. So, if you wish to save some money, you can consider training your dog at home. Grooming at home Similar to a professional trainer, a groomer will also charge heavily for grooming your lab dog. So, instead of paying such a high amount, you can groom your dog at home itself. It is important to brush gently in the direction of hair growth to avoid hurting your dog. Still, when necessary you can give them a bath with lukewarm water and dog shampoo. Ear cleaning — by using a damp cloth or any ear-cleaning solution you can clean their ears. Nail trimming — with the help of clippers made for dogs you can trim their nails. Vet visits This may seem strange but, you need to regularly visit the vet to check out whether your lab dog is healthy or not. In addition, this cost can elevate if the dog is well-trained and from a reputable breeder. However, some breeders set the labrador price more because of the lineage or the rare coat colour. What is the black labrador puppy price in the UK? Black labradors are the most expensive. This colour is rarer than their chocolate counterparts. What is the best age to buy a Labrador puppy? Female lab dogs are a little bit smaller than males of the same breed, so you can make gender selections based on whether you are looking for a smaller or larger dog. How much is a golden retriever UK? Prices for Golden Retrievers depend on which part of the UK you are residing in. Final Take Labrador prices are high and vary on different factors. Make sure the dog is in healthy condition and the breeder can provide you with a pedigree certificate. Having said that, stay alert while you explore low price dogs. We say this because there are unethical breeders out there offering puppies at low prices, but, are not properly nurtured by them. So, if you are looking for an affordable option then you can consider a shelter or rescue house. Lastly, your family should have an equal say in the decision of getting a labrador dog in the house. Hence, consider every aspect mentioned in the article and make a conscious decision. Owning a Labrador can be lots of fun An introduction to Labradors If you are considering buying or adopting this popular dog breed, our guide to owning a Labrador is just for you! We will answer all the most frequently asked questions below, to help you determine if living with a Labrador would be ideal for your family. Originally bred to retrieve nets for fishermen and later to retrieve fowl and game for hunters, the Labrador Retriever is now one of the most popular pets in the UK. The breed benefits from the positive character traits of being reliable, trustworthy, good natured and dependable, leading to their reputation as great family pets. Labradors are very sociable by nature, forming strong bonds with their owners. They do however, need lots of exercise and mental stimulation and can be inclined to being over enthusiastic and bouncy. They are renowned for their huge appetite for food and tendency to chew as puppies. What size are Labradors? Labradors are a strongly built medium — large breed of dog. When purchasing one as a puppy, it is important to consider this. You should ensure that your home and garden have plenty of space to accommodate a large and lively doggy resident. Fully grown males typically weigh KG and measure around cm to the withers. Females weigh KG and measure around cm to the withers. Do Labradors make good family pets? Labradors generally have an easy going temperament with playful and intelligent character traits. Their affectionate and loyal nature means that they can be ideally suited to becoming a family pet, with the vast majority enjoying the company of children. Labradors are known to thrive in a family home environment with plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, attention and training. However, please note that young children should always be supervised around any breed of dogs and appropriate care should be taken. What colours are Labradors? Labradors come in three colour varieties, which are black, chocolate and yellow. Yellows range from light cream to red fox. What is the average life span of a Labrador? Labradors live for approximately years on average, when cared for correctly and fed appropriately. How much does owning a Labrador cost? This is just the purchase price of course, there are also ongoing costs. These include equipment such as collar, lead, toys, bedding and a dog guard or car harness. You should also budget for the cost of food, pet insurance and regular vaccinations, flea and worming treatments. There may also be additional costs, such as training classes. Are Labradors easy to train? Labradors are generally always very eager to please, with kind and willing natures. This means that they are relatively easy to train. They also have a very high food drive meaning that they learn very quickly when there is a food reward at the end of a training session. They are particularly suited to training for assistance dog roles, genuinely enjoying this kind of activity. At Barking Mad Dog Care, we are proud to be official charity partners of Dogs for Good , a life-transforming charity, which creates partnerships between people living with disability and specially trained assistance dogs. We are proud to sponsor Prince, pictured below. He is just about to be matched with a family after completing initial training. Labradors like Prince are often selected to be assistance dogs 7. How much exercise do Labradors need? Labradors need to be given the right amount of exercise to stay fit and healthy. An ideal amount of exercise for this active breed is roughly two hours a day. This relates to fully grown adult Labradors. Puppies should be walked following the rule of five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. It is important to include activities other than just walking, as Labradors require lots of mental stimulation. They love to retrieve, as their name suggests, and are generally sociable when playing with other dogs, if well socialised. If Labradors become bored, they are far more likely to become destructive and display unwanted behaviour. How much grooming do Labradors need? Labradors are fairly low maintenance when it comes to grooming. Like all breeds though, regular grooming on a weekly basis will keep their coats and skin in good condition. Frequent grooming can also help with their tendency to excessively shed fur. Feeding a Labrador 9. Feeding a Labrador Labradors are notorious for their love of food and are prone to putting on weight if fed an inappropriate diet or quantity. It is important to feed your Labrador a good quality food with all the right nutrients, right through from puppyhood to old age. Do Labradors like water? Labradors were originally bred for retrieving objects from the water. They generally love swimming and splashing around in water courses and lakes. Remember to take care when walking them near to water which is unsafe for them to swim in. Many Labradors will decide to jump in of their own accord. Conclusion: owning a Labrador should be determined by your lifestyle When making the decision to own any kind of dog or puppy, it is important to give real consideration to whether or not they are suitable for your lifestyle. However, it is natural to worry about what will happen if you have to leave your new best friend to go away on holiday, for work or for a non dog-friendly occasion such as a family wedding. Established in , we have many years of experience of offering home-from-home care for Labradors and the many other breeds of dog. Why not find your local branch today and get in contact to discuss care for your Labrador? Please note, our information about Labradors is a brief description for the benefit of our website visitors. The points we make are a generalisation of breed characteristics. Every dog is an individual and will have different needs. We would advise carrying out lots of research, both online and in person such as with your local vet before making a decision to purchase or adopt a Labrador puppy or adult dog. Share This Article:. Are they good family dogs? Labrador Dog Price — The Costs Involved Buying a Labrador is not just a question of the purchase price of a Lab puppy, though of course that is important. There are other costs involved, both financial, emotional and in terms of time and effort. So we need to look at those too. You may be wondering whether you will have the time for a dog, and if you have the space and energy for a large and lively breed? But this page will take you back to the fundamental considerations, to help you to make the right choice for you and your family. Do you have time for a dog? Can you afford a dog? What about your lifestyle? Will a dog fit in with your family? Is a Labrador the right dog for you? These questions all apply regardless of the type of Labrador you are looking for. The needs of a black Lab, yellow Lab or chocolate Lab are all the same in these respects. The same goes for an English or American Labrador too. Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors as fairly large and lively dogs need quite a lot of space. This means you need a decent sized backyard if you plan on buying a Labrador puppy. Somewhere that your Lab dog can run around, play and enjoy training sessions with you. Labradors can be quite silly during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and thick, easily knocking any fragile decorations you might have from shelves. If you have lots of ornaments then you will need to move them to higher shelves to avoid them getting damaged. You will also need to move anything that could be easily damaged by chewing. With small puppies this will be very often indeed. Perhaps every 15 to 20 minutes during their first few days with you. If you live in a flat, or do not have a garden, this will be difficult for you. These are helpful but do take up a lot of space. Although this will take up a lot of space indoors, it can work very well for larger apartments with no easy outside access. Ideally however you do need to have a garden, and a part of the garden which your dog can use as a bathroom, along with a good system for clearing up after him hygienically. Space is key for a Lab dog! The right space for a Labrador includes large clear rooms in the house, with no breakable or fragile objects within his grasp. And ideally access to a garden where they can easily be let out to the bathroom and have room to play. Keeping a single Labrador permanently outside however is not usually a good idea, even with adequate shelter and security. Labs are very sociable dogs and prone to separation anxiety if they lack company. This means your dog may be both sad and noisy. It is always sad to hear from new puppy owners that are struggling to juggle the needs of a puppy with their need to work. These articles will help you to deal with this common issue. Even with a visit at lunch time. An older dog may cope with being left for up to four hours in row on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. Contented Labradors are fairly quiet dogs and unlikely to disturb your neighbors. Nor are they very good guard dogs. However, lonely dogs bark and wreck things. If you work all day, can you afford to pay someone to come in and let him out to stretch his legs and empty himself? Or do you have a relative or friend that would be prepared to do this on a regular basis. Bear in mind that this is quite a lot to ask of anyone in the long term. The biggest long term time commitment in owning a dog is in the form of training and exercise. Training Takes Time All dogs need training in order that they can rub along in human society without being a complete nuisance. This means a regular daily commitment of ten to twenty minutes from you, in addition to your regular interaction with the dog. Training cannot be saved up for the weekend, your dog will have forgotten most of what he learnt the weekend before, and he does not have the attention span to concentrate on you for an hour and a half. You can find out more about training your Labrador puppy here. Staying Fit Exercise is required on a regular basis, for some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or jogging to keep your dog fit and healthy. You can find out more about the exercise requirements of a Labrador puppy here. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit. Can You Afford A Dog? Dogs can be quite expensive to run. You need to consider not only how much a Labrador will cost you to buy, but also how much it will cost you to keep. How much do Labradors cost from breeders? The price of a Labrador puppy will vary from breeder to breeder, and from place to place. Perhaps you know a friend that has a litter of puppies and they are going to let you have one for free. However, the purchase price of a dog is almost irrelevant. It is such a small part of the final cost. The cost of keeping a Labrador The reality is, you are also going to need to fork out a chunk of your wages each week on keeping your pooch happy and healthy. Obviously you will have taken the cost of a good brand of Labrador puppy food into consideration. It is a good idea to budget for veterinary insurance too. Not because it is unreasonably priced, but simply because it is now so advanced. You can fix a lot of problems these days. We can do open heart surgery, mend complex fractures, treat cancer with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Pretty much anything you can treat in a human, you can now treat in a dog. And the catch? It costs. The more comprehensive your insurance package the more it will cost. Watch out for very cheap deals, as they may not provide continuing cover for long term ailments. You will also need to vaccinate your dog against common canine illness , and this will probably need to be done each year too. Especially if you are wanting to occasionally leave them in boarding kennels when you go away, as they require up to date vaccination certificates. Labrador Puppy Costs There will be a few other one-off costs such as a puppy crate and puppy play pen for your home for when your dog is young, another for your car if you have one. Then there are bowls, bedding, collar, leash etc. But you may be able to borrow a crate or get one second hand. Here are some of the items you will need for your new Labrador puppy, and reviews on the best options for Labradors:. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We also shared a few tips on what to expect when buying a puppy. If you follow these tips, you can get a healthy Labrador Retriever puppy for a great price and avoid getting ripped off. Pet Keen advocates for adopting before shopping. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. ChampDogs helps you track down those dogs in your area. You can filter results by location, colours, completed health tests, and more! Gumtree puts you in contact with all the local breeders to get you the perfect puppy without having to hit the countryside. Not only are there tons of local breeders, but with Poolehall Labradors right around the corner, you can easily get a show-quality Labrador! A site like FreeAds makes use of this fact to put you in touch with local breeders. Just make sure to do your homework before forking over any cash. Not only are there are tons of Labrador Retrievers on the site, but many of them are also registered working dogs. Keep in mind that while most of that money is profit, it also goes to cover initial shots, health check-ups, and other necessary things to keep the puppies happy and healthy. Before you buy a puppy, ask the breeder the following questions. References: Before purchasing a dog from a breeder, get and check their references. Ideally, you want to reach out to customers whom the breeder might not be listing. Registration status: This one comes down to the pedigree of the dog. Keep in mind that you need the official registration status for your puppy, not just the parents. Is there a health guarantee? Do get a guarantee of health for at least a few months. Can you meet the parents? First, you should see the genetic lineage that your puppy is coming from. Where are the puppies raised? They Have Tons of Energy Before you bring home a Labrador Retriever , you need to ensure that you have plenty of space for them to roam and exercise. But big dogs also eat tons of food. Full-grown Labrador Retrievers can eat 4. They Are Extremely Smart and Trainable If you want a dog that you can train to do about a million tasks, a Labrador Retriever is a great choice. If you have kids and want a dog, a Labrador Retriever is ideal. There are tons of breeders out there, and the result is tons of Labrador Retrievers that you can purchase! You may also want to read:.
