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Tom Thorpe Blog Golden Retrievers have long and strong tails that seem to have their own life. It wags like crazy whenever the pooch is excited. It plays an important role in their movements as well as body language. However, it will vary on how feathery the tail would be. For example, the Red Tail Golden Retriever has a lesser feathery tail as compared to show quality Goldies. Still, Red Tail Goldies have longer tails than the former. Also, different types of Goldies have subtle differences in their tail lengths. In the end, all of it wags strongly and can topple things around the house. Their tail is one of the most expressive, which will tell you how the pooch feels. While wagging is perceived as a happy gesture, it may not be true all the time. A nervous dog may wag its tail as a way to release its tension. Dogs do this to compress their most vulnerable body parts away from predators. Also, you should try to calm your dog down to reduce its stress. But if the pooch is baring its teeth, you should proceed with caution as it can snap and bite. Some relaxed Goldies will carry their tails low so it depends on the personality of the dog. This can happen if there are other dogs around that they find threatening. Hair loss. It can be due to allergies, intolerances, or flea infestations. Due to the itchiness, the pooch will chew on its tail. It will result in bald spots and eventual hair loss. Broken tail. Since Golden Retrievers are active dogs, they may dislocate or fracture their tails. Severely damaged tails may need to be amputated. But if the fracture is located at the tip of the tail, it may not require a cast or intensive treatment. Dead tail. This condition is scientifically known as the Acute Caudal Myopathy. This needs to be treated with an anti-inflammatory medication together with rest. Nerve damage. This is usually a secondary condition to Goldies with chronic disc disease. It will deprive the tail of its ability to move or feel. This is rarely a standalone health problem. Conclusion The Golden Retriever tail length varies, but it will usually be long enough to reach the hock. The help of a veterinarian is important to keep your pooch healthy and in the best shape. By: Author Jennifer Seegmiller A tail can tell us so much about our dog, they are a very beautiful and important trait of our precious Golden Retrievers. But what is it about the tail that makes it so special? How do we know if our Golden Retriever has a normal tail, or if something may be off or different? Well, I was curious about this too so I took some time to Paws and Learn so I could find all the answers to every question you could have about your Golden Retriever tail. Its thickest and most muscular point is from the rear end of your dog and it should slowly taper to a point. The hair on its tail is long and feathery and may be a bit thicker than elsewhere on its body. Pro Tip: If you are interested in the best grooming tools for your dog you can find them by clicking here now! How long are Golden Retriever tails? Golden Retriever Tails can range from 3. Golden Retrievers do not have curly or curled tails. Their tails are long and straight and should arc up slightly. If your Golden Retriever has a kink or curl in its tail it could be a sign of a genetic flaw or an injury. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission. A purebred Golden Retriever will have a long straight tail that extends out from its body and slightly curves upwards. If you are not sure that your Golden Retriever is purebred you can find out by doing a genetic test. The most accurate genetic test is an Embark test. You can find this on Amazon. If your dog has this condition it is important to confront the breeder from whom you got your dog and let them know. A responsible breeder will not breed dogs that carry this gene in order to help eliminate it from showing up in future litters. If your Golden Retriever is still a puppy and has somewhat of a curly tail or holds it up over its back it is possible that it will straighten out as it gets older. Golden Retriever Puppies will sometimes hold their tail up over their backs what looks like a curled position when they are happy, playful, or excited. Golden Retriever are not a breed that gets their tails docked. Some Golden Retriever mixes such as a Goldendoodle will have their tails docked, if the breeder was following the standard for the other breed that your Retriever is mixed with. Historically Golden Retrievers are bred to be Hunting dogs helpful in retrieving prey. A Golden Retrievers tail can also have a lot of good uses! Besides being able to communicate with other dogs and their owners see the section about communication further down. Golden Retrievers use their tail to help them balance on land as well as in water. When they are running their tail can help them maneuver and change directions more easily and while swimming their tail acts as a rudder. Their tails can keep their bodies warm in cold weather by curling up underneath it. As stated above there are rare instances that a Golden Retriever mix like a Goldendoodle may get its tail docked if the breeder is following the standard for poodles. You can read more about that in this article. One of the most beautiful parts of our Golden Retrievers is their long fluffy tails! When you have a Golden Retriever puppy you will notice that the hair on their tail is short and course. You may wonder when your dog will get that long feathery coat. Golden Retriever tails will generally begin to get fluffy or feather out around months old. Their tail will most likely not be fully feathered out until around age 2 or sometimes even longer. This is a long process that will not happen suddenly overnight. It can also depend a lot on the genetics of your Retriever. Thank your Lonneke G. They could be conveying other emotions like nervousness or fear as well. The key to understanding their tail wags is to put it together with all the other contextual clues they are giving you. What are their ears doing, their eyes, how is their posture? Noticing these things as well will help you know why your Golden Retriever is wagging their tail. Here are some things your Golden Retriever could be communicating to you with its tail. Calm and chill — Tail in the natural resting position. Sleeping or resting or casually walking around. Greeting or I love you — Usually, a big carefree wag, accompanied by eye contact, coming to you and jumping on you or trying to get your attention. What Does it Mean? Maybe sniffing around a little, intense and curious staring. Looking to you for reassurance. Body tense, eyes down, ears laid back. Could also be trying to communicate a submissive position. Aggression — Tail high in the air and rigid. Poised, rigid, and making eye contact. Could be barking or growling as well. Happy and Excited — Fast care-free wagging. Wiggling body, happy facial expressions. Body not tense, possibly going in circles around the object causing excitement such as a treat or toy. Wagging their tail towards the right side of their body can indicate more positive emotions such as relaxation, and happiness. Wagging their tails on the left side of their body is a sign of more negative emotions such as nervousness or fear. For most Golden Retrievers wagging their tails to communicate is a natural and normal thing for them to do. However, it may indicate a medical problem, in which case your dog should be seen by your vet to rule out any serious issues. If you have just moved, or they are new to your home this could just mean they are nervous and need some time to get acclimated to their new environment. Some dogs are bigger tail-waggers than others. You will cut the hair of the tip and then cut the rest of the hair into a fan shape. Gently pull your Retrievers tail down and find the tip of the tail bone. This Brush works really well for keeping the mats away on long hair dogs like Golden Retrievers. If your Golden Retriever is prone to getting mats in its tail then it may be necessary to thin it out a little bit. You should always consult with your vet if you are worried something may be off, but in the meantime, I know that having an idea of what it might be can bring some peace of mind. Here are some common problems that you might run into concerning a Golden Retrievers tail. Puppies tend to do this a lot because they are so playful and exploring more about their world and discovering their fun long tails. The problem comes when your dog is obsessively chasing its tail and it seems like they are in pain, stressed, or biting its tail and causing things like bleeding, or hair loss. If this is the case then rightfully you are probably concerned. The cause for this could be one of several things. Here are the things that you can look for. Impacted anal glands Parasites like fleas or ticks in the tail Injury or sharp pain somewhere on the tail Allergies or itchy skin Boredom and in need of more exercise. Golden Retrievers should get at least 90 minutes of high-quality exercise a day Tip: If your Golden Retriever is licking its tail read this article Golden Retriever Obsessive Licking Quick Solutions Guide Tail hanging down or Limber Swimmers Tail Your Golden Retriever puppy or adult dog may hang its tail between its legs if it is nervous, scared, or feeling guilty for something. This is a temporary tail position and should not last long. Limber tail Also known as swimmers tail, frozen tail, dead tail, broken wag, or cold tail is a condition that causes your dog to hold his tail limp and down instead of the usual upright position. Its official name is Acute Caudal Myopathy. It is most likely to happen after your dog has had very active or strenuous play, exercise, or excessive tail wagging. This could cause your dog pain and swelling in their tail, making it difficult to sit. Usually, this condition will go away on its own after a few days of rest. If it is causing your Collie a lot of pain then consulting your vet is a good idea. Coldwater play, or being confined in a crate too long are often things that could trigger this condition. Keep the hair near their rear clean and trimmed. Keep wipes handy to clean it out right away. Check for infections or parasites such as worms. Other Articles all about your Golden Retriever.

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Bella is all up to date with shots she is a purebred but has no papers View Detail 8 week old puppies looking for their furever home Beautiful playful puppies getting close to the time when they can go to their forever home. The puppies are American bulldog mix. Both parents are fur babies in a home environment. Puppies born october 22 .They are ready for their furever homes. Will send current pictures upon request. Reserve your new puppy now. Will NOT ship. Pick up or can possibly meet. View Detail American Bully I have this beautiful american bully puppy 2 months old first vaccines trained to do the bathroom in the pads View Detail Supreme Crossbone Stacked pedigree we are located in Jersey City Nj price negotiable open to offers can be reached at follow us on IG trendkillerbullies View Detail American bullies Long awaited Dax tombstone and sugewhite bloodline puppies looking for the forever homes View Detail 8 week American bulldogs for sale Nkc registered American bulldog puppy, pedigree available on request View Detail Bully Lovers This breed is a loveable huggable dog that will be there to comfort and be your very best friend. Their temperament are relaxed and calm. View Detail 6month Pitbull puppies very playful and can be used as guard dog shadow is very playful funny and so loving love to cuddle having him would make you feel so lucky View Detail American Bulldog Pup We have one male left available to reserve. He will be up to date with worm and flea treatment before leaving. Mum can be seen with the puppies. All puppies will be microchipped and can have injections too but that's your choice as some people prefer to do them their self's. Any other question please ask View Detail Ukc tri puppies for sale Got a male and female for sale due to my landlord dont want me to have dogs anymore so got to sell them quick View Detail Marvelous American Bulldog puppies for adoption. Marvelous American Bulldog puppies for adoption. Top quality puppies, 10 weeks old, very healthy. All health records available. Welcoming, playful and very social. Will make your family best companion. View Detail American Bulldog Available now Male and Female American Bulldog Scot type need their for ever loving and good home some one who will give them a lot attention good guard dogs they are very strong dogs and very loyal. View Detail American Bulldog Puppy Girl lapaha blue blood bulldog puppy bitch for sad sale mother is rbk's lois lane and dad is ghost face of rbk. Life Span Did You Know? The American Bulldog is a descendant of a generic bulldog type of dog breed brought into the region that is now the Southern United States by working-class immigrants many years ago. These were all-around working dogs used by small farmers and ranchers for several tasks around the farm. They were often found working as catch dogs, stock dogs, and overall farm guardians. When feral pigs were introduced to the New World, they had no natural predators and the population quickly grew out of control. In addition to their farm duties, the settlers found the bulldog-type dog to be the best solution they had for dealing with it. So, the bulldog continued to thrive, especially in the South. Johnson and Alan Scott that we have what we know today as the American Bulldog. Modern American Bulldogs can still be found working as all-around utility dogs, farm dogs, catch dogs, cattle drovers, and more. They can also be found competing in dog sports, working as a guardian, police, or military dog, and are also popular as a family pet. This dog breed is a sweetheart with a gentle, fun-loving nature. The American Bulldog is affectionate and adores their families. They also love children and tend to be good with other animals. American Bulldogs can have a high prey drive, so you will want to make sure you introduce and socialize them properly with other small animals in the household. Due to their protective nature, they can be aloof towards strangers and strange dogs, especially when they are younger. Early socialization can help them be more comfortable navigating their guardian instincts. Overall, this dog breed tends to be confident, social, and are most at ease and relaxed when they are with the people they love. American Bulldogs are an emotional dog breed and thrives on human attention and affection, so they tend to bond strongly with their owners and may come across as clingy sometimes. They will also often convince themselves that they are lap dogs regardless of their size, so make sure you are ready for a lot of love and cuddles with your American Bulldog, drool and all! The American Bulldog is a moderately adaptable dog breed. They are strong, high-energy working dogs that love being around their favorite humans. This makes them better suited to larger homes with space for them to run. They are not generally a good fit for apartment living, but they can adapt as long as they get more than enough exercise and attention. Because they do tend to bond strongly with their owners and want to be near them, they do not tend to do well with long periods of time alone. As with any dog breed, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold, but can adapt to well to most climates. There are some health issues that can be found in specific genetic lines and are not common to the breed overall, but these can be ruled out with genetic tests. Some potential health conditions to be aware of in general with the American Bulldog include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, thyroid disorders, kidney disorders, bone cancer, and eye-related issues like ectropion, entropion, and cherry eye. Talking to the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and asking to see any health clearances can help allay potential concerns. American Bulldogs are highly trainable and eager to please, so they are a good fit for owners of any experience level, including first-time dog owners. They can have a stubborn streak, so a first-time dog owner may want to consider enrolling in puppy training classes. As with any dog breed, early and ongoing training and socialization are important for your American Bulldog puppy to grow into a well-rounded, and a well-behaved, dog. This dog breed has a short coat that is generally smooth. Common coat colors are white and predominately white with patches of brindle, black, or red. More coat color patterns are emerging and becoming more common like all shades of brindle, fawn, brown, red, and more. The American Bulldog is relatively low maintenance and easy to groom and they are light to moderate shedders. They only require a bath as needed. But, you will need to be prepared to deal with some extra drool! Floppy ears tend to trap moisture and dirt, which can lead to ear infections. The ideal dental care for dogs is using an enzyme toothpaste or brushing their teeth every day. Dental hygiene chews or treats, a specially-formulated dental care diet, and more can be used to supplement your dental care efforts. The American Bulldog is an athletic and high-energy dog breed. They love daily walks and plenty of playtime outside. They may even enjoy plenty of other activities with you like swimming, hiking , and more. With their working dog background, this dog breed does need a job to do in order to stay happy and healthy. They also tend to be a good candidate for dog sports like obedience, weight pulling, the Iron Dog competition, and more. A fully-grown American Bulldog usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. An American Bulldog generally lives for years. Chance, one of the canine stars from the Homeward Bound films, was an American Bulldog. Featured American Bulldog Article.

Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article. It lacks the physical deformities bred into western show lines of German Shepherds and has become one of Russia's most popular dog types. It was developed in the s and s to correct behavioural and conformational issues that have been bred into modern German Shepherds, and was bred for its large size, length of back, temperament and soundness of hips. White-coated German Shepherds were once banned from registration in their native Germany, but in the United States and Canada the coloration gained a following and a breed club was formed specifically for white German Shepherds, calling their variety the White Shepherd. The variety is recognised as a separate breed by the United Kennel Club. It descends from the American White Shepherds; the first stud dog of what was to become the breed was an American dog born in and imported to Switzerland. They are especially well known for their police work, being used for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas and detection and holding of suspects. Additionally, thousands of German Shepherds have been used by the military. These military working dogs MWD are usually trained for scout duty, and they are used to warn soldiers to the presence of enemies or of booby traps or other hazards. They were used in World War II as messenger dogs, rescue dogs and personal guard dogs. These include search and rescue, cadaver searching , narcotics detection, explosives detection , accelerant detection and mine detection dog, among others. They are suited for these lines of work because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions. When formal guide dog training began in Switzerland in the s under the leadership of Dorothy Eustis , all of the dogs trained were German Shepherd females. These results suggested that Labrador Retrievers were more suited to guide dog work while German Shepherds were more suited to police work. They are expected to patrol the boundaries to keep sheep from trespassing and damaging the crops. In Germany and other places these skills are tested in utility dog trials also known as Herdengebrauchshund HGH herding utility dog trials. He is regarded to be the dog who has captured the most drugs in Mexican police and military history. You may improve this section , discuss the issue on the talk page , or create a new section, as appropriate. By this number had grown to over .Returning soldiers spoke highly of the breed and animal actors Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart popularised the breed further. Her offspring had defects as the result of poor breeding, which caused the breed to decline in popularity during the late s. As of [update] , the German Shepherd is the second most popular breed in the US. Degenerative myelopathy , a neurological disease, occurs with enough regularity specifically in the breed to suggest that the breed is predisposed to it. A very inexpensive DNA saliva test is now available to screen for degenerative myelopathy. The test screens for the mutated gene that has been seen in dogs with degenerative myelopathy. The test is only recommended for predisposed breeds, but can be performed on DNA samples from any dog, collected through swabbing the inside of the animal's cheek with a sterile cotton swab. Prospective German Shepherd buyers can now request the test from the breeder or buy from a breeder who is known to test their dogs. Skeletal health and supplementation[ edit ] Musculoskeletal disorders are debilitating conditions that are often associated with genetic makeup, malnutrition, and stress-related events. Canine hip dysplasia CHD is an orthopaedic condition resulting from abnormal development of the hip joint and surrounding tissue causing the instability and partial dislocation of the hip joint, resulting in pain, inflammation , lameness, and potentially osteoarthritis of the joint. Both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A German Shepherd named Inspector Rex is the star of an Austrian Police procedural drama program of the same name, which won many awards, where German Shepherd Rex assists the Vienna Kriminalpolizei homicide unit. It became one of the staple productions of Hungarian television history, making German Shepherds the most popular dog breed in the country ever since. Some owners refer to them as black and champagne or fawn. Also, when a white German Shepherd has red in its background, it shows up as a cream color. It is possible for particular black and cream German Shepherd puppies to grow into a black and tan look as they get older. Still, you cannot guarantee how the colors will shift or if they will change in the first place. Dog shows aside, black and cream dogs do not have the same intimidating look as darker dogs and can make for great gateway pets for those looking to adopt their first dog but find the alternative looks more intimidating. Ideal for: Households with young children can adopt black and cream puppies as these GSDs are easier to accept for little kids. Black All Black German Shepherds have no shot at dog shows but are much better at something else: guarding. This perception comes with the added assumption that your black German Shepherd is well-trained to deal with intruders. Even though these dogs are great at discouraging intruders, they have excellent temperaments and empathy to be family dogs. Black GSDs are not more aggressive than other varieties. Unlike solid black, most puppies only show their actual color weeks after birth. They also make shedding less annoying as the black hairs are less visible. A recessive gene causes the black color. Some black dogs have gold eyes, as shown in the image. Large houses are also perfect spacious places where such dogs must exhaust their excess energy. A bi-color features two colors, one of which is often black. Most will appear all black with brown feet or legs, as shown in the image. The AKC pioneered this categorization and is most relevant to dog shows where solid colors and bi-color dogs are judged differently. Depending on the specifics of the color, the dog-and-owner fit can vary. Sable Sable is a pattern often seen as color because of its visual impact. The sable color is named after the mammal sable, which also has a similar color. This type of German Shepherd has black peppered across its fur, giving a deeply crimson color that looks nearly indistinguishable from black and liver. The sable coat pattern appears visibly black as each hair has a black tip. Sable colors include black sable, gray sable, tan sable, red sable, and silver sable. If you like the look of this color pattern, head over to this article to learn loads more about this gorgeous variety; Sable German Shepherd. Ideal for: This shepherd dog is best for those living in sun-kissed suburbs where the true color of sable German Shepherds shines. White Featuring the look of a bleached wolf, the all-white German Shepherd is entirely white and represents quite the irony. It is often purchased because of its exotic looks but is also seen as flawed enough to disqualify from the show ring. In other words, it represents the positive and the negative results of judging dogs by their looks, where they are simultaneously loved and discriminated against because of their color. Given that the first German Shepherd was black, this dog is visually the farthest from its ancestors. There is often a misconception that this type is a mixed breed. However, the white German Shepherd is definitely purebred. Ideal for: Families with young toddlers can benefit from getting a non-intimidating dog. This leaves behind bi-color German Shepherds featuring black and a specific hue of tan that gives an overall deep gray look. Ruskin House of Shepherds They are often gray sable. However, many gray dogs have no black pigmentation, differentiating them from the sable. They have an aesthetic appearance and can tip top between work and show, though they are best kept as multifunctional pets. They look intimidating enough for strangers but acceptable even for younger children who have never had a big dog as a family pet. Nonetheless, they are pretty rare, so you may have to find a specialized breeder to adopt one. The color is rare because it is improbable to guarantee when breeding a single blue stud and rare to occur spontaneously. And the ones who breed rare GSDs only charge a lot per puppy. Since blue is a manifestation of black, it can appear in all German Shepherd looks that feature the black color. Therefore, these dogs are bred mainly in the working line, where black and tan are the most common colors. That makes blue and tan the most common bi-color look of blue German Shepherds. Ideal for: Individuals looking for an exotic, rare dog with a story would love to have a blue German Shepherd. Liver Liver as a color term is used almost exclusively to describe dark brown dogs. The shades of dark brown can vary, but the term stands. It is no different for German Shepherds, who are also categorized as a liver for being dark brown. With black not really being seen as color — white as a complete lack of color, brown has the best shot of getting the highest points for color richness — except in the show world. This is because the American Kennel Club sees livers as faults, and they cannot enter the show ring. However, liver German Shepherds are highly sought-after, making them some of the priciest German Shepherds to acquire. Still, their price is artificially inflated because of demand. Ideal for: Those who love the deep brown aesthetic will love a liver German Shepherd. Liver and Tan As mentioned earlier, German Shepherds with liver parents are pretty often liver-colored. While mutations did occur to manifest this look into the otherwise black line of GSDs, the genes of these dogs are relatively stable, making them great studs. Ideal for: Owners with prominently brown wardrobes can get a kick by extending their color preference to their dogs. Isabella Isabella German Shepherds face the same ironic fate as white GSDs, where they are simultaneously admired and acquired for their beauty yet disqualified or marked down from shows for their looks. Similar to liver dogs, the AKC views them as a fault. Isabella GSDs look lavender-flavored cappuccino in that they are a light lilac color. They have a distinctly feminine appearance regardless of gender and can make a beautiful addition to the family. Because of their non-threatening looks, they are readily accepted in suburban communities, whereas new pets can often get scrutinized unfairly. Isabella GSDs are rare because they come from a combination of recessive traits that might not even manifest in studs. Studs often have desirable dominant features, including rich colors. The Isabella color comes from the combination of liver and blue, one of which is rarely used for breeding. This leaves room only for blue genes to pass through non-blue studs, which is not entirely likely. Ideal for: Those who want to make a statement with one of the rarest German Shepherds will be satisfied with an Isabella dog. However, they better be willing to pay the premium. You cannot have a Sable Shepherd without having reddish fur. But the distribution of red and black or silver and a lot of black is what matters: the lighter coat makes up the backdrop over which the darker fur is peppered. Ruskin House of Shepherds Sable shepherds are rarely sable all over, and portions of their body feature only one of the two colors that make up their sable pattern. In other words, given black and red as primary sable-makers, these dogs are more likely to be black and sable or red and sable. Sometimes you can get a rarer color sable, such as the liver sable in the image. Brindle German Shepherds are the closest to sable in that they also consist of one color peppered across another in tiger stripes or a marbled pattern. Instagram: alastian. Black is far more prominent, and these dogs are the closest to the second generation of German Shepherds. Panda A Panda German Shepherd looks like a white or bi-color dog who tried to apply eye shadow for the first time. The area around their eyes is black, reminiscent of a panda. They have white color featured across their chest, limbs, feet, and tail tip, similar to a Border Collie. Panda Shepherds do not have any other similarities with the panda; the dog has an active temperament compared to the lazy panda. The gene is dominant, meaning it only takes one parent to replicate the pattern. It is also seen as a fault for conformation. My German Shepherd Pup Willow Still, getting a German Shepherd puppy with many white spots is a risk if you plan to enter him in a dog show as an adult. But if you do not care about dog shows, the white markings can be charming. It is rarer to find white spotting in black GSDs. These spots are more common in black and red, black and cream, black and tan, and liver variations. However, they blended in with her adult coat in time. A German Shepherd can have a black, blue, silver, or brown saddle though other colors are not definitively excluded. Saddle-back German Shepherds have to be bi-color by definition because the saddle is visible only in contrast with another, often lighter, color. Blanket The blanket is yet another pattern independent of color. Just like with saddle GSDs, being bicolor is a prerequisite just to spot the blanket. The saddle pattern has a better shot at dog shows between saddle German Shepherds and blanket ones. Since the blanket is dark, dogs with this pattern have an intimidating presence and are often used by the police and protective patrols. This makes them excellent guard dogs as they carry the same connotations. Mask Mask refers to the face of a German Shepherd with visible contrast in the face compared to the surrounding region. On the one side, they can have black fur over their faces, which gives the appearance of a mask, but the rest of their body can feature stripes brindle or the sable pattern. This study of dogs with colored masks found that the mask is caused by a specific allele referred to as a melanistic mask. Mask German Shepherds have a unique appeal, which makes people go to great lengths to acquire them. The mask is almost always black. In case the mask is a lighter color, it is categorized differently. The area around the mouth can be lighter, making the German Shepherd look more like a wolf. Some reverse masks also have a dark stripe down the muzzle, as in the image shown. Needless to say, these German Shepherds can be pricey simply because of their resemblance with wolves. They also are intimidating again because of this similarity. All the connotations they have with wolves, and their wildness come in handy when scaring away intruders. However, this is a myth, as they are as easy or difficult to raise as regular dogs. To breed them, you must have both the mother and the father, who carry the same reverse mask look. Like the masked variety, German Shepherds with a reverse mask can have other patterns as the mask or the reverse has to do with their faces. Speaking of wolves, the closest a GSD can come to having a wolf-like appearance is to have a reverse mask look and be a blanketed silver sable. The rarest color of German Shepherd is Isabella, which is also known as lilac. Not only is this color visually appealing, but it is also difficult to predict when breeding. The recessive blue and liver getting combined are not very likely, which makes almost all Isabella shepherds pleasant surprises. Getting a lilac shepherd from a reputable breeder is advisable because unscrupulous breeders may repeatedly breed puppies and neglect the non-isabella dogs hoping to profit from the lilac pups. Black is prominent across most variations of GSDs. From black and tan, often working lines, to black and red for showing, most German Shepherds have a hint of black. If you are looking for the most common overall color of a German Shepherd, the two that come out on top are black and red and black and tan. The show line dog of this bicolor look will be the cheapest yet will command a price significantly higher than a working dog of the same pair of colors. Some German Shepherd colors, such as blue and white, are controversial because they have been linked to genetic health issues, such as skin problems and deafness. Breeders who prioritize these colors over health can perpetuate these issues. Yes, the color of a German Shepherd puppy can be predicted based on the colors of the parents and the genetic inheritance of the color genes. By understanding the basics of color genetics, breeders can make educated guesses about the colors of their puppies. Do German Shepherds Change Color? German Shepherds do change color, especially if they are bicolor. This happens when they mature and shed certain colored fur but never grow it back. The color change is most prominent in brindle GSDs and sable shepherds, as the decrease in one shade of fur leads to a change in the overall look of the dog. No, the color of a German Shepherd does not affect its temperament. Temperament is determined by genetics and upbringing, not color. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are descendants of dark dogs but have come a long way since they were first shown as the perfect cross between beautiful and work-ready. GSD colors can vary from lighter ones like the rare Isabella all the way to solid black. The pattern variations include mask, sable, brindle stripes, and saddle, whereas colors can be solid or pair from the pool of black, red, tan, blue, silver, cream, liver, white, and gray. With over 30 years of experience working with dogs, this former Police Officer has seen it all. Find her on Linkedin! Sep 27, Jul 8, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Are you looking for a dog with all the amazing characteristics of a German shepherd, but you also want something a bit different and special? If so, then why not consider a sable German shepherd? The sable German shepherd is not a crossbreed dog but rather a recognized variation within the breed, so the dog retains all the benefits of a purebred pup. German shepherds are one of the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States, in part thanks to their intelligence, trainability, and intense loyalty. They are also well-loved for their sleek, noble appearance. Interestingly, sable is actually the original color of the German shepherd breed. It is the only variation of the German shepherd that has the same color as the founding member of the breed. Read on to learn everything you need to know about these attractive, intelligent, and hard-working dogs. Sable German Shepherd Appearance Sable German shepherds look just like most other German shepherd dogs, with the exception of their distinctively colored coat. The German shepherd is a large breed. You can expect the males to reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. The females are a bit smaller. Their heads are domed in shape with a long, square muzzle. They have alert, erect ears and long necks that make them seem even larger than they are. It is considered ideal for the dog to be longer than it is tall with a proportion of 10 to 8. Their bushy tail should extend out in a hook-like shape. German shepherds tend to dip their head low like a wolf when they are running or prowling, which contributes to the consensus that they look very much like the wolf ancestors of dogs. These dogs have double coats with a soft undercoat and a denser guard layer. The guard layer can be either medium or long, though the medium length is significantly more common. Most German shepherds are either tan and black or red and black. The lighter brown shade is usually their principal color, with a black face mask and black markings on their back which often look like a saddle. A variety of other color variations exist, including pure black, pure white, liver, silver, blue, panda, and, of course, sable. Sable basically means the dog has mostly lighter colored hair with a black tips, which can make the dog appear grey or mottled. In reality, the actual color combinations are more varied, and the sable pattern could be any mixture of tan, black, brown, or red. The term is mostly used in the United States. In other countries, such as Germany, these dogs are often just called grey. It has since become a popular working dog for roles such as search and rescue, police, and military due to its strength, trainability, and intelligence. The breed emerged from the s trend to try to standardize dog breeds to assist in certain jobs, such as herding sheep. Max von Stephanitz was a leading thinker in this area and was specifically looking for canine specimens that matched his ideal vision of a working dog. He found that ideal dog at a dog show in .He purchased the dog and named it Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs to promote the breed and others like it. Horand, who was in fact a sable-colored German Shepherd, became the center point of a breeding program. Horand himself had 84 puppies, and extensive inbreeding was required to secure the characteristics of the breed. When the German Shepherd was imported to the United States in the early 20th century, it became popular with gangsters and bootleggers for its strength, intelligence, and intimidating appearance. It was also popular in Nazi Germany, and even Adolf Hitler loved the breed. As a result, it has gained a reputation for being a fierce, intimidating, and even dangerous breed. However, this says much more about how the dogs were used than the natural temperament of the dogs themselves. German Shepherd Temperament The color of a German shepherd makes no difference to its temperament, so you can expect a sable German shepherd to conform to the general temperament of the breed. German shepherd dogs are often described as active and self-assured. This, combined with their intelligence and eagerness to learn and please, makes them excellent working dogs. They are also highly obedient and loyal. Their extreme loyalty also extends to family situations. They will raise the alarm with their loud, deep bark if they sense danger. However, German shepherds are not naturally aggressive. This is a reputation that stems from the way that the dog has been used in the past. That said, German shepherds are often associated with severe dog bites. This is largely due to the popularity of the breed and the strength of their bite rather than any innate aggression; there are simply more of them around than many other dog breeds. Tests suggest that German Shepherds have a bite force of over 1, newtons, which is less than a Rottweiler but more than a pit bull. They tend to have a natural suspicion of strangers and like to chase smaller animals. Their intelligence and compliance means they can be trained not to display this behavior, but as an owner, you need to put in the work of training them properly and consistently. German shepherds are a very curious breed in addition to being highly intelligent, which is why they are well suited for search and rescue missions. German Shepherd Energy Level German shepherds are very playful and active dogs, so they need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to thrive. This is another reason why they often do well as working animals. Working gives them both the physical and mental stimulation to complete these challenging tasks. Pleasing their handlers is also attractive to these highly reward-oriented dogs. Ideally, German shepherds need at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day, preferably spread over at least two different sessions. However, this should be slightly less when they are puppies. There is always a risk of over-exercising puppies, especially when it comes to large dog breeds. As a general rule, you should exercise a puppy daily for five minutes for every month of their age until they are an adult. German shepherds reach adulthood at around 18 months. So, for example, a six month old pup should be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day if we follow this rule, as six months times five minutes comes out to 30 minutes per day. What to know more about exercising your puppy? Read our article: How far can I walk my puppy? German shepherds will love to accompany you on adventures, such as hikes and walks, and they also love swimming. They will do well at the lake, on the beach, or even accompanying you on a boat. However, even though they are excellent swimmers, they should have a doggy life vest if you are out at sea. They will struggle in an apartment, and their large size can make navigating small apartments challenging even for these nimble dogs. Ideally, they should have a backyard where they can move around freely, especially when left at home alone. The intelligence of these dogs means they can get bored quickly. While puzzle toys, such as a Kong , can help on the occasions when you do need to leave them alone, they are likely to become stressed if they are left alone regularly. German Shepherd Health Risks German shepherds have a life expectancy of a little over 10 years. This is normal for dogs of their size, and larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller breeds. You should not expect a sable German shepherd to be immune from these, especially since further inbreeding is often required to produce the sable color. It is common for these dogs to develop hip and elbow dysplasia , which is a developmental abnormality of the joints that can restrict movement and cause pain. This is often the result of different elements of the body growing at different speeds. The best way to prevent this is to ensure good nutrition and the right level of exercise during their crucial growing period. Even if the development of hip and elbow dysplasia does not affect the dog at a younger age, it can make them more susceptible to arthritis and other forms of joint pain when they are older. Older German shepherds often benefit from an orthopedic bed to take pressure off their joints. The breed also appears to be predisposed to degenerative myelopathy. This is a degenerative spinal cord disease that generally shows up in older dogs after about the age of seven years. If you are looking for one of these puppies specifically, you may need to go to a breeder. The sable color is relatively rare, and breeders have to control specifically for this kind of coat. As a result, you can expect to pay a bit more for a sable puppy than you would a German shepherd of any other more common colors. Are you thinking of adopting a sable German shepherd, or any German shepherd, into your family? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if you and your home are a good fit for this breed. German shepherds are highly trainable and obedient, which means even first-time owners should be able to take on the challenge of training them. German shepherds need a commanding presence to keep them in check. The sad reality is that many people are also afraid of big dogs like these, and their behavior and response to them can cause serious problems. You need to feel confident to take control of your dog in charged situations. These dogs are also very active, so they will do best if they have a bit of outdoors to call their own that lets them run around a little, dig, and play. Just be sure your yard is properly and securely fenced in! German shepherds are very energetic dogs that need to be active a lot, which means you will need to be active frequently as well. As well as daily exercise, they will want to join you on weekend adventures rather than weekends on the couch catching up on Netflix. German shepherds need to spend a lot of time with their owners, as they need both companionship and intellectual stimulation. Thinking about getting a new puppy? Check out our new puppy checklist. Sable German shepherds have a coat with lighter roots and darker tips covering most of their body. The tips are usually black, which means the dog looks as though it has a greyish color. It is a natural color variation within the breed. How common are sable German shepherds? Sable German shepherds are significantly rare in comparison to the popular tan and black or red and black colors that dominate the breed. This is why a sable puppy will probably cost you more than other color variations. However, pure black German shepherds are a bit more rare. Are sable German shepherds bigger? No, sable German shepherds are not bigger than other German shepherds. The females should weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and the males 75 to 95 pounds. Look at the size of the parents to get a better feel for how big your pup is likely to get. Are German shepherds good family dogs? With the right training and socialization, German shepherds are excellent dogs for an active household. They will be loving, obedient, and protective. They are good around children, though small children should always be supervised around dogs, regardless of the breed and their level of familiarity. Accidents happen, even when children are around dogs they have grown up with and know well. What is bad about German shepherds? German shepherds tend to be suspicious of everyone, which can contribute to overly protective and territorial behavior. Proper socialization can help minimize this personality trait, but they will probably carry an element of this with them for their entire lives. The Verdict Sable German shepherds are not exotic crossbreeds but rather a rare color of the purebred German shepherd dog. They are actually the original color of the breed, matching its famous founding member. Sable-colored German shepherds are actually relatively rare, so they can be expensive to procure. However, aside from their unique color, they are just like other German shepherds, one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are large and strong dogs with a lot of energy, which makes them well suited to hard work. They are also highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes them ideal to train to complete complex tasks such as the roles of military and police dogs despite being originally bred as herders. Overall, sable German shepherds are: Rarer than just about any other color of German shepherd No different than other German shepherds as far as personality, temperament, etc. With the right training and socialization, they are very safe dogs. German shepherds are great dogs for active people who have a lot of time to spend with their pup and want a companion to join them on various active adventures. Do you have experience with sable German shepherd dogs? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article:. Yes, German Shepherd puppies are actually born black! They can also be born gray and white, as the coats will gradually change color as they grow older. By about eighteen to twenty-four months of age, a German Shepherd puppy should have its final coat color , and it will stay that way! However, many German Shepherds can be born black, and their coats may stay black. Some German Shepherds that are born black will never gain their color, and will remain with a black coat forever. However, this is incredibly rare, and it is said that only about 6. It may surprise you that German Shepherds can actually be born in three different colors. They are typically either born black, white or gray in color, and you will see the color change from the age of 8 weeks onwards, but it can take up to two years to see the final color. Black and tan German Shepherds are the most common, and they will gradually get more tan as they age, with the browner colors appearing around the face, tail, ears, and stomach as time passes. In addition, a German Shepherd that is born black can either grow up to be black all over, or they may fade to another color such as Sable, Gray, Black and Tan, Brown, Black and Silver, or other variations of the breed. Even if you have a puppy that has been black for more than 8 weeks, it is very unlikely that it will stay entirely black as it grows. Black German Shepherds are extremely rare, and most will turn more Sable colored or Tan as time progresses. Whilst German Shepherds can come in a few colors , their coats also vary in length and thickness. The most common German Shepherds will have very thick, long, fluffy hair, but some can be short-haired. The German Shepherd breed has two pigments in their fur called eumelanin and pheomelanin. How these pigments interact with other genes in the German Shepherd puppy determines how the coat will turn out! For example, the pigment called eumelanin is responsible for the color black. On the other hand, pheomelanin defaults to red, which can create Red Sable, or deep brown tones and pale gold colors. If you are hoping to find yourself a black German Shepherd, then you may have a tough job in doing so. A black German Shepherd is actually very rare, and is down to genetics and pigmentation, so even with a black parent, it is not guaranteed that the puppies would be black in color, or remain black in color as they grow. The most promising combination for a black German Shepherd puppy is if both parents of the puppies are black themselves. This will give you the greatest chance of achieving all black puppies. However, some black puppies can come from parents that are both black and tan, or if one parent is black and tan, and the other is black. It sometimes is just down to luck. That being said, if both parents have the solid black color recessive gene, meaning they are fully black all over, and not even slightly black and tan, then it is likely that the puppies will be born black, and will stay black as they grow older. As black German Shepherds are incredibly rare, some people are under the impression that they are a different breed altogether, but the black variant is a recognized version of the regular German Shepherd dog. Although they are the same breed, there can be some differences between the Black and Tan German Shepherd and the Black German Shepherd. For instance, a black German Shepherd can quite often be much larger than the regular German Shepherd. They may also have a much straighter back than a normal German Shepherd. In addition, black German Shepherds can sometimes have a thicker coat, especially at the neck and on the front and back legs. You may also notice that some black German Shepherds will have thicker fur at the ears and around the tail, which is why some people think that they are a different dog breed as they can sometimes look more like wolves than German Shepherds! Some black German Shepherds may also have much fluffier coats, or a stronger, more athletic build and erect, pointed ears, however it does depend on the dog itself. As previously mentioned, the black German Shepherd is a much more rare occurrence than the more common Black and Tan German Shepherd, and as such, they can be harder to come across and much more expensive than any other type of German Shepherd. However, you should exercise some caution when trying to purchase a black German Shepherd, as many breeders may advertise a black version of the breed, which may not exactly turn out to be. In addition, purchasing from a reputable breeder will ensure that the dog does not have any health issues or problems later in life which can also cost you thousands of dollars, too! To ensure that you get a good quality dog, you should always find out the parentage of the puppy. This means either asking for documentation to prove the father of the puppies, and checking to see if the mother is with the puppies, and properly cared for. You can also research which breeders are trustworthy by looking at registered breeders on the American Kennel Club website. Some people are under the misconception that black German Shepherds are highly different to regular German Shepherds, and have different temperaments and health issues or ailments. However, this is not always the case. A great number of people seem to think that black German Shepherds are more aggressive than regular German Shepherds, and may be more prone to angry outbursts or aggressive behavior. German Shepherds are typically very active, intelligent, alert, friendly, loyal and loving animals, but there may always be some that show signs of aggression or misbehavior. This can be solved with a solid routine and expert or professional training. You have to keep in mind that because German Shepherds are so intelligent, they need a lot of mental stimulation and attention to keep their minds engaged and active. This means giving them a lot of exercise, time, energy and toys to keep them focused and interested. Otherwise, you may notice some aggression, anti-social, destructive or bad behavior as they tend to act out and become naughty if they are bored. Summary To summarize, German Shepherd puppies can be born black, but not all are. Some German Shepherd puppies can be born black, white or gray, and may stay this color for about 8 weeks. After this period has passed, the puppies will begin to show their true colors shall we say, and turn their final color. At this point, most German Shepherd puppies will become that common Black and Tan color that we know and love, however some will have different genes and pigments, which will result in a black German Shepherd, but this is very rare. In order to get a black German Shepherd, both parents would need to be black, or one would have to be black and the other black and tan. This is why all black German Shepherds are considered a rarity, and are therefore much more expensive than normal ones. However, the black variant of the German Shepherd is no different in temperament, health or breed. To see some German Shepherd puppies with their beautiful black colors, check out this video! Our extensive collection features hundreds of stunning photos of these adorable canines in various poses, settings, and backgrounds. Type of Images Available Our collection of German Shepherd puppy images features a variety of different types of photos, including portraits, candid shots, outdoor and indoor images, and more. From close-ups of their expressive faces to action shots of them running and playing, our images capture the energy and character of this amazing breed. Our images can be used for a multitude of purposes, including websites, blog posts, advertisements, social media, books, magazines, and more. Whether you're sharing photos of your own German Shepherd puppy or you need images for a commercial project, our collection is a great resource. Tips for Choosing the Right Image Choosing the right image can make all the difference when it comes to creating a compelling design or message. Here are some tips for selecting the perfect image: Consider the mood you want to convey Think about the context in which the image will be used Look for images with high resolution and clarity Take into account the color scheme of your project and select images that complement it Choose images that have a clear focal point and aren't cluttered Why Choose Our Images? Our collection of German Shepherd puppy images offers a unique combination of quality, variety, and affordability. We pride ourselves in providing images that are visually stunning while still being accessible to a wide range of individuals and businesses. Plus, we offer flexible licensing options, including Royalty-free and Extended licenses, to fit your specific needs. With our images, you can create compelling projects that capture the essence of this beloved breed, no matter what your design or marketing goals may be. So why wait? Browse our collection today to discover the perfect German Shepherd puppy image for your next project! Black and Tan This is the color most of us think of when we picture a German Shepherd dog. With a rich tan undercarriage and a black face and back, this color of GSD has been around since the very first was officially registered back in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Although Horand von Grafrath was a little darker than the modern black and tan GSD, the ancestry is evident. With their luxurious white coats, these pale dogs look more like Golden Retrievers with erect ears. Despite their popularity, like the white German Shepherd, the blue has been a cause of controversion in the Shepherd world because recessive dilution gene comes with inbreeding practices and health issues. Blue German Shepherds may appear gray or even silver and are sometimes mistaken for a Blue Belgian Malinois. Isabella This unusual coat color variation is another washout as far the AKC is concerned, which is a shame given how striking it is. It originates from genetically combining liver and blue dilution genes. Like the liver and blue German Shepherd dogs, Isabella GSDs often have unusual eye coloring and different colored noses. Liver German Shepherds will usually have a brown nose. Blue German Shepherds have a blue nose. There is no evidence that the Isabella coloration makes the dog more susceptible to health issues. However, Isabella is a recessive trait. Selecting for recessive traits always limits the gene pool and makes dogs more susceptible to genetic conditions. Grey Not to be confused with the silver, black, or blue German Shepherds, the gray variety look more wolf-like with their dark coats. Some breeders specialize in producing dogs of this unusual color. Silver Similar to the gray German Shepherd, silver is nevertheless recognized as a distinct color. Often grouped together, however, the gray and silver colors are produced by the same genes. Finding a breeder that specializes in silver German Shepherds is a lot easier than finding one that focuses on the grey, so this might be your best bet if you want a more exotic-looking companion. Silver is an uncommon color for GSDs, possibly because it is a recessive gene. Similar to the dilution gene, this gene influences black pigment. While you also get silver sable German Shepherds, the patterned coats mean they are categorized as sable rather than silver. However, silver German Shepherds are often seen in military work or the police force. The red color is the result of the color gene pheomelanin. It can have any shade of red, ranging from strawberry blonde to a deep mahogany red. Alongside black and tan, the black and red combination is preferred over others by German Shepherd breeders. As black and red are both produced by dominant genes, this color combination is easier to breed for, and many breeders focus on producing purebred dogs with deep red coloring. Sable A classic color for the German Shepherd, a sable comes in a variety of colors but each hair sports a black tip. Sable GSDs can be black, gray, red, silver, or tan and are also known as agouti. Agouti is a type of coloring also present in other dogs, like the Agouti Husky. In this coloring each hair has several bands of brown and black, leading to a typical wolf-like coloration. Some founding members of the German Shepherd breed believed this should be the only color present in German Shepherds. Black sables are born as all-black pups and tri-colored sables are born as black and tan puppies. As the puppy ages, their coloring changes. Some GSDs may take as long as three years to develop their final sable coloration. As every sable GSD is different, with the color and pattern both varying, it makes for an eye-catching and unique dog. Sable is a dominant color that is easy to breed for. If you breed a Sable German Shepherd to any other color, you will likely get sable puppies. Black and Silver Much like the black and tan GSD, a black and silver German Shepherd usually has a silver saddle across its back, although the pattern and hue both vary from dog to dog. Like the silver GSD, the black and silver coloration occurs only when the recessive intensity suppression gene is present. This color is not common in the AKC show ring and can mostly be found in working dog lines. Because these dogs are not visible in the dark, it is highly advisable to only walk them on a light-up dog collar in the evenings and at night. Bicolor Bicolor German Shepherds appear almost completely black and, to fit the breed standard, must have black heads, back, legs and tail. Even if their paws are brown, the heels need to be black by the color standard definition. However, the AKC accepts bicolor as a recessive color in the breed. Though technically allowed in the show ring, these dogs are mostly found in working lines. Black and Cream The last official color on our list, the black and cream GSD remains true to its origins as a lighter version of the common red and tan coloring. There is some controversy surrounding the black and cream variation. Most AKC breeders do not want them to participate in the show ring. They strive to breed darker dogs that do not show the light cream coloring. The color does little to change their character, however, and black and cream GSDs excel obedience, nosework, rally and agility and are as loyal and brave as their black and tan cousins. Her DNA proved them wrong, although the Panda coloration remains unrecognized by some kennel clubs and breeders. The Panda GDS is created by a rare genetic mutation. The genes responsible for an all-white body and the patchy white are two different ones. This does not stop them from being popular however! There is a large demand for Panda-colored German Shepherds. Unfortunately, this inflates the price and leads breeders to focus on the color mutation rather than genetic health, so be sure to only source a puppy from a reputable breeder. Albino An albino German Shepherd is incredibly rare. An albino of any species or breed lacks any pigmentation, including of the skin, hair, and eyes as well as the blood vessels, resulting in a pinkish tinge. You can distinguish an albino German Shepherd from a white one by checking his eyes and nose. A White GDS will have some pigmentation resulting in brown eyes, whereas albinos always have red or pink eyes. An Albino GSD, should one exist, may experience other health problems associated with the condition. They may, for example, be photosensitive, requiring protection from direct sunlight. What is the Rarest Color of the German Shepherd? The rarest color of German Shepherd is the isabella due to the recessive combination of liver and blue. You will have to search for a long time to get such a puppy — and his price will likely be high as well! What is the Best Color for a German Shepherd? The best color for a German Shepherd in the show ring is black and tan, followed by sable. If you are not planning on showing your dog through the AKC, you can pick any color you like. This is not based on any actual working abilities though and more of a myth that has been passed on through generations. What is the Original Color of a German Shepherd? As German Shepherd dogs were bred as working dogs, the original breeders focused on temperature rather than appearance. The original color of working German Shepherds was sable. The most traditional color in the show ring is black and tan. While you should pick the coloring you like the most, make sure to not just choose your dog based on his looks. German Shepherds are prone to developing back and hip issues. Before buying a puppy for his color, make sure that his breeder selects for health first and color second! Otherwise you might end up with a puppy with great color but poor health … which is never a good thing. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.

