raising two golden retriever puppies

During this time, they have learned that good breeding is not seldom. This is why they conduct DNA genetic testing on the mating Labs, research pedigrees, and perform x-rays. At other times, they fly in semen from other states to guarantee the best quality future Labs. They have produced family dogs, show dogs, hunting dogs, and service dogs. If you want to reserve a puppy from Humehill, they will send you a questionnaire and a deposit contract. The puppies leave the facility after they are eight weeks old. Prior to this, the puppies are taken to the vet for a checkup, dewormed, microchipped, and receive their first vaccine. They consider themselves knowledgeable breeders because they have degrees in Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering. They focus on producing and raising genetically quality dogs, a reason why the parents undergo Embark tests. In addition, they raise the puppies in an acre home with fenced-in yards instead of kennels. The dogs also have a large pond to swim or play in. All Hidden Pond puppies have veterinarian health certification, a one-year written health guarantee, have their first shots, and are microchipped. They also give a lifetime placement warranty and offer stud service. They aim to breed championship Labs that can go to the show program. The pups that do not qualify for show programs are trained for companionship, hunting, therapy, or response dogs. The breeder is dedicated to guaranteeing that future Labs have the best genetics to live a long, happy life. They also receive year-long preventative health care. Stoneleigh Labrador puppies are hand-raised with abundant affection then socialized before they leave the facility. Even though the breeder does not always have available puppies all year round, they will be happy to have you on a waiting list. Legacy puppies receive the same socialization programs as service and guide dogs. They are paper trained, crate trained, taken for car rides, and receive daily playtime. They are also microchipped and AKC registered. Unlike other Labrador breeders, Legacy accepts applications only when there is a litter available. This means you must be on the lookout since they do not keep a waiting list for potential buyers. Occasionally, they have older dogs available after they have finished their show careers. These dogs are suitable for children of all ages because they are socialized at a young age. All pups receive their first shots and worming before they leave. To purchase one, contact the breeder via email or the website. She has a passion for Labradors and loves their sweet temperament. This is proof that not only are the Labs well-bred, but they are healthy and with easy to live temperaments. To find and purchase a pup , visit the website, or contact the breeder via email. Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types. Thank you David for all the joy you have given us. We love our beautiful dogs! He is just perfect! My vet said he has never seen a better put together Lab. He is the hit of our community and has to say hello to everyone he meets. Hidden Ponds is just the best place to purchase a Lab. David is so kind and informative. His dogs are gorgeous and well mannered. They treat their dogs with kindness and it shows. They are smart, their costs are beautiful! He has a great personality and is wonderful with the kids! He is lbs and thinks he is a lap dog. We would definitely buy from Dave again!! Lindie is an incredible athlete, as you can see by the photo. Lindie also volunteers at our local hospital in Glens Falls, NY comforting anyone that needs fur therapy! She is an amazing ambassador for the Labrador breed! Thank you! He hiked his first mountains this weekend in the Adirondacks. He is such a wonderful addition to our family and we will be back for a companion for him next year. Read more testimonials Bentley Bentley is almost 4 years old and is absolutely amazing! She is the happiest, cuddliest, wiggliest ball of fur, and I love her more than I can say. She is super smart, very curious, and a little mischievous. She has already learned to walk very well with my wheelchair. Thank you, Hidden Pond! At 9weeks she has accomplished stairs,swimming learned to sit and give paw. Play time and eating remain 1 LOL but,she is full of kisses and love all the time too. My sweet service dog, Rhett, came home in October of and has been the biggest blessing in my life. This breeder not only breeds for confirmation and health but for perfect personality and temperament. They are perfect in every sense of the term responsible breeder. I cannot imagine life without my Labs. And not to mention how welcoming everyone was when we went to pick Rhett up. They care about each puppy they welcome into their home. And they strongly support several forms of care to keep the puppies happy and healthy in their new homes like food and supplements! I cannot thank them enough or recommend them enough!! Savannah Stevens Read more testimonials Chip Chip is a crazy, funny, lovable gem. He is the most gorgeous dog. He has the most regal head. Everyone who sees him stops to tell us what a handsome dog he is. Thank you to Hidden Pond for letting him be ours. We picked her up in early July , and she made our family complete! She is such an amazing dog: sweet, gentle, loving, and playful. It is wonderful to see how much she loves our three young boys. We love how much she loves being outside — especially swimming and playing in the snow. Thank you Dave and your family for bringing her into our lives. She was exactly what our family needed to be complete. She is the sweetest, spunkiest and most wonderful dog we could have asked for. We picked him up this past September. He is a joy, fully housebroken, and so very funny. Everyone who meets him always comment on how handsome he is. He is really beginning to look like his dad, Thunder. He loves walking and meeting all his dog friends in our community. Thanks, David, for this wonderful dog! He has made our house a home again!! She brings so much joy to our home. She is loyal, smart and a lot of fun. She loves going on walks or long hikes in the woods and is a big snuggler in the house. Scout has a very sweet disposition and people comment on what a beautiful girl she is. She enjoys people and dogs of all ages. Thank you Dave, we are enjoying every day with one of your Hidden Pond pups! Courtney Hundley Read more testimonials Raemo This Lab is truly a best friend to everyone that comes his way. Very kind and affectionate. Raemo is now 6 months old and is great with the family, friends and the neighborhood. He is great with other dogs too! David and his Labs are simply the best and worth the wait! Rob Amurao Read more testimonials Daisy We got Daisy in June , but Dave introduced us to her the day she was born; it was love at first sight!!! Dave kept us updated with pictures and short videos as we anxiously awaited the day we could pick her up. She has been an absolute joy in our lives! She is incredibly smart, a sweetheart along with being an active puppy. She was swimming at 10 weeks with our other dogs. She is now 10 months old; everyone she meets loves her. Thank you, Dave, for such an awesome new family member!!! Marilyn Morey Read more testimonials Mabel Mabel is 6 months and we thank you for this blessing. She is a wonderful addition to our family. We love going on adventures with our little girl. Highly recommend and reasonable pricing! He has an amazing temperament, his favorite activities are long walks and swimming! Marlana Broderick Read more testimonials Chip Chip is the best dog we have ever had. He is funny, silly, smart and so handsome. We get stopped on the street every 5 feet. Everyone asks where he is from and tells us how gorgeous he is. Thank you Dave. This photo is with his sister Cocoa. Chip on the left Cocoa on the right. She has such a great personality. Gets along so well with the grandkids ,and so adaptable she took to the crate and house breaking so easily. Accepts new experiences so calmly. Dave has been great to work with a fountain of info. We also went with the dog food he recommended an love the results that we switched our cat to it as well. She is the most beautiful, sweet tempered, smart lab. We could not be happier having her as part of our family. Romy Ziegler. For nearly 50 years we have produced English Labradors in the true style of the all-around dog they were meant to be. Our ultimate goal has been a beautiful dog conforming to breed standards with soundness of temperament and body. Our Labradors retain the hunting ability that has made them the supreme hunting retriever. This intelligent, well-tempered dog is a perfect family companion and service dog. We are pleased to not only have many of our On The Bluff Labradors in pet, show and hunting homes, but also used as guide dogs for the disabled and specialist for airscent detection. Our breeding program strives for perfection in every litter. We use the highest quality stud dogs with a background of multiple Grand Champions. We combine their linage with the outstanding genetics of our females. The result are not just cute, adorable puppies, but dogs that can be well trained, healthy companions for a lifetime. We have never lost sight of our initial goal to produce the perfect Labrador- in mind and body. Feel free to email us for additional information or to get on a waiting list for one of our puppies. Staffed by professional trainers- each puppy receives several weeks and hundreds of hours of individual lessons- Obedience Training, House Living Training, Group Socialization, and Outside Etiquette. We believe our unique training methods and individualized programs sets us apart from any other breeder. Here you will find many adorable pictures of our current puppies.