It all started when we became empty-nesters and purchased our first lab, since then our Lab family has continued to grow. We strive to breed for great all around family Labradors that are healthy, calm, intelligent, and are of the beautiful English type Labs stocky bodies, square, blocky heads. We're happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for visiting! Healthy Parents We welcome litters a year with the goal of producing healthy family dogs, all purpose Labradors placed in loving homes. We strive for good temperament, structurally sound, intelligence and to improve the breed. Our Labs are sweet, intelligent, easily trained, and so eager to please. Our Labrador Retrievers have superior pedigrees with champion bloodlines from traditional English lines. We do recommended Genetic health testing. The puppies are also dewormed at recommended times. We keep puppies until 8 weeks of age. Labs take 2 to 3 years to develop mentally and physically, training is an important part of the development of your Lab. We strongly recommend you locate a Beginner puppy class, enroll and take several classes. Labs are very intelligent and require socializing, training and exercise. Labs do not socialize themselves. Commitment to the welfare of your dog is extremely important. This puppy will be with you the next years. It's important our puppies are placed in homes where they receive the type of care Lab puppies need. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the United States and many other countries, too. Rather than wondering if you can find any breeder, you might be interested in discovering how you can find a solid, reputable one. If you want quality puppies with tremendous temperaments, see what they have to offer and learn how to contact them about future litters. The 7 Breeders in Ohio 1. Since their humble beginnings, they have taken on the task of placing Labs as family companions into forever homes. The puppies are raised among the family, making them ideal for family roles, show dogs, and even for work. These dogs possess a strong champion lineage and all puppies come with applicable health checks before placement. This family has a very personal connection with this breed, falling in love initially with a rescue Lab and then choosing to continue the breed after her passing. Also, they specifically breed the English-style Labradors rather than American. These pups are bred for show, field, and companionship. They provide American Kennel Club Labradors from strong bloodlines that come with paperwork, health certificates, and the first few weeks of housebreaking done before you even bring yours home! Plus, they show lots of interactive photos and videos so you can get to know the dogs and pups. If you have any questions, there is a list of contact information on the site. Simply email the breeder for further instruction on how to bring one of these cuties home. This breeder has only English-style Labs, which are the blockier variation of the two. This breeder sells puppies with a limited AKC registration, meaning they can be fully registered but come without breeding rights. If you want breeding rights, you must go through the process of approval beforehand. The primary focus of this breeding is to create the highest quality gun dogs around, so these pups are bred for work. This breeder has yellow, chocolate, and black labs for placement. You must contact them directly for potential upcoming puppies. If you are interested in breeding rights, you must apply for approval and follow the rules laid out. Originally, Avon Kennels began breeding Rottweilers but expanded to Labs in .They also breed Himalayan cats. Puppies come with all applicable health checks and microchipping, which is an expense relief for some buyers. They specialize in the colors of Labs on the silver spectrum—such as charcoal, champagne, and traditional silver. So, you definitely get a unique spin on the breed. All Labs are health tested and microchipped prior to new home placement. Each Lab they possess is registered with the AKC. These rare pups are part of the family and all whelping areas are located indoors. Featured Image Credit: Piqsels Ashley Bates Author Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too — Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature she finds. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are cats and dogs.Read more Advertisement. Striving for excellent quality with emphasis on temperament, conformation, intelligence and all around health. Our dogs come from top pedigree, filled with champion lines. Our goal is to produce calm, intelligent "English" Labradors who will provide wonderful companions to you and your family. We are a small kennel, located outside of Alliance, Ohio and believe in producing the utmost quality in our pups. Therefore, we are able to make sure all of our breeding stock and pups receive lots of attention and care. We believe that Labs are at their best when they are in the companionship of people, and where they have freedom to run and play. We take great pride in the quality of the pups we produce emphasizing temperament, conformation and all around health. Our dogs have great pedigrees, filled with champions, from traditional English lines. Our pups are in homes throughout the United States and have proven to be accomplished service dogs, therapy dogs, hunters and companions to many families. You can see many, many years of our dogs, growing from pups to seniors, as well as testimonials from puppy families, on our Facebook page at Maple Creek Labradors. Our Labradors are the 'English' type, meaning they have a square or 'blocky' head, a well muscled body and thick bone. Their soft, kind expression make them instantly lovable. They are not separate color genes. We do not breed dilutes, nor do we support them.
Susan Bon-Webb has been breeding since .This breeder raises champion line AKC Pugs. Their Pugs are their babies. That means each pup becomes family and each new owner is super important. Susan is always available to help or answer questions at any time and whenever needed. They love their dogs and show commitment to the betterment of the breed in everything they do. But how can you spot reputable breeders when you start searching for a Pug puppy? Here are some tips to help you out. A good breeder will… 1. Issue a health guarantee Make sure that your breeder of choice offers a health guarantee. A reputable Pug breeder will write up a binding health guarantee for all of their puppies. The guarantee protects you against any genetic defects or diseases. It shows that the breeder is confident that their puppies are bred according to best practices. This means if you can no longer look after your pup for some reason, you will be expected to return the puppy to the breeder rather than taking them to a shelter. Provide standard health clearances Your breeder should have full health clearances for both parent Pugs. Good breeders often provide some early health-check clearances for their pups too, although some health clearances simply cannot be carried on such young pups. Issue a written bill of sale Reputable breeders offer written bills of sale to all of their new Pug parents. This bill of sale should be signed and will outline all the roles and responsibilities to be taken on by the buyer and seller as part of the transaction. Vaccinate their puppies All puppies should be up to date on their vaccinations before being homed with new families. Your breeder of choice should be able to provide evidence of these vaccinations. Reputable breeders welcome prospective parents into their homes to see the puppies. Follow age guidelines Puppies should never leave the litter before 8 weeks of age. Any breeder offering pups for adoption before this time is not following best practices. In fact, this could be quite damaging for the puppy developmentally. A reputable breeder will keep their pups at home until eight to twelve weeks so that they can be properly socialized and spend that crucial time with their mother and litter-mates. Answer your questions Last, but not least, a reputable breeder will be knowledgeable. In most cases, they will also want to ask you plenty of questions to ensure that their precious pups are going to good homes. We have a strict selection process that takes a variety of factors into account. That way we can ensure that only the best breeders end up on our lists. This way we know that our chosen breeders offer genetically sound and healthy puppies. Health testing shows a commitment to the health and wellbeing of each Pug. Contact information Any breeder that does not offer up their contact information is a big red flag. A reputable breeder will make it easy for you to get in contact with them by providing telephone numbers, email addresses, and they will usually have a well-established website as well. It shows a commitment to breeding best practices. Event participation Breeders who also compete in doggie events are often some of the best. Because these people tend to be dog lovers par excellence. They live and breathe for their Pugs and are proud to show them off in public. They are also more likely to have a high level of breed knowledge — an excellent sign for a breeder. Breed club membership There are lots of breed clubs out there that breeders can register with. These clubs have rules, regulations, and membership fees. If your breeder is registered with the Pug Dog Club of America, this is a great sign showing commitment to the Pug breed. Recognition awards Lastly, we look out for awards! Institutions like the AKC recognize the efforts and achievements of top breeders. The very best will be awarded the AKC recognition of merit award. During this time we recommend getting everything ready before your new arrival rattles through the front door. Your puppy will need: a crate for sleeping and training during the early days quality puppy-grade food a leash and harness plenty of toys You may also wish to purchase a puppy gate if there are areas of your home that you want to keep your Pug away from. This is all about making your home as safe as possible for your new arrival. Make sure anything that could potentially cause harm to your pup is removed. Clear your schedule Having a Pug puppy is a bit like having a human baby. So make sure to clear your schedule and get all of those errands done ahead of time! Once they arrive… 4. Avoid crowds Hold your excitement. That means no crowds. Try to keep the home environment as stress-free as possible so that your puppy can settle in and start to feel part of the family. Crate training is the first step. Lay down a regular routine from the get to and your Pug will be good as gold in no time. Pug puppies for sale AKC registered They have had their first shots. WD Pugs is a family-owned Pug breeder in North Carolina, they take their breeding job seriously, and it is their passion. Age: Baby on PuppyFinder. Also, be sure to check the Pug Dog Breeder listings in our Dog Breeder Directory, which feature upcoming dog litter announcements and current puppies for sale for that dog breeder. Live Customer Support. We are located on 22 acres of land in beautiful Burlington, North Carolina. For Breeders. Raleigh, NC, .They are ready to move into a new home. Pug Hickory, 6 fawn pug puppies for sale. There are 4 males, 2 females to choose, all are very playful and loveable puppy. Ads 1 - 8 of 4, Purebred puppy's parents are on the premises. North and South Carolina is home to the majority of clientele who purchase our Pug puppies. ADN Puppies. There is a acre farm where the puppies play and run around. Welcome to Carolina Pugs! While you may prefer to get your puppy from a breeder locally, please don't get discouraged if you cannot find any near you. I have 1 male and 3 females pug puppies for sale. Gender: Male. Available Pugs. They raise their Pug puppies inside the house. Hello, I have 3 male and 1 female pug puppy, all of them are cute and cuddly. ADN Also, be sure to check the Pug Dog Breeder listings in our Dog Breeder Directory, which feature upcoming dog litter announcements and current puppies for sale for that dog breeder. Mawoo Pets. But we can only do it with your help. We are a small kennel in eastern North Carolina who love all things pug!!!! WD Pugs breeds to offer families loving furry friends. Almost all the kennels are climate controlled and the dogs can go in and out as they please. We have been breeding dogs for over 25 years and take pride in our dogs and kennels. They breed for the combination of sound health, exceptional temperament, and beautiful coloration. Another one is good access to professional veterinarians if needed. Pug Puppies for Sale in North Carolina. The parents have been genetically tested for pug encephalitis and pk deficiency. Pug Picnic. The Mianda family has owned many exquisite Pugs over the years. She is slightly smaller and slimmer. I will send. Pugs in North Carolina, NC. Hi, I'm Phyllis Williams. Join with us in our mission and donate now. I have been breeding beautiful Pug dogs for 30 years. Having our small pug breeders program near Charleston, South Carolina offers a great deal of benefits for us. Also, the wonderful beaches are You can also explore other Pug breeders in neighboring states. The litter is given lots of love and care. View Details. Puppy Match Quiz. I'm looking for a new family for our Pug puppies to call home to. Poppy is our whitest pug. Welcome to Our site! Your new pup will have all their scheduled de-wormings and 1st set of shots by the time you arrive. Sign Up. We want to be your connection to reputable Pug breeders in North Carolina. Home Page. Extremely outgoing and affectionate and get along well with people and pets. We've connected loving homes to reputable breeders since and we want to help you find the puppy your whole family will love. Breed Referral. Its also free to list your available puppies and litters on our site. Her bloodline was bred to be as light as possible. Financing Available. One of the best benefits is the weather. Pawsitively Pugs Rescue is dedicated to the rescue, care, and placement of unwanted, abandoned, neglected and abused pugs, giving each a second chance at a loving and caring forever home. Filter Dog Ads Search. Our intentions are pretty straight forward. The fir June 1, .We offer Pug puppies for sale across the East Coast with a special emphasis inside our region, the Carolina's. They have some silly little personalities with the cutest faces to match! PuppySpot Details. You can also explore other Pug breeders in neighboring states. Our Mission. They have over thirty years of experience with the breed, and they are people of trust. Welcome to Pets4You, the premier source of the finest breeders for over 25 years. Write your caption here. Start your search now! We are so excited to share our love for pugs with others. Charlotte, NC. Find Pug dogs and puppies from North Carolina breeders. WD Pugs. Gender: Female. About Us. The Pugs play with the children and receive lots of socialization and household sounds. Pug Hickory, North Carolina. View more. Mum is black aKC reg and is avail. .Slide title. ADN .Cincinnati, OH. Services: Puppies,Adult Dogs. Each pug is treated as family until such time as a suitable home, which has been screened and approved by the membership, can be located. Rosie was born December and she joined us from a breeder in TN. Before owning one of our quality pups, there is a non-refundable deposit of .All of our pugs are exclusively AKC registered. Read my reviews. .Springside Pugs. Pug Puppies. She is very sweet and laid back and has a stocky, American pug build. Southern Lake Pomskies. However, we will sell to anyone looking for a phenomenal Pug. Our pugs are all AKC registered. Pug Rescue of North Carolina Inc.