Jumping You probably noticed that all of the things above are unwanted behaviors. This can lead to heart problems, joint problems, and other potential health problems. These following suggestions for exercising your pup will cover both mental and physical exercises. Play tug with your golden Another good game to play with your pup is tug. This is also a great opportunity to work in some training, as you can teach your golden to drop it , take it, and even have them do sits or downs to resume the game. Play chase This is a great game to play, especially with puppies, since most puppies love nothing more than to chase or be chased. Get your dog hooked on chew toys Teaching your dog to love to chew on chew toys is one of the best things you can do for your puppy. Chewing releases feel-good endorphins and channels their chewing energy into an appropriate toy, instead of something in appropriate, like your household items. It can also help them relax, and put overtired puppies to sleep. Play with a flirt pole Using a flirt pole is great for young puppies because it allows them to chase and pounce a toy while you stay a safe distance away from their razor-sharp teeth. Oliver loves it, plus it takes a ton of mental energy to figure out how to get all of his kibble out of it. Other puzzle toys include the Kong Wobbler , snuffle mats , and food balls. This is a win-win since he loves the puzzle toys and it takes more energy to work for his food than to just gobble it up from a food bowl. Play hide and seek This is a great game that combines training and a little bit of exercise, but it does require that your golden knows how to stay. Just be sure to fully dry them off because goldens are susceptible to hot spots. Take your golden to doggy daycare After a day of daycare, Oliver is usually wiped out for the night, as well as half of the next day. Set up a doggy playdate If you have any friends that have nice dogs, or if you meet anyone in a local Facebook group, try to set up a doggy playdate. Your golden will love it! This is especially good for young puppies, since they need to be socialized with other dogs and you can make sure the other dog is up to date on their vaccines. Conclusion Since golden retrievers were bred to hunt out in the fields and marshes all day, they need a lot of exercise. How much exercise does your golden need per day? Have any questions about exercising your golden retriever? Let me know in the comments below. Related articles:. By Tom Massey Apr 22, Most pet lovers know how vital exercise can be for their furry friends. Establishing a reliable exercise routine also deters dogs from destroying your house during a burst of high energy. Our Golden Retriever pals are renowned for their happy-go-lucky personality — these dogs are young at heart long after growing from the puppy stage. No matter how much you love your dog, nobody likes to find chew marks on their prized possessions. Dogs who receive too little exercise will have a round physique. But they are also likely to exhibit these unwanted behaviors. This article will review everything you need to consider when creating an exercise routine for your Golden Retriever. Very young Golden puppies only need a few minutes of exercise a day, although the length of time increases with each month of age. Our growing companions do not realize how delicate they are within their first year of life. Growth plates help cartilage grow into bone as puppies mature. However, they are very sensitive and can damage easily. In the meantime, this means your Golden Retriever pup should avoid activities that have a high potential for growth plate injuries. Here are some activities that could hurt puppies who are still growing: Jumping from too high off the ground Twisting too fast Consistent repetition of the same activity Extended periods of high energy play Injuries to growth plates can hinder bone growth and, in extreme cases, cause uneven limbs when your pup grows up. Unfortunately, Golden Retrievers are a breed at risk for developing hip dysplasia. This disorder can start as early as four months old but typically occurs as a dog ages. Obesity, excessive exercise, and too little exercise can cause hip dysplasia in dogs. This is why finding the perfect amount of activity for your dog is crucial to maintaining health throughout his life. In the first few months of life, your pup will be curious to explore the world around them. Most of the exercises for young dogs focus on socialization and behavior training. Learning these tools will ensure your dog is friendly, obedient, and ready for higher-level exercise routines later in life. Typically, a Golden Retriever puppy should have 5 minutes of exercise for every month of age. At 9 to 12 weeks of age , a Golden Retriever puppy will begin integrating into your family. Socialization during this age is crucial, so their primary source of exercise should be playing with you and other members of your household. This includes any other dogs or pets you have in the home. But remember to keep a close eye on your furry friends as they learn to interact with each other. At 13 to 16 weeks, your Golden Retriever will start teething. Playing with chew toys will be a great opportunity for your puppy to learn what they can and cannot munch on. You might see some challenging behaviors arise around 16 to 24 weeks of age. An exercise playpen with lots of toys, food, and drink is an excellent idea to keep the pup entertained while also keeping them out of trouble. From 6 to 12 months, a Golden Retriever puppy will have lots of energy, and an exercise routine that includes physical and mental exercise will be essential. At Snowy Pines, for example, our customer communications specialist Julia reaches out to families at 2 days, 1 week, and around the day mark after homecoming to answer any questions about training or your puppy in general. The world is a big place for little pups, and they need relaxation after stimulating activities. Over years ago, Golden Retrievers were bred to be high-energy hunting companions. Enough exercise will also minimize the chances that your Golden will engage in destructive behaviors around the home. Also, Golden Retrievers also love to eat, so exercise will be important to prevent weight gain. A healthy adult Golden Retriever should receive 40 to minutes of exercise per day, broken up into two sessions. And because Goldens are easy to please, they will be content with a wide range of different activities. This breed loves going on nice, long walks through nature. Walking is a great low-impact exercise for dogs and their owners. Try to go out for about an hour when walking to give your dog and you! You can also visit a fenced dog park for a game of fetch. Golden Retrievers also love mental stimulation, which keeps their mind active. A good mix between high stimulation, low impact, and intellectual exercises will keep your beloved pet physically and mentally healthy. If you see your Golden Retriever sitting or lying down during their daily walk or exercise routine, your dog is tired and needs to relax. If your adult dog is overweight and needs a lot of exercise, try gradually increasing their exercise time by five minutes every day or two to increase their stamina. In addition, dogs who receive infrequent exercise will exhibit some undesirable behaviors. Without proper daily exercise, Golden Retrievers can become socially withdrawn, destructive, or hyperactive. If you have difficulty meeting their exercise needs, consider hiring a dog sitter or investing in interactive toys. This is an entirely normal activity and provides an excellent opportunity for playtime. Special Considerations for Senior Golden Retrievers Our precious pets have a shorter lifespan than humans. Golden Retrievers are classified as seniors when they reach eight years of age. As Golden Retrievers age, you may see their energy levels decrease. This is normal — much like older adult humans, senior Golden Retrievers tire easily. When high-energy tasks like long-distance running and playing fetch become hard, walking and mentally stimulating exercises are great ways to keep senior dogs healthy and active. But always remember to watch for signs that your pet needs rest. If your senior Golden takes a long time to get up while on a walk, this signals that they are tired. Consider taking them home instead of continuing the exercise. If you notice your senior dog is frequently extra lethargic, you may want to visit a veterinarian. Remember, as dogs age, they can become susceptible to hip dysplasia from too much or too little exercise. Golden Retrievers were bred to be hunting companions — needless to say, they love being in nature. Long walks where they can stop and sniff their environment will mentally and physically stimulate your Golden. In addition, early Golden Retrievers were bred to be natural swimmers, so dock diving is a great physical exercise. Dock diving is the game of fetch with the addition of water: your dog runs after the object, swims to fetch it, and returns the object to you. Swimming is a wonderful activity, especially for senior Goldens who may be experiencing the aches and pains of old age. This activity is easier on their joints but still gives them an appropriate amount of movement. Most dogs love playing fetch or catching frisbees, and Golden Retrievers are no different. This is a great activity for children who want to participate in playtime with the family pet. Golden Retrievers are well-known for their obedience during agility courses. Creating an obstacle course where your dog can practice different exercises like running and jumping will keep your furry pal entertained for a long time. If your dog is trained to walk safely and will stay to one side of your body, you can introduce running. However, remember to start slowly. Activities like hide and seek with treats , puzzle toys, and trick training are great brain exercises to get your dog thinking. As a reminder, dogs can never have too much positive reinforcement for their good behaviors. Conclusion Golden Retrievers are an energetic dog breed that loves playtime and requires lots of exercise to keep them from exhibiting unwanted behaviors. However, you should always watch for signals that your dog is tired or overworked. This is especially true for puppies who could damage their growth plates with too much exercise, as well as senior Goldens, who may need to scale back their normal 40 to minutes a day. We all want our fluffy companions to live long and healthy lives. By establishing regular exercise into their daily routine, you can help keep your Golden Retriever physically and mentally fit. At Snowy Pines, we start teaching our puppies lifestyle skills from a young age. Contact us today to learn about our available English Cream Golden Retriever puppies! Share on. Read the full disclosure here. All dogs need exercise to live a fit, healthy and fulfilling life. No matter the breed, no matter how large or small, no matter their age, they all need exercise. But some need more than others. So what are the Golden Retriever exercise requirements? Golden Retrievers Are A High Energy Sporting Breed As the name suggests, the Golden Retriever is a sporting breed initially created to retrieve fallen game for hunters in the Scottish highlands in the 19th century. Retrieving in the Scottish Highlands, with its mountainous landscape pot-holed with ponds, lakes and streams is very physically demanding work. So when they set out to create the Goldens, they had to be a high energy, sturdy breed with lots of stamina and an affinity for water. They needed a dog that could travel large distances, hiking and swimming in rough terrain for the best part of a full day. And with this breed, this is exactly what they got. They need physical activity. They become very destructive , chewing , digging, and running around your home and garden like little tornadoes. Too full of pent-up energy to be able to concentrate and behave themselves well and some will even try to escape their home and garden at every opportunity. Only now, all that food will just turn into fat and lead to poor health and weight issues. Yes, Golden Retrievers are very prone to obesity. Usually a combination of their owners doing two things: Giving in too often to those expertly crafted begging routines. Not giving their pooch anywhere near a sufficient level of exercise. Excess weight leads to a variety of problems such as heart disease, increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and damage to their hip and elbow joints. Keeping your Golden at a healthy weight is the responsibility of any caring owner. This rule basically states: A puppy needs no more than 5 minutes of exercise for each month it has been alive. So a 3-month-old puppy needs only 15 minutes exercise per day, a 5-month-old needs 25 minutes. This exercise is a proper, structured exercise. Meaning brisk walking on leash, gentle games of fetch. Puppies are growing fast and their bones and joints can be easily damaged by over-exercising. Follow the 5 minute rule and encourage very little jumping or vigorous exercise! Continue the 5 minute rule until your golden is nearing one year old. As a general rule to follow, a healthy adult Golden retriever exercise needs consist of a good hour of exercise every day. But the genetics of your dog could mean you need to increase or decrease this. Those retrievers from a working field line will be more energetic and have higher exercise needs, perhaps as much as 2 hours per day. Whereas those from show lines could get by on 45 minutes. But all Goldens need regular exercise, at least twice per day or they will become bored and probably destructive. Try to provide different forms of exercise such as hiking, running, swimming, playing fetch…you need to stimulate their minds as well as their hearts and muscles. They will take every bit of physical activity you throw at them and then be able to do much more. You will tire yourself out long before you can tire them! Some Golden retrievers suffer arthritis and other joint pains as they age. If this is the case with your dog, please speak to your vet and follow their advice. With some ailments exercise can make things worse and you do not want that for your dog. Like humans, dogs are individuals and age differently. Just be mindful of not asking too much of your elderly dog. They can still enjoy walking long distances and swimming, just avoid jumping hedges and chasing balls for an hour straight. Believe me, you will know! In all cases, if your Golden has behavioral problems and seems highly strung and out of control, the first thing you should do is have them checked by a vet for health issues. And if they receive a clean bill of health then the simplest of cures for a better behaved dog is to exercise them more. Try it for a few days, you just may be surprised at the results: An exercised Golden is a calm and happy Golden! Conclusion Golden Retrievers are a high energy sporting breed and require a lot of exercise. A lack of it can lead to a variety of health problems, hyperactivity and behavioral problems! So for a healthy and happy dog…and owner…provide your beloved puppy with just as much physical activity as they need and deserve! Jogging alongside you, running along as you cycle, going for long hikes , the occasional swim and sessions of playing fetch all qualify as good Golden Retriever training. You will stay fit and active and happy together. You May Also Like. Sep 13, Sep 20, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Our goldens are such high-energy dogs. In order to stay mentally and physically healthy, they require exercise. They need more exercise than many dogs. Of course, the amount and type of exercise will vary based on their age, genetics, health, and overall health and fitness. He may become destructive or he may gain weight. So, to keep him healthy and happy, he should be well-exercised. Even adult goldens may chew the wrong items like your furniture and dig in your garden when under-exercised. Or they may bark excessively, jump on counters or people even when trained not to, or be mouthy. Also, he may gain too much weight. This can lead to heart disease, risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and damage to hips and elbows. A dog who receives enough exercise has toned muscles. Exercise also keeps his body and metabolic system functioning properly and engages his mind. Of course, puppies, adult goldens, and seniors will require various amounts and types of exercise. But generally golden retrievers, being sporting dogs meant to work, need more exercise than many breeds. Genetics enter into the equation. This can also help you determine what type of exercises to include in his regimen. So a three-month-old puppy should receive no more than 15 minutes of exercise up to two times a day. And break up the time he plays. For example, have a short minute walk and, after a break, a three-minute fetch session. Then, after another break, a two-minute training session. Vary the activities. Doing all these activities will not only help your pup exercise, but it will also help further your bond. My rescued golden retriever Riley came to me when he was about six months old. To say that he was energetic would be an understatement. He would jump on us, be mouthy, and generally destructive when he arrived. Of course, he needed training. But I also had to meet his exercise needs so that we could have a great relationship. So I took him on long walks, played fetch with his Kong ball, played tug and release, and played with puzzle toys. He also played with my other dogs. And he went to daycare two or three days or half-days per week. Between mental and physical exercise, he became the great dog he was meant to be. He enjoys life, loves everyone, and is very well-behaved wherever he goes. But he was worth it. Of course a young adult or one from hunting lines may need more. They may even need an hour-and-a-half or two hours per day. Just like us, goldens are individuals. But others may still be very active at 10 years old. Of course, some goldens are still very active at that age and beyond. But how much and the type of exercise they should engage in depends on their general health. The same is true of goldens with disabilities. They still require a sufficient amount of exercise according to their needs. Types of Exercise for Your Golden Of course both physical and mental exercise are required to have a healthy dog. There are many choices that will help your dog be fit and happy. Always monitor your dog to see if he seems too tired or appears to be injured. Stop and seek veterinary advice. Start out slowly and add time over many sessions as your pup can handle it. Vary the exercises. Some can be performed inside as well as outside. So even on a rainy day, you can sufficiently exercise your dog and meet his needs. Walking or Running Of course, you should first teach your dog to walk on a loose leash before exercising him on a leash. Walks at a natural pace are best for most goldens. Start with short walks, increasing them over time. Avoid walks on the hottest or coldest part of the day. Always walk on safe footing and avoid slippery or sharp surfaces. Of course, running is another matter. The pounding may be too much. Running on soft running paths or level grass can be alright for some dogs. Of course, a full vet checkup should occur before starting any running program with your beloved golden retriever. Some people jog with a dog. Others may skate or ride a bike with their golden alongside. Of course, some dogs enjoy hiking with their people. There are many sights and smells for a dog to enjoy. Play Groups Your puppy or dog can also get a lot of varied exercise playing with appropriate dog playmates. Dogs romp and wrestle together. You can set up your own or join in to well-run dog playgroups or even dog daycares. Playing With Your Dog You can play fetch with your dog if he knows how to retrieve and give up the toy on cue. He may even fetch a favorite ball. Or play tug with a toy like a rope or fleece toy if your dog will take it and release it on cue. The options are limitless. You can play hide and seek with your golden while inside. You can heel with him, have him come on cue, or teach him to wave! Mentally Stimulating Toys There are many activity toys you can buy or you can make your own. Some are puzzle toys where your golden seeks out kibble or treats. Or treat-dispensing balls. If you or a friend has a swimming pool, you can teach your dog to swim. They make life vests for safety. Start him in shallow water and build from there, with you accompanying him. Always make sure that he knows where the steps are and how to get out of the water. My golden Spencer used to like to swim in the bay when we vacationed at the shore. He was a great swimmer, but he wore a doggy life vest and I had him on a long-line for safety. There are also dog facilities like boarding and daycares and vet hospitals that have facilities where your pup may swim. Swimming provides a great cardio workout as well as being easier on joints than many land exercises. This can be good for dogs with joint problems and arthritis. In fact, aqua therapy is often used for dogs who need physical rehabilitation from injuries or surgery. The following suggestions can be performed in competitions or just for fun and exercise. You can even join a dog training club or take courses to learn how to perform these activities. There are so many choices, including: Lure coursing, where a dog chases after a plastic bag attached to a lure that whizzes by on a specially designed course. Sight hounds often participate in this sport. Scent work, in which a dog finds something by scent. Agility, where a dog learns to run a designated course with tunnels, weave poles, dog walks, and teeter totters. Flyball, where a dog learns to jump over a course of jumps and retrieve a ball. Rally obedience, in which you train your dog to walk through a course accompanied by you. He performs certain tasks at each sign on the ground that you encounter. He may have to sit and lie down and perform other obedience exercises throughout the course. Dock diving is a sport in which goldens and labs excel—usually being water-loving dogs. He stays on the dock, awaiting your command. He then runs along the dock and flings his body into the water to retrieve the toy. In competition, the goal is to have the longest jump possible. You should be able to feel his ribs without seeing them. Some occasional zoomies are natural. And he should also be able to listen and pay attention to you and to perform known commands, Too much exercise can be as bad as not enough. Final Thoughts Just like us, goldens need physical and mental exercise to remain healthy. It will also further the bond with your four-legged best friend. How much exercise does your golden receive? What activities have you tried? Please leave your comments in the section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Debbie has been training dogs for over 24 years and has nationally ranked obedience and rally dogs, agility dogs, trick dogs, and therapy dogs. Post navigation. Excessive ball throwing and catching. Fast-paced walks. Walking on hot days. Running a puppy alongside a bike. Dogs and puppies should not be exercised immediately before or after eating, as this can cause problems such as bloating. How to Exercise A Golden Retriever Puppy Providing puppies with the opportunity to exercise is a very important aspect of their healthy life. Not only does exercise have multiple health benefits, but it also gives them a good opportunity to socialize and bond with their owner. Check the temperature outside to avoid overheating. Make sure they wear a proper collar and tag. Make sure they are comfortable with their collar and leash. During Eeercise One way to help your puppy get exercise is by having them on a leash with you and following these tips: Walk at a normal pace. Stop to rest if your puppy keeps sitting down and continue when they get back up. Avoid over-exercising. You can also allow your puppy to exercise without a leash. Allow your pet to run freely in a safe environment, such as a backyard or designated dog park. Having