There are just two purebred Boxer colors: fawn, and brindle—with or without white markings. Different levels of these pigments determine the different colors. For example, black can produce a grey or brown coat, and red can produce a yellow or cream coat. Dogs have 8 genes that determine coat color. Each one is responsible for different types of color. Examples: an agouti gene creates coat patterns. What about the fawn color? How do experts define fawn coat color in dogs? Fawn Coat Color Boxers have variations of the red coat color pigment, not the black. The red-based fawn coloring can range all the way from light tan to dark mahogany. Brindle is dominant over fawn, but the combination of genes in an individual puppy determines its coloring. As with fawn vs. Certain colors can be linked to health conditions. The most common relationship most people know about is white color and deafness. White color and hereditary deafness are linked in many animals. This is because lack of pigment is genetically connected to inner ear degeneration. Some dog breeds, such as the Dalmatian, are more prone to hereditary deafness than others. What about a flashy fawn Boxer dog with a large amount of white coloring? Deafness Any dog, regardless of breed or color, can be born deaf or become deaf later in life. Breeds with a high rate of congenital deafness often have a significant amount of white coat coloring, but color is not the only cause of deafness. Boxers in general do not have a high incidence of deafness. If a Boxer has a large amount of white, especially on the head, then the risk for deafness does increase somewhat. What about temperament? Boxers are a much-loved breed with a long and interesting history. The Boxer dog we know today was first developed in the s in Germany. The ancestry of the Boxer can be traced to a very old breed called the Bullenbeisser bull biter. The Bullenbeisser was crossed with smaller dogs to create the modern Boxer. Boxers belong to the working dog group and have been used as guard dogs, military dogs, and even guide dogs for the blind. How large will your fawn Boxer dog get? Boxer Description The Boxer is a sleek and athletic medium sized dog. An adult male boxer weighs between 65 and 80 pounds. The breed standard calls for females to weigh about 15 pounds less than males. The Boxer has a distinctive head with an alert and intelligent face. Both the fawn and brindle Boxer dogs have short, smooth coats that require minimal grooming. Boxer Personality and Training As a working dog breed, the fawn Boxer dog has an alert and intelligent nature with a strong work ethic and a love of exercise and activity. Experts recommend that you enroll your Boxer in formal puppy training classes and socialize your dog around other dogs, animals, and people. As a working breed, Boxers enjoy stimulating and interactive organized activities like agility and obedience trials, sheep herding, and lure coursing. Boxers also make excellent therapy dogs. Boxer Health We talked about a slight risk for hereditary deafness in white Boxer dogs. What about the fawn Boxer dog? While there are no known health issues connected to the fawn coat color, there are a few inherited health conditions common to fawn and brindle boxers. Like many dog breeds, Boxers can be prone to the joint conditions hip and elbow dysplasia. Dysplasia is a joint deformity that can cause chronic pain in your Boxer. Boxers can also be prone to two genetic heart conditions: aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is an electrical conduction disorder that causes the heart to beat erratically and can also be life threatening. Other issues Boxers can also be at risk for certain kinds of cancers, thyroid problems, and a neurological condition called degenerative myelopathy. While Boxers can be prone to some potentially serious inherited health conditions. The good news is that there are health tests including genetic health tests for many of them. But before you fall in love with a particular puppy, make sure to choose a responsible breeder who follows the health testing guidelines outlined by the official breed club. Boxer health tests can take the form of blood and DNA tests, X-rays, and heart monitoring and echocardiograms. Health testing information should also be certified by an official canine health clearinghouse like the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. A healthy puppy should have clear eyes, clean ears and nose, a shiny coat, and well-formed stools. Boxers are one of the most popular dog breeds, and for good reason! They are loyal, energetic, friendly, intelligent, and brave. The Boxer is a handsome dog breed and fans can have definite preferences for what their Boxer should look like. The fawn Boxer dog can be solid colored or fawn and white. The fawn coloring can vary from light to dark and the amount of white can vary as well. Remember to take your new best friend to puppy kindergarten to ensure that your dog is well trained and socialized. Already have a fawn Boxer dog? Tell us about your Boxer in the comments! References and Resources Strain, G. The Genetics of Deafness in Domestic Animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, .American Kennel Club. Hip Dysplasia. Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Tou, S. Aortic Stenosis. Merck Veterinary Manual. Wallner, W. Boxer Cardiomyopathy. American Boxer Club. Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article.

Though size varies between individuals, a standard German Shepherd weighs about 60 pounds. Whether you already own a German Shepherd pup or are looking into it, be prepared for a hefty lap dog! Continue to 7 of 16 below. They were originally bred for their striking good looks and intelligence, making for a great working dog on the police force and in the military. They were so cute that dog-lovers in other countries soon caught on and began breeding them themselves. Continue to 8 of 16 below. These dogs are very protective of their homes and family and make excellent guard dogs. Continue to 9 of 16 below. They need stimulation, even if they are a family pet and not a trained deputy. This can be in the form of playful games, puzzle toys, tricks , and obedience training. Otherwise, German Shepherds may show off some unpleasant behavior, like chewing. Continue to 10 of 16 below. Continue to 11 of 16 below. Continue to 12 of 16 below. They perk up as they grow older, making them look extra tall and important. Continue to 13 of 16 below. Beautiful all black and all white German Shepherds are out there, too. Continue to 14 of 16 below. Continue to 15 of 16 below. This breed is inherently athletic and courageous—nothing can stop them, not even water. Continue to 16 of 16 below. These pups are incredibly intelligent and capable canines who are ready to work. And German Shepherd puppies are too cute! Remember, you can get any kind of dog, including a GSD, from shelters and rescues, so always adopt! They tend to be one-family pets, meaning they can be suspicious of strangers. Although absolutely gorgeous, Shepherds are shedders to the max. Prepare for a snow globe of hair to poof off your pup any time you give them a big snuggle, which will be more often than not. When you first get your puppy, playing may consist of nipping due to their herding background. When your GSD is fully grown, they may love to wrestle around and forget how big they are. These pups are always up for snuggling with others, including kids and other pets. Softies Who Are Also Busy Bodies If you want a German Shepherd puppy in your life, you have to really want your dog to be a part of every little bit of your daily routine. Morning showers? Your pup will want to sit right outside to make sure you rinse off the soap. Your bed? Highly intelligent and curious, Shepherds want to know what is going on all of the time. German Shepherds will attach at the hip and make the right person the happiest dog parent on the planet. German Shepherd puppy in grass close-up of German Shepherd puppy German Shepherd puppy in profile German Shepherd puppy on rock German Shepherd puppy lying down on lawn German Shepherd puppy looking at camera German Shepherd puppy on snow German Shepherd puppy in yard Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. Would you adopt a German Shepherd Puppy? Do you have experience with these adorable pups? Let us know in the comments below!

Nestled in the Southeastern region of the United States, Kentucky boasts a rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and an abundance of dog-friendly activities, making it a fantastic place for English Bulldog enthusiasts. Our site features reputable KY breeders who specialize in raising healthy and happy puppies. Our breeders are committed to raising the highest quality puppies. They provide their puppies with all the necessary vaccinations and veterinary checkups to ensure they are in the best of health before they go to their forever homes. They also provide ongoing support and advice to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new furry friend. Kentucky falls into 32nd place among other states, with a dog population of over thousand dogs in the state. Kentucky is a haven for dog lovers, offering a wide array of dog-friendly restaurants, parks, and events where you can enjoy the company of your furry friend. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our trusted English Bulldog breeders offer safe and affordable flight delivery, with a dedicated flight nanny accompanying your new pup throughout their journey, providing a safe, secure, and comfortable trip as they make their way to their new home in the Bluegrass State. In addition to flight delivery, most breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option guarantees your English Bulldog puppy is safely transported to your doorstep by a professional who understands the unique needs of pet travel. Begin your search for the perfect English Bulldog puppy today on TrustedPuppies. They date back hundreds of years and are also known as British Bulldogs. They are a muscular, well-built dog with a wrinkled face and a pushed-in nose. This breed has won the hearts of generations of families for decades. They are considered to be one of the most popular dogs breeds in existence today. These fantastic puppies have gained popularity worldwide due to their playful, loyal, funny, and caring personality. They are laidback and tend to get along well with just about anyone or anything. They have very approachable demeanors and enjoy the companionship of their family. They also have a very easy-going personality which is one of the reasons they have remained a popular family dog. The English Bulldog does enjoy activity time and burning off energy, however, is not an overly energetic breed of dog. The correct ratio of meat-based protein and micronutrients, as well as healthy carbs and fats, will keep your dog feeling and looking his best. Most people recommend feeding this breed two meals each day, spaced about twelve hours apart. This will help to ensure the dog is provided with the proper nutrients he needs. It is also important to remember to provide your dog with proper dental care. It is suggested that his teeth get cleaned a minimum of three times a week. Failing to keep his teeth clean can contribute to health issues. Although properly cleaning his teeth will take some practice to get good at, in time, this will become easier for you and your pup. The English Bulldog grows to be between fourteen and fifteen inches tall. At maturity, the English Bulldog weighs between fifty and fifty-five pounds. The average life expectancy for this breed is between eight and ten years. English Bulldogs require regular bathing and grooming. It is suggested that they are bathed as frequently as every week up to no more than every four weeks depending on their activity level and lifestyle. This smooth coated breed does best with routine brushing which is essential to maintain healthy skin and a healthy coat. Frequently Asked Questions What are some of the health issues English bulldogs are likely to face? The English bulldog has various health issues with the most alarming being cardiac and respiratory complications. English bulldogs are also prone to dyslexia in the hip due to their relatively large body size. Skin infections are also a concern do to the wrinkly and folds nature of the skin. What is the lifespan of an English bulldog? The English bulldog can live up to years on an average scale. This is usually due to the numerous complications and health challenges the bulldog faces in the course of life. How frequently do English bulldogs shed? English bulldogs shed more frequently during the cold seasons like winter and spring. Compared to other dogs, they shed rather moderately and even lesser as they age. How hard is it to train an English bulldog? This breed of dog is known for its stubborn nature and can be really difficult especially for novice dog owners to get the hang of. Patience and routine should be the keywords when dealing with a bulldog. Are English bulldogs good watchdogs? The English bulldog has a natural instinct to protect its territory. Even though the bulldog is not usually much of a barking