To stop, release the enter key. We are located in Gilbert, Az, which is right outside of Phoenix. All of our breeding dogs have been raised by us, and some have been placed in loving Guardian Homes. This allows us to have multiple dogs in our program, while each dog is a family member with an extraordinary quality of life. When you look through each dog's individual page, you will see pictures of them on hikes, family vacations and just living an extraordinary life with their forever families. We are very proud of the fact that our dogs will never be "kennel dogs". We breed because we are dedicated to improving the breed that we love so much. We select our breeding adults for health, temperament and conformation. We breed as close to the AKC standard as possible and use health testing to try and eliminate possible health concerns. We are proud to have produced puppies that have gone on to become seizure alert service dogs, mobility assistance dogs and search and rescue dogs! Our puppies are raised in our home, with children, other pets and normal, busy, household activities. We use the Bio Sensor "Super Dog" program to create more confident puppies. All puppies will start crate training, have their first shots and will be groomed before coming to your home. No stock photos here! Make sure you follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for hundreds of pictures of our dogs and puppies. And don't forget to subscribe to our email announcement list. You can unsubscribe at any time. Good luck on your search for the perfect puppy! There is no obligation and you can unsubscribe at any time. First Name. Address: E. This establishment is the creation of breeder Linda Weygant, and all the puppies are raised in a household and get lots of socialization. The super cute face of a young Toy Poodle puppy. This breeder begins grooming early, which is important for Poodles. After all, this breed has to learn to tolerate frequent grooming throughout its life. Lone Tree Poodles wants to know about you, your household, and lifestyle before letting you adopt a Poodle. Linda Weygant earned her licensed veterinary technician credentials for both Arizona and New York. She has operated her breeding establishment in Arizona for several years. Her main focus is always health, both of the breeding stock and the puppies. What is the correct Poodle teething age? How many teeth do they lose? Munaut Standard Poodles provides a health guarantee for its puppies. Manaut Standard Poodles is friendly and happy to answer any questions you may have. Visit their beautiful website for extensive information on the owners and their operations. If you have the show ring in mind, tell the breeders. They will show you the puppies thye currently have available in the different accepted colors, including Cream, White, Silver, Blue, and Black. The owners of Munaut Standard Poodles consider Poodles an essential part of their lives. Each of them grew up with the breed. You should also thoroughly read reviews left by other people who have adopted puppies from the establishment. All the breeders listed here are good Arizona Poodle breeders. Final Thoughts As seen here, Arizona has plenty of excellent Poodle breeders. Are you planning to adopt a Poodle puppy soon? Take a look at your household and lifestyle and double check this breed is the right one for you. The Poodle is highly intelligent and beautiful, but full of bountiful energy. Similar Posts. If you think you have a special female with great lines, give us a ring and show us her testing and lineage…. They live with their own families, are raised by them, and retire with them. These are FOSTER homes, the dogs will come to us for breeding and delivering of litters females have 3 litters and are retired to their families. SCSPoodles posts testing performed on each of the dogs profile pages. Then moved to an outside location for daytime playtime till they are 8 weeks old. Then moved back inside from weeks for crate and foundation training additional charge. All Litters are raised using several Puppy Culture techniques, as well as other techniques learned along the 27 years of breeding and training dogs to expose them and create a foundation of confidence for you to continue training. We do work with many breeders that not only have the time but the drive to do so, and respect what they do for the breed. Many of our dogs do work in hunting, agility, dock diving, show, therapy, service, and many other facets of the dog world and we are very proud of those accomplishments. This is a list that allows future owners to become involved with a litter list that they prefer based on size, temperament, color, and gender. Temperament is the utmost importance in placing any pup with any family. SCSPoodles directs each family to the best fit for what they need and want. The Deposit List is simply a way for families to secure their preferences and for SCSPoodles to determine what pairings the general public wants and needs so that we pair up our dogs to also fit what families want. In Phoenix, AZ we live on 3 acres. All of our dogs enjoy roaming the majority of those acres in Phoenix, AZ and interact with our children, grandchildren, horses, cats, and chickens, Guinea Fowl, sheep, pigs, and goats, on a daily basis. Breeding our dogs is something that brings us joy. Our dogs are a huge part of our life especially considering that we have 2 sons with Epilepsy who have their very own Standard Poodle Service Dogs. These dogs play, work, travel and do just about everything with us. We are a very active family and because of that our dogs are well socialized in many different settings. We raise each of our dogs as if they were going to be a Service Dog. The main concern of Springer Clan Standard Poodles is to produce healthy, intelligent, sound, versatile dogs so they easily fit into your family life and are able to perform any task that you may ask of them. We strive to develop long term relationships with every family that adds one of our puppies to their life, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are here to help you make the best decision when choosing your new puppy and will be with you through the many years after adding one of our pups to your family. If we had the time, we would show our dogs in AKC and UKC events, however, with running a ranch, homeschooling, caring for 2 epileptic children and so on, it just is not a priority to us to show. A quality dog…. No exceptions please do not ask! We mean no disrespect to those that choose to Doodle, it is a personal choice, and we have made ours. A few of the litters produced for our families! When you purchase a puppy from Springer Clan Standard Poodles you are getting much more than just a puppy. You are choosing a dog bred with integrity and raised with an educated focused training from birth on. You really are, in all truth, joining our family. We think that Standard Poodles are the perfect dog for everyone due to their intelligence and adaptability to any family life that they are introduced to. Standard Poodles are naturally smart, as you well know, however Springer Clan Standard Poodles are raised using the Puppy Culture protocol. This has allowed us to focus on raising confident puppies who excel as Service Dogs in all the different aspects of that work as well as family dogs that are exceptionally easy to train because they LOVE to learn! They are calm when required to be indoors and yet athletic when outdoors. Standard Poodles love to learn and they learn very quickly. They have wonderful temperaments and get along with just about everyone, yet, when they need to protect the ones they love they will not hesitate. Standard Poodles are labeled hypoallergenic, which means they shed very little and have minimal dander, therefore, they are able to be companions to most anyone who is allergic to animals. After all this IS a practical factor when deciding from whom and when to purchase a puppy. We have decided that our prices for our quality raised and genetically tested, pure bred pups will be: As of 6. The older a puppy becomes the higher the price becomes since they will will have much more training when they are taken from our home to yours. Puppies are handled daily from the moment of birth until the day they leave our family to join yours. Puppies are exposed to cats, horses, goats, chickens, cows at times and our other dogs daily and learn to get along with everyone. The Springer Clan home is an activity hub. Lots of noises, voices, movements, and crazy quads, lawn mowers, diesel engines, leaf blowers daily for dust on my porch , grooming vacuums and clippers, screaming children, and motorcycles constantly all around your new puppy. This exposes them to many sounds so that they are confident around loud situations. If you have ever been to our home, there is a smile on your face. Health: By the third day all puppies have their first examination, tails are docked and dew claws removed by my vet. We allow puppies to nurse as long as the mother remains healthy. This gives every puppy the best start in life. Every litter is protected from communicable diseases by allowing no one outside our family or those with deposits near them until one week after their first series of shots. All puppies are given a series of shots at 6 and 8 weeks of age. Every puppy is wormed before going home with their new family. Every puppy full price will be micro-chipped at 8 weeks of age Grooming: Since Poodles will be groomed their entire life, we begin at birth by getting them accustomed to being handled. At four weeks old puppies are introduced to the process of grooming by having their face and feet trimmed, and will be trimmed weekly thereafter. Training: We have children in our family and friends who regularly visit, and therefore all puppies are taught early on that jumping on and nipping at people is unacceptable behavior. At birth we begin neuro stimulation which increases brain activity and is proven to create the building blocks of smarter and more confident pups. By 4 weeks old we begin playing Puppy games during feeding time which teaches pups self control, patience, observance, and respect for human boundaries. Whining and unnecessary barking telling humans what to do is nipped in the bud quickly. We crate three puppies per large crate overnight. This allows them to feel comfortable with litter mates at their side and soon learn that crates are not a punishment but a haven. Sometimes it is just too hot for this and skip it! If rarely there are any pups remaining with me past 8 weeks old, we begin to crate them individually and work on leash — price goes up NOT DOWN, for this training…something to think about. We choose to have a limited amount of litters each year, sometimes the litters fall in the first or second half of any given year, all Future Planned Litters will be posted on that page. We do not include these as part of our Breeding Program, yet will include these and any dogs that are born to our family in our Warranty Program and will be raised in the exact same fashion as our very own dogs. We rarely will sell to breeders but it is not out of the question. If you wish to begin a working relationship with SCSP, contact us and let us know your plans. Thank you for visiting our website, we look forward to hearing from you very soon… The Springer Clan Limited Registration: This means that the dog is registered as a pure bred dog, but no litters produced by that dog are eligible for registration. Its skull is somewhat round with a long, straight muzzle. All three varieties have the same build and proportions. This breed is nothing short of athletic, and they will want plenty of opportunities to show this off. Discover more about our Standard Poodle puppies for sale below. Poodles are notorious for learning tricks quickly and will love to take part in a wide range of canine hobbies. Keep them entertained with exercise, activities, games, and puzzles and you will have a very happy Poodle. Their elegant shape covered in a beautiful curly or corded coat gives them their distinct and famous look. It is this widely adored appearance, plus their intelligence, has earned this breed the status of the official dog of France. The Poodle is thought to have originated from Germany as a breed of water retriever. However, some argue that it is a descendant of the French Barbet dog. What we do know is that this is an old breed, with a history stretching back to the 15th century at least. Disposition Poodles are famous for being one of the most intelligent breeds, making them incredibly responsive and trainable. Meaning, they are very sweet, lively and cheerful puppies who like to be with people. If they are socialized properly, a Poodle will both charm your friends and also make a wonderful watchdog. It is important to give them the proper amount of exercise they need because, without it, they can become stressed and timid. The Poodle is great with children, making them an excellent family dog. Poodles are active, intelligent and proud dogs. They love to spend time with their family and are eager to play and please. They are remarkably agile and smart, which makes them wonderful to train. They enjoy learning and puzzles, so keep your Poodle stimulated to avoid them being bored or anxious. This breed is very people-oriented, which makes them both loyal and kind. They will respond to training routines that are fun and positive, just keep it consistent. Exercise Poodle puppies of any size are very active and require a good amount of exercise every day to suit their high energy level. They will thrive when they are kept busy and get to act on those inherent impulses such as retrieving, hunting, swimming, and learning. Poodles love to go for walks and jogs. Some even learn to do it themselves with clippers, while others take their dog to a professional dog groomer about every six weeks to have their hair and nails trimmed. Training As with most dogs, the Poodle will do best when they receive early socialization and leadership. This opportunity to learn manners will help that they grow up into a confident, happy adult dog. This is largely due to how cute they are as well as how trainable they are. The best approach to training is to make it both fun for you and the dog. They will respond best to positive reinforcement as they can be a bit sensitive. Despite their quiet nature, Poodles can be fans of their own voices. They tend to alert you to visitors, which is a trait you may appreciate. If you are not a fan of barking, make sure to not react to the barks. You may also want to try clicker training if the barking persists as an issue. See store for details on a particular puppy. American Canine Association, Inc.
miniature brown poodle puppies for sale - For the most part, these health issues can be treated if caught early enough. The breeders test for most of these on the parents of the puppies. There are health tests for these health issues, you should visit your veterinarian to perform yearly tests and talk over health issues of your boxer. Cancer Boxers are at risk of various cancers. They are brain, thyroid, mammary glands, testes, heart, spleen, blood, lymph system lymphoma , and other organs. Benign skin tumors usually respond to surgical removal under local anesthesia. Malignant forms of cancer need specific treatment. Being observant to any unusual worth on your boxer goes a long way to prevention and treatment on time. The aortic valve is the valve through which blood leaves the heart, traveling to the rest of the body. When this valve is narrowed, the heart and specifically the left ventricle, which is the chamber that pumps blood through the aorta must work harder to force blood out through the valve. In many cases, affected dogs do not show any signs. AS is detected on a routine physical examination, when the veterinarian notices a heart murmur. The boxers with severe AS show the following signs lethargy, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, and fainting. The tests used to confirm a diagnosis of AS are electrocardiography ECG , and echocardiogram ultrasound of the heart. Fainting or even sudden heart failure can occur, and some patients can develop congestive heart failure. It could show up as soon as 6 months or as late as 10 years of age. Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy are an irregular heartbeat in a routine exam, fainting, coughing, rapid breathing, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and sudden death. A 24 hours holter recording the heart's activity for this period of time, an electrocardiography ECG , and echocardiogram ultrasound of the heart. In Boxer it appears to have a predisposition for development of CKD, suggesting that kidney disease in this breed might be heritable. DM is a neurological disease that affects the spinal column and nerves that coordinate the movement of the rear legs. Eventually boxers lose their ability to walk, incontinent and are euthanized. There is now a test that detects DM. Spondylosis Spondylosis is a degenerative spinal condition that affects older dogs, but can also happen due to an injury. Some show no symptoms a boxer knows how to hide his ills, however some of the symptoms are motion issues or inflexibility, lameness or limping. Treatment for mild symptoms may be prescribed pain medication or anti inflammatory drugs. Physical therapy and an exercise program can help also monitoring weight and a weight loss program if the boxer is overweight. Hip Dysplasia HD Hip dysplasia is an abnormal development of the ball and socket joint that makes up the hip. Some of the symptoms are the dog does not want to play vigorously, pain and lameness, hip dysplasia shows in ages between 4 months to a year. Dog should be tested for hip dysplasia at 2 years of age. Symptoms will show between the ages of years old, but it can be diagnosed at any age. Some of the symptoms are: sleepiness, lethargy, weakness, increased appetite, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, the coat can become dull and dry, loss of fur, itchy skin, skin sores or infections, and ear inflammation. Diabetes Diabetes is when the pancreas fails to produce insulin properly. Treatment usually requires insulin shots for life. Some of the symptoms are frequent urination, hunger, weight loss, vomiting and weakness. For more information, browse the following links:. These include congenital anomalies as well as acquired disease later in life. Boxer heart disease usually falls into two important categories: aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Aortic Stenosis This is a congenital condition, a narrowing or constriction of the outflow tract from the left ventricle to the aorta. It can be detected as a systolic murmur by your veterinarian in young puppies and older dogs. Sometimes the murmur will not show up until the dog reaches enough physical size for the constriction to become evident. This murmur must be distinguished from other types of murmurs, often so-called innocent flow murmurs that disappear as the puppy grows. There is no practical surgical treatment, and if the condition results in arrhythmias, antiarrhythmic therapy is usually instituted. Mild forms of the anomaly may go undetected and are not incompatible with a normal life span. Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is an electrical-conduction disturbance sometimes referred to as ARVC -- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy , an adult onset disease of the heart muscle itself causing abnormal electrical impulses to disrupt the heart's normal rhythm. This arrhythmia may lead to sudden death or heart failure. Arrhythmias can be brought on by certain poisons, infections notably parvovirus , severe uremia, diabetes, and heatstroke. However, in the Boxer they are most often hereditary in nature. A simple blood test is available to determine whether or not your dog is carrying the genes that may make him most susceptible to this disease. A 24 hour Holter monitor, recording the heart's activity for this period of time, may be needed to diagnose potentially life threatening arrhythmias. It is advised to begin Holters in the young adult and repeat annually thereafter. They were used for bull-baiting and to chase wild game. This history means they are excellent runners and playful jumpers. The Boxer is used today by the police and military. The Boxer dog breed is deep-chested and is usually well-muscled under its smooth coat. They are considered a medium-sized dog breed—weighing in around pounds with an average height of inches. Caring for a Boxer Dog In the past, many Boxers had their ears cropped, but this trend has grown less popular in recent years. They have a prominent lower jaw and a short nose, which makes them sensitive to overheating. Their high energy and spirited nature typically make Boxers good pets for the active household. Boxers are prone to health issues, so it is important to talk with your veterinarian and have a strong preventative health routine in place. Boxer Dog Health Issues Boxers are predisposed to a few health conditions including cancer, heart disease, and joint problems. Cancers Cancers are some of the most common health conditions seen in Boxers. These include: Brain tumors Mast cell tumors which can be on the skin or internal organs Canine lymphoma a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymph system Osteosarcoma cancer of the bone Mammary cancer breast cancer Spaying prior to the first heat cycle substantially decreases the risk of developing mammary cancer in adulthood. Talk with your vet to learn the risks and benefits of early spaying for your dog. Depending on the type of cancer that a Boxer develops, treatments may vary. Surgery is often used to remove the affected tissue. Referral for consultation with a boarded veterinary oncologist is recommended. It is important to recognize that treatment is generally only recommended by veterinary oncologists for as long as quality of life can be maintained. Dilated Cardiomyopathy DCM Dilated cardiomyopathy DCM is degeneration of the heart that causes the muscle of the left ventricle to become very thin and pump weakly. The symptoms of the disease may occur suddenly or progress gradually as the disease worsens over time. DCM can eventually lead to congestive heart failure. DCM is a very serious condition that requires intensive treatment and not all dogs will return to normal. Treatments include medications like: Antiarrhythmics: to control arrhythmias Pimobendan: to lower vascular pressure and increase muscle strength Diuretics: to remove excess fluid from the body ACE inhibitors: to lower blood pressure and resistance Cardiac glycosides: to slow the heart rate Vasodilators: to dilate the blood vessels A correlation between DCM and grain-free diets has been found but is not fully understood. The normal heart muscle is replaced by fatty and fibrous tissue which causes abnormal electrical activity and therefore irregular heart rhythm. ARVC varies in severity. ARVC is treated using medications that control the abnormal heart rhythm antiarrhythmics. This occurs when the stomach fills up with food or gas, causing expansion and increased pressure. The stomach can then rotate, which causes inadequate blood supply to the spleen and stomach. If not treated quickly, shock, tissue damage, and even death can occur. Increased risk is seen in older dogs that have a deep chest like the Boxer , are fed from elevated bowls, and are fed only once per day. Immediate veterinary intervention is needed to stabilize and treat GDV. The longer a dog has this condition without intervention, the greater the risk of death. Initially, fluid therapy, oxygen therapy, and decompression of the stomach may be performed. To repair this condition, surgery is required to return the stomach to the right location and secure it in place gastropexy. To prevent GDV, a prophylactic gastropexy can be performed. In other words, surgery can be performed to secure the stomach in the right position to prevent GDV from occurring. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a condition that causes the thyroid gland to be underactive. The thyroid gland controls the metabolism. In hypothyroidism, the body either attacks its own glands or the gland is replaced with fat. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed using bloodwork. It is treatable with a thyroid hormone replacement medication called levothyroxine , which will be a lifelong medication. In humans, this is known as the anterior cruciate ligament ACL. When this ligament breaks down, it is at risk of tearing, which destabilizes the joint. Surgery is typically required to stabilize the knee. Maintaining a lean body condition helps to prevent CCL disease, as the excess weight adds to the breakdown of the ligament. They need quality protein for healthy muscles, including the heart. There is a correlation between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy, to which the Boxer is predisposed. How to Feed a Boxer The Boxer breed can thrive on being fed one meal a day—or every 12 hours. Older dogs with deep chests should be fed smaller meals twice a day to help decrease the risk of bloat. It is not recommended to use raised food bowls; this can actually increase the risk of bloat. How Much Should You Feed a Boxer Just like humans, the recommended caloric intake required varies between individuals due to different physical size, metabolism, and activity level. The best way to determine how much to feed your Boxer is to talk with your veterinarian and consult the feeding guide labels on your chosen dog food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in skin and joint supplements , fish oil , and even in some specially formulated dog foods. These fatty acids will act as natural anti-inflammatories that help to support the skin, coat, kidneys, joints, and heart. They are known to jump and paw when they play—training to teach them to stay down is beneficial. Additionally, Boxers can be protective of the home and family and may not interact well with other dogs unless socialized early. The Boxer may not be the best breed for young children or frail adults due to their jumping behavior. Boxer Dog Behavior This happy, playful breed is known for jumping up. They also can be reactive to other dogs and may be protective of the home and family. Many Boxers like digging in the yard and may even tunnel under a fence. While every individual is different, most Boxers are not excessive barkers. Early leash training can help to prevent pulling on the leash while walking, which is common in Boxers. Boxer Dog Training Boxers are very intelligent and trainable but requires patience due to their high energy. They will learn if given clear and consistent commands. Socializing Boxers with other dogs at an early age may help prevent aggressive or fearful interactions with other dogs in adulthood. Fun Activities for Boxers. They love spending time with their owners and letting their playful and fun characters shine through. They are eager to please and very loyal dogs. Originally Boxers were bred to be working dogs, which is why they have such high exercise needs and energy to spare! Common health problems in Boxers Boxers are intelligent dogs who are very loyal to their families. Sadly, like many other purebred dogs, they are prone to certain conditions. If you are thinking of buying a Boxer puppy , make sure the parents of your puppy have had the relevant health screening to reduce the chances of your puppy being affected by certain conditions. Some of the conditions Boxers may develop include: Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS — this can cause severe breathing problems in some Boxers with shorter faces. Epilepsy — a brain disorder causing seizures. Eye problems — such as corneal ulcers due to the shape of their skulls and prominence of the eyes. Heart problems — such as cardiomyopathy or aortic stenosis. Before breeding, parents should be screened. Skin problems - such as warts, skin tags, skin allergies and soreness in skin folds around the face skin fold dermatitis. Certain cancers. If you want to minimise the risk of your dog getting problems, you can read our advice on choosing a pedigree dog. Caring for your boxer Boxers are fun and active dogs who can be high maintenance due to their exercise needs. If you love getting out and about walking, they could be a good breed for you! A large secure garden is a must if you have a Boxer so they have plenty of space to blow off steam. Boxers can be very boisterous so do better with an experienced and patient! Boxers and barking Your Boxer is likely to make noise and how much they do make will be down to their training and personality. Boxers are naturally very good guard dogs and so are more likely to bark to make their owners aware of any comings and goings around the home. Training and socialisation Boxers are clever dogs but can be boisterous, so positive, reward-based training from a young age is really important. Boxers mature a lot slower than other breeds, so having a large amount of puppy energy in such a big dog can be challenging for some owners. You need to handle your Boxer with a firm but fair attitude and make sure you are patient and consistent. They can be boisterous so make sure you train them not to jump up at people from a young age. Boxers love human company so can develop separation anxiety if left alone. If they are alone or bored, they like to chew which means your furniture and belongings will be at risk! Exercise Boxers are very high energy, active dogs who love playing and being involved in everything going on. They keep their puppy attitude longer than most dogs so you might find your Boxer rarely has a calm moment at home! Your Boxer will need a minimum of two hours exercise every day. This should be split into a few walks with plenty of opportunities for sniffing around and exploring. You should also give your Boxer plenty of time to exercise off lead somewhere secure so they can have a good run around. On top of this, your Boxer will also need regular, short training sessions. They will also need lots of playtime and free time in the garden to do what they want. Grooming Boxers are fairly low maintenance when it comes to grooming. They have short fur which only needs a weekly brush to keep it in good condition. As with any dog, you should expect your Boxer to shed throughout the year, more so in spring and autumn. A regular hoover should be enough to keep on top of it. Due to the excess skin around their faces, Boxers are at risk of developing a condition called skin fold dermatitis. Boxers and children Generally speaking, Boxers are good around children of all ages given the right training. An adult only home or one with teenagers is better for a Boxer. Always supervise your dog with children and vulnerable adults. Puppy socialisation classes are a great way to get your pup used to new dogs. Early socialisation will help your dog get along well other dogs as an adult. They may get along OK with a cat they have grown up with, but you should always supervise your Boxer with smaller pets. Your vet will be able to tell you how much your Boxer should be eating. You should feed them a good quality, commercially available, complete dog food. We usually recommend splitting their daily allowance into two meals. If you give your dog the occasional treat or use treats for training, remember to take this into account and reduce their daily allowance. Try to feed your dog at similar times every day as they like routine. Remember to leave a gap between eating and exercising. Beware unusually cheap puppies as they could come from a puppy farm. These breeders must do extra health tests and meet higher standards. Set-up costs Puppy vaccines — if you rescue a dog, reputable centres will often vaccinate them for you. Remember that ongoing booster vaccinations will be needed to continue their immunity. Neutering — you should usually arrange for your dog to be neutered at around months old, though your vet will be able to advise you exactly when is best. Check prices at your local practice as these will depend on your vet and where you live. Some rescue centres will neuter any dogs they rehome, saving you this cost. Equipment — including a collar and tags, lead, harness, dog beds, dog bowls, pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrushes, grooming brushes and toys. Keep in mind that all these will need to be replaced with wear or damage or if your dog outgrows or damages them! Ongoing costs Food. Preventive healthcare — budget for routine vet visits to help stop your dog getting ill and catch any problems early. They need annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular flea and worming treatments. Check if your vet offers a health care plan as this can help spread the cost throughout the year. Accessories — including lots of poo bags, replacing worn toys and grooming accessories, buying doggy toothpaste and any other extras they might need. Other costs Training — basic training is very important and dogs can benefit from formal classes. Some dogs may have, or develop, behavioural problems which might need professional management. Boarding — you may also need to budget for boarding or dog sitting costs if you are planning to go away from home on holiday. If you are having difficulty with veterinary costs, you can check if you are eligible for treatment at PDSA here. Get ready with the ear plugs, because Boxers are known for loud snoring! Boxers originated in Germany in the s so are considered a fairly new breed. Getting a Boxer Do plenty of research before getting a Boxer. These playful and lively dogs keep their puppy ways well into their adult years so need an understanding owner with plenty of time and patience! Boxers can be really loving in the right household and will love spending time with you. Rehoming centres There are plenty of rescue centres across the country where you may find a Boxer. Breed-specific rescues that specialise in Boxers are also out there. Good rescue centres should let you know of any health and behaviour problems. Breeders If you buy from a breeder, make sure your puppy will be well socialised and have all necessary screening tests, health checks and vaccinations. We recommend looking for a Kennel Club Assured breeder as they meet higher standards. Advertisement The breed is one of the most popular in the UK, with one in every dogs in Britain a Boxer, according to the study. Boxers have relatively flat faces - known as moderate brachycephaly - which researchers suggested may increase their risk of conditions such as breathing problems and skin fold infections. However, until now, there has been limited evidence on the breed's overall health. In the new study, the team analysed the records of 3, Boxer dogs who received veterinary care in the UK in .The analysis revealed that, unlike more flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs, Boxers were at no higher risk of breathing problems or skin fold infections. Alison Skipper, co-author of the study, said: 'The Boxer, which is a moderately brachycephalic flat-faced breed, has fewer common health problems directly related to its body shape than the extreme brachycephalic breeds. Otitis externa inflammation of the external ear canal was found to be the most common condition, followed by epulis gum mass , corneal ulceration an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea , and gum disease. Otitis externa inflammation of the external ear canal was found to be the most common condition, followed by epulis gum mass , corneal ulceration an open sore in the outer layer of the cornea , and gum disease stock image Somewhat unsurprisingly, researchers found that fighting dogs are the most aggressive. This group includes American Bulldogs pictured Advertisement Meanwhile, one in seven .Cancer was also found to be the most common cause of death .The team also found key differences in the risk of conditions in male and female dogs. Female Boxers were found to be at higher risk of gum disease, skin masses and urinary incontinence, while males were more likely to experience heart murmurs, aggression, and ear discharge. While previous studies have suggested that coat colour may influence the risk of certain conditions, the team found no difference between white and non-white dogs. The team hopes the findings will help vets to take preventative measures to protect Boxers, and provide their owners with information on the health issues to look out for. Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeding Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: 'We're pleased this study indicates that most disorders faced by Boxers are fairly common for all dogs, and that there don't seem to be any prevalent extreme health conditions, including those which can be associated with other Brachycephalic breeds. Boxer Dog Health Problems Overview All dog breeds are susceptible to certain illness and health conditions. While a Boxer may be susceptible to certain ailments, this does not mean that your dog is doomed to have all of them. We will go over the most common health concerns with this breed and also steps that you can take to keep your Boxer healthy. Acne It is not uncommon for a Boxer to have problems with acne. Most cases will appear when the dog is in the stage of puberty and may pimples may be a chronic issue during this time. If proper care is not taken, it can develop into a more serious health issue of infection. In addition, aside from the aesthetic element, scarring may occur. Read more about Boxer dog Acne. Aortic Stenosis - Heart Condition This is a canine issue that affects the dog's heart. The Boxer breed is more prone to this than some other dog breeds. Mild cases are sometimes not noticed and the dog will live a normal life. However, this is inherited and once passed down to Boxer puppies, those pups may have more severe cases. Therefore, the detection of this Boxer health issue is important. For dogs that do have a severe form of Aortic Stenosis, this can be very serious. More about Aortic Stenosis Arthritis Many of us have heard the words arthritis and osteoarthritis so many times that we begin to think of this as a normal and accepted part of getting older for our dogs. However, even young dogs can have this health issue. While it is true that as a dog ages, the chances of arthritis increases, your dog does not need to live in pain! There are many types of treatment for this and ways for you to make your dog more comfortable. A Boxer dog owner should be aware of the signs, diagnosis methods and treatments for this health issue, to help their Boxer dog live a happy and healthy life for as long as possible. And can be avoided in many cases. If the signs of canine bloat are not noticed and treatment is not given.Bloat can happen to a Boxer dog of any age. Thankfully, the chances of getting this are greatly reduced when an owner understands how to prevent it. While cancer strikes dogs of all breeds, an owner should take time to keep an eye out for early symptoms. As with humans, catching this early greatly increases the odds of survival. Boxers dogs are particularly prone to the development of mast cell tumors, lymphoma and brain tumors. White Boxers, and colored Boxers with white markings should be protected from the sun, as they are vulnerable to develop skin cancer if sunburns occur. And more about Boxer dog mast cell tumors and surgery Cardiomyopathy Heart Condition Boxer cardiomyopathy is a very complicated Boxer health condition. Studies are still underway to understand more about this issue. Currently it is known that cardiomyopathy causes the heart of the dog to beat too quickly or unsteadily. This can happen at random intervals and hard to detect unless you know what symptoms to look for. If the uneven beats happen in too great of a sequence, the dog may weaken to the point of unconsciousness, coma or worse. And more about Boxer dog mast cell tumors and surgery Degenerative Myelopathy While this is not common, the Boxer is among the top 3 breeds to develop this. Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive, incurable disease of the spinal cord. It is not painful. However, it is quite serious. It starts with weakness in the rear legs, resulting in paralysis. Then, unfortunately, progresses to the front legs. More about Canine Degenerative Myelopathy with the Boxer Dog Ear Mites This can be quite a problem for dogs, ears mites are extremely contagious and will quickly jump from dog to dog or cat to dog. When a Boxer has ear mites, this can cause quite a bit of discomfort for the dog and you will want recognize the symptoms so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. This can be caused by a wide variety of bacteria, allergies or foreign elements. There is help for all types. Learn about symptoms, treatment and prevention. Cherry Eye, Corneal Dystrophy and Uveitis are some of the most common eye health issues with this dog breed. More about Boxer Dog Eye Diseases and Problems Heartworms Sadly, many owners believe that Heartworms only strike unclean dogs or those that are not loved and taken care of. However, this is a widespread very serious canine disease. Worms from 6 to 14 inches cm long grow and burrow into a dog's heart. They multiply; up to worms can live in a dog's heart and arteries. It is vital for dog owners to understand prevention and treatment. The Boxer dog, among other dog breeds, is prone to this health condition. Passed on genetically, this type of canine disease is progressive — meaning that it will worsen as time goes by. It may cause loss of motor function, loss of coordination and in sadly, in some cases, paralysis. While more common among certain breeds, a dog of any breed may develop this. The Boxer and the Boston Terrier are both prone to this. Both dog breeds do have similar bone structure of their heads and it is also seen among some small breed dogs. With vomiting and bloating occurring, it is important to have this treated. There may be rapid weight loss due to the symptoms. The time span between eating and vomiting is what will distinguish 'regular' vomiting from this stomach disease. While a dog may vomit right after eating when having this health problem, he or she will also vomit up to 24 hour later…when there would usually be no food left in the stomach. With this Boxer dog stomach problem, the vomit will usually contain large pieces of undigested food. It is diagnosed by carefully documenting when the dog eats and when the dog vomits. Barium studies with X-rays may show the narrowed stomach outflow. In mild cases, the vomiting does not happen often and a dog can live a normal life without treatment. In severe cases, treatment must be given right away; if not, the dog can succumb to this canine disease. Surgery may be needed in some cases. Thankfully, the majority of surgeries are very successful. When puppies are born, these are passed on to them from dam to pups. For healthy Boxer dogs, this does not cause any concern and the dog will not have any health issues. A dog will often show strange symptoms such as repeated behavior as if a movie is looping over and over again , drooling, staring into space, confusion, falling down, stiff limbs or unconsciousness. Learn about the different types of canine seizures, the symptoms of each and what to do if this happens. They have incredible immune systems, they possess hyper-athletic physiology, and they have an incredibly high tolerance for discomfort. A boxer is a physical specimen, even by comparison with other dogs. The boxer dog breed is as athletic as dogs get while still being sweet, obedient, and playful read more fun facts about boxer dogs. However, as is the case with most purebred dogs, boxers are prone to certain health problems. Degenerative Myelopathy The first major health issue that most dog owners should be aware of is degenerative myelopathy. This debilitating condition affects the nervous system and lower spinal cord and eventually leads to partial or full paralysis of the lower limbs. These sudden unexplainable bouts of clumsiness will be few and far between to begin, but any sign of paralysis in the hind legs should serve as a warning sign. Unfortunately, there is no cure for degenerative myelopathy, as it is a debilitating nerve disease with irreversible effects. Even still, rapid action and treatment is a necessity for keeping your Boxer as healthy and happy as possible. Things like canine wheelchairs, kinesiology tape, and certain kinds of prescribed medicines from the vet can help your Boxer pet lead a life that is as close to normal as possible. If you notice any regular bouts of clumsiness or temporary paralysis in the hind legs, it is imperative that you take your Boxer in to be checked for degenerative myelopathy. If you fear your Boxer may be suffering from this disease, your veterinarian will be able to help with a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Boxer Cardiomyopathy Boxer Cardiomyopathy is a canine heart condition that is more prevalent in the boxer dog breed than any other breed of dog. While other dogs are just as susceptible to developing this kind of heart condition, due to their genetic makeup boxers are at high risk for this disease. Characterized by an irregular heartbeat and fainting spells, boxers affected by cardiomyopathy are often at high risk of sudden heart failure. Most boxers who suffer from Boxer Cardiomyopathy begin to show symptoms of the disease at two years of age or earlier. Complications can arise as a result of waiting, so it is always a best practice to consult your Vet as soon as you notice any health problems in your dog. Symptoms like heavy wheezing not during exercise , fainting, coughing, and an irregular heartbeat could all be indications that your Boxer is suffering from Boxer Cardiomyopathy. Take preventative action and visit your Vet for a professional diagnosis and treatment plan. Bloat is a more common name for a condition called gastric dilation, wherein the gastrointestinal system swells, preventing digestion of food and passage of stool. The most common cause of Bloat is simply overeating, which Boxers are prone to do. The result of excess food combined with excess stomach acid is rapid inflammation and Bloat. In some severe cases, Bloat can require surgery. Bloat can cause the stomach muscles to twist on themselves, which prevents blood flow to the stomach and spleen. If this goes without treatment, it could be catastrophic for your Boxer. Even in more mild cases of Bloat, uncomfortable methods of extraction are often employed. The best treatment for Bloat is to avoid it altogether, and Bloat can easily be managed by you as an owner. Simply control how much you are feeding your Boxer, and be sure to avoid overeating. Most Boxers are susceptible to massive appetites, and they require large amounts of caloric intake daily. Hip Dysplasia As a superior athletic specimen, mobility is key for your Boxer. Hip dysplasia is one of the biggest long term threats for the health and well being of the Boxer dog breed. This degenerative joint condition is a genetic malformation wherein the hip joint does not properly fit into the hip socket. The discord between joint and socket creates a painful sensation wherein your Boxer is limited in his mobility. Activities like walking become a chore, while fun activities like running and jumping become downright impossible. However, hip dysplasia becomes more of a risk the older your dog gets. If left untreated Hip dysplasia can lead to other joint conditions like lameness and arthritis. Typically, hip dysplasia is treated with a long term medication plan to control inflammation and pain. If your Boxer is severely limited in his mobility, you may be interested in looking into canine physical therapy, which can help your dog in their pursuit to learn new ways of moving. Seizures Seizures may be one of the most frightening medical episodes to watch your Boxer endure, but they are an unfortunate reality for boxer owners. The same thing that makes your Boxer a lovable bundle of renewable energy is the very cause of potential seizures, their brain. Most commonly, and especially in boxers, these types of seizures are brought on by Idiopathic Epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy refers to a single or series of epileptic episodes that have no apparent cause. These epileptic fits stem from some unknown genetic malformation of the brain, and this type of epilepsy is found in large dogs and boxers. Additionally, Boxers, especially those with heart conditions, are susceptible to seizures because of their increased energy levels. While it may be scary, seizures are treatable, both in the moment and long term. In the moment, it is important to remain calm and allow your dog to seize. Your instinct will be to restrain your dog, but this action could cause more harm than good. Once the seizing has subsided, take your dog to your Vet immediately. Seizing could be a side effect of some greater health risk, so it is always imperative that your dog is taken in for analysis after an epileptic event. There are medications and treatment plans that can help your Boxer cope with seizures and epileptic events. General Health The best way to keep your Boxer healthy and happy is with a good diet and lots of exercise. Your Boxer is full of natural energy, and his excitement to run and play will likely outlast your enthusiasm and energy levels. Nonetheless, it is imperative that you are constantly engaging with your Boxer. Boxers are one of the most demanding breeds, not just as a result of how much energy they have, but how much energy they require in return. Even in spite of some of the health problems listed above, your Boxer will still have more energy and desire to be active than many other breeds. Boxers require a calorie-rich diet of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to match their high metabolism. Your dog is special! Chances are that you chose her because you like Boxers and you expected her to have certain traits that would fit your lifestyle: Affectionate, easygoing, and lovable Loves to play games, especially fetch Intelligent, friendly, and easily won over Large, strong, and athletic, with lots of stamina in cooler climates Good with kids and other pets An excellent guard dog, courageous and dependable However, no dog is perfect! You may have also noticed these characteristics: Can be rambunctious and rowdy, especially as a younger dog Exhibits signs of separation anxiety if left alone too much Can be gassy and drool a lot Can be independent and strong-willed Needs frequent attention from her family Suspicious of strangers Is it all worth it? Of course! She is a bright and energetic companion that forms close human bonds. With early socialization and consistent leadership, she is a cheerful and dependable addition to any family. The modern Boxer was developed in Germany during the 19th century from mastiff type dogs, and was originally used to hunt large game and in fighting or baiting. The Boxer is a high-energy dog with an enthusiastic and animated nature. They are a friendly and high-spirited breed that loves to play with children. Some Boxers can be stubborn but most are eager and quick to learn. Boxers enjoy close human contact and demand to be the center of attention with their clownish antics. The Boxer is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of years. That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Boxer. By knowing about health concerns specific to Boxers, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks. That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Boxers to give you an idea of what may come up in her future. This guide contains general health information important to all canines as well as the most important genetic predispositions for Boxers. At the end of the booklet, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Boxer looking and feeling her best. And unfortunately, your Boxer is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. It starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. Infections Boxers are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections — the same ones that all dogs can get — such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination, which we will recommend based on the diseases we see in our area, her age, and other factors. Obesity Obesity can be a significant health problem in Boxers. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. Roundworm egg as seen under the microscope. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms, and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. Spay or Neuter One of the best things you can do for your Boxer is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. For example, if your pet needs hip X-rays or a puppy tooth extracted, this would be a good time. This is convenient for you and easy for your friend. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions for common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk. Genetic Predispositions for Boxers Heart Disease Boxers are prone to multiple types of heart disease, which can occur both early and later in life. Veterinary dental care and weight control go a long way in preventing heart disease. Boxers are especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. As this problem advances, he may act weak or tired, faint or collapse, breathe in a labored way, or cough. This means your Boxer is more at risk than other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off blood supply to the stomach, and sometimes the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as 30 minutes. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes out , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up. Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option. If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! This is a common problem in dogs, and your Boxer is more likely than other dogs to be affected. The condition usually develops slowly, and the early signs are easily missed. Symptoms include drinking and urinating more than normal, increased appetite and reduced activity level. Later, a potbelly, thin skin, and hair loss are characteristic. Treatment usually includes oral medications, and requires close coordination with us to ensure correct dosing. Bone and Joint Problems A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Boxers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. The cranial cruciate ligament is one of the four tough bands of tissue that hold each knee together. A torn cranial cruciate ligament is a common injury in active dogs, which includes your Boxer. Usually surgical correction is done to stabilize the knee and help prevent crippling arthritis. Physical therapy and multimodal pain management are necessary to get the best outcome. Keeping him at the right weight, feeding a high-quality diet, and avoiding too much twisting of the knees like playing Frisbee are key in avoiding this painful injury. Neurological Disease A genetically linked neurological condition that could occur in your Boxer causes a wobbly, drunken gait. This condition, known as wobbler disease or wobbler syndrome, happens because there is a narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck, which pinches the spinal cord and associated nerves. If the nerves do not send signals to the brain the way they are supposed to, your dog cannot feel his feet. The first signs you will often notice are unstable hind legs, stumbling, and sometimes falling. Medications, neck braces, rehabilitation exercise programs, and surgery are treatment options. It affects Boxers more frequently than other breeds. If your dog has this disease, he will become increasingly weak and disabled in the hind legs and will eventually suffer from paralysis in his hindquarters, along with incontinence. Rehabilitation, exercise, acupuncture, and dietary supplements can be helpful, but there is no cure. A genetic test is available to determine whether your dog is at risk for this heritable disease. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD is an immune system disorder common in Boxers in which the intestinal lining becomes overrun with immune system cells called lymphocytes and plasmacytes. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea is common or it may flare up suddenly and then improve again for a time. Stress, diet change, or intestinal parasites may make it worse. If your friend has diarrhea or digestive upsets that are not explained by the more common reasons, diagnostic tests, which may include intestinal biopsy, will be needed. Lifetime medications and special diets are usually required to keep this bellyache under control. Unfortunately, Boxers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern. Multiple Skin Problems Your Boxer is susceptible to different kinds of skin infections and diseases. One of them is caused by yeast Malassezia dermatitis. When it infects the ears, it causes itching, redness, and an accumulation of brown waxy discharge. On the skin, it leads to greasy, hairless areas, especially on the neck and throat, with a characteristic odor. Another common skin disease called seborrhea can cause dry, flaky skin or greasy, oily skin. These diseases make your pet itchy and uncomfortable. The earlier you call to have his skin problems checked, the less likely it is that you will end up caring for an itchy, bald, smelly dog. Bleeding Disorders There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders which occur in dogs. They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding can result. Abnormal lymphocytes, as seen under the microscope, confirming a diagnosis of lymphoma. Lymphoma Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is a type of cancer that afflicts Boxers more than other breeds. This disease makes the body form abnormal lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Because white blood cells can be found throughout the body, this cancer can show up almost anywhere. Lymphoma is a very treatable form of cancer, with an excellent success rate in dogs receiving chemotherapy. Treatment can be costly, however, and is a lifelong commitment. Luckily, lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can often be found with a blood test, so we may recommend a complete blood count twice yearly. Bleeding Tumor Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor that affects Boxers at greater than average incidence. These tumors commonly form in the spleen, but can form in other organs as well. Unbeknownst to a pet owner, the tumor breaks open and internal bleeding occurs. Some tumors can be volleyball-sized or larger before signs of sickness show. We often find clues that one of these tumors is present during senior wellness testing, so have his blood tested and an ultrasound performed at least yearly. Mast Cell Tumor Mast cell tumors are a particularly nasty type of skin cancer found more often in Boxers, and the sooner they are surgically removed the better. Trouble is, they often look just like other kinds of skin lumps and lesions, some of which are harmful, and others not. All suspicious lumps should be tested and any questionable lump should be surgically removed as soon as possible. Many cancers are cured by surgically removing them, so early detection and removal is critical. Epilepsy There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary, or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, with Boxers commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, they will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control, with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and effectiveness. Note the length of the seizure, and call us or an emergency hospital. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, or other behavioral changes. Treatment is usually simple: replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. Acepromazine Sensitivity Acepromazine is a widely used tranquilizer, very often prescribed for travel and other anxiety. For many years this drug was considered to have a wide margin for safety, meaning that vets prescribed it readily for traveling pets and for noise phobias. Recently, however, studies have uncovered some dangerous side effects in a few breeds, notably the Boxer. Respiratory Distress Syndrome This disease, also known as brachycephalic syndrome, affects dogs with a short nose, like your Boxer. As a consequence, the soft palate the soft part at the back of the roof of the mouth , is too long and hangs down into the airway. The nostrils are often too small, and sometimes the trachea, or windpipe, is narrow and undersized. All of these things lead to a narrow and obstructed airway. Many of these dogs can barely breathe! Watch for exercise intolerance, loud breathing, coughing, bluish gums, or fainting. With his short nose, he is also more likely to develop other problems, such as flatulence from excessive air intake, pneumonia from aspirating food, or heat stroke. In severe cases, surgical correction may be recommended. Taking Care of Your Boxer at Home Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her. Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs. Routine Care, Diet, and Exercise Build her routine care into your schedule to help your Boxer live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime. We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. Supervise your pet as you would a toddler. Keep doors closed, pick up after yourself, and block off rooms as necessary. She has low grooming needs. Brush her coat as needed, at least weekly. Boxers generally have good teeth, and you can keep them perfect by brushing them at least twice a week! Clean her ears weekly, even as a puppy. She can have a high prey drive, so she needs to be leash walked and a sturdy fence is a must. She can be sensitive to temperature extremes; avoid any prolonged exposure and be very alert to the signs of heat stress. Feed a high-quality diet appropriate for her age. What to Watch For Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease, or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help, and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Boxer needs help. For the most up-to-date information on DNA and other screening tests available for your pal, visit www. Your Boxer counts on you to take good care of her, and we look forward to working with you to ensure that she lives a long and healthy life. Please contact us when you have questions or concerns. References: Ackerman L. Second edition. AAHA Press; .Veterinary medical guide to dog and cat breeds. Jackson, Wyoming. Teton New Media; .Gough A, Thomas A. Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats. Wiley-Blackwell; .Canine Inherited Disorders Database [Internet]. University of Prince Edward Island.
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miniature brown poodle puppies for sale - They are adorable, loving, and loyal to their owners. However, just like any other animal, this breed of dog also has its weaknesses. They are known to have several genetic health problems. Some illnesses may develop somewhere along the way too. And so, if you already have a Frenchie, or if you are planning on taking one home soon, you must familiarize yourself with the health issues that your pet may suffer from so you know how to take care of it. One thing that you should know about Frenchies is that they are most likely to have problems with their rear legs as a result of hemivertebrae, which we are going to discuss in this article. What is the average life expectancy of my French bulldog? What problems can French bulldogs have with their back legs? French bulldogs have been bred in such a way that they have short rear legs. While this appearance may seem to look cute for some people, this could actually cause some serious problems. Like what we have said above, Frenchies may have hemivertebrae , which is a congenital condition. This means that they already have it since birth because of the way they have been bred. Simply put, this condition refers to the spine being deformed or has been formed abnormally. One of the issues that this particular condition could cause is weakness of the hind limbs. With this, your dog may have difficulty in getting up, walking, and running. And if it gets worse, your pet may even get paralyzed, which could also lead to death. If you notice that your pooch spends most of its time lying down, or if you see that it can barely walk, then most likely, it has issues with its rear legs. If it yelps if you try to pick it up, you would know that there is definitely something wrong with it. You then need to take it to a veterinarian in order to figure out what exactly is wrong with your Frenchie. Diagnosis can be done with the help of x-ray or a more sophisticated imaging system. There are other symptoms of having hemivertebrae. Aside from weak back legs, a dog may also suffer from severe pain as well as urinary and fecal incontinence. These signs may show as early as puppyhood, and they could get worse as your dog gets old. French Bulldog labor and delivery In what ways can you help? The care and treatment for hemivertebrae depends on the severity. If it is just a mild case, you can give anti-inflammatory drugs to your Frenchie to help ease the pain. Doing so will significantly help treat the condition. With this, you would need a prescription from a vet. You also need to make sure that your dog gets a lot of rest. And, of course, you should feed it with healthy foods to keep it strong. A surgical procedure might be needed to help address the health problem. This will be performed by a certified veterinary neurologist or surgeon. Do not force your poochie to do jumping exercises or any rough games, especially if it still a few months old. With that said, make sure that you find time to walk your Frenchie once in a while. This is because these fatty acids help in preventing inflammation as well as degeneration. You can serve this food group up to twice or thrice a week. Make sure that you always support its spine including its legs. Teach other members of your household to do the same too. Is hemivertebrae surgery an option? How much will it cost? Hemivertebrae surgery, also known as hemilaminectomy, is the best option to treat the condition if it is already at a severe stage. With this procedure, the part of the intervertebral disc that is pressing on the spine will be removed. This would then help relieve the pain. However, you need to take note that not all dogs that have undergone this particular procedure have recovered. Some of them have been put to sleep rather than suffering from the said condition for the rest of their lives. Since it is a very delicate procedure, it could get really expensive. The imaging alone may cost you up to USD. You can expect an additional of, at least, USD for the surgery itself. This amount would only cover one area. If the decompression involves several parts of the spinal cord, then the cost of the procedure will certainly be a lot higher. Yes, treating hemivertebrae through surgery is pricey. But if your pet is insured , it would help a lot. Such a procedure can be covered. Closing Thoughts Having a French bulldog that has deformed vertebrae or damaged spinal cord could be really hard. It would require patience from you as the owner since taking care of your pup with this condition would require more attention. You also have to prepare yourself financially because the treatment may cost a fortune depending on how severe it is. The bottom line is, the earlier you have your Frenchie checked by a vet, the better it would be. So if you notice any symptoms, it is highly recommended that you take your pet to a vet immediately. Never disregard the signs because they could adversely affect the quality of life of your pet. Close share Copy link Dog paralysis occurs as a result of a disruption in communication between the spinal cord and the brain. Sometimes, paralysis in dogs causes total immobility, while other times the dog paralysis may only be partial. This article was inspired by our reader comments. Just to let you know that we pay attention to every comment you leave at the end, or your responses via email - we love it when you engage with us. That said, I will now set out below one Real-Life incident that may help to set the scene for the rest of this piece. Allison: "I woke up at am and my french bulldog was suddenly paralyzed in the hind legs. I had noticed that for about 3 months she would sometimes slip when running. Until this morning she was active and normal. She is not drinking but will take treats. She urinated and defecated at this morning but has not since. Is it okay for me to wait until tomorrow morning to take her to our regular vet? It will cost 3 times the price to take her to the Vet emergency clinic. If I decide to wait until morning and she does not urinate should I try to express the bladder myself? Justin: "Thanks for the question. Allow me to ask you a few questions so I can better assist you. Is she able to move her back legs at all? Pinch her toes really hard to elicit pain. Does she pull the leg back? Does she turn her head, growl, whine, like it hurts? Allison: "She could feel me pinching she drew back her leg slightly.Justin: "Thanks for the information. It's good that she still has pain perception in her back legs. She most likely has a disc that has prolapsed and is placing pressure on her spinal cord. I would recommend you take her to the emergency vet right away. They can take an x-ray to confirm the diagnosis and start her on appropriate meds. If she does have a prolapsed disc, they will place her