them off the leash is a good way for them to regulate their own pace and exercise they want but do watch for: Watch out for signs of fatigue, including panting, slowing their pace, and lagging behind you. Watch for overheating signs such as excessive panting, drooling, vomiting or agitation. Keep your puppy hydrated. Signs that your dog is overheating and what you can do to help After exercise After your puppy has finished his exercise, make sure to offer them plenty of fresh, clean water and allow them to rest. After they have calmed down and rested, you can offer them a healthy treat or feed them. Exercise For Your Puppy In addition to giving your puppy short, daily walks, here are some other options of exercise that your pup will enjoy. Swimming Swimming is a great exercise for all dogs as it helps strengthen and tone muscles. Get your puppy familiar with water first after they are 3 months old. Fetch Golden Retrievers are meant for retrieving, so a good game of fetch will come naturally to them. Just make sure to watch for any signs of tiring. Dog toys that move There is a wide variety of interactive toys for puppies that are highly stimulating and can help with exercise. Play with other dogs Having your puppy be around other dogs is a good way to give them an exercise buddy while they work on important social skills. Whist Golden Retrievers instinctively know how to retrieve, they need to be trained from a very young age to catch. Signs Your Puppy is Getting Too Much Exercise Exercise keeps joints limber, promotes good range of motion, maintains muscle mass, and can help prevent injury. But too much of it can actually cause injury. Watch out for signs of over-exercise like sore muscles, behavioral changes, and joint injury. Sore Muscles Sore muscles are a sign that your pup is getting too much exercise. Refusing or struggling to go up and down the stairs. Refusing to eat because it hurts to lower down. If you notice signs of soreness, give them time to rest and lower the amount of exercise they are getting. Continuing to exercise, at this point, can lead to injury. Behavioral changes If your puppy usually enjoys going for walks with you but starts to shy away from walking or whimpers when you begin the walk, this is showing you that something is not right. Inconsistent conditioning can lead to changes in behavior as well as injury. If there is a joint injury, your puppy will begin to limp or favor one leg over the other. Another sign that is said to be a sign of joint injury is if you notice your dog putting its head down while walking on the good leg but lifting its head when walking on the bad leg. Heat sickness Heat exhaustion is a concern during the warmer months. Younger dogs have difficulty regulating body temperatures, so too much exercise can cause them to overheat. Signs of heat exhaustion are excessive panting, disinterest in eating, and drooling. Stopping suddenly can also scrape the bottom of the paws, causing the outer layer of the pad to wear off. It is good not to drag your dog while they are leashed, instead, be patient with them and listen to their cues. Golden Retrievers are popular dogs for outdoor activities. That is why we feature them here at Outdoor Dog Fun with these articles:. Without adequate exercise, few puppies will be able to control their energy. Families see an out-of-control puppy and immediately think exercise is the answer to their problem. Often it is, but exercise can also be overdone. There is a balance. The information below has exercise guidelines for large breed puppies along with a broad range of various ways for your puppy to get that exercise. Make sure that you have a fenced area or that you are far from any place that cars or other dangers might be. For off-leash strolls, let the puppy set the pace. If he lies down, let him rest. Here are a few general guidelines. Keep in mind that puppies that are used to active lifestyles can handle longer excursions. Conversely, puppies that have not had opportunity to exercise off leash need to start off at a slower pace. For your average puppy, start off with minutes for an 8-week old puppy. Increase to up to 20 minutes for week old puppies. By the time your puppy is 6 months, the time can be increased up to as much as 45 minutes and for a month-old puppy, you can go for as long as an hour as long as you are going at a slow pace with plenty of opportunities for your puppy to sniff around. If you miss a week or two of the work, decrease your distance when starting back and gradually build up the distance again. This long distance exercise must be off-leash so that your puppy can take breaks and slow down as needed. The puppy must set the pace. Forced running on a leash is never good for a growing puppy. Leash Walks as Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Leash walking can be a good form of exercise when certain criteria are met. First puppies need to be trained and socialized to the environment. Second, leash walks need to be done in a certain way. Leash walking can be overdone. One of the biggest causes of growth plate and soft tissue injury in young puppies is repetitive exercise. Leash walks for puppies must be broken up with training sessions or opportunities for free off-leash play or time to sniff around on the leash. At 3 months, you can go for 20 minutes and at 6 months, you can walk up to 30 minutes. You must be much more careful with leash walking since you and not the puppy control the pace. Leash walking provides an excellent way of combining a little bit of physical exercise with mental exercise, obedience training, socialization, and environmental desensitization. It is a fantastic way to introduce a puppy to his world. It gives a bit of exercise while at the same time giving opportunities for socialization and training. However, strolls on a leash are not enough. Puppies must have an opportunity to run and play. Again, off-leash walks are best if your goal in your walk is to provide adequate exercise. A week old Golden Retriever puppy will have a neck that is about 12 inches. Get a collar of any brand that includes 12 inches in the size range. An adult female will have about an 18 inch neck. A male adult will need a collar that fits a 20 inch neck. Similarly running on a treadmill or any other types of forced running are not appropriate forms of exercise for a golden retriever puppy. Free Play as Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Free play is always an excellent form of exercise for a golden retriever puppy. Dogs and puppies of all ages can play as long they like in your safely contained yard. If your puppy is playing with another dog in the family, make sure you supervise their play until you are sure that they play well together and that the older dog is not too rough. End the play if the other dog is getting too rough, if your puppy is starting to annoy the other dog, or if your puppy shows signs that he is ready to quit playing. Strange dogs are not worth the risk. Getting on the ground or running around with your puppy can be one of the best ways to exercise your puppy. Fetch and tug can be options if played within certain guidelines. Whether you are playing tug or fetch or just running around with your puppy, there are a couple of rules that need to be followed. Instead, ignore him. Wait until your puppy is behaving. Then, once you begin playing with your puppy, periodically, stop the game and make him gain control of himself before resuming the game. Ask him to do a simple behavior such as a sit or a down. Then start playing again. We recommend teaching your puppy the game of fetch at a young age. Going and getting a toy, bringing it back, and giving it to you is easier to teach when they are young. Chasing balls causes puppies to twist, roll, jump, and tumble while trying to grab a moving ball. Instead, use toys. Then, combine your game of fetch with a game of tug. Tug is discussed in detail in another section. Once your puppy has learned to tug, teach your puppy a release command. Save longer throws for your dog until after he is over 2 years of age. Teach The Wait Command Once your puppy has learned to bring a toy back to you reliably, you can begin teaching your puppy to safely retrieve a ball. Before moving from a toy to a ball, teach a wait command. Playing fetch with a dog with a wait command is a tremendous exercise. It not only provides physical exercise, but it also provides a super opportunity for a puppy to learn self-control. Here is how to teach it. I like to use what is called a pull tab. A pull tab is a very short leash that you attach to a collar. Pull tabs are typically 6 inches or shorter. A pull tab is long enough to give you control over your dog, but short enough for the dog to be able to run and play with it dangling from his collar. Once the dog relaxes and I require a sit as well , throw the ball. When the dog is dependable with regard to waiting on the release, you can do away with the tab. Having a dog wait before chasing a ball is a necessity with puppies because it eliminates the problem of the dog twisting, turning, and diving for a moving object. Fetch is a great exercise for an adult. Once a dog is over 2, you can begin throwing balls and even add a Chuck-it ball thrower to your game. Tug as a Form of Exercise for a Golden Retriever Puppy Tug is a very good exercise for dogs of all ages except for during the stage when puppy teeth are coming out and new adult teeth coming in to replace them. Make sure you stop before he looses his first teeth at around 4 months. Tug can then be resumed when all adult teeth are in. The most current training recommendations for tug no longer include the idea that the dog can never win and that you must always be in charge. This is not true. Consider a child racing his Dad down the street. The Dad lets the child win and the child beams. It gives the child confidence and makes him want to be faster and better. The same holds true with puppies. Let them win when they do a good job! The Release Once a puppy is tugging vigorously and understands the game, you can teach a release cue. Teach this by making the tug toy become motionless and no fun. Just keep the toy still until the dog opens his mouth on his own. Then immediately give the toy back to the dog and start the tug game again. Begin integrating the release into your play session in such a way that you are giving the toy back far more often than not. The dog needs to associate his releasing the toy with a restart to the game, not an end to it. It encourages forced running, jumping, and twisting, all bad for the growing puppy. Frisbee throwing can be dangerous for any dog, but especially for a puppy. We personally never play frisbee with our dogs. There are many other better exercise choices. Digging Digging is actually a very good exercise for a puppy though it may not be so good for your lawn! If you should have a place that your puppy can dig, maybe a soft spot in the corner of your yard, train him that that place and only that place is his digging spot. Puppies Should Avoid Full Flights of Stars Your Summer Brook puppy will be trained shortly before changing homes to safely navigate a set of 3 or 4 steps. If your set of steps is more than half a full flight, we require that you carry him up them until he is 4 months old. Even after this, we recommend keeping him off the steps as often as possible. Dogs tend to get excited and fly down them, often leaping over 4 or 5 of them at a time. This can result in injury. As with so many other repetitive or impactful activities, we highly recommend waiting until growth plates are closed. Baby gates can be a huge help until that time. Swimming Swimming is super exercise for a Golden Retriever puppy and most dogs enjoy playing fetch in the water. See our website page on teaching a puppy to swim for more information. This includes jumping up on and off of furniture until he is fully grown and growth plates are closed. Growth Plates and Exercise We have mentioned quite a few times on this page the importance of limiting certain activities with your puppy until his growth plates are closed. Some of you might be wondering what growth plates are and why they matter with regard to exercise. What Are Growth Plates? Growth plates are soft areas that are at the ends of the long bones in puppies. These growth plates gradually get thinner until they completely close. The closure of growth plates is brought on by hormonal changes during puberty. When growth plates close, they harden as they calcify and the rapid cell division stops. The growth plates become what is called an epiphyseal line. The epiphyseal line is sturdy and not so prone to injury as the growth plates. These are collectively referred to as soft tissue. In an adult, when there is a soft tissue injury, a sprain will result. However, in a puppy, the soft tissue is stronger than the growth plates. An injury that would only cause a sprain in an adult dog could cause an injury to the growth plate in a puppy. The soft tissue can actually pull the growth plate apart. Growth plate injuries can sometimes not heal properly and keep a dog from growing straight and strong which can subject him to problems for his entire life. Conclusion Although you need to be much more careful with the type of exercise you provide your puppy, exercise is still very important to a growing puppy. Appropriate exercise is key to building strong bones. Another key to good puppy development and a relaxed puppy is mental exercise. Give your puppy appropriate physical exercise and give your puppy a long life with healthy bones and joints. For more information on our puppies, see our page on Golden Retriever puppies. Primary Sidebar Breeders and Trainers of English Golden Retrievers We focus on breeding and training beautiful English Golden Retriever puppies with health tested champion parents, great pedigrees, and fantastic temperaments.

Located in beautiful Southern California, we strive to breed superior quality family dogs that will not only make great companions and protectors for your family but that also represent the German Shepherd breed well with the exceptional temperament the breed is known and loved for worldwide. We breed only top German V and VA bloodlines that possess superior health and temperament through generations of hip and elbow certified and temperament tested dogs. Additionally all of our dogs are tested for Degenerative Myelopathy to be sure we are producing puppies safe from this disease. Additionally all of our dogs are DNA tested Clear for the MDR1 gene that can cause mild to severe reactions to a variety of medications. Please visit our testimonials page to read review from many of our clients through the years. Also be sure to visit our Dogs For Sale page to see retired females and males we currently have available to the right homes. Check back often as we are always updating photos of our available puppies. With keeping a small number of dogs we have time to give plenty of love and individual attention to them and the puppies when we have them. Our dogs are not kept in kennels, they live with us as part of our family, with room to roam outside on our one acre property and a warm spot inside to sleep. All puppies are raised inside our home in a clean and healthy environment. All whelpings are supervised by us and assisted as needed to ensure the best start and to protect the health of the mother and her puppies. All puppies are well socialized with small children, cats and our other dogs. Temperament is very important to us, our breeding dogs have wonderful temperaments that they pass on to their puppies. Puppies are temperament tested so that we can help you to find the perfect fit for your family and your needs. We actively show our dogs on the local, national and international level thereby striving to breed dogs of quality bloodlines and structure that adhere to the German SV standard for the German Shepherd dog. We make every effort to continue to learn and to improve our bloodlines by importing dogs of superior quality with top German VA bloodlines to bring you the highest and best quality puppy for you and your family to enjoy. Our hope as breeders is that we can provide the best quality German Shepherd puppy with an outstanding temperament that will in turn make a lasting impression on you and your family like they have in ours. I have so many customers that have been lifelong fans of the German Shepherd, that have grown up with German Shepherds and long for that companionship again with the dog of their childhood. I look forward to providing the dog of your dreams to you and your family! Call today to begin your future with a great German Shepherd Dog of your own. Call or email for an appointment to visit us and to meet our dogs and puppies. Our home is located in Southern California on 3 acres nestled in the hills just north of the Temecula Wine Country. Our family has spent more than 20 years with the German Shepherd breed and the last decade showing and breeding. Our AKC registered German Shepherds and German Shepherd puppies are from German import, show line working dogs, which possess the fundamental intelligence, beauty and grace we all know and love. The focus of So Cal German Shepherds is to produce quality puppies from multiple generations of healthy parents that have the necessary certifications for breeding. Producing healthy, beautiful and intelligent German Shepherd puppies, with strong nerves and courageous temperaments. The result of this breeding is a puppy which is wonderful with the children, confident and stable when in public, and ready to protect its family when at home. However, they remain as participating members of our family and enjoy trail riding with the horses, taking trips to the beach, going camping and lounging in the living room. From working with the live stock to standing out in the show ring, our German Shepherds are truly a versatile breed. We Hope you enjoy your visit to our web site and look forward to you becoming part of the " So Cal Extended Family ". If you are interested in making a So Cal German Shepherd puppy part of your family, please visit our " Puppies " page to see our available German Shepherd puppies and our planned litters.

All dogs pant to regulate their body temperature, buy why do Golden Retrievers seem to pant so much more often? Golden Retrievers pant so much due to their excitability, high activity level, and heavy coats. However, anxiety, illness, or allergies may also cause a Golden Retriever to pant excessively. Keep reading to find out the specific reasons Golden Retrievers pant so much, and what you can do about it. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! Instead, they pant through their mouths to release excess body heat. Having said that, not every dog breed has the need to pant as heavily or as much as a Golden Retriever. A panting Golden Retriever can literally have their whole tongue hanging out of their mouths, dripping saliva everywhere! Under most circumstances this is completely normal panting behavior, and is most likely cause by one of the following reasons. This is especially common on hot afternoons when the temperatures become too hot for a Golden to handle. Your Golden Retriever will start panting as a way to cool down during those extremely hot and sunny days. Their love for physical play makes the breed susceptible to excessive panting, especially after a training session or daily exercises. This is because panting is a natural response to physical exertion. An excited dog will pant more due to an increased heart rate. The panting is a way to supply additional oxygen to the bloodstream. Excessive Panting in Golden Retrievers Besides the above-mentioned causes for normal panting, Golden retrievers can also pant due to several other more serious reasons that may need your attention. Below are factors that can lead to excessive panting in Goldens. But that excitability can turn to extreme anxiety. An anxious or fearful Golden Retriever will pant in a worried or manic fashion. You may experience this type of panting while waiting at the vets office or during a car ride. In addition, some Goldens are prone to fear caused by loud noises, which can provoke panting as well. Therefore, if you notice your Golden is panting excessively, you should check for signs of illness such as vomiting, pale eyes, or low energy. You should also check if your Golden is limping or has a bruise somewhere if his panting behavior becomes increasingly irregular. Allergic Reaction Induced Panting in Golden Retrievers As a naturally adventurous breed, it is highly likely that your Golden Retriever can eat or interact with something containing allergens. Allergic reactions can lead to swellings, irritations, and a change in mood. In case you suspect an allergic reaction, taking your four-legged friend to the veterinarian is highly recommended. See how heavily this Golden Retriever pants after some vigorous exercise. This fast breathing is normal, and will calm down after several minutes. If your Golden Retriever has been exhibiting excessive or abnormal panting not caused by warm temperatures, recent exercise, or excitement, there may be an illness, injury, or behavioral issue to blame. These are serious concerns and should be diagnosed as quickly as possible. Intense and constant panting could indicate a breathing issue or possibly even a behavioral one. Either way if the panting persists without stopping or your dog is experiencing labored breathing, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately. As an example, it makes sense if your Golden is panting heavily after a game of fetch. But if your furry friend is panting for extended periods without stopping, and there is no reason that you can attribute it to, this is a sign that it may be time to call the vet. Triggers like high temperature, physical exertion, and excitement more often than not lead to panting in dogs. However, if your Golden Retriever pants excessively without any trigger, then he could be injured, in pain or battling an underlying illness. If you notice the panting increases without stopping, then you might want to get him to the local vet for an emergency assessment. Luckily you can fix the problem by consulting a dog behaviorist or by training the dog yourself if the anxiety is minor. Ignore you Golden for a few minutes after arriving home, then calmly give them attention. When you leave, give your Golden some clothes or a blanket that smells like you to help keep them calm. This is for relatively minor panting due to separation anxiety. Panting Combined With Abnormal Behavior in Goldens If the panting patterns become abnormal and your Golden starts exhibiting unusual symptoms like vomiting, excessive tearing, and a change in attitude, then you should take immediate action. In these cases your Golden may have a serious injury or infection that requires immediate attention. Oftentimes these medical issues will lead to excessive panting and other abnormal behavior. Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! Provide cold water. Giving your Golden Retriever cold water can help him cool off, and stop panting. A cool bath might help. A cool bath is also a good way to reduce the chances of heat stroke and heat exhaustion if your Golden has been out in excessively hot temperatures. This is especially a concern for a puppy or a senior dog Shade usually helps. Provide a well-shaded area for your Golden Retriever to relax outdoors on sunny afternoons. You should provide shade for your Golden when playing, walking, or training on extra hot days. Walk your Golden at night. Turn on a fan. A hot Golden Retriever appreciates a cool breeze just as we do. Turning on a fan will help to remove any excess heat from their body. This is especially helpful if your dog pants at night, and is keeping you awake. Comfort your Golden. Golden Retrievers love attention anytime, but it is especially important if they are feeling anxious. Comforting your dog will help soothe and calm him down, consequently returning his breathing to a normal level. Be aware of allergen triggers or injuries. As a result, you should always examine your dog, especially after an afternoon out. Call your local vet in case you notice any unusual behavior. Should You Worry? Wrapping Up Golden Retrievers are naturally active dogs. This type of panting is perfectly normal, however, if your Golden is panting excessively or without any obvious trigger it could be a sign of an emotional or medical condition requiring attention. If you click on a link and choose to make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. If you have a Golden Retriever, you have inevitably noticed it panting at times. Sometimes Golden Retrievers will pant more, other times less. But, often, it can be concerning if it seems to be out of the ordinary. So, why exactly do Golden Retrievers pant so much? Golden Retrievers pant to cool themselves and oxygenate the blood. Dogs have far fewer and less efficient sweat glands than humans, and exercise, play, stress, pain, and sickness increase oxygen demand and body heat. Panting increases oxygen intake while cooling the dog using evaporative heat loss. All dogs pant. So, for the most part, panting is typical for Golden Retrievers and nothing to be overly concerned about. However, as a pet owner, it is essential to understand panting to know when the behavior is typical and not out of the ordinary and when panting might be a cause for concern. What Is Panting? So, all dogs pant. Golden Retrievers pant. Even humans can pant. But what is panting, and what purpose does it serve? Panting is breathing with short, quick breaths with an open mouth. With dogs, the tongue most often protrudes. Humans most often pant to catch their breath after intense bursts of energy like a sprint. Panting serves two purposes. First, panting is a way to get oxygen into the blood. For example, when your dog runs and plays with another dog, its body uses more oxygen than resting. To cope with the extra demand and to keep the muscles oxygenated and going, respiration increases, and the dog pants to draw in more air. Stress and excitement can also increase the heart rate and the need for more muscle oxygen, thereby increasing the respiratory rate panting or heavy breathing to meet demand. Second, panting in dogs is a cooling mechanism. Unfortunately, some mammals, including dogs, lack the same sweat glands that humans do. And that makes them ineffective at cooling themselves because they cannot sweat to the same degree we do. So, dogs pant to cool themselves. Panting is a cooling method for dogs using evaporative heat loss. Cooling happens from the exchange of hotter air from the lungs with cooler external air and from water evaporation in the lungs, mouth, and nose. Panting as evaporative cooling expends a large amount of water. So, it is vital to ensure there is plenty of water on hand to rehydrate so it can maintain effective heat regulation. Next, we explore instances when panting is normal. In mammals that do not sweat, panting is how they cool themselves and supply additional oxygen to the lungs, muscles, and heart upon increased demand. Normal panting can occur in various instances, including cooling, happy excitement, during play, and in reaction to stress, anxiety, or fear. Cooling Off As discussed, Golden Retrievers pant to cool themselves. Panting as a cooling mechanism can often be seen during hot weather when the Golden Retriever attempts to regulate its body heat. However, anything that causes an increase in body temperature will cause an ensuing rise in respiratory rate and panting to induce evaporative heat loss. Happy Excitement Dogs can pant slightly when happy or excited. Happy panting is due to the anticipation of something good happening to your dog. It could be a walk, a treat, or doggie daycare. The slight increase in panting is due to the higher heart rate and a corresponding slight increase in the need for oxygen and cooling. Often this panting is so slight that you may not even notice it. Exercise and Play Golden Retrievers are highly active dogs that love to burn energy through play and physical exercise. Often, you will see a Golden Retriever panting after a walk, run or romp with his best doggie friend. We work up a sweat during exercise, and our Golden Retrievers work up a pant. Different process, same purpose — cooling and increased oxygen demand. Play is physically demanding and increases the oxygen demand on the heart and muscles. It also increases core body temperature. You sweat, your Golden Retriever pants. Both are for the same purpose, to cool your body. Your Golden Retriever loses heat through water evaporation from its lung, mouth, and nasal passages. Stress, Anxiety, or Fear Panting often occurs when your Golden Retriever is stressed, anxious, or stressed. Common triggers could be separation anxiety, loud noises, vet visits, or anything that may elicit a stressful or fearful response. Whereas excitement from a car ride or trip to doggie daycare can elicit a heightened response in a happy way, stress, anxiety, and fear trigger a flight or flight response. If you have ever seen your dog run and cower due to fireworks, this is a fear response triggered by flight or flight. That stress response can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce well-orchestrated physiological changes. However, it also creates a host of other reactions that increase the demand for more oxygen in the muscles and heart. And as discussed earlier, dogs pant to regulate body temperature and increase the supply of oxygen to muscles and the heart. Similarly, in humans, when we are experiencing anxiety or fear, we may also sweat and breathe heavily for the same reasons. The flight or flight response is typically a normal response to fearful stimuli. The flight or flight response enables people and other mammals such as dogs to react quickly to life-threatening situations. Source Some forms of stress are milder, such as separation anxiety, which does not elicit a full-blown fight or flight response. In turn, a loud clap of thunder may cause a full-on flight response with a very scared dog that most likely runs and hides. In either case, the dog will pant as a normal reaction to that stress to cool and calm itself and to bring the body back into homeostasis. BAR had major stress and anxiety from neuter surgery, and he hated the cone, so he panted a lot Age As your Golden Retriever gets older, you may notice it pants more. Elderly dogs may have more difficulty getting around due to joint issues such as arthritis. An older Golden Retriever may also have more difficulty going up and down many stairs, staying cool, and exercising. As a result, your elderly Golden may pant more due to discomfort and the normal effects of aging. In most cases, the additional panting during older age is not a concern; however, if you believe your Golden Retriever is having pain or other issues, it would be beneficial to discuss solutions such as pain medications and supplements with your vet. In contrast, puppies may pant due to the youthful exuberance of being a puppy. Puppies are easily excited, very playful, and very active, so they pant a lot. Golden Retriever puppies can be especially crazy at times and are known to be one of the most active dog breeds. So how crazy are Golden Retriever puppies? However, there are instances when panting may indicate something concerning or that requires intervention. Therefore, abnormal panting is discussed next. Pain Dogs are very good at hiding pain. In the wild, hiding pain is a valuable survival tactic. It prevents other animals from perceiving weakness, which could be detrimental to an injured or sick animal. However, hiding pain can be problematic to the health and well-being of domesticated animals like dogs. Excessive panting for no apparent reason can be one sign of pain in Golden Retrievers. Pekingese Boston terrier Because of their short muzzles, these breeds have shorter or flattened throats and breathing passages, which can make them have breathing problems, including excessive panting at night. Check for signs of inadequate oxygen, like turning blue or purple cyanosis as this constitutes a veterinary emergency. Anxiety Panting at night is just one of the many signs of anxiety in dogs. This type of behavioral panting has nothing to do with feeling overheated; it's just how their body is reacting to a stressful situation if your dog has anxiety. These are the common causes of anxiety in dogs: Noises: Dogs have much better hearing than you do. Something that's loud to you can be incredibly loud to your pet, so loud noises can give your dog anxiety. For example, if you've ever burned food in the oven and your smoke detector went off, your dog might get anxious every time you cook because they're afraid of the loud noise your cooking caused last time. Dogs also commonly are afraid of storms and fireworks because they're loud, and your dog doesn't know where the sound is coming from or how to get away from it. Luckily, there are products on the market that can help soothe your pet during times of stress. You may even choose to talk to your vet about anxiety medication for stressful situations. Separation anxiety: Separation occurs when you leave your dog alone in the home after being used to you being around for a majority of the day. Many dogs get separation anxiety, but you can help train your pet to stay calm while you're gone with behavioral training, which can help them relax when you're not around. Changes to home environment: As we've discussed, a new environment can be stressful for dogs because they're creatures of habit. Changing your dog's environment can cause anxiety for a short period of time, but eventually, your pet should get used to your new home. Dogs that are adopted may be more anxious than dogs that have been raised in the same home since puppyhood. Dogs that have gone through multiple homes and shelters typically don't feel like they have a home until their new owner proves it to them. New dogs can be anxious because of a new environment and new people. Generalized anxiety: Panic attacks: 4. Anemia Another common reason why your dog is panting at night is anemia. Anemia is when the number of red blood cells decreases either by destruction, loss, or lack of production. Anemia causes an increased heart rate, which can make your dog start panting. When you work out and increase your own heart rate, you begin breathing heavily; the same thing happens to your dog when their heart rate increases. Dogs with anemia typically have energy loss, weakness, and a loss of appetite, along with panting and an increased heart rate. Age Many senior dogs pant at night for a number of reasons, which can include health conditions like anemia and Cushing's disease. Older dogs can also suffer from cognitive dysfunction, which disrupts their sleep-wake cycle, causing them to be restless at night. Older dogs may also be more anxious because they're not able to move around as much, or they may experience pain when walking or standing. Combined with changes to their daily life, dogs can become stressed more easily as they get older, which may result in panting. Heart Disease Dogs with heart disease and heart failure pant more because their heart is working harder to pump oxygen throughout the body. Rapid breathing is just one indication of heart failure in dogs because of fluid buildup in the lungs. Dogs can get heart disease from heartworms or heartworm disease, so it's important to keep your dog protected by getting heartworm prevention medication from your vet. Luckily, heartworm is both preventable and can be treated if it's caught early. Obesity Just like in humans, obesity can lead to a wide range of health complications for dogs, including heavier breathing at panting. Dogs with obesity typically suffer from arthritis, heart problems, and joint problems. Obesity causes excessive panting because your dog is working harder to do everyday activities, which means exerting more energy and increasing their heart rate. It's important to feed your dog a well-balanced diet and exercise them daily. You can usually tell if your pet has gained a little weight, but many pet owners don't know how much their dogs should weigh. If you're not sure how much your pet should weigh, you can consult a vet who can help you find the right diet for your pet and help you maintain or lose their weight. Pain Dogs in pain have a higher heart rate, which can lead to faster, heavier breathing and panting at night. Pain can come from internal problems, such as a disease or illness, or external problems, like a hurt paw from jumping off the couch. If you notice your dog is in pain, seek the help of a veterinarian immediately. For example, if your dog is limping and panting, they may require a trip to the emergency vet for a potential sprain or broken bone. Unfortunately, you can't see every injury, but your dog can be in pain whether it's visible or not. Clear indications your dog is in pain is panting accompanied by yelping or avoidance when you try to touch them in a certain area or reluctance to move. For example, if your dog has allergies, your vet might prescribe them allergy medication, while if your pet has anxiety, they might benefit from behavioral training or behavioral medication to help them calm down. If your dog is panting because they're hot, you can cool them down with a wet cloth, offer them cold water or an ice cube, or turn the air conditioning up for a few minutes. For more serious reasons why your dog is panting at night, you should always consult your vet. If your dog is panting due to heart disease or pain, your pet will benefit from medication and treatment. Final Notes Your dog could be panting at night for a variety of reasons. However, it's always best not to panic. Unless your dog has been diagnosed with a medical condition, they're likely panting because they're too warm or they have anxiety. In most cases, you'll be able to rule out whether your dog is panting due to heatstroke or their genetics easily. In other cases, panting at night might be an indicator of a serious physical health condition. When it comes to your dog, remember you know them best. Always use your best judgment to help you determine when it's time to take them to the vet. For example, if your dog pants excessively every night and your home isn't warm, a vet might be able to tell you if they're suffering from a serious physicalmedical condition. Luckily, you don't have to leave your home to get quality advice from a professional. Dutch offers non-emergency telemedicine for pets that can help you uncover the cause of your dog panting at night. Whether your dog is suffering from anxiety, allergies, or anything else, you can talk to a licensed veterinarian who can help you stop your dog's panting and make them happier and more comfortable. As always, if you're worried about your pet and believe their panting at night is an emergency, take them to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible. Published on Jun 14, and updated at Apr 05, .Tom Thorpe Blog When was the last time you have encountered your golden retriever panting at night? Also, how often is it? Is it more than usual? There could be underlying reasons as to why your golden retriever is panting. Another cause can be linked to anxiety, and their panting is like an outlet for them. But what really is the cause? To answer briefly, there is no definite answer to conclude right now. But as you dive deep further in this article, you will eventually shed a light or even have some knowledge as to why your golden retriever is panting at night. We will also provide some tips on how to overcome them. Because this question is somehow related to the main topic. This behavior is a cooling mechanism for dogs. Basically, if dogs feel the heat within their body, the natural response for them is panting. That is to say that canines use the moisture that is evaporated from their mouth and acts as a cool breeze. This also exchanges the hot air coming from their lungs with the outside cool air. Although dogs have sweat from their paw pads albeit little, this alone is enough to let them cool off. This is because of the euphoria that the dog is experiencing much like humans when feeling excited. Once your dog has calm down, the panting also will decrease and eventually will stop. Mild panting with mouth open and tail wagging along with bright eyes means the dog is relaxed. Some even considered that this kind of panting is a doggie smile. Stress or Excitement Panting in dogs may not be just to cool off. Dogs pant because of some other things and one of these is being stressed or feeling excited. Common causes are fear, stress, and anxiety. Other causes are vet visits, separation anxiety, car rides, fireworks, and other events that are stressful for dogs. You can give him some anti-depressant or you can just cuddle them just to minimize their panting. Maybe this is the reason why your golden retriever is panting at night. Changes in the environment Golden retrievers and any dogs can be affected by stress and it can be harmful to them if the stress is unbearable. One example of this is the change in the environment. This can result in anxiety and distress and one aspect of their way of venting is through panting. So whenever your dog is panting it could be because of their body heat and also because there is some underlying illness. Look for other symptoms or pain such as diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, pacing, limping, and behavior changes. Common findings of heavy panting include lung ailments, heart failure, and digestive issues just to name a few. In addition, if the unusual panting continues to persist, your dog might have excessive urination and thirst, may develop a pot-bellied appearance, and their coat and skin will become thinner. The best way you do is to call your vet immediately. Reasons why your golden retriever is panting at night Golden retriever panting at night must have reasons. As I mentioned earlier that panting has various causes and most of them are nondangerous such as panting just to cool off, because of anxiety or fear, or just happiness. This time, we will look into the possibility the dangerous reasons as to why your golden retriever is panting during the night. Heart Issues One of the common causes why your golden retriever is panting at night that is more than usual is probably he is suffering from a heart ailment. A heavy panting can be a precursor or sign of many underlying health conditions be it respiratory ailments or heart failure. Also, check your dog if he is panting excessively after an hour of walk or two from your outdoor activity. An ailment like this can be linked to valve disorders, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, heartworm disease is among the examples of health conditions that can cause the heart to malfunction. In this case, this may cause some heavy breathing and panting to dogs be it night or day. Obesity Obesity is a result of overfeeding. Maybe because you have to spoil your golden retriever too much and eventually ended up gaining weight that is way over the normal height of golden retrievers. This factor can also be associate with heavy panting at night and it can also link to other ailments such as heart ailments. Overweight can also trigger multiple health problems like heart complications, arthritis, and others. Bear in mind that you need to stick to the routine no matter what. In addition, give him adequate exercise. Respiratory Disease Besides heart disease, respiratory disease is also one of the factors leading to your golden retriever panting at night. The respiratory disease usually makes breathing difficult and it can lead to excessive panting because they needed some proper airflow. But the problem is that there can be some elements that block the valves which makes the oxygen difficult to enter. Some of the respiratory diseases are Laryngeal paralysis Laryngeal paralysis is common among medium to large-sized dog breeds. Dogs who have this have problems with the nerves that operate the opening and closing of the larynx and also the entry of the windpipe. They will have some difficulty in breathing. That said, dogs cannot pant efficiently leading to dangerous events. Tracheal collapse This condition can cause the trachea or windpipe to narrow. Conditions like this are common among small breeds and rare in medium to large size dog breeds. This is likely the cause of an increase in cortisol level which is produced by adrenal glands. How to treat it The most effective and right thing to do is to go to your vet immediately. This response is the best possible response you can do. This is to prevent any guessing game and to find out the diagnosis as soon as possible. The longer you delayed your trip to the vet, the possibility of severity of symptoms is very much likely. Allergic reactions Allergic reactions can appear in many ways and one of them is panting. Some factors that cause allergies in dogs came from food allergens, environmental, and seasonal. This can be quite tricky at first because allergies have shared common symptoms but the causes came from the three mentioned allergies. This can be the reason why your golden retriever is panting at night. Other things you can do is to: Keep your dog as relaxed as possible. Try talking to them and cuddle them, or maybe give them a warm massage of your hand to ease the situation. This is the simplest and yet powerful therapy that dog can have. Balanced diet. However, if you are underfeeding him or overfeeding him, this will only cause harm than good. As much as possible give them high-quality kibble food that features wholesome ingredients and also aids digestion. Final Thoughts These are some of the reasons why the golden retriever is panting at night. Lethargic or disoriented Collapse Golden Retrievers are at a greater risk for heatstroke because of their large size and their thick long fur. If you suspect heatstroke in your dog, you need to act quickly to cool them down and seek veterinary attention immediately. Heatstroke can be fatal! Normal panting occurs when your Golden Retriever is hot, after exercise, or when he is excited. Heavy and excessive panting is different and considered abnormal, and you will recognize abnormal panting as follows: It happens at odd times, even when your Golden Retriever is resting or cool. Panting sounds loud, abrasive or harsher than normal. Panting is excessive. Your dog shows other symptoms. Your dog is lethargic or unresponsive. Abnormal panting in your Golden Retriever should never be ignored, as it could indicate a health issue or medical emergency. Always consult your vet when you suspect your Golden is panting more than normal. Remember, your dog wears a fur coat, and easily gets overheated. You may also want to consider using a cooling vest during walks or outdoor activities to help keep your pup comfortable. Be sure to check out my top recommended cooling vests for double-coated dogs. That means in just one hour, the inside of your vehicle is 40 degrees hotter than outside! When it gets hot outside or too hot inside, they become uncomfortable, which leads to excessive panting! Keep them cool by always having fresh cool water to drink, and keep them indoors in the air conditioning, or near a fan during hot days. Oftentimes, just talking calmly and petting your dog is a great help. In some cases, your vet may be able to prescribe anxiety medication. If you suspect any abnormal panting, never hesitate to see your vet. The quicker you act, the better the outcome for your dog. Final Thoughts While it may seem like your Golden Retriever is panting a lot while he is hot, after exercising, or from excitement, this type of panting is short-term and completely normal. Does your Golden Retriever pant a lot? Share your thoughts and comments below. I would love to hear from you! Jenny I am the proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Ellie. She keeps me busy, and when she is resting, you can find me working on my blog. She is always close by though. I live in Stirling, ON Canada with my husband, and we both enjoy the never a dull moment life with our Ellie. Spread the love. There are several reasons why your Golden Retriever is panting at night; some are nothing to worry about and can easily be remedied. Such causes include environmental