dog, in the case of an intruder it is well equipped and confident to take on the challenge at every cost. Are English Bulldogs dangerous to their owners? The English bulldog is not a dangerous pet. It is very much territorial and somewhat apprehensive to unfamiliar faces, but once it warms up to you, the bulldog is one of the most loving and loyal dogs. How much exercise do English Bulldogs need? The English bulldog on average needs about 30minuites of exercise every day to keep it mentally and physically healthy. Are English Bulldogs family dogs? The English bulldog may seem aggressive at first glance but you will get to find that they have a contrasting character to their appearance. They are perfect around children and can play all day. They are extremely lovable and friendly. How big do English Bulldogs get? English bulldogs can weigh up to 50 pounds and can grow as tall as 15inches. Male or female English Bulldog? This depends solely on the owner as both genders have their specific pros and cons. English bulldogs are very friendly and warm dogs and are amazing around children. No wonder they are one of the most sought-after breeds in the world. Are you interested in purchasing a English Bulldog? Fill out the below form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Our goal at the Ranch is to create a home-like environment the best way we can for each rescue dog. While they are in our care, our Adoption Counselors work hard on behalf of our rescue dogs to find a new loving home that is the right fit for the dog, and the new family. Pictured left, this entire family has adopted all their dogs through Coastal K9 German Shepherd Rescue San Diego A Coastal Connection From the uncertainty of the unknown to the solid ground of a second chance at life, our rescue dogs are welcomed into a new family at Coastal. A family of dedicated staff and volunteers are committed to helping our dogs become as well-adjusted, happy, and healthy as possible while they are with us. Through this labor of love, each dog develops a special bond and connection with one or more of our volunteers. Whether they are referred to as advocates, angels, or champions, our Coastal family members go out of their way to give our rescue dogs the attention and love they need and help them feel "at home" while they are awaiting their forever home CONTACT. 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. Male deposit 1- ES Female deposit 1-CM Male deposit 2- Female deposit 2-VP Male deposit 3- Female deposit 3- Male deposit 4- Female deposit 4- If you would like to know litters coming later than this please give us a call Before you place a deposit, Please download or print our guarantee and contract. Fill it out and return to us either by texting it, scanning and emailing or through regular mail. Remember that regular mail is slower and cause you to not get the spot you want if I get other deposits and contracts before yours. Once I receive your signed contract and your deposit, I will sign one and send one back. New-contract-June 15 We distribute the best dry food available for dogs and cats! Most people want to feed the best and LA is just that! Or if you will be taking home a puppy soon, make sure you buy a puppy start pack. The start up pack is on the same page as the food. Performance shows what the dog IS. If you wanted to ship your puppy, you would need to first come to our kennels and then ship the puppy out yourself. Or you can use a ground transportation company. By placing a deposit on a litter not yet born, please keep this in mind and be willing to move your deposit onto another litter at a later date. This allows us to offer puppies to pet homes at a more affordable price. You will still get AKC papers except they will say limited. If you bred a dog that was registered limited, then you would not be able to register the offspring. This limit however, can be lifted by the breeder. That said, while it can be done, I strongly urge anyone who lives in an apartment to think carefully about how much time and work it can be to keep a large, working dog in an apartment. I will not sell a puppy to anyone who lives in an apartment and leaves the dog home alone all day. At least one person needs to be home during the day. The dog needs to be taken outside to play at least once a day and taken for potty breaks many times EVERY day. Also, please check with your apartments rules on German Shepherds; some complexes do not allow them. New strains of the Parvo Virus are abundant and it is my job to keep puppies safe. I use a high titer Parvo Vaccine at 4 weeks but this may not protect all puppies. So please understand as much as you would like to visit with your puppies as they grow I can no longer allow this until they are 7 weeks. I will send out emails with pictures or videos weekly. No outside dogs are allowed at anytime. Thank you for understanding how important it is for me to keep the puppies safe. If you do visit other breeders, please do so on a different day that you visit. Von Ward Kennels will take back any puppy at any time in their lives if their owners can no longer care for them. Please never take a Von Wards dog to a shelter if you can no longer keep them. While most of our dogs are larger than the standard, we do have a couple of breeding females that are within standard. We have answers. The cost of German Shepherd San Diego puppies can be affected by a large range of variables such as coat color, gender, breeder experience, pedigree and much more. Our goal is to match families with the best puppies possible. How do you vet San Diego German Shepherd breeders? All of the companies and German Shepherd breeders in San Diego CA we partner with are followers of our binding Breeder Pledge, and we never work with puppy mills. In our humble opinion, Uptown Puppies is the most efficient and fun way to find your dream dog! Unfortunately, that popularity means there are tons of puppy mills and unethical breeders out there, too. Do you have white German Shepherd San Diego available near me right now? Because we work with passionate, experienced, professional breeders, businesses and fellow dog-lovers, we have a great track record of matching families with awesome puppies all over the US. Our MatchMaker process is what helps connect future dog-owners like you with our carefully selected, screened and approved companies and breeders who will set you up with your dream German Shepherd.

Read the full disclosure here. One breed you will fall in love with right off the bat is a purebred golden retriever. Take time to find out whether the pup is truly purebred. I discuss it all and even answer some of the most pressing questions you may have about this dog. Shall we begin? They trace their roots back to Scotland, where Lord Tweedmouth bred them for hunting. He was a keen waterfowl hunter but he also wanted a dog that could be loyal, friendly, and even-tempered while at home. All this happened between to .Tweedmouth kept a breeding record that now shows what he was trying to achieve — a hunting dog that also had the traits of a family pet. Even though now extinct, Tweed water spaniels were ardent retrievers and in the home they were friendly, loyal, and calm. In the following years, the AKC changed the Golden Retriever breeding standards to suit the tastes and needs of Americans. Right now, goldens are a popular breed in the US, rivaling Labradors, German shepherds, and French bulldogs. How To Identify A Full Breed Golden Retriever Top on the list of ways to identify a pure golden retriever is to check whether it has the right paperwork and pedigree. Proper documentation is proof that the dog has been registered with a well-recognized kennel club or certified registry that keeps records for that specific breed. Meet the three types of golden retrievers. In North America, the American Kennel Club AKC is the largest and most popular kennel club but there are a few other legitimate registries as well such as: Canadian Kennel Club United Kennel Club Continental Kennel Club For a pup to qualify for documentation, its parents must have been listed with a certified registry. Once you obtain them, you only have to pay a small fee, fill up the registration documents and mail them to the relevant registry for processing. To be one hundred percent sure that your golden is purebred, check to see if it has the features that define such a breed. These are the unique characteristics purebred golden retriever puppies should have. Females, on the other hand, weigh between 55 and 65 pounds and are usually .Both genders reach full height after turning one-year-old and mature weight by the age of two. Structurally speaking, goldens have a symmetrical muscular build and look very athletic. Size-wise, they are classified in the medium to large category. Also, note that their hind limbs are strong and straight while the shoulders are well-built and rugged. Personality Goldens are defined by their sweet, soft, easy-going demeanor. They get along well with pretty much everyone, including kids, and are always eager to please the owner, but these and other great attributes will only be apparent if you train and raise them well. All goldens have a thick undercoat and a dense outer coat that is resistant to water and requires regular grooming with one of the best brushes for golden retrievers. Some have wavy coats, while others are straight. Their fur feathers on the chest, underbelly, along the tail, and on the back of their front limbs. Shedding is heavier in the fall and spring and moderates in the summer and winter. To keep their beautiful coats in top shape, clean, and free of fleas, use one of the best flea shampoos for dogs. Other special characteristics of purebred goldens to watch out for include: Short ears that can fold over Fairly or dark brown medium-large eyes with dark eye rims A thick tail that is muscular at the base and curved upwards at the end How Long Do Purebred Golden Retrievers Live? Based on statistics, golden retrievers have been found to live an average of years; however, if you go the extra mile in taking proper care of your golden, she can live longer than that. Augie, the oldest known Golden retriever , passed away at the age of .Just as a reminder, taking good care of a golden retriever involves the following: Proper diet. The Golden Retriever's kindly expression says it all. This is one of the finest family dogs in the world: cheerful, demonstrative, trustworthy with everyone, and forgiving of any mistakes made by inexperienced owners. Friendly with everyone strangers, children, dogs, cats, smaller pets , his bark is welcoming rather than protective. They don't mean any harm but things can go flying — including people who are not steady on their feet. If you have toddlers, or if you or anyone who lives with you is infirm, consider adopting an adult Golden Retriever from a rescue group. Adults have a wonderfully settled temperament and you can specifically look for a calm one. As with Labrador retrievers, the muzzle of the British type golden retriever is shorter and wider and it has a blockier build. The legs and tail of the British type are shorter and the chest is deeper than the American type golden retriever. British type goldens are generally heavier dogs and have rounder eyes as opposed to triangular-shaped eyes. He's a large, strong dog, though, and he can easily knock over a small child by mistake. 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. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he's eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog's food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. The Golden's attitude toward other pets is the more the merrier. He enjoys the companionship of other dogs, and with proper introductions and training, can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals. They are obedient, playful, intelligent, well-mannered, great with kids, and kindly to strangers. They are good watchdogs, but make lousy guard dogs as they love people far too much to be effective. Golden Retrievers are always at the top of their obedience classes and are often the champions of sporting competitions. Hunters find them to be reliable bird dogs, and their keen sense of smell and desire to work alongside people makes them sought-after narcotics sniffers. Golden Retrievers need people and are best suited for large, active families. The correct relationship of length of body to height is .The Golden Retriever is a dog without exaggeration. Another essential characteristic is proper temperament. A Golden Retriever is friendly, calm, compliant and compatible with people and other dogs. Goldens are particularly good with children. The Golden Retriever is a powerfully built dog, with a good nose for tracking, a soft mouth, and an eagerness to learn. When I got him as a puppy, I thought he'd help me pick up girls, but that never happened. Instead, he helped me learn something else. Really, Goldens are like little furry Buddhas. They are like a small drop of God's love made incarnate. My dog loved everybody. He just met you--he loved you like an old friend. He would lean on people and just stare up at them with his doleful eyes, looking to be petted. And when he did this, people began to relax and open up. Here I was, a teenage boy hoping to use my cute fluffball to meet girls when we went out for walks, and instead my dog became an impromptu therapy dog for people from all walks of life. People would tell me about their dogs who had passed. People would tell me about their worries about their kids. People would tell me about their problems, their struggles with addiction, their hopes of reuniting with family members--all stuff that was way too big and heavy for a seventeen-year-old kid to handle. My dog's simple, unconditional love for all revealed the broken world around me. He helped me want to do better, want to be better. Goldens are special. She was just trying to bring back a ball and didn't see me. She was moving very fast. Pumpkin was a good, good girl. Positive reviews. About inches at the shoulder, with males usually in the higher half of that range, and females usually in the lower half. Weight can be as low as 55 pounds, but is usually pounds. However, there are many oversized Goldens, with some individuals topping 90 pounds. Unfortunately, this heavier weight isn't good for their joints. Where does the Golden Retriever come from, and why was the breed developed? He was developed in England and Scotland as both a land hunter and a water retriever retrieving shot ducks from the water. What kind of temperament and personality does the Golden Retriever have? To get an idea of what a breed might be like, always look at what he was developed to do see the question above. Many of the Golden Retriever's characteristics -- his strong body, his energy level and enthusiasm, his love of swimming and retrieving, his strong desire to carry things around in his mouth -- are hardwired into his genes, because they were needed for a retriever to do his work. Can Golden Retrievers be any color other than golden? I've seen some reddish ones. Golden Retrievers come in only one color, but the shade of their coat ranges from reddish like an Irish Setter to medium gold to pale cream to nearly white. It's all the same breed, and no shade is more desirable than another. Golden Retrievers do tend to turn white around their muzzle at a fairly young age -- this is normal for the breed. During the winter, some Golden Retrievers will lose pigment on their nose, which turns pinkish. This is a harmless and temporary condition referred to as "snow nose. Their silky feathering needs to be kept combed to avoid mats and tangles, which can be quite painful, as they pull on your dog's skin whenever he moves. The worst places for mats and tangles are behind their ears, behind their front legs in their "armpits" , and on their chest, stomach, and groin. Their legs and paws also need to be kept combed, and their tail. The rest of their body can just be brushed. Several times a year, their feathering should be trimmed short to make it easier to comb. You can do this yourself, or have a professional groomer do it. During shedding season see the next question , you should brush your Golden Retriever every day to pull out the worst of the dead hair so less of it ends up on your floor and furniture. How much do Golden Retrievers shed? Golden Retrievers shed quite heavily. They shed some hairs here and there throughout the year, with the bulk of their shedding occurring twice a year, for three weeks in the spring as their winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and three weeks in the fall as their summer coat switches over to a thicker winter coat. Do Golden Retrievers have a doggy odor? Yes, definitely, and it can be quite strong. Are there different builds in Golden Retrievers? My brother has a hunting Golden Retriever, which looks different than the Goldens on the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Yes, breeders who show their dogs in the conformation ring produce Golden Retrievers who look quite different from the Golden Retrievers produced by breeders who specialize in hunting and field trials. Golden Retrievers from show lines are stockier and heavier-boned, with a large blocky head and dense coat. How long do Golden Retrievers live, and what health problems do they have? Typically years. Some reach years. Do crossbred or mixed breed Goldens make good pets? What about "Goldendoodles"? They do make good pets, yes, but first you need to know what a purebred dog really is -- and what crossbred and mixed breed dogs really are. Can you help me decide whether the Golden Retriever is the best breed for me? Yes, I offer personal consultations on choosing the best breed for your family and lifestyle. Learn more about my Dog Breed Consulting Service. Do male dogs or female dogs make better pets? Ah, let the debate begin! Honestly, male Golden Retrievers have pros and cons, and female Golden Retrievers have pros and cons. First you need to know what registration papers really mean -- and don't mean. There's an adorable Golden Retriever puppy at the pet shop. The store manager assures me they only buy from responsible breeders. Could this be true? There are no responsible Golden Retriever breeders who would ever place one of their Golden Retriever puppies in a pet shop for resale. How do I find a good Golden Retriever breeder? It's hard! The sad truth is that the vast majority of people offering Golden Retriever puppies for sale are unknowledgeable, irresponsible, completely clueless -- or all of the above. How do I pick the best Golden Retriever puppy from a litter? You can do puppy personality tests. I'm interested in adopting a dog rather than buying from a dog breeder. How do I find Golden Retriever dogs for adoption? You can find Golden Retrievers available for adoption from dog rescue groups or from the animal shelter. I just got a new Golden Retriever. Which pages should I read first? Golden Retriever Health , which includes my advice on feeding, vaccinations, and health care. These pages are very important, because if you start your Golden Retriever puppy off on the wrong foot, he will probably experience health problems later on. Training Golden Retrievers , which includes my advice on respect training, housebreaking, and socialization. Again, you must start your Golden Retriever puppy off on the right foot by teaching him what he needs to know and you must avoid doing the wrong things with him so that he doesn't develop bad habits that will be much harder to fix later on. What's a good training schedule for training Golden Retriever puppies? What things should I teach, and when? How do I housebreak my Golden Retriever? The key to housebreaking your Golden Retriever is confinement, confinement, confinement. My Golden Retriever has some behavior problems I'd like to solve. Respect training solves behavior problems much better than obedience training. What's the best dog food for Golden Retrievers? Homemade dog food. If you can't make your own homemade meals, a company called NomNomNow will make them and deliver them to your house. I have to take my Golden Retriever to the vet soon for shots. Which vaccinations does he really need? The schedule of vaccinations that dogs really need has changed dramatically -- but most vets are not telling you the truth about this! Don't let your vet give your Golden Retriever any more shots until you've read my article on Puppy Shots and Dog Vaccinations. What are the pros and cons of spaying and neutering my Golden Retriever, and when should it be done? Spaying and neutering are often recommended too early, which can lead to health problems later in life. My vet doesn't agree with some of the things you've written about health care. There are two competing veterinary organizations in the United States and they disagree on just about every aspect of canine health care. Visit Think Your Veterinarian's Good? Here's How To Tell. I have a question about Golden Retrievers that I don't see answered on your web site. It's probably answered in one of my books:. This is one of the finest family dogs in the world: cheerful, demonstrative, trustworthy with everyone, and forgiving of any mistakes made by inexperienced owners. Give this breed two brisk walks each day, play fetch games, and take him out for a good run once a week, and he is adaptable to almost any lifestyle. Friendly with everyone strangers, children, dogs, cats, smaller pets , his bark is welcoming rather than protective. You must control his tendency to chew on objects and to mouth your hands -- provide a box filled with toys so he can carry things around in his mouth. A Golden Retriever remains enthusiastically puppy-like for many years, so early obedience training is required to instill calmness and good manners. Eager to please and wonderfully responsive, he is nonetheless distracted by exciting sights and sounds, so you must be both patient and persistent. The mind and heart of a Golden is sweet and gentle, but his body is robust -- until he's taught not to pull on the leash, you'll need good biceps to walk him. If you want a dog who.Is large, athletic, and natural-looking Has a pretty feathered coat Has a cheerful, tail-wagging nature Is steady-tempered and dependable with everyone Is peaceful with other animals Is eager to please and very responsive to training A Golden Retriever may be right for you. If you don't want to deal with.Providing a goodly amount of exercise Exuberant jumping, especially when young Mouthiness -- chewing on things, carrying things around Regular brushing and combing to avoid mats and tangles Heavy shedding Concerns about a multitude of serious health problems A Golden Retriever may not be right for you. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Golden Retrievers have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics. If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. Books by Michele Welton "Respect Training for Puppies" or "Respect Training for Adult Dogs" is a step by step guide to help you bring out the best in your pup so you can enjoy a calm and well-behaved dog, no matter what his age. Get your book today. A healthy dog is a happy dog, so buy your copy today. High energy when young. Young Golden Retrievers up to two or three years old romp and jump with vigor. They don't mean any harm but things can go flying — including people who are not steady on their feet. If you have toddlers, or if you or anyone who lives with you is infirm, consider adopting an adult Golden Retriever from a rescue group. Adults have a wonderfully settled temperament and you can specifically look for a calm one. Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Golden Retrievers were developed to be hunting dogs, which mean they are athletic and smart dogs. They need regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. You can't just let them in and out of the back yard and think that qualifies! They will become bored — which they may express by becoming rambunctious and destructive. You can control your Golden Retriever's bounciness AND keep him mentally stimulated by enrolling him in ongoing agility classes an obstacle course for dogs. Also follow the training program in my book Teach Your Dog English Words , which includes lots of fun exercises for your Golden. Shedding and doggy odor. Golden Retrievers are heavy shedders — you need to be okay with this reality. You'll find a lot of hair on your clothing and furniture. Golden Retrievers also have a noticeable doggy odor and produce a lot of dander. Not the breed for anyone with any type of allergies! Some Golden Retrievers have a medium-length coat that's not difficult to groom, while others have a heavier coat with lots of feathering. These latter dogs need regular grooming to comb out tangles before they become painful mats. Goldens also need occasional clippering and scissoring, especially around their "bathroom parts" in order for those to remain sanitary. Serious health problems. Unfortunately, the Golden Retriever has lots and lots of potential health problems. Many Goldens do live to 12 or 13 years old, but they're not necessarily healthy during those years; chronic health issues can really take their toll. Many other Goldens are lost at age 6 or 7 or 8, to crippling joint and bone diseases, heart disease, epilepsy, or cancer. Golden Retrievers should not be fed a kibble diet, as this can cause or worsen skin disorders and allergies, which are all too common. I recommend feeding a homemade diet of real meat and vegetables and absolutely no grain. Read more about Golden Retriever Health. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. To help you train and care for your dog Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy or adult dog when you can see the correct training techniques in action. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. For puppies 2 to 18 months old. Your puppy will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. If your dog is over 18 months, you'll want Respect Training For Adult Dogs: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved dog. Again your dog will learn the 21 skills that all family dogs need to know. Teach Your Dog English Words is a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will teach your adult dog to listen to you and do what you say. Related posts you might enjoy.