on anti-inflammatories, pain meds, and muscle relaxers. If you elect not to take her in, keep her as quiet as possible. Keep her in a cage to limit her mobility. Pinch her toes once every 12 hours. If you are experienced in expressing bladders, you can do this every 8 hours to give her relief. Otherwise, I wouldn't attempt it without proper instruction. I hope this helps. I work from home and can give any care needed. What kind of costs and care may I be facing? Justin: "If there hasn't been any permanent damage to her spinal cord, once the swelling decreases she should start walking again. However, she may always have some neurologic deficit to her hind legs. To what extent is impossible to predict. However, if there is permanent damage she may never be able to walk again. This occurs commonly in some breeds, i. Dachshunds, and carts have been developed to prop up the hind legs, allowing affected animals to get around. These dogs generally need to have their bladders expressed daily, so they do require constant nursing care. However, I am always amazed at how happy these dogs seem, motoring around in their little carts. As far as the cost of surgery, it all depends on what part of the country you live in. Generally, you're looking at between - dollars. So, if you have never had such, you need to keep yourself abreast of some critical information regarding French Bulldog paralysis. Dog paralysis is a scary thing, there are however a lot of things you can still do to cater for your Frenchie should things go south. Read on to also learn a handful of preventive measures to keep your Frenchie save. Tetraplegia causes a complete inability to move any of his four legs. Paraplegia: This type of paralysis causes the dog the inability to move his hind legs. Paresis: Is a type of dog paralysis that causes restricted movement in dogs. Paresis still allows the ability to move but great difficulty. The uneasy movement usually causes them great pain. One of the worst mistakes a French Bulldog owner would make is ignoring signs of dog paralysis earlier in their development until it becomes an emergency. Sometimes, it may be due to the fact that the Frenchie Mom or Dad actually does not know the signs or symptoms of paralysis in dogs. So, let's look at a few things you can look out for to ascertain whether your Frenchie pet might have an impending case of Paralysis. Signs of French Bulldog Paralysis: Refusing to stand up or move his legs Dragging his hind legs while walking with the front legs Difficulty moving around Experiencing unusual pain in the neck, spine or legs Inability to control urination or bowel movements Constipation It goes without saying that some of these symptoms are things you may never know about if you didn't engage in periodic check-up on your Frenchie. For instance, when you are playing with your French Bulldog, chances are you may easily identify a pain point. That said, we believe that prevention is better than cure. Hence, if you knew what causes Paralysis in French Bulldogs, you may stand a better chance of ensuring that it didn't happen to your Frenchie in the first place. Let's look at some medical and environmental causes of French Bulldog Paralysis. Tick Bites: This might be a shocker to you; like, how could Tick bites paralyze a dog? Unfortunately, research shows that Tick Bites are one of the most common and indeed the leading cause of Paralysis in dogs. One of the harmful substances that Ticks inject in Dogs through bites is called Neurotoxins. Neurotoxins are an extensive class of exogenous chemical neurological insults that can adversely affect functions in both developing and mature nervous tissues. When ticks bite your Frenchie, they inject this harmful chemical into the bloodstream of the dog causing neuron paralysis, which affects communications between the brain and the nervous system of the dog. Neuron paralysis is responsible for most sudden paralysis in dogs, and when left unattended to the paralysis may spread and become fatal. So, you have to make it a point of duty to keep your dog safe from ticks. Look out for signs that show your dog is being bitten by a tick. Such signs as loss of coordination and vomiting. If you noticed a sudden change in their tone and quality of bark, this is a good sign that your Frenchie has been bitten by a tick. It may interest you to read this article where we addressed wholesomely, the issue of French Bulldogs and Ticks , to get a better insight because symptoms of Tick Bites don't usually manifest immediately, in most cases it may take up to 6 - 9 months after the bite to start dealing with your dog. Stay safe! Congenital Diseases: The second cause of French Bulldog paralysis on our list is Congenital diseases. Congenital diseases are dog health problems such as: Intervertebral Disc Disease, a. IVDD Degenerative Myelopathy, and Fibrocartilaginous Embolism Intervertebral Disc Disease occurs when the cushioning of intervertebral discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column become ruptured or burst into the spinal cord space. When IVDD occurs, the discs press on the nerves that run through the spinal cord, making it difficult for the dog to walk properly. In the same vein, Degenerative Myelopathy, a. DM also attacks the nerves of your dog. The difference is that DM is common among older dogs and it is something that is rather developed progressively, over time rather than suddenly. It may lead to paralysis especially of the hind legs. Lastly, among the congenital diseases that cause paralysis in dogs; when a small portion of a spinal disc breaks off of your dog's spinal column and blocks blood flow to a portion of his body, this gives rise to the type of paralysis called Fibrocartilaginous Embolism. Fibrocartilaginous Embolism is usually not as serious as the rest. It's always a painless and temporary paralysis that corrects itself within a couple of weeks to its occurrence. Bacterial Infections: There are multiple kinds of bacterial infections. Most common among bacterial infections capable of causing French Bulldog paralysis when they spread to the brain are Meningitis, Distemper, Rabies, among others. Malignant Tumors: If a Tumor develops in your dog's spine, it can lead to paralysis. These Tumors are generally malignant and can have a life-threatening impact. Just like Tick Bites , Malignant Tumors are even slower and progressive in development, resulting in more gradual symptoms rather than sudden paralysis. So, if you take care to monitor these causes and prevent them early enough, your Frenchie Bulldog may never be paralyzed. However, if your French Bulldog is paralyzed, there are a number of Treatment Options you can adopt. Consult a veterinarian to look into the cause of the condition. Depending on the diagnosed cause of the dog's paralysis, usually there are about 5 typical treatment options, they include: Medication. Then you know that one of the common issues these lovely pooches face is hind leg problems. Whether your pup is having difficulty getting up, experiencing joint pain, or having mobility issues, you may be wondering what steps you can take to help. Read on to learn more and get your Frenchie back on their feet in no time! Overview of French Bulldogs French Bulldogs are an incredibly popular breed of dog, known for their friendly and entertaining personalities. They are a medium-sized breed with a unique, wrinkled face and a short, sturdy stature. Frenchies are also notorious for having issues with their hind legs that can cause discomfort or difficulty walking. They make a great companion and pet! There are steps that owners can take to reduce the likelihood of their Frenchie developing hind leg problems. A balanced diet, regular exercise and recognition of any genetic predisposition are all key in preventing these issues. If your pup does experience leg problems, it is important to get them checked out by a vet as soon as possible to ensure they receive the correct treatment. It is important for owners to be aware of the possible causes as well as potential treatments. While genetics can play a role, other factors such as diet and exercise can also have an effect. Being informed and proactive in treatment is key to helping your pup. Hind leg problems can be caused by a variety of factors, such as diet, exercise, genetics and more. Poor nutrition can lead to weak bones and muscles, making it difficult for your pup to stand or walk. It is also important to be aware of any genetic predisposition that may affect your pup, as some breeds are more prone to hind leg problems than others. Diagnosing the root cause of any hind leg problems is the first step to any successful treatment. Be sure to visit your vet so they can assess your pup and suggest the best course of action. Depending on the severity of the issue, treatment options may include physical therapy, medications, supplements or even surgery. Taking preventative measures such as properly feeding your pup and providing them with plenty of exercises can also help reduce the risk of hind leg issues. Causes of Hind Leg Problems French Bulldogs are susceptible to hind leg problems due to their small size and structure. Exercise, and genetics all play a role in the development of hind leg problems. As a Frenchie owner, it is important to understand the causes so that you can take the necessary steps to address any issues that arise. A poor diet can lead to an improper balance of nutrients, which can result in hind leg issues. When developing a diet plan for your Frenchie, it is important to ensure that they are getting the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and essential fatty acids. Make sure that your Frenchie is getting enough exercise, as lack of physical activity can contribute to the development of hind leg problems. Genetics can play a key role in the development of hind leg issues, as certain breeds are more prone to certain health problems. It is important to be aware of any signs of hind leg problems, such as limping, difficulty rising, or stiffness. If you notice any of these signs in your Frenchie, it is important to take them to the vet for a proper diagnosis. Your vet will then be able to recommend the best treatment plan for your Frenchie. While non-surgical options, such as physical therapy, can help in certain cases, surgery is often necessary to address more serious problems. Taking preventative measures, such as maintaining a healthy diet and providing plenty of exercise, can help to reduce the chances of hind leg problems developing in the future. Diet It is important to feed your French Bulldog a nutritious and balanced diet in order to avoid hind leg problems. Provide your pup with a diet that includes lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Avoid processed foods and fatty treats, as these can lead to weight gain and further issues with the hind legs. If you are unsure about what to feed your Frenchie, your vet can provide advice on what type of food would be best for your pup. Supplements are also important for French Bulldogs, as they can provide extra support for their hind legs. Anything from glucosamine to omega 3 fatty acids can help to keep your Frenchie strong and healthy. Make sure your pup is getting enough exercise and lots of playtime. Exercise can help to alleviate some of the strain on the hind legs and can even help to improve mobility. Exercise Exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle for French Bulldogs. Without adequate physical activity, your pup may be more susceptible to hind leg problems. Regular exercise can help your Frenchie stay fit and flexible, reducing the likelihood of developing leg problems. Aim for daily walks or playtime, and consider activities that involve the hind legs, such as running or jumping. Start slow and gradually increase the intensity over time to avoid injury. In addition to daily exercise, make sure you keep your Frenchie at a healthy weight. Monitor their calorie intake and stick to a healthy diet with whole food ingredients. With proper exercise and the right diet, you can help your French Bulldog stay active and healthy for years to come. Genetics Genetics can play an important role in French Bulldog hind leg problems. Research any conditions that are common among the breed and that may be passed down through genetics. Some of these include hip and elbow dysplasia, joint laxity, and lip fold dermatitis, all of which can cause hind leg pain in Frenchies. Maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise is important for any breed, but especially for Frenchies. With a healthy lifestyle and proper care, your French Bulldog can avoid hind leg issues and have a happy, healthy life. The first step is to take your Frenchie to the vet for an exam. Depending on the symptoms, your vet may recommend diagnostic tests, such as X-rays or CT scans. These tests can help diagnose issues such as luxating patellas loose kneecaps or hip dysplasia. Physical therapy can help improve the range of motion in their hips and legs, as well as strengthen the muscles that support them. You can also look into using supportive devices such as doggles or pet ramps to help your pup move around easier. When it comes to exercise, make sure to keep it gentle and provide plenty of breaks. This will help your Frenchie get the exercise they need without overworking their joints. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your Frenchie stays healthy and happy. Visit the Vet Visiting the vet is the first step to diagnosing and treating any problems your French Bulldog may have with their hind legs. The vet can always provide tips on the best ways to keep your Frenchie fit and healthy, which can help prevent hind leg issues in the first place. See also How To Make Dog's Nails Less Sharp [5 Genius Ideas] What to Expect When you visit the vet, they will likely do a physical examination on your Frenchie to get an idea of their behavior, overall health, and any potential underlying issues. Your vet may also check their eyes, ears, and gums to identify any potential issues. They may also use a small amount of anesthesia to be sure that there is no discomfort or pain when they examine your pup. Your vet might also recommend additional tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, to help them determine the exact cause of the hind leg problem. Your vet may suggest a blood test to help identify any underlying medical issues that could be contributing to the hind leg problems. Diagnostic Tests If your French Bulldog is having hind leg issues, you should have them evaluated by a veterinarian. This will help diagnose the underlying cause of the problem and determine the best course of treatment. During the visit, your vet may use a combination of physical examination, X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan to evaluate your pup. All of these tests help your veterinarian identify any underlying issues and rule out other possible causes. They may run tests to check for infection or injury. It is important to keep your Frenchie as comfortable as possible during the testing process. A specialized orthopedic surgeon may be consulted to discuss possible surgical interventions depending on the severity of the issue. The best way to prevent your Frenchie from experiencing hind leg issues is to ensure they are eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. Making sure they get regular check-ups with their veterinarian can help catch any issues early on and prevent further complications. Treating Hind Leg Problems When it comes to treating hind leg problems in French Bulldogs, the first step is to visit your trusted veterinarian. During the visit, your vet will examine your pup and may run tests to diagnose the problem. Depending on the diagnosis, your vet may suggest either non-surgical or surgical options for treatment. For non-surgical options, your vet may recommend changes in diet, exercise, and possibly physical therapy. They should get regular exercise and physical therapy to help with the flexibility and strength of their limbs. Make sure to feed your pup a well-balanced diet with lots of minerals and vitamins. By taking these steps, you can help keep your pup healthy and happy. Non-Surgical Options Non-surgical options are often the first course of action for treating hind leg problems in French Bulldogs. There are many joint supplements on the market that can help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. Hydrotherapy is another great, non-surgical solution for helping your pup strengthen their legs. This can include swimming or walking in shallow water, which provides a low-impact form of exercise that also helps reduce pain and inflammation. You should also make sure that your pup is getting the right amount of nutrition, as too much or too little can weaken their bones and muscles. A balanced diet with plenty of calcium can help keep their bones and muscles healthy. Surgical Options Surgical options for treating hind leg problems in French Bulldogs may be necessary in some cases. Depending