changes, excitement, and your Golden Retriever feeling too hot. More serious reasons why your Golden Retriever is panting at night include allergies, heart disease, respiratory disease, and other illnesses. The Golden Retriever breed has thick fur coats that can help them withstand the cold of winter and protect them from freezing. However, those fur coats can be to their detriment in Summer. If your Golden Retriever is panting a lot in Summer, they feel too hot and are trying to cool down by panting. When your Golden Retriever feels too hot, they develop a medical condition. Environmental Changes Moving from a new home is not only stressful for you but also for dogs. Your dog may be distressed because they were removed from their comfort zone and placed in a completely new and unknown environment. Dogs are territorial animals, and a new place can cause them discomfort, and they will pant a lot as a result. In such cases, your Golden Retriever would be experiencing anxiety or stress. However, when they do, they tend to become anxious or fearful at night. Depending on what is happening in the house, Golden Retrievers can express their fear and anxiety by panting during various times of the day. Noise and other types of commotion can cause your Golden Retriever to be fearful or anxious. Thunderstorms are a common example of types when your Golden Retriever would be panting because they are afraid or anxious. As you see your dog in different circumstances and monitor their reactions, you will learn to identify things that cause your Golden Retriever to be fearful or anxious. Excitement Golden Retrievers pant so that they can cool off. Golden Retrievers pant when they are excited; that is their way of trying to cool off. Your Golden Retriever will pant because of car rides, walks, the park, or even before a meal or treat. If you are not sure whether your Golden Retriever is excited or in distress, examine their body language. By examining your Golden Retriever, you would be able to identify the reason why they are panting. General Pain This is not a common reason why Golden Retrievers pant; however, it is still a cause for alarm. It may be a bit more challenging to identify that the reason why your Golden Retriever is panting is that they are experiencing general pain. If your Golden Retriever jumps down from your porch and begins to limp , it may indicate that they are experiencing acute pain. Your Golden Retriever may also be experiencing arthritis or pain from an old injury known as chronic pain. An effective way to go about it to identify that your Golden Retriever is experiencing general pain is to eliminate other possible causes. If your dog pants throughout the day, it may indicate that your Golden Retriever is in pain. If you have any doubts and cannot identify why your dog is panting, you should take your Golden Retriever to the veterinarian. Allergy If your Golden Retriever is panting a lot at night, they may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Your Golden Retriever could be experiencing an allergic reaction because of the food they ate or the environment. When you take your Golden Retriever to a veterinarian and prescribe medicines for your Golden Retriever, you should ask your veterinarian which side effects you can expect from the medication. Heart Disease Your Golden Retriever could be panting a lot because they have heart disease. Excessive panting is a common symptom of heart disease. If you take your Golden Retriever for a walk and they are still panting an hour after your walk, it could indicate that your Golden Retriever has heart disease. The heart delivers oxygen to the rest of the body by pumping blood; this is a crucial system in the body. Respiratory Disease The respiratory disease could be the reason why your Golden Retriever is panting a lot at night. As a result, your Golden Retriever will pant excessively in an attempt to get sufficient oxygen. This narrowing of the trachea causes your Golden Retriever to cough and pant more. This means that your dog will not be able to breathe properly and have to pant to get enough oxygen. Illness An endless list of illnesses can cause your Golden Retriever to pant a lot at night. Obesity is an illness that can cause your Golden Retriever to pant a lot at night. Your Golden Retriever will become obese if you feed them too much food. Another illness that can cause your dog to pant a lot is Lung disease. In this case, you should try getting your Golden Retriever back in a comfortable environment or make the environment comfortable for them. If you have moved to a new home, give your Golden Retriever their old blanket or bed and spend time with them. You should make your Golden Retriever feel safe, and after some time, they will become accustomed to their new home and recognize it as their territory. They need time and affection from their owners, or else they will become anxious and stressed. Golden Retrievers are known for experiencing separation anxiety when separated from their owners for too long. You need to play, walk and spend time with your Golden Retriever. Good nutrition can also help you keep your Golden Retriever in good shape and prevent them from becoming obese. Obesity is a cause that can be fixed from the comfort of your home. Your Golden Retriever should exercise for at least an hour a day. If you do not have enough time to walk your dog, you can hire a dog walker, or you could ask your friends and family to walk your Golden Retriever. Talk To Your Vet As you have noticed by now, there is a long list of reasons why your Golden Retriever could be panting a lot at night. It would take too long for you to observe your Golden Retriever and think of possible reasons why they are panting a lot. I would suggest going to your veterinarian as soon as you notice that your Golden Retriever has been panting a lot at night. Your veterinarian would be able to diagnose your Golden Retriever and give you solutions accurately. Consulting your veterinarian will save you and your Golden Retriever a whole lot of time, effort, and discomfort. Golden Retrievers tend to get excited quite easily. Your dog may be excited because you took them on a car ride, took them for a walk, or to the park. When your dog is panting a lot in such circumstances, you can assume that they are simply excited. It is also normal for your dog to pant a lot after doing some exercise. If your Golden Retriever frequently pants at night, then you should assume that something is wrong with your Golden Retriever. It is also abnormal for your Golden Retriever to still be panting one to two hours after exercising. When your Golden Retriever pants and moves a lot at night, it means that they are anxious. This could be because there is a lot of movement inside or outside the house or thunderstorms or fireworks. When your Golden Retriever pants heavily at night, they are likely getting too hot, and they need to cool down. It would be best to open the window or adjust the AC temperature to cool down your Golden Retriever in such situations. If your Golden Retriever puppy is panting a lot at night, it could be because they are getting too hot or feeling uncomfortable in their current environment. This is especially true if you adopted your Golden Retriever puppy and are still new to the family. It will take them some time to feel comfortable in their new home. There are several reasons why your Golden Retriever is restless and panting at night. Causes may include heart disease, respiratory disease, stress and anxiety, obesity, or general pain. Since there are so many different reasons, you should consult your veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis. Conclusion Suppose you notice that your Golden Retriever has been panting a lot at night. You should consult your veterinarian; your veterinarian will accurately diagnose your Golden Retriever and tell you precisely what you should do to help your Golden Retriever. Spare your Golden Retriever the discomfort by having them diagnosed early. Is It A Problem? Jan 18, Mar 7, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Have you noticed that your golden retriever pants more frequently than other dog breeds? Dogs normally pant to regulate their body temperature, but you may be wondering why your dog seems to pant so much more. This results in your dog panting more when they need to cool down. Furthermore, when should you get concerned? All dogs pant to cool down, with some breeds doing it more frequently than others. Dogs with short snouts such as bulldogs and pugs tend to pant heavily and more often. Breeds with dense fur like your golden will also pant more to stay cool, even during winter. Unlike their human owners who sweat through their skin to cool down, dogs pant to release excess body heat through their mouths. However, not all breeds pant as much as golden retrievers, who sometimes even have their whole tongue hanging out, drooling while panting! This leads to another question often asked by golden owners: why do golden retrievers drool excessively when panting? The answer to this is normally that your dog is overheating and needs to cool down quickly, which this messy behavior helps them to do. Panting in dogs is normal behavior for another good reason besides cooling down and regulating body temperature. It also helps to draw more oxygen into the bloodstream when your dog pants with their mouth open. In most cases, panting and drooling are normal behaviors for your golden retriever. However, what is considered normal or abnormal panting and when should you get concerned? Raven by far pants more than the other two. The following circumstances normally cause your golden pooch to pant more than usual. Overheating With its beautiful, long, heavy coat, your dog will naturally store more heat when the outside or indoor temperature is high. This could result in overheating, and your goldie will pant more and drool to cool down quickly. In most cases, heavy panting is a natural response to intense physical training and activity. Excitement Goldies are naturally excitable dogs, resulting in a faster heart rate, which increases the need for more oxygen to the bloodstream. This makes your four-legged friend pant more while keeping their blood oxygenated when overly excited. There are also a number of more concerning reasons why your golden could be panting more than normal. Anxiety And Fear If your golden retriever is stressed, fearful, or anxious, they will pant excessively. This results in various physiological responses such as a rapid heart rate, higher body temperature, heightened senses, and increased panting or breathing. Scared dogs pant to cool and calm themselves down while bringing their body back to a normal state. Other signs of dog anxiety include drooling, urinating or defecating in the house, and pacing or restlessness. Learn more about how you can handle separation anxiety when you leave your Golden home alone. Our Golden Retriever, Raven is very sensitive to noise especially fireworks and thunder. When she hears these sounds the fear and anxiety kick in and she starts panting. However, your domesticated golden retriever may start to pant more frequently because of pain caused by an injury or illness. If you notice any of the other signs accompanying abnormal panting, your dog could be in pain: Decreased appetite Lethargy and no interest in activities Decreased mobility Whining or moaning Changes in behavior such as snapping or growling Limping, vomiting, and diarrhea are other symptoms that could indicate your dog is battling pain and is feeling traumatized. Obesity Overweight pet dogs are common, with obesity in golden retrievers being a problem for many dog owners. However, this also increases their panting rate! Being overweight also makes activities more strenuous for your dog, resulting in more frequent panting. Obesity can give rise to other medical conditions such as heart disease that contribute to abnormal panting. Unfortunately, I have to admit our black Lab, Stetson was obese and tended to pant more as he got older and heavier. We put him on a diet and exercise program to try and control his weight. As your dog slows down you need to watch their weight, exercise your dog regularly and monitor the amount of food and treats you are giving. Allergies If your golden retriever often goes for walks in the local doggie park or spends time playing games in your garden, they could be exposed to environmental allergens. These include dust, mold, and pollen, which are seasonal but can cause your dog to have uncomfortable symptoms. Food allergens can also cause itchy skin or unpleasant gastrointestinal problems, while bee stings and vaccines can lead to severe allergic reactions. While increased panting could be one symptom of dog allergies , others include the following: Itchiness and excessive scratching or rubbing Hives and swelling of body areas such as the face Sneezing or coughing Chronic ear or eye infections Constant licking All of the above-mentioned symptoms are enough to make your dog pant more frequently. Heart disease in dogs, for example, often results in less oxygen getting around the body, while the same happens with respiratory issues such as pneumonia. Cancerous growths or fluid build-up in the lungs can also result in your goldie panting more than usual. Alternatively, if your golden retriever eats too fast or exercises immediately after having a meal, they may experience bloat, which causes the stomach to distend abnormally. This life-threatening condition results in your dog panting excessively due to the pain of its stomach twisting. Your vet will run some blood tests to diagnose this disease and prescribe medication to manage the condition. Unfortunately, we noticed this in our Aussie mix, Linus. Towards the end of his life he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He developed an ugly cough along with more panting then normal especially as the disease got worse. Age When caring for your senior golden retriever , you may notice your pooch is panting more than they used to. While excessive panting is a normal side effect of getting old, there could be other reasons why your aging goldie is panting heavily. Arthritis and aching joints associated with older dogs can also make them pant abnormally. Elderly dogs may battle to cool down as efficiently after exercising or on hot days and will pant more to compensate. Keeping your pet indoors during the hottest times of the day helps, as well as running a fan. Taking your goldie for walks in the early mornings or late evening when the temperature drops minimize the risk of overheating. Letting your dog take a dip in a pool or lake can help to keep your pooch cool on hot days. And why not organize a game with the kids in the lawn sprinkler? Getting your dog an outdoor swimming pool is a wonderful way of mitigating heat strokes and reducing heavy panting when the temperatures start to soar! Provide Plenty Of Drinking Water Providing your dog with plenty of cool, fresh drinking water is vital for their overall well-being. This also helps to reduce excessive panting on hot summer days or when indoor temperatures are high. It replenishes liquids lost during excessive drooling while panting to regulate body temperature when overheating. Placing a PetSafe Drinkwell Dog Fountain in your home or backyard provides a constant flow of fresh, aerated water for your dog, keeping them hydrated and healthy. Watch Out For Toxins Certain fruits and vegetables can trigger a bad reaction in your dog and should be avoided at all costs. These include: Grapes and raisins.

Rescue Me! Grooming Your Mastiff Mixed With Boxer Boxer Mastiffs are easy to groom overall but generally shed in large amounts, which is why you should schedule days that you thoroughly brush their fur. Daily brushing is essential even for your short hair because it eliminates and lessens dirt accumulation as well as hair accumulation in the house. Ear and teeth hygiene should be an everyday priority to avoid dirt and bacterial accumulation in the ears and cavities or tartar, which could lead to infections in the future. Some of the conditions to take note of are: Hip Dysplasia: This is a genetic disease wherein there is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which causes immense pain for the dog. If left untreated may cause crippling and painful arthritis of the joints. Due to excessive gastric content, the stomach of the dog becomes overstretched. It may cause severe pain when moving. Ectropion: This condition is more common in Mastiffs. The lower eyelids appear droopy due to an abnormality and may result in conjunctivitis or keratitis. Make sure you make arrangements with members of the family to ensure an adequately measured amount of food for your puppy. Choose gifts that have low calories instead, so that obesity is avoidable. The best choice of food would be those that are rich in protein for proper muscle building and repairing. Protein can be obtained through dog food alone, or you could ask your local vet for additional snacks and supplements. You can find protein in meat such as chicken, lamb, fish, and beef. Meat meals are concentrated forms sans the moisture but offer the same amount of protein as well. Fats are essential for eye and brain development because of the rich sources of Omega-3 Fatty acids. Chicken meat and fish oil are excellent sources. Avoid giving your Boxmas foods rich in common allergens such as corn, soy, dairy, wheat, and potatoes. Also refrain from giving any food coloring, as these may compromise the immune system. Never give them table food because it might cause different allergic reactions ranging from skin allergies to difficulty in breathing. To give your Boxer crossed with Mastiff better nutrition, check the following high quality and nutrient-packed dog food available on the market: Fromm Large Breed Puppy Gold Formula: This is a brand that ensures there are no allergens or irritants included. Specially formulated for puppies who are known to grow over fifty pounds, protein and fat levels are moderately incorporated. DHA-rich salmon oil is a bonus for brain and eye development. There are additional vitamins and antioxidants as well as a grain-free formula. Protein and fat levels are lower compared to different brands in the market but still packed with needed nutrients and vitamins to ensure proper growth and development. Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dry Food: This product boasts of high-quality proteins and nutrients, as well as the incorporation of L-carnitine. This combination helps your Mastiff mixed with Boxer maintain its overall built, burn fat efficiently, and avoid obesity. Orijen Puppy Large: The ingredients are fresh and high in protein. It consists of chicken and turkey, as well as fish. Your dog may be big or small, but you need to keep it happy and healthy all the time. Never give them the worst dry dog food that is low in nutrients and filled with by-products, and opt for best dry dog food instead. For the littlest of munchkins, check out our list of best puppy food brands , and for gray-coated, wise grandpa-doggos, opt only for the best senior dry dog food. Your stunning mixed heartthrob carries the genes of their super-gorgeous and incredibly different parents. But that means that you are in luck as you can offer your little charmer both the best dry dog food for small dogs and the best large breed dry dog food. Let them have a final say in which kibble they nibble. In line with the diet, also schedule a daily exercise regimen for your Boxmas. They are highly energetic and exuberant by nature, which means they require at least an hour of intense activities and exercises. This program includes running, walking, playing fetch, obedience exercises, and jogging. Never contain your Boxer crossed with Mastiff in a small space such as apartments or condos. Fulfill their need to stay fit by choosing a home that has adequate running space if you plan to adopt a Boxmas. Another option is to take trips to the park or jog around the neighborhood. If left idle for too long, they can be agitated or easily distracted and tend to destroy or chew on things out of frustration. Here are some toys to help exercise your Boxmas: OxGord BazooK-9 Tennis Ball Launcher Gun: Since your hybrid is energetic and loves running, this tennis ball launcher is a perfect toy when visiting parks or playing in the backyard. Invest in this versatile product so that it also saves you energy from having to throw the ball. It prevents the potential risk for periodontal disease. KONG Wubba Dog Toy: Made of nylon and has two balls inside one chewable and one squeaky , the Wubba dog toy will be a Boxmas favorite because of its durability and appearance. There is no need to continually throw away and replace toys when you purchase this product. Your hybrid will engage in chewing and decrease any risks of periodontal diseases as well. It can be a challenge for most owners because of the intelligence plus energetic combo, but with patience and determination, your hybrid will follow proper orders in no time. Boxers are easy to lead and train. This trait will save you a lot of time and effort. Make sure to familiarize yourself and your pup with play biting and attacking an intruder or stranger. If you can, plan for the whole week instead. It can be a challenge to keep their attention focused on the training, but with perseverance and patience, everything will eventually pay off. Encourage positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement will always be one of the best and most endorsed strategies to train a dog because it taps into the mental aspect. Your hybrid will automatically think that the specific actions you want your dog to do will earn a treat. Apply this in all tricks and strategies you wish to impart. Another thing to remember is always to have a big space for them to move around when around children to avoid any unwanted accidents. Your hybrid is a large dog and might be prone to crashes if confined in a small space. You can renovate your backyard and put obstacles or toys, or you may visit the park and play with other dogs. But in general, Boxer Mastiffs are very loyal, fun, active, and protective. The temperament from both parent breeds ensures that there is no aggressiveness or violence along with, of course, proper training. Older members of the family can pitch in and help training the big fellow, and this also allows more exposure to different people. This plan will avoid the unwanted one-owner type of dog in the future, as well as agitation and idleness. As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure a healthy diet, proper living space, frequent trips to the vet, and specific training to help your hybrid live the best years of its life. Raising quality puppies since ! We strive to raise the highest quality puppies and to provide them and their parents with the best care possible. Our puppies are raised with lots of TLC from us, our children, and our grandchildren so you can be sure they have been pre-spoiled and very socialized before leaving us. We believe a puppy should be a member of your family and should live inside your home with you. Puppies should be given every opportunity to have a healthy and happy life. We try to make sure our puppies are placed in loving homes where they will receive the best life has to offer them! If you are looking to add a puppy to your family, please browse our site and check out our available puppies. You may contact us by phone or email to discuss the adoption process. We have always passed our inspections and have never had any non compliant issues. We are always praised by our inspectors for having a top quality kennel. Our licensed veterinarian comes to our home to see all of our dogs on a regular basis so he can inspect them and provide them with a thorough, hands on well check up in addition to all regular veterinarian care. As members of these organizations, we receive the most up to date news, education, and veterinarian tips that help us take the best possible care of our dogs. We take great pride in our kennel and our dogs. If you are looking to add a new puppy to your family, please contact us for a complete