Photo by Brad Starkey on Unsplash Well, it varies from dog to dog. Most dogs develop their vocal cords by the time they reach weeks old. When does a Labrador puppy start barking? As I already mentioned, many puppies start to bark when they are weeks old , and the same goes for Labrador puppies. You can expect to hear your lab puppy barking at an early age. They also bark the same as any other small, medium, or large breed , and sometimes they might start barking late compared to other puppies. As they reach 7 to 8 weeks, you can expect your Labrador puppy to bark. At that age, dogs get confident in making sounds. Some Labradors or puppies might not bark, even after reaching 16 weeks old. Just be patient with them. Let them get comfortable with making sounds. Maybe they need more time to discover everything. Maybe your puppy has a quiet personality, especially Labradors because they are generally quiet and calm dogs. So, they might not bark often. Why do puppies bark? So, they have developed a unique way of communication. There are many other reasons. Communication Maybe they want to talk to you and express their feelings. Want to grab attention Your dog might be feeling bored and want someone to give them attention. So, sometimes they can bark to get some love from the people around them. So, if you find your dog barking, then go and give him a tight hug! Fear Dogs use barking to bark at something they are afraid of. Just take it as a positive side of your dog. These were some of the significant reasons why your dog barks. Though, there are many more. But, these were some of the reasons you should be aware of. How to teach Labrador to bark? Labradors are a very friendly breed and do not normally bark much, but there are some ways you can get labradors to start barking. You only need to follow certain tricks to accomplish this. So, you should print off these tips and learn them so you can teach your lab to start barking. First, teach the quiet command Before you begin teaching your dog to bark, first, you should go through quiet commands. So that whenever you want them to stop barking you can command them. Plenty of treats Whenever they do something right, reward them. When they start understanding your command, cut down the number of treats. Hand Signal Adding hand signals can be beneficial. Along with a voice gesture, try to add a hand gesture. Your commands will be more clear for your dog. Label the bark It is one of the essential steps, and you need to follow this. Whenever your dog barks, try to immediately label it with a command. It will keep them motivated, and they will follow all your commands next time. Have patience Stopping your puppy from barking will not happen in one night. It might take you several weeks or even months. But, if your training process is good then your puppy will learn it even quicker. You can also consider clicker training. You have to use the sound of clickers to label the barks. It is the best way to teach your dog because it has a unique sound and is pretty different from the human voice. Yes, they do learn to bark from other dogs. As your puppy grows, it becomes more conscious and therefore starts adapting to its surroundings. They also tend to mimic older dogs and learn numerous things from them. Just like humans when we were young. We used to mimic our parents to some extent and start learning our native language. The same goes for dogs. Today, he has had two walks already, two Kong wobblers filled with kibble, I had a little training session with him, gave him a new toy which he ignored after 5 minutes of play , … and it's only one a clock in the afternoon! I certainly haven't spent too little time with him. I've been home a lot, so he has been left alone in his crate only for short stretches of time. He barks for more attention, I guess. I just ignored him barking while writing this. Fortunately he stopped some times he doesn't and now he's finally snoring. When he stops, I give him attention, telling him he's a good boy. But sometimes it seems like it's going to go on forever! It has driven me completely mad, I'm feeling sorry for my neighbors no complaints yet, fortunately, they are very understanding. May this be a developmental phase? A friend of mine told me she feared she had to rehome her 9 month old lab because he was being very silly at that age, because of his hormones. My dog is not neutered and I'm not planning to do so. I hope I'm doing the right thing by ignoring his barking and praising him when he stops. Fortunately he becomes very quiet and calm in the evening and night. Part of the problem may also be a blessing: I'm the only person in the house, so he's very attached to me and has his attention on me almost constantly. Might be a great benefit in training him. I hope this phase passes quickly, because it's cracking my nerves. Sometimes I'm afraid to move in my own house. When he's finally relaxing, I try not to move, because simply going to the toilet can make him overexcited again. So silly! I feel like I can not do what I want anymore in my own house! He's such a nervous dog, or maybe I'm the nervous one and we are igniting each other…? It can cause sleepless nights, family fights, neighbour disputes and much more. The reasons for barking in any breed of dog, can be complex. And dogs can be taught to communicate without doing it. Interestingly many Labradors rarely bark at all. For those of you struggling with a noisy dog this probably seems very unfair! One of the first things we need to establish before we can stop a Labrador from barking, is why he is doing this. I understand that. But bear with me, because the method we use to stop your Labrador barking will depend very much on why he is doing it. Why Do Dogs Bark? Fortunately we usually only need to consider three different types of barking when it comes to Labs that are barking all the time and driving their owners up the wall. Types of Labrador Barking The three most common types of unwanted and frequent barking are Barking for attention, Barking at passers-by. Is Your Labrador Barking for Attention? Attention or demand barking can be very upsetting. The dog will often bark incessantly as soon as anyone gets up, moves around, or whenever he is feeling ignored. Attention barking dogs will often repeatedly take things too, socks, cushions, and then bark furiously if prevented. While all puppies vary in their natural inclination to make a noise, what happens around those puppies, as they grow up and even as adult, has a huge impact on their future behavior. The root cause of barking for attention Attention or demand barking usually starts with an exited or bored dog, combined with frustration and a big reward. Especially if they are already in an over-excited state, or bored witless. The first step in creating a dog that barks to demand attention happens when he is rewarded generously each time he does it. Very often people do this inadvertently. The dog barks, and they give him his dinner, the dog stops barking. It seems to work. How demand barking gets started Rewarding unwanted behaviors by mistake is very common. Anything that your dog finds enjoyable, even the sound of your voice, can reward and therefore reinforce the behavior that precedes it. By reinforce we mean that the behavior will be more likely to occur again. The laws of behavioral science are quite clear on this. Good consequences reinforce bad behavior. Every time. Only this time you might not want to give him what he wants. Indeed you might not be ABLE to give him what he wants. He persists, and you get fed up with the noise, so you relent and give in. And before you know where you are, you have a big, and growing, problem on your hands. Can You Cure Labrador Barking? The short answer is yes. In fact, it is one of the common behavioral problems that is relatively easy to solve. But you will need to be determined. And you will need other family members on board. Your anti-barking strategy You need to draw up your battle plan and attack this problem from three directions. Keeping your dog calm and occupied All dogs are much more likely to bark with frustration when they are over-excited or very bored. If members of your family are getting your dog in a state, winding him up, and playing rough games with him in the house, now is a good time to have a quiet word. And if your dog spends very little time in training sessions, he may be badly in need of some more of your attention and a little mental stimulation. Ten minutes, preferably morning and evening, spent training him and making him use his brain will make a world of difference. No more putting the lead on the dog when he barks for a walk. And no more opening the door when he barks to go out in the garden. Let him out when he is quiet and do it often enough to cover his bathroom requirements! All the rewards have to STOP. He is going to try even harder to begin with. Bark, bark, BARK…! But you are not going to give in are you? I thought not. You can use a snappy version of the word YES as your marker. And alway follow your marker with a reward. The reward can often take the form of giving the dog the thing you think he wants like letting him out through the dog for example , if that is possible. Why do I need a marker? Or it can simply be some food. If you are going to use much food you need to clip a treat back to your belt or keep handy pots of treats around the house. The reason you need a marker as well as the reward is because to begin with, your dog may not be quiet for very long. Try to ensure that nothing whatever happens to benefit the puppy whilst he continues to bark. This is not always easy but it is essential. Prepare to mark silence At some point the puppy will pause. That is all you can do the first time this happens. But you can prepare ahead to reduce the chances of it happening again, and to make it easier to control the behavior in the future. Avoid barking triggers Think about the circumstances that triggered the barking, and avoid them to begin with where possible. This is especially important with puppies. Puppies, for example, have very short attention spans. Being made to sit and wait for a toy or their dinner is likely to result in whining or barking. Could the dog have been very bored? Providing stuffed Kongs for him to chew can help a puppy cope with periods of boredom, keeping him occupied whilst you eat a meal for example. Breaking his day up into short chunks and ringing the changes can help to keep him occupied. For example, 30 minutes in his crate followed by 15 minutes in the garden and another 15 minutes in the house whilst you keep an eye on him, rinse and repeat. This is less likely to result in boredom than two hours in the crate, an hour digging up your roses, and another hour getting under your feet in the kitchen. With an older dog, remember to ensure that he has had sufficient exercise and some time spent training. Your puppy should not be deprived of human love and companionship. Dogs that are isolated, and lonely may develop a serious barking habit. So think hard before you kennel a dog outdoors or leave him alone in the house all day. Having said that, all puppies need to learn to spend some time alone. Albeit short periods of time to begin with. And some puppies may start barking when crated or shut in a puppy proof room. There are things you can do to avoid this risk. And only when they are quiet. This is very useful to us when we are teaching puppies to be quiet around the home and in their crate. Creating an easily closed visual barrier between you and the puppy can really help with barking and whining. You can impose the