on the severity and nature of the hind leg problem, your vet may recommend surgery. Surgical options can range from removing a tumor or cyst to correcting anatomical problems such as luxating patella and hip dysplasia. Discussing the risks and benefits of major surgery with your veterinarian is essential. French Bulldog owners should have an open dialogue with their veterinarian and be sure to ask plenty of questions. Prevention To prevent hind leg problems in your French Bulldog, it is important to pay attention to both diet and exercise. Make sure to only feed your pup high-quality food and consult with your veterinarian about the right nutrition for your dog. Depending on their age, your Frenchie will need around 30 minutes a day of moderate activity, such as walking or running. Lifestyle is also a factor in avoiding hind leg problems in your French Bulldog. If your pup spends a lot of time indoors or in too small of a space, it can lead to hind leg issues over time. Make sure they have access to plenty of space to run, play, and explore. If your pup is a senior, it is especially important to make sure they are getting enough physical activity. If you notice that your pup is having trouble with their hind legs, it could be an indication of a medical issue. With the right diet, exercise, and lifestyle, you can help keep your Frenchie healthy for years to come. Poor nutrition can lead to hind leg problems. Make sure your Frenchie is eating a high-quality food that contains enough protein, vitamins and minerals. Avoid overfeeding your pup, as excess weight can put additional strain on their hind legs. Knowing the right amount of food and snacks to give your pup is very important for their health. Another important part of their diet is staying hydrated. Make sure your pup has access to clean, fresh water at all times. Dehydration can cause joint pain and inflammation, and lead to further hind leg problems. Regularly checking their water levels and refilling the bowl can help your pup stay hydrated and healthy. French Bulldogs are prone to obesity. Too much body weight can put additional strain on their joints and aggravate any existing hind leg problems. Know the right amount of food and snacks to give your pup and keep them active with regular exercise regimes to ensure they stay fit and healthy. Aim for at least 20 minutes of exercise a day for your Frenchie. Jogging, and swimming are all great activities for Frenchies — just make sure to take it slow and gradually increase the intensity. A gentle warm-up before any activity is also a good idea. Reaching a healthy weight can also help prevent hind leg problems. Be sure to talk to your vet about any health concerns that arise. Your vet is the best person to consult if your Frenchie experiences signs of a hind leg problem. They can suggest changes in exercise, diet, and supplements to help keep your Frenchie healthy. While prevention is always best, early detection is the key to successful treatment. If you notice any sign of a hind leg problem such as limping, difficulty climbing stairs, or hopping on one leg, be sure to get your Frenchie to the vet as soon as possible. Regular vet visits and check-ups are also a great way to keep your Frenchie in optimum health. Post Views: .Pin1 1 Shares Frenchies are a resilient breed, but they are prone to various health issues , some of which can result in limping on the back leg or front paws and lameness. The majority of the time a limp will often be the result of a soft tissue injury such as a sprain in the leg tendon or joint. In most cases these will clear up in a few days and can be helped with pain killers. However, there are other times when a Frenchie limping can be due to something more serious. In this guide I am going to explain the various causes of limping with some short advice on each one. It goes without saying that you should always consult with your vet should your French Bulldog suddenly start limping and you have any concerns. Why is my French Bulldog limping? The most common reason why your French Bulldog started limping is due to a muscle strain, ligament or tendon damage, and a soft tissue injury. Typically, these injuries will occur after running or jumping where you will see the limping starting suddenly. In most cases this can be fixed in just a few days, with many vets prescribing a special dog pain killer which is very similar to aspirin. However, you should always run a few checks first. Vets advise that you: Check for broken toe and claw nails. Check there is no visible bleeding or cuts on the paw. Check for any splinters or foreign objects in the paw. Check to see if your Frenchie is lethargic and not eating. Check for any visible signs of swelling. When you call your vet, make a note of what you see. When you should call a vet If you cannot see any visible and obvious sign why your French Bulldog is limping, for example a splinter, then I would always consult with a vet. If your French Bulldog who woke up limping or shows no sign of getting better, it could be the sign of something more serious. Here are just some of the reasons why your French Bulldog has a limping back leg or limping with their front paws. Your Frenchie might start limping after laying down or just waking up. French bulldog limping back leg: common causes These are the most common causes as described by our own vet. You can continue scrolling for more serious causes of Frenchie lameness. Strain injury: Frenchies love to play, but this can often lead to leg injuries. It can include ligament strains and tendon damage that will often be resolved with pain killers and rest. You should also check for any foreign objects that could have got stuck in the paw. Broken and damaged claws: claws can get torn and split. If the tears is near to the nerve ending it can be very painful leading to a limp. Over-exertion: the limping could be as simple as your Frenchie has overdone things. French bulldog limping back leg: more serious conditions Hopefully the limping back or front legs will right themselves and can be easily diagnosed. However, there are more serious conditions which only your vet will be able to diagnose. Breaks, fractures, and dislocations: Frenchies are busy dogs but due to their genetic make-up can easily dislocate parts of their leg. Torn ligaments: ligament damage will occur after your dog twists and jumps. It can be very painful but can be treated easily by a vet. Hip or elbow dysplasia: both of these are very common in French Bulldogs due to their genetic make-up. Hip dysplasia affects the rear legs, and elbow dysplasia the front legs and paws. It occurs on the back legs and you might see your Frenchie skipping or limping in pain. Inflammatory disease: also known as panosteitis this is common in puppies and results in inflammation on the long bones of the legs. It can cause a shifting lameness, where you see your Frenchie shift weight to limp on either leg. Bone cancer: dog bone cancer is more common in larger dog breeds but can also happen to Frenchies. It can be diagnosed with a blood test. It can be treated with surgery, and your dog could be back walking 2 months post-ACL surgery. Arthritis: most common in older French Bulldogs, limping will start off gradually and is an inflammation of the leg joints. The pain can be reduced with medicine and therapy. It can be treated with antibiotics. Valley fever: this is a fungal disease found in the United States and can either make a French Bulldog puppy limp, or an older dog. It is not age specific at all. Neurological disorders: this will often occur after damage to the spine where a disc will touch against the nerves, leading to potential lameness in your Frenchie. French Bulldog limping on front leg or paws Whilst most of the above causes of Frenchie lameness and limping can affect both the front and back legs, there are certain conditions which are isolated to the rear or front. The most common would be elbow dysplasia front legs or hip dysplasia rear legs. Elbow dysplasia front leg limping : elbow dysplasia is very common in French Bulldogs and is caused by abnormalities in the elbow joints on the front legs. It occurs when cartilage fuses to bone resulting in an out of line elbow joint. Your Frenchie will experience a lot of pain and swelling. It explains what it is, how to treat it, and when to contact your vet. How vets diagnose lameness and limping The first thing a vet will do is check your Frenchie over. Having been to the vets twice in the last two years with Claude having a limp, the vet will first do a manual check. The vet will: Extend the legs to check for discomfort. Massage and manipulating the leg areas to check for swelling. Lightly push down the back to see if the Frenchie resists. As with any breed, French bulldogs are predisposed to getting certain diseases. For example, many German shepherds are more likely to have hip problems. Cocker spaniels are more likely to get ear infections. Dachshunds are known for developing back problems such as intervertebral disc disease IVDD. French bulldogs have grown immensely in popularity over the last few years and are quickly becoming known for also developing intervertebral disc disease. In fact, some weeks I see more French bulldogs than I do dachshunds. Since IVDD is so common in French bulldogs, it can come on suddenly and can cause permanent inability to use the legs. Just like in people, the neck and back are made up of multiple bones lined up in a row. These bones are called vertebrae. The vertebrae surround and protect the spinal cord, which transmits information from the brain to the legs and from the legs back to the brain. In between each pair of vertebrae is an intervertebral disc that is shaped like a jelly donut. The disc has an inner jelly part and an outer donut part. Intervertebral discs act as spacers and cushions between the bones of the neck and back. In certain breeds, including the French bulldog, the jelly inside part of the disc can come out of the donut at high speed. When this happens, it hits the spinal cord, causing bruising and swelling. Additionally, it compresses the spinal cord. Symptoms of IVDD depend on where the disc problem is neck versus back and how severe the spinal cord injury is. Walking wobbly or drunk in all four legs. Sometimes French bulldogs may drag the toenails or occasionally stumble and fall in the limbs. Unable to walk in all four legs. Symptoms of a slipped disc in the back may include from mildest to more severe : Back pain, tense belly, not wanting to eat, crying when picked up and reluctance to jump. Walking wobbly or drunk in the rear limbs. They may scuff the toes or criss-cross the limbs. Unable to walk in the rear limbs, dragging of the rear limbs. While IVDD is the most common cause of spinal injury in dogs, there are other diseases that can look very similar. French bulldogs can develop spinal tumors, meningitis, infections, malformations and others. Additionally, French bulldogs tend to get worse faster than other breeds and are more likely to develop a life-threatening complication called myelomalacia explained below. For those reasons, we tend to recommend testing a little more proactively than we do in other breeds. An experienced neurologist can examine your pet, determine where the problem is, what the severity is, list the most likely cause and recommend the best course of action. Radiographs X-rays alone cannot diagnose IVDD, although it is useful in looking for other causes such as bony tumors, broken bones or bone infections. Myelography is an older test that is not recommended since it is more invasive and complications can arise. In general, there are two ways to treat IVDD. Crate Rest and Medication The first treatment option is crate rest and medications anti-inflammatory medications, pain medications, muscle relaxants, etc. This is appropriate for dogs with mild signs pain only or mild wobbliness when they walk. Crate rest involves being confined to a small crate approximately 3 x 4 feet for the average-sized French bulldog. Time outside of the crate should be limited to short walks on a leash and harness for minutes. Surgery The second treatment option is surgery. This is appropriate for dogs that are more severely affected difficulty walking, unable to walk , dogs with severe pain, dogs where the symptoms are getting worse despite rest and medications, or dog where the symptoms improve but come back later. There are a handful of factors that determine the likelihood of success. Diagnosis The first factor is getting a diagnosis. Since many other diseases can look like IVDD, confirming a diagnosis as opposed to just suspecting based on symptoms and X-rays is the most important step in success. Severity of Symptoms The second factor is the severity of symptoms. Dogs that have mild symptoms pain only, walking but wobbly have a higher success rate than dogs that have more severe symptoms inability to feel the limbs. Treatment Option The third factor is which treatment option is selected. However, some dogs that are severely affected unable to move or unable to feel may still have some residual weakness or incoordination. The main disadvantages are the need for anesthesia and the costs associated with MRI and surgery. Unfortunately, dogs that slip one disc are at risk for slipping another one at some point in their life. At Southeast Veterinary Neurology, we perform a preventative procedure on all French bulldogs that elect surgery for their disc herniation. What is Myelomalacia? Myelomalacia is a life-threating complication of IVDD. It occurs in dogs that are unable to move and feel the rear limbs. In some dogs, when the slipped disc injures the spinal cord, it can cause a chain reaction of progressive damage to the spinal cord that creeps down the spinal cord to the tail and up the spinal cord toward the front legs. As it creeps forward, the front legs become weak and then it becomes difficult for the dog to breathe. These symptoms can happen anywhere within the first week of losing feeling in the rear limbs. French bulldogs are much more likely to develop myelomalacia than other breeds. French bulldogs are incredibly popular and are truly part of the family. Since this disease is so common and is so devastating, we want to inform as many people as possible. Southeast Veterinary Neurology employs six board-certified neurologists and a team of experts that only treat neurological conditions. It was bred as a companion animal in Great Britain and France in the 19th century. Your Frenchie loves to socialize, and probably follows you around the house. Like all dog breeds, Frenchies are more susceptible to certain diseases than other breeds. Your Frenchie is more likely than other dogs to develop these health conditions. Respiratory Problems in French Bulldogs Frenchies are brachycephalic. They can struggle with breathing because of the shape of their heads. Brachycephalic dogs have smaller airways than other dogs. They have a hard time cooling down on a hot day or after exercise; dogs cool down by panting, and brachycephalic dogs struggle to do so. Shi Tzus, Boston Terriers, and Pugs are other examples of brachycephalic breeds. Brachycephalic dogs favor breathing through their mouth, instead of their nose. All Frenchies are brachycephalic, but some have more severe cases than others. Dogs with severe brachycephaly sometimes require surgery to open their airways. If your dog has trouble exercising, experiences fainting spells, or is lethargic, they might suffer from this inflammation. Degenerative Myelopathy in French Bulldogs Degenerative myelopathy is a spinal nerve disease. They might eventually struggle to control their bowels. Your Frenchie might start to lose muscle mass and have trouble standing. Eventually, your dog might become paralyzed. Since Frenchies love to socialize, this disease can really hold them back. They like to listen to your voice and spend time sitting near you. A dog with degenerative myelopathy might struggle to socialize. They will have a hard time getting around, and will struggle to climb furniture or stairs. There is no cure for degenerative myelopathy, but it can be managed. Kinesiology tape can help dogs with degenerative myelopathy. The tape can restore some feeling and circulation to affected areas. Partially paralyzed Frenchies also might benefit from a wheelchair. Custom-built dog wheelchairs like the ones we build at K9 Carts can make an animal with degenerative myelopathy much more comfortable. Back Problems and Herniated Discs in French Bulldogs Frenchies are uniquely susceptible to back problems, like herniated discs. Since Frenchies were bred to have short back legs and curled tails, their spines can sometimes be defective at birth. Dogs have cushions, or discs, that separate their vertebrae from each other. In the worst cases, slipped discs can cause some degree of paralysis. A K9 Carts custom-built dog wheelchair can help them hang out with other dogs—and you. If you think your dog has any of these diseases, consult a professional as soon as you can.