list of available puppies. We would love to help you find your new family member! We offer a one year health guarantee with every puppy we sell and a lifetime of breeder support. Please review our health guarantee and contact us if you have any questions. Being a member of AKC's Bred with Heart program means we provide our dogs with important genetic health testing that can rule out health problems with our puppies. Both the Boxer and the Mastiff breeds were historically used as protectors or guardians. That means Boxer puppies are highly likely to inherit this instinct to protect and guard their families. This will help them grow into well-rounded and obedient adult dogs. That means shorter walks, no jumping from heights, and feeding a specific dog food designed for larger breeds. They excelled as cattle dogs, watchdogs, police dogs, and guide dogs, as well as serving as war dogs in both world wars. Mastiff type breeds have been around for centuries. Luckily, U. Boxmas dogs are extremely protective of their families Thanks to the fact that both the Mastiff and the Boxer have been bred to instinctively protect their families, Boxmas puppies are highly likely to inherit this same trait. Without these training sessions, their protective instinct can soon turn into aggression. On the flip side, when it comes to mixed breeds, it can be harder to predict particular characteristics of these hybrids in terms of size, appearance, and temperament. This gives them a nice balance between activity and rest. While these dogs are sweet and gentle around their families, their protective natures mean they always want to make sure their owners are safe. The Boxer Mastiff cross is intelligent and will enjoy regular training sessions to keep them mentally as well as physically exercised. Their kind and loving nature make them suitable for life with children, but their large size and sometimes excitable nature means they can sometimes knock small children over! You will need to do a fair amount of training to make sure that family friends are accepted into your home with the minimum of fuss. While you might feel confident around your large-breed Boxmas, bear in mind that their size and stature can make them look intimidating to visitors. Make sure your Boxmas knows not to jump on people. Boxers can sometimes tend to become nervous around other dogs of the same sex. Always make sure to introduce new pets to each other slowly and in a controlled environment. Keep the initial meetings short and sweet, and allow each pet somewhere safe they can retreat to if they feel the need. Things to Know When Owning a Boxmas: Deciding to add a Boxmas to your family is a big decision and requires both time and money. Before you make your mind up for sure, here are a few more things you should know about this breed first. This will have the correct levels of calcium and phosphorous to ensure that their bones grow correctly. It will also have a lower percentage of protein, fat, and calories than foods designed for smaller breed puppies. Your puppy is likely to inherit the work ethic and intelligence of both parent breeds. Boredom sometimes leads to destructive habits, which none of us want to face! Their natural propensity to guard can easily roll over into aggression if not managed properly. Puppy training classes are an excellent way to socialize your puppy while having a professional trainer on hand to help with any specific goals you may have. Praise and positive reinforcement are an excellent tool for Boxmas owners. Raised voices during training can worry a Mastiff and may cause them to become disengaged. We reviewed the best puppy training treats: check out our top picks here! A weekly brush should be enough to keep them looking healthy. When they shed, which will be twice a year, you can up your grooming sessions to help remove any dead hair. If your Boxmas puppy inherits a more Mastiff-shaped head from one of their parents, then be prepared for the fact that you might need to deal with drool! Mastiffs are notorious droolers, often choosing to stand close to you while they do so! You can also check their nails at the same time, but these should only need trimming once a month or so. Luckily in the case of the Boxmas, this is also true. Minor Conditions. In this article, we will give you some of the most important reasons why Boxer Mastiff Mix puppies for sale are the best option. Once you have read this article, you should be able to make the best decision for yourself and your family. It is a very strong and dominant dog. This is a problem that many people face when they consider adopting a dog. If your local area has many younger children, it may not be a good idea to bring home a boxer mastiff mix. Young children can get carried away and start playing rough with the dog and when this happens, the dog may start to act out of line or worse yet, even injure another child. Many parents will say that they do not want their children to be injured, but they do not want them to get hurt because they are too afraid to play rough with their dogs. Also, they have a dog who is big and strong, so they are going to be in a situation where their child has to come away from the dog in an ambulance if they are hurt. This is not a good situation at all. In puppy mills, there are a lot of puppies that are mistreated, overworked, and not well cared for. Puppy mills are considered to be a breeding ground for puppies that end up in puppy mills as the owners do not care about the puppies and treat them badly. It is much better to adopt a boxer mastiff mix from a good home than to keep the puppies at a puppy mill. There are a lot of problems that a breeder that produces dogs for sale can do to the dog that is being bred. You could find out if there is a hereditary trait or condition that is affecting the behavior of your dog. If this is the case, then you should not be breeding your dogs. Also, a strong dog that has a strong personality is a better choice. The dog may be raised by a single mother. It may be raised without any interaction with other dogs and other animals. A boxer mastiff mix puppy is an excellent choice because it will get plenty of exposure to other dogs and other animals and have the opportunity to socialize with other dogs. Boxer mastiff mix puppies are very easy dogs to train. You will see that when they are young that they are very smart and they have an amazing attention span. They have the personality to match and the intelligence to match. So, if you are someone who likes to work with their hands, or works outside the house with their tools, then you should consider a boxer mastiff mix pup for sale. If you are going to be raising other animals, then you will need to know the temperament of the other pets that you are going to be raising. You should always choose the puppies carefully and make sure that they are safe for the rest of the family. How to Adopt a Boxer Mastiff Mix Puppies For Sale When it comes to buying boxer mastiff mix puppies for sale, the best option is to look for quality dogs from reputable breeders. These pups have great temperaments and are easy to train. They are extremely intelligent and have an amazing attention span. The temperaments of these pups are excellent for a family dog. They are also very good with children and have excellent training skills. So, if you want a family pet that will last a lifetime, go ahead and purchase a Boxer mastiff mix puppy. The Boxer Mastiff mix is a very energetic and intelligent dog that can be great with children. The Boxer is very protective of its family but is a good choice for families with children. It is also loyal, lovable, and affectionate. Owners say that the Mastiff is strong-willed and courageous. Its strong will makes it ideal for guarding, defending, and protecting the home. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is a large, powerful dog that exudes a playful energy. Its medium size makes it an excellent choice for homes with young children. Because of its size, the Boxer can be quite dominating. If you are not careful, you may end up with a dog that screams or bites at the kids and then injures them. These pets are very protective and love humans. However, they should not be left alone all the time, as they may chew on small items. If you are interested in buying one, you should contact the shelter as soon as possible. The sooner you contact the Shelter, the better. You should check out the living conditions of the puppies. These animals are easy to care for. As for their coats, they shed a lot of hair. Therefore, daily brushing is essential to prevent dirt and hair from building up. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is an excellent choice for a family. They are great with children and are very loyal. The best option for a family with children in a house with a large yard. The English Mastiff is the largest breed in the world. They are highly intelligent and need a lot of space and exercise. For this reason, they are best suited for families with children. They are also good with other dogs in the house. As a result, they are great for families. A Boxer Mastiff mix is a relatively new breed. Its origins can be traced to German Mastiffs and Bulldogs. The Boxer is an excellent companion for families. They are playful, but they can be a little aggressive and need to be handled with care. They are generally good with children but can have aggressive tendencies when they are threatened. This is the best time to buy a Boxer Mastiff mix for sale. Although the boxer Mastiff is a purebred dog, it can still inherit certain health problems. It is vital to get your new pup from a trusted breeder. They are good family dogs that get along well with children and other pets. They can be playful but they are also very protective of their families. Even though they are a large breed, they can be friendly and can be good pets. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is a breed that blends the classic appearance of a boxer with the enormous size of a Mastiff. These dogs are generally considered fun and energetic family pet. Their history goes back to B. This breed is an excellent athlete and is an excellent guide dog. Share this:. Boxer Description The Boxer has a compact and powerful body. Their head is proportionate with the body and has a short muzzle with an underbite. The tail is set high and typically docked. Their coat is short, smooth, and comes in multiple colors including fawn, tan, brindle, mahogany, and black and often with white markings. Boxers also come in a white coat, but some clubs will not register them. Discover more about our Boxer puppies for sale below and see why they are one of the most popular breeds in the U. Disposition and Temperament Boxers are happy, playful, curious, and energetic. So much so that many remain extremely fit and athletic into their old age. They are very intelligent, eager, quick to learn and known to be a good breed for competitive obedience. Boxers bond closely with their family and are loyal and affectionate. In fact, they are known to get along well with children. A properly socialized Boxer will get along with dogs and other household pets, such as cats, but small animals such as rodents or birds may be too tempting. Being energetic and playful, the Boxer can become boisterous and jump on people without proper training and leadership. Boxers need to go on a daily walk and get daily mental and physical exercise. Without it, they can become stressed out. You should start training your Boxer while it is a puppy: Boxers do best with dominant owners who can be firm, consistent and committed. You need to establish yourself as the leader of the pack with this dog breed. Owners who do not establish dominance often find their dogs to be stubborn or demanding which can hamper the owner-pet relationship. Living Conditions As for living arrangements, they can be fine in an apartment if sufficiently exercised even though they are active indoors, but Boxers really do best with an average-sized yard. They are also temperature sensitive, overheating easily and chilling quickly. Boxers have a natural tendency to protect their owners and home, and although visitors who the dog recognizes are not seen as a threat, will protect their owners if they sense danger. Boxers are courageous which makes them great watchdogs and will even restrain intruders. It is important to know Boxer puppies require human leadership and need to be taught not to be boisterous or jump up on people. It requires very little grooming. Brush it with a rubber curry brush once or twice a week to keep it looking good. The Boxer tends to be a clean breed only occasionally needing a bath. Origin The name Boxer is thought to come from the way they use their front paws for just about everything; pawing at its food bowls, toys, and even its owner in a playful way. The Boxer was developed in Germany in the 19th century and its ancestors were two German mastiff-type breeds. They were later bred with the ancestors of the Mastiff and Bulldog. Boxers were first used for dog-fighting, bull-baiting, cart pulling, cattle dogs, rounding up livestock, and to catch and pin wild boar and bison until hunters could arrive. Later they became popular theater and circus dogs. There are two types of Boxers: the German and the American Boxer. German Boxers have bigger heads and are generally more muscular than American Boxers. See store for details on a puppy. The American Canine Association, Inc. The American Canine Registry.

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic German Sheprador Highlights The German Sheprador is a mixed breed dog. The main colors of German Shepradors are black, white, red, cream, blue, and grey. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. While they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job. Many German Shepradors absolutely love to run and play in the snow. Their double coats also help to keep them cool during hot summer months. German Shepradors make excellent family companions and watchdogs. Protective in nature, they will alert when strangers approach. They can easily become board, depressed, and frustrated, which will result in unwanted behaviors. German Sheprador History The German Sheprador dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders started intentionally mixing German Shepherds and Labradors in North America, possibly in the s. Breeders wanted to mix the two parent breeds to minimize health problems that affect many purebreds as well as create an ultimate family companion and watchdog. They continued to create German Shepradors as demand for the mixed breed pups climbed. Even though the German Sheprador got their start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the dog for you. Check your local shelters, look up German Sheprador rescues, or check with breed-specific German Shepherd and Labrador rescues, as they sometimes help to re-home mixed breeds. German Sheprador Size As the German Sheprador is a relatively new mixed breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between German Shepherd and Labrador parents, you can expect the German Sheprador to be on the large side. Most weigh in at 60 to 95 pounds and range in height from 20 to 27 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger. German Sheprador Personality German Shepradors make excellent family companions and watchdogs. However, once they befriend you, you have a friend for life. These pups hail from a line of two working parents. Their German Shepherd parents regularly work as military, police, and guard dogs, while their Labrador Retriever parents have jobs as hunting and guide dogs. German Shepradors like to work and need to have a job to do, whether big or small. Give them a sense of purpose, and this dog will earn their keep ten fold. They are highly trainable, and thrive on positive reenforcement. Do not leave them alone for long periods. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. German Shepradors are prone to weight gain, and they have high energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one hour long walk per day with several shorter walks mixed in. Hiking and other adventurous activities are also recommended. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as this mixed breed is prone to tartar build-up. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility with its one-inch jumps. Crate and kennel training should start in puppyhood. German Sheprador Feeding An ideal German Sheprador diet should be formulated for a large breed with high energy. They have a tendency to gain weight if they are overfed, so you should stick to a regular feeding schedule and not leave food out during the day. Limit their amount of treats, as well. They usually have medium length, dense coats, and while they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job and bathing is recommended every few months with a mild shampoo. Too much bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils. Their double coats do shed quite a bit. You will definitely want a vacuum on hand. You will need it. Have you tried robot vacuums? See if the Eufy RoboVac is right for you! Their double coat gives them an edge when it comes to extreme weather. Many of these dogs absolutely love to run and play in the snow. Their double coats also helps to keep them cool during hot summer months. Keep in mind they are an indoor dog and need to live indoors. Like all dogs, however, German Shepradors need to be trained how to behave around children and vice versa. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. Learn more about this awesome breed by reading about their parent breeds the German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. German Sheprador Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for German Shepradors because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try German Shepherd Dog or Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. They have double coats that are coarse and straight and usually have triangular, floppy ears. They come in brown, black, gray, cream, white, and reddish-brown, which can be solid or a combination of colors. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. They have a typical lifespan for a dog of that size and are usually quite easy to train. While they are protective of their families, they are also a very friendly, social breed. These puppies are typically energetic and playful, making them great family pets. They also tend to be good with children and are known for their friendly and affectionate personalities. These dogs require plenty of physical and mental stimulation, and are well suited for an active lifestyle. They have a high exercise and playtime requirement, so it is important for potential owners to be able to provide them with plenty of opportunities for physical activity. Overall, German Shepherd Lab Mix puppies are a great choice for families or individuals who are looking for a friendly and active companion. German Shepherds are very devoted, loving, and protective dogs famous for being great family pets as well as for their work as police and guard dogs. Labrador Retrievers are renowned for their sweet and loveable natures as well as for being friendly and energetic. Both breeds are also intelligent dogs, so you can expect the German Shepherd Lab to be smart, sweet, affectionate, and devoted. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They are famously wonderful with children, and their high energy levels make them great playmates. However, just remember to always supervise your young children when they are around the dog. And ensure you have taught your kids to respect dogs. No tail pulling, no ear tugging, and no bothering them while they eat. As a general rule, the German Shepherd Lab does get along very well with other family pets. They do typically enjoy a good romp with other dogs at the park. These are large dogs with high energy, so look for the appropriate food. You can also follow the recommendations on the back of the dog food bag to help you figure out how much your pup needs to be fed daily. Too much food and treats can lead to obesity with the German Shepherd Lab, so watch what you feed her and try to stay away from too much people food. Throw that ball around, and the Retriever in your hybrid will be very happy. Because of their size and energy, they are best suited for a house with a yard. However, they are best suited for experienced dog owners. Brushing is pretty easy, but they could use brushing several times a week because of their shedding. This will need to be daily during the shedding seasons. Give your German Shepherd Lab a bath only when absolutely necessary using a good dog shampoo. The German Shepherd is susceptible to the following: Minor Conditions.

Daily walks and playtime with a child are ingredients for happiness for dogs and humans alike! Oh, and for the record, Lily and Birch are 50 lbs and 65 lbs respectively. Hi, Sally! This is Arina and Erick. Just a short letter about Aspen. At 5 months his weight is .He is getting more calm and has some kind of established day schedule, getting up and taking a day nap at approximately same time. He has about half of an acre of the fenced yard to run, play and chase the cats. He is able to go out any time, we made two doggy doors for him. He has his short walks with his human sister everyday, and a long walk in the park at least once in the week. A few weeks ago we had to take him to a professional groomer for a full body haircut because we are remodeling the house and there is a mess and no time to do it by ourselves. He got all his shots on time, including rabies, and getting all flea and worm medicines monthly. He is doing well and becoming a nice companion. A question. Everyone is asking how big he is going to be. How much does his dad weigh? Thank you! A few pictures are attached. He is 4. Arina and Erick Now, for the cute photos of Mr. Enjoying the great outdoors with the family Ready to go! Additional information 3 Year Health Warranty Sunshine Acres offers a straight forward cash back warranty. We do not have any requirements such as you have to purchase food from us or you have to use the refund toward the purchase of another puppy from us. The refund is simply a check written to you. This rarely happens but Sunshine Acres wants to take responsibility and keep you covered. Sunshine Acres wants to reward puppies for good behavior. We have selected AKC's Canine Good Citizen basic test since it is a standardized test that is fairly easy to pass and is available all over the country. After completion, submit a copy of the certificate to Sunshine Acres and we will send you a check. The ID on this page is the last five digits of the microchip number. These chips are not trackable by GPS but emit a frequency when scanned so your contact information may be looked up. Sunshine Acres uses an ISO chip, so it is universal no matter where your travels take you. Depending on region or your lifestyle, there may be additional vaccines your veterinarian recommends. Socialization Our Goldendoodle puppies are socialized in a family setting following techniques taught by Jan Fennell, The Dog Listener. Each puppy is stimulated every day before his or her eyes open to familiarize them to the smells of their human companions. Once our Goldendoodle puppies start interacting with people, they are handled, played with, and enjoyed by our family, with children that range in ages from toddler to teenager. Looking Are you looking for a red, shaggy ball of hair with a pink tongue and a heart full of love? Sunshine Acres is home to the Irish Goldendoodle. Family raised and socialized since ! Tested parents can be met and all puppies are immunized and vet checked. Shipping Shipping is available to most major destinations in the continental US and Canada via airline pet carrying services. We are familiar and comfortable with the shipping process and would be glad to make arrangements for shipping if you live too far away to come to Indiana to pick up your puppy. They are weighed, microchips are scanned, and end with a head-to-toe examination. If there is anything abnormal, it will be noted on this page. Related products.