visual barrier when the dog behaves inappropriately and remove it when he behaves well. The open door technique One way of doing this is to put the puppy in a crate in another room but to position the crate where he can see you clearly whilst the door between the two rooms is open. If he is silent, the door is left open. If he makes a noise you simply close the door. This technique can be very useful when a dog has got into a habit of barking during mealtimes for example. You will find that to begin with you have to close the door a lot! But he will soon catch on. Building quiet habits in your Labrador Remember, build good habits and quiet behavior right from the start. Reward your puppy often when he is quiet and relaxed. Last but not least, remember to plan ahead so that you are prepared with distractions for those times when he is likely to be bored or demanding. Barking At Night Dogs bark at night for a number of reasons. And it is always a big deal. Puppies bark at night or early in the morning, to get company, because they need the toilet, or because they are hungry. Older dogs sometimes start barking at night because they are disturbed, and enjoy the company that results, so triggering a barking habit. We look at all this, and more in our comprehensive article on night waking and nocturnal barking in Labradors. Barking at Passers-By This is a very common problem. How many times have you had to walk the length of a garden fence with a dog flying along parallel to you and barking its head off? Even for the most dog-savvy person, this can be quite an un-nerving experience. Especially if you have small children or a nervous dog with you. As the owner of the dog in question, it can be a serious source of embarrassment. If you are worried that your Labrador barking at passers-by is upsetting people, it probably is. Barking at the window You quite often see dogs in the window of a house trying to do the same thing. Tearing up and down a window sill or along the back of a sofa, flying at the glass as though they are about to break through it. Dogs in cars can be the same. Passer-by syndrome What is happening in the situations above is a phenomenon known as passer-by syndrome. Learning theory tells us that any Labrador behavior that is immediately within seconds rewarded, will be reinforced. That is to say, the behavior will be more likely to happen again in the future. This is exactly what is happening with passer-by syndrome. They appear, then disappear again within seconds of appearing! Many dogs are a little wary of total strangers. Others quite enjoy the sound of their own voices, or simply like running up and down. So you can imagine what happens if the dog runs up and down, or gives a little bark during the few seconds that the passer by is in view. Just seconds later the passer by has gone again! If the dog finds that disappearance rewarding, and many dogs do, anything he did just before the person vanished will be reinforced. That means it is much more likely to happen again in the future. And so as time goes on, and more passers by, pass by. The barking increases. That little woof becomes another woof, then several woofs. Any running up and down also increases and gets faster. The barking and excitement is continually reinforced, and will get worse and worse. So you need to act, preferably sooner rather than later. Whilst you can reward good behavior when you are there, you cannot control what passers by do, or how your dog reacts to them when you are out of sight. Owners of a barking dog can find this very frustrating to hear, but established problems do require committed responses sometimes. Although you might feel annoyed to hear there is no quick fix, you should feel pleased that you can regain control of the situation through another means. Remove visual access Indoors, preventing your Labrador from seeing the source of his excitement can sometimes simply be a matter of closing the curtains. In gardens it is more difficult and may require the construction of a visual barrier or fence. If you live in a rented property then you will need to talk to your landlord or erect a temporary gap-free barrier behind the fixed fenceline. If you have to leave a dog alone in a car for a short period of time, you may be able to prevent visual access to passers by quite simply using a piece of cardboard against the windows. This may all seem like a big deal, but if you suspect your dog is beginning to develop passer by syndrome it is well worth nipping it in the bud. Left untreated it can become a truly unpleasant problem. Some dogs bark every time a car door slams out in the street not quite so reasonable Some dogs bark every time a door closes in your house, every time there is a footstep in the flat upstairs, every time a cup is plonked on the kitchen counter not reasonable at all and so on. If your dog does this, and constantly barks at every little sound, footstep, or voice, the chances are you have had enough of it. A great system for improving this particular problem is to teach your dog to bark on cue. If that is what you want. Like being warm, affectionate, friendly, and brilliant retrievers. Nervous or Reactive Labrador Barking? Some dogs bark out of fear or anxiety. This tends to be more of an issue outdoors in the wide world, where your dog has to meet with other dogs and people. This is demand barking so the rules above apply. Do avoid triggers that overwhelm your dog while doing the training above. Set him achievable goals. Jul 05, What would you say if your Labrador Retriever could talk to you? And at times, it feels like the dog is barking just to make noise. The challenge of owning a Labrador Retriever is translating and curbing their barking. Continue reading this article to learn why your Labrador barks at seemingly random times and how you can teach them to bark less. Compared to other breeds, Labs are moderate barkers. Whereas some breeds have excessive barking habits, Labs are a little more reserved. How much your pet barks comes down to temperament and personality. You can determine their temperament by looking at: How do they react to people? Are they playful, shy, or calm? A dog that gets excited around people will bark more than one who is comfortable in crowds. How developed are their socialization skills? What are their energy and activity levels? An energetic dog is less likely to exhibit quiet behavior than a docile dog. How willing are they to be trained? Some Labs are natural people pleasers and are interested in learning commands and listening when told not to bark, while others are more independent and have to get the last word in. So, you can influence their personality somewhat through proper training and socialization. For example, if your Lab spends time around other dogs that bark a lot, they might think barking is fun and engage in it more than a dog that lives a quieter lifestyle. Likewise, if you train your dog to bark when someone comes to the door, they might associate barking with pleasing their owner and start doing so more frequently. Are they barking for attention? Do they start barking when they want to go outside? On the contrary, your dog might be more laid back and passive. If this is the case, your dog may not bark much except to alert you of danger. Additionally, your dog might bark more or less based on how much you encourage it to bark. Encouraging your dog to be more vocal is fine if it works for your lifestyle, but in most cases, people want to reserve barking for important communication, not for playtime. In most cases, body language accompanies Lab barking, which can help you determine what your dog is trying to say. Labradors bark for many reasons. The most common reasons for barking are: Playing. How to Stop Excessive Labrador Barking While a dog bark is perfectly natural, a Labrador barking too much is a headache for an owner and a nuisance for neighbors. There are many reasons for a barking dog, such as people passing by a window; barking at other dogs when out on a walk or barking because they have been left alone a barking can quite literally drive you mad. Well, almost. A barking Lab can cause problems with neighbours, other dog owners and even within the family. It is a big problem and one that really needs to be addressed. At the right time and place it can be positive. Fact: Labrador Barking can drive neighbors and any family member a bit crazy at time. Labrador barking is a fact of canine life. It is a perfectly normal way for a dog to communicate. There are many triggers for barking including when a stranger enters the home, when something is out of the ordinary such as a strange sound or noise. Working dogs will bark as an essential part of herding or for keeping danger away. Barking is even welcome when a dog is acting as a "watch dog" or in cases where there is danger such as a fire. The first step in correcting the issue is to understand why dogs make sounds in the first place. Research has been conducted on the types of dogs that bark more than others. There is no difference between the sexes, but there is a difference between breeds. Terriers, Beagles and herding dogs bark more than others. If you can, training starts as a puppy. After bringing a pup home keep him in a nearby crate, even at night. This way the puppy learns trust and security instead of anxiety. Slowing introduce a range of situations when young, so that they become familiar. This includes exposure to strangers. A secure well trained dog is less likely to feel insecure or suffer from separation anxiety Dogs Bark and Vocalize to Communicate Dogs are taught to use sound when they are a puppy. After birth, a pup makes a "mew" type noise when they are uncomfortable and need warmth of the mother or food. The sounds get louder in intensity when the pup has bigger problems such as when frustrated or is the puppy is hurt. As they age, scientists place the Labrador barking sounds into five classifications: Dog Bark: Sometimes the cause of excessive barking is the owner. For example, if a dog barks to get attention, if an owner responds, then the behavior is positively reinforced. Working dogs quickly learn that barking is an effective way to herd animals. The bark is commonly used as a warning signal, to let others know that a territory belongs to the dog, when bored, when quickly startled, when alone, due to anxiety or if being teased. Some dogs see barking as part of play. Howling: Howling, unlike normal Labrador barking is usually associated with wolves, a dog howl is also common. Dogs that are outdoors learn that the howl sound can carry long distances as a way of communicating to other dogs. The howl is also used to set the boundary of a territory, to find other dogs, and to let the pack know where to hunt or attack. A howl can also be a warning to other dogs when danger approaches. Whining: Unlike the howl with is for communicating at longer distances, a whine is effective for shorter distances. A whine is a common way two dogs acknowledge the other, show that they are submissive to a pack leader, or if the dog is in pain or feeling frustrated. The whine can also be a request for attention from an owner. Like Labrador barking, if an owner positively responds, then the dog learns that a dog whine is an effective way of getting an owner to respond. The whine is therefore positively rewarded by the owner who is reinforcing the negative behavior. Sometimes this starts as a puppy who finds an owner paying attention with every puppy whine. Dog Grunting: This noise doesn't have many meanings in dogs and is simply a way to acknowledge another dog or to show that a dog is content. Dog Growling: As we know a growling dog is a happy dog. It is often used when a dog senses a threat, to warn off a potential threat, or to show canine dominance in a pack. Along with a dog growl often comes some type of body position or posture which indicates the nature of the growl. An aggressive dog posture is accompanied by a snarl and stare. The dog will remain in place during this behavior. A playful dog may growl along with a tail wag and jumping to show that it is play time. A growl when holding onto a ball or tugging a rope with an owner is just part of the fun. General Labrador Dog Barking Training Tips The first requirement for controlling Labrador barking is to have a dog that is relaxed enough to be receptive to training. This is why some Veterinarians recommend a medication or a homeopathic such as PetCalm before training begins. If your dog already obeys commands, then she is a perfect candidate for barking behavior modification. Do not just command a dog to stop barking such as by saying "stop" or "no. Use a new word such as "enough" to signal the time when you want less barking. Always say it in the same tone, and only in relation to a dog bark. Use positive rewards when a dog does do as you ask. Do not use physical punishment as this will just reinforce feelings of fear and anxiety. Find a special treat for Labrador barking related training such as cooked chicken or a meat snack. Provide some other form of reinforcement such as petting the dog when providing the treat. Eventually, just petting will be reward enough. Never reinforce barking behavior by playing with the dog when she is barking. This just communicates that making noise is an acceptable behavior. It goes without saying that a puppy should never be encouraged to bark at people or other animals. Behavior training sessions should never be longer than 5 to 10 minutes. There is also no reason why you can't hire a dog trainer to assist. Correcting or stopping barking means that the owner has to first understand the trigger for the bark, and then either eliminate or modify the behavior based on this understanding. Alert and Warning Dog Barks This falls under the acceptable types of dog barks. They are often encouraged, particularly if a dog thinks that a family member is in danger or if a stranger is acting suspiciously. These lower pitch barks tend to pick up in volume and frequency as a stranger approaches. Note if the dog is using a combination of barks and growls, as this is a more aggressive posture. Try to understand if the behavior is due to being aggressive or if the dog is actually afraid. Where this behavior is not acceptable is if a dog barks at the mailman, joggers, children passing by and others. The problem is that since these people pass by, the dog actually thinks that the barking caused the person to move out of his territory. One approach is to keep a dog away from the window. This way they don't see the mailman and the Labrador barking issue goes away. If this isn't easy, then the key is to make sure that the dog isn't rewarded for barking. The key is sometimes to let the dog that a quick dog bark or two is "enough. Sometimes allowing one or two barks and then say "enough" might change the behavior. Another dog bark training tip is to teach have someone knock on the door. After two barks, stop knocking and have someone else distract the dog in order to divert attention to something else. If she stops, say "enough" and provide praise and a treat. If the puppy does not stop put a treat in front of her nose. When she stops for a second, say "enough" and wait a few seconds. If she is quiet, then provide the treat. The goal is to have the puppy associate the word "enough" with the behavior to stop barking. If a dog is afraid, such as fear of a new visitor, then a different approach is required. The goal here is to each your dog to stay relaxed when a stranger approaches. The dog should look to you for how to behave. Start by have someone approach you and the dog from far away. Provide treats as the dog stays relaxed. Slowly over time have someone approach a drop closer, to the point where the dog doesn't stay relaxed. When people get really close, have them throw treats to the dog, so treats are associated with people. Do this in open areas away from others not involved in the training to avoid distractions or confusion. This is often the case where a dog associates a bark with getting attention. Often this behavior is taught when the dog is young To undue this type of behavior, simply ignore the dog until he or she learns that barking doesn't equal play time, treats or a pat on the head. Even if you say "enough" to the Labrador dog barking, it is still a form of attention, which reinforces the behavior. Here, barking can be controlled by correcting the behavior. Create a startling noise when a dog starts to bark such as shaking coins in a can or a horn. This will startle the dog and being to associate barking with an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sound. At this point provide s substitute for barking such as a Kong Toy. Other forms of reward can be a walk or play time. Dog Barking During Play If a dog wants to play, expect barks that are short. A dog will sometimes break out into a bark when it gets over excited, particularly when playing a game. The key to stopping this dog bark is to stop play for a little while. Barking Response to Other Dogs Dogs use barking to identify themselves in a pack, particularly over short distances. If a dog hears a neighbor's dog, then they will feel compelled to respond. Bored Dog Barking Some Labrador barking is to self entertain themselves when bored. After all, would you like to lay around the house all day? The best approach for this kind of barking is to try and increase the number of walks or exercise sessions. You could also buy a Kong toy which keeps dogs entertained via a hidden treat that they have to figure out how to get. Keep this toy out of reach and bring it out once a day for entertainment. If boredom barking is an issue, an engaging toy could help. These toys can also be used to distract a barking dog, such as when a stranger visits the home. Barking for Identification with Other Dogs A dog barks in order to make his presence known with other dogs in the neighborhood. Some dogs do this by instinct. If there are multiple dogs, usually one starts and others follow. The approach to this type of barking is to provide a distraction whenever it starts such as a Kong Toy as shown above. Separation Anxiety and Barking A dog that is anxious when someone or another dog leaves may bark. For example, in one case a dog would only bark when a companion left the home first. The solution was to have the problem dog out of the room whenever the other dog was taken for a walk. Once the trigger was removed, the problem stopped. In other casts a dog feels anxiety when a member of the family leaves. As the person moves away from the home, the dog becomes more anxious. One approach is to distract the dog when someone leaves with a Kong Toy as shown above. Another approach is to teach the dog that the person leaving will return by leaving a comforting signal. There are also homeopathic or natural products such as PetCalm which may help anxious dogs. Another approach is to teach the dog how to relax in these situations. For example, act like you are about to go out of the house, but don't leave. This can be a simple act such as dropping keys into a tray or ringing a bell. Gradually do the same, but leave the house, but come right back in a minute. Start to extend the time a little bit each day. Another tip is to vary the routine when leaving. If you put on shoes then grab keys, do the reverse some days. If a dog can't pick up on the clues, they may not become anxious. Some days, don't leave at all, but stay in the home. Some dogs respond well to continuity in the home when a person leaves. For example, play music while in the home, and keep the music on when you leave. This will feel more familiar to the dog. If the anxiety is due to something outside the house, then keep the shades closed. Providing a walk before you leave will also keep the dog from getting bored. Destructive Dogs and Barking If a dog is destructive, get a hidden video camera and tape your dog when you leave. You might discover that the dog get anxious and starts to destroy household items only right before you usually come home. Don't punish a dog that has this behavior. As an alternative, say "hello" and then go about your tasks. The goal is to associate you coming home with something pleasant such as together time. Medications can also be prescribed to calm a dog or owners can try a homeopathic such as PetCalm if a dog is unable to keep control. Barking When Startled This happens when a dog responds to a situation that is unfamiliar or sudden. These are hard to avoid unless you can remove identified triggers. If a dog barks when started, then a verbal command such as "enough" combined with behavior modification. If you know the sound that is the trigger, record it and play it back for the dog at a soft level. Find the level where the dog stays relaxed. Slowly increase the volume until the sound is no longer startling. Pathological Dog Barking Pathological Labrador barking refers to abnormal behavior. This can occur in a number of situation including: separation anxiety obsessive-compulsive barking barking at a leaf that falls aggressive barking If your dog suffers from this type of issue, then it is best to work with a veterinarian for medications, and a professional trainer. Dog Bark Collar Training Dog bark collars use a scent, air, static shock or vibration that occurs whenever a dog starts to bark. The collars are often used with behavior modification techniques described above. Some collars have varying degrees of air or shock, making it easier to find the unpleasant level. The problem with these products is that they use a negative reward to change behavior instead of something positive. The other problem is that you may not be around to provide a positive reward such as a treat after the barking stops. A Citronella Dog Bark Collar uses a burst of air and scent every time the dog barks. This could be a quick fix to a Labrador barking problem. The advantage of a dog bark collar is that it will work even when you are not at home. Another advantage to a collar that uses air or a citronella burst is that the training cycle may go faster. Dogs that respond well result in an easy solution to the "how to stop dog barking" problem. We would not recommend a dog shock collar since this type of negative reward is un-necessary. We prefer trying the Cintronella approach first. Dog Head or Muzzle Collar A dog head collar such as this one from Halti , works by providing a gentle tightening around the muzzle when a dog barks. Use this type of collar in conjunction with a verbal command such as "enough. If you do we'll answer it for free. Just fill out the form below and ask. Please provide details such as age, sex, medical conditions, recent changes in behavior, or any changes in the family such as if you recently changed homes or routine. Dog Training and Behavior questions are answered on a first come, first served basis. This might take a little while. If you need an immediate response, we suggest trying this online veterinary service that has Vets standing by 24 hours a day. Upload Pictures or Graphics optional [? Click the button and find the first one on your computer. Select it and click on the button to choose it. Then click on the link if you want to upload up to 3 more images. Your Name.

I recently reserved an English bulldog puppy. He was born 4 days premature by C-Section and has 7 other littermates. His mother is a red and white, kc registered family pet and his father is a kc registered red and white stud dog who participates in shows. My puppy opened his eyes around 2 weeks old and started walking around 3 weeks old. Fast forward to now, he is 6 weeks old tomorrow. When we saw a video of him walking at 3 weeks old, he seemed to have some weakness in his back legs but we passed it off as normal because he had only just started trying to walk. His siblings seem to have some leg issues too. Another pup in the same video had one leg that seemed to go out to the side, as if stretching. They walk on wooden floor and the grass outside. They are being weaned onto puppy food and are drinking from a bowl etc. Everything else with my puppy is fine, his eating and drinking habits, his toiletry habits etc. They are all booked in to see the vet on Monday and then I am viewing my pup on Tuesday. I am just looking for some piece of mind. Should I be concerned about his legs? Is this true? Any help or advice is welcome and appreciated. Thank you in advance. He has a massive head and is a very stocky boy! He is the sweetest boy and loves everyone he meets and gets along well with other dogs! He is very laid back! He will make someone a great pet! We will be picky on where he goes! Call us at for more information on him! She is super sweet and loves people and attention. She is a big boned, stocky, short to the ground Frenchie! She has a nice haircoat and no soundness or eye issues. You can EMAIL us or contact us at with any questions on her or to schedule an appointment to come meet her in person. She could have another litter or two but will only sell her to someone wanting to keep her forever as a pet as well with breeding rights! She is a 3 years 4 mo. She is reserved around strangers until she gets to know you but is very sweet!! She is big boned, stocky and just drop dead gorgeous. She tolerates heat and exercise pretty well. She has only had 2 litters and could have a few more litters if someone was interested in her to breed for a litter. Contact us at with any questions or for more information on adopting her. She is outgoing and confident. Find Us. Pictures are taken of each litter of pups at 4 and 6 weeks of age. We do not honor any other photo requests for pups that are sold and waiting for their release day. Delilah is bred to Oscar pups due October 10th. Accepting pick of litter deposits. Finding Your Perfect Olde English Bulldogge Puppy As the premier breeder of Olde English Bulldogges in the Southeast, we love providing families and individuals of all ages with healthy, happy puppies from this amazing breed. Our puppies turn into healthy, well-tempered and athletic dogs that will make a loving addition to your home — whether you have young children, lead an active lifestyle, or want a couch companion. They can keep up with an active lifestyle of jogging, hiking and camping or a more relaxed one sitting at home and watching TV. Our bulldogges have gone on to live with people from all walks of life, including single adults, couples, families with children, active retirees, and the elderly. Loving They become very attached and love spending time with their families, including young children. Athletic Compared to other bulldog breeds, Olde English Bulldogges are athletic dogs with strength and stamina. They love getting outdoors, playing, jogging, and being part of the fun. Trainable Olde English Bulldogges are eager to please and responsive to commands. Healthy Our bulldogges have fewer of the genetic issues that commonly impact bulldogs, such as airway issues, breeding difficulties and climate sensitivity. As a result, our puppies are healthy, well-adjusted, IOEBA registered, and have a documented blood line with five-generation pedigrees. With the scientific expertise of our owner, we provide dogs with common, rare and tri-color combinations. In addition to our high breeding standards, we pride ourselves on having superior customer service. We love our little Stella. She is so playful and sweet. Was super easy to potty train. Thank you Robyn for all you do! Lee W Davenport, Iowa.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. German Shepherd puppies , like all puppies, go through a teething phase, and their biting behavior can continue until they are around 4 to 6 months old when their adult teeth have fully grown in. But how do you get German Shepherd puppies to stop biting, and when should you seek out more help? We dive into everything that you need to know here. German Shepherds are herding dogs, and as such, they love to go after anything that moves. This could be cats, kids, hands, fingers, or just about anything else. The more they get away with it, the more acceptable the behavior seems in the future. Addressing the problem early and consistently is vital. Just like babies need something to chew on when their new teeth are coming in, your German Shepherd needs something too! First, it stops when they get their adult teeth. Second, if you try to redirect them to something that they can chew on, most German Shepherd puppies are receptive. At this time, they should have all their adult teeth, which means no more teething to worry about. But at least you know the root of the problem and can start implementing the necessary strategies to address it. Instead, get them a few chew toys, bones, and other acceptable things to chew on as they teethe. You can also throw a few of these toys in the fridge or freezer to cool them down, and this will offer even more relief for your pup when they need it! While there are plenty of techniques to try, we recommend redirection and positive reinforcement. The method is simple. If and when they start chewing on the toy or other appropriate object, give them praise. German Shepherds love to please their owners, so this is typically an effective way to train your puppy. Therefore, you should have levels of concern. If they are still chewing and nipping at the 9-month mark, you should seek obedience training or talk to a vet to see what you can do. So, get on it early and often, and stick with it! Because with just a little work and dedication you can get your German Shepherd puppy to stop biting in no time. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! An aggressive pound dog pouncing on you can get quite ugly fast. Think broken bones, damaged muscles, deep lacerations, bruises, scars, and expensive medical bills. German Shepherds have a bite force of PSI pound-force per square inch, or the measure of strength that a bite inflicts on the victim , compared to humans with a bite force of PSI. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association lists the German Shepherd as one of the six breeds with the most dangerous bites, based on a US study. Therefore, training your GSD to inhibit her bite is mandatory as it not only rewards you with a well-behaved dog, but also ensures your safety as well as the safety of the people around you. A crucial step towards correcting this nasty behavior is to first understand why German Shepherd puppies bite. Nipping or biting stems from various reasons. Understanding the root of the behavior will equip you with the proper corresponding countermeasures to correct it. German Shepherds Have a High Prey Drive One of the primary and distinct characteristics thatmake a German Shepherd a popular choice for police and military work is their high prey drive, coupled with their intelligence and high trainability. Take a look at the video below showing what GSDs were originally bred for. GSDs also have a natural inclination to chase almost everything that moves in their surroundings. They Are Teething As early as two weeks old, the baby teeth of pups start to come out. Puppies use their mouth to explore their environment, so nipping is to be expected. This behavior, called teething, can last until the puppy is six months old when all her adult teeth have started showing. Teething is very uncomfortable for puppies and can lead to sore gums, so puppies turn to anything to chew to soothe the discomfort. Unfortunately, this can include biting you! They May Be Taken From the Litter Too Early Young puppies learn to naturally inhibit their biting through socialization with their mother and their siblings. A puppy does not quite understand yet the force of her own bite unless she bites too hard and the recipient reacts by yelping out of pain. Taking a puppy away from her mother prematurely will therefore deprive her the chance to learn important socialization skills. As a rule of thumb, the American Kennel Club AKC recommends that you take home a puppy that is no less than eight weeks old. By this time, the puppy should have had ample time to interact with her playmates and learn bite inhibition. We concur that you should never take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. In fact, more than half of the states in the U. This does not mean, however, that your puppy will completely stop nipping. As the new parent, it is your job to continue training the dog so that any subsequent bites should be gentler. For more on selecting the right German Shepherd puppy from a litter, including additional information on the proper age, what to look for in a puppy, and what to expect from ethical breeders, be sure to check out the 2 articles linked below: How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide The Puppy Might Be Overstimulated, Fearful, or Anxious Sometimes puppies lose control of their bite because of overstimulation. Overstimulation can happen during playtime, or when your puppy has become cranky due to teasing. Your GSD puppy may also bite out of fear. Your puppy has but 2 defenses — to run away or to bite. If your puppy feels cornered, then biting is the defense that she will most often resort to. Because biting is normal canine behavior and GSDs are a breed that is more prone to it, the goal here is to inhibit the bite, not completely stop it. Do Start Training Early We keep mentioning throughout this site that training and socializing your GSD as soon as you get her home is crucial. Although training older dogs is not impossible, it is true that it is easier to train younger puppies, when habits are still new and can be easily corrected. If left untrained, adult German Shepherds can be prone to aggression towards other animals and humans, which can result in tragic situations. To get a better understanding of what is involved with these necessary steps, be sure to read these 2 excellent articles: German Shepherd Training Guide: All You Need to Know Do Use Toys as Alternative Items to Chew Puppies will nib on your hands or your feet especially during the teething stage. Train this behavior away by offering the puppy a toy whenever she starts biting your hand or your ankles. This teaches her what is acceptable to bite and which is not. It is good practice to always keep a chew toy nearby in anticipation of the biting behavior. She needs to understand that biting ends playtime and that it does not give her anything in return. In the Alpha Roll , the human pins down the dog on the floor on his side or back and holds that position to exert dominance. Besides, it has also been proven in many studies that dogs have very different behavior from wolves. Pinning your dog will cause him to freeze out of fear, which can also turn into aggression. It also teaches your dog that physical touch is something to be feared. Nobody wants to be punished by hand, not humans and certainly not dogs either. Do Reward Good Behavior Dog trainers and experts agree that positive reinforcement using rewards are highly effective in forming and keeping desirable behaviors as a puppy matures into an adult dog. If her nose touches your fingers without biting them, give her a treat and praise generously. Hold off the treat if she bites. Do this repeatedly until she associates the treat the reward with not biting your hand the good behavior. In fact, most dog bite cases in children occurred because of teasing! Instead, teach your child to be gentle with your pet , as even unintentional rough play can result in unwanted events. Dogs get cranky too, especially when they get hurt or feel that their privacy is being invaded. Never leave your child alone with your puppy unattended. Supervise their interactions at all times. Studies show that parents trust their dog around their kids too much that they overlook the signs that the dog is in distress. For tug games, keep in mind, however, that your dog must be calm and not overstimulated before playing. Otherwise, your puppy may get too serious and hold on to the rope too much. The AKC recommends that for breeds that are prone to aggression such as German Shepherds, tug-of-war can be safely carried out if the puppy knows you are in control and follows your commands. Once this has been established, a game of tugging can be used both as an exercise and as a reward for your dog. When playing, always remember to be gentle with tugging as your puppy still has baby teeth! By doing this, you are also socializing your puppy with other animals — an essential skill to learn for a well-rounded behavior. That being said, do not completely write off playing with your puppy! Playtime is still an excellent opportunity to bond with your dog, but make sure to keep it safe and fun by establishing boundaries. This method, however, is a matter of trial and error. Some puppies respond to this positively. On the other hand, many puppies get aroused by this and become even more aggressive. If you yelp and she stops biting without expressing any signs of aggression, the method has perhaps worked. You are then free to continue doing so until the puppy learns to stop biting hard. On the other hand, temper tantrums, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , are characterized by a stiff body, lips pulled back to show teeth, and growling. Biting will be more forceful and painful, since the behavior is typically caused by fear or anger. A German Shepherd puppy may be more prone to displaying this behavior, especially around unruly children. Bite inhibition is crucial especially among German Shepherds, a breed that is widely reported to be the culprit of many dog bites in America. Bite inhibition is simply one of the many important skills that your GSD must learn during her training. It can spell the difference between gentle playing and aggressive biting that leads to serious injuries. Always remember that dogs have feelings, too. They are not perfect little angels that never get angry. Even the most well-mannered dog in the world will snap out of irritation.