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Its tail is held upwards and wags from side to side His ears are pricked up His mouth is often open, tongue hanging out His front legs are bent, and the front of his body touches the ground His posterior is raised 2. If your German Shepherd is alert: Image Credit: Nate Tribbs, Pixabay His eyes are wide open His tail is horizontal, in line with the body, and it can wiggle gently from side to side His ears are pricked up as if trying to get closer to the sound that disturbs him His mouth is closed His body is tilted slightly forward, on the tips of its paws 3. It can sometimes vibrate or move slowly from side to side, always staying stiff His ears are set apart, forward, and very stiff His mouth is open, and he shows his teeth and gums Its legs are very stiff and tilted slightly forward His body is also tilted forward Other Signs to Know Your pup can speak with their entire body, but sometimes it is only one of their limbs tail , ears , legs, etc. Here are a few moves to remember but there are many more : 6. His tail Image Credit: Eudyptula, Shutterstock Stirs slowly, pointing downwards: he has not understood what is expected of him Move very quickly from left to right, directed downwards: he has understood your order and is ready to obey you Stirs uncontrollably in all directions: he is very, very happy! His stare Image Credit: Rob Wee, Pixabay He repeatedly blinks when looking at something: he wants to play with the object in question His eyes look in all directions, except towards you: he submits, or he has understood his stupidity after a reprimand, for example 9. However, non-verbal gestures can be a bit subtle. Indeed, if your dog is in pain, he may be showing physical and behavioral signs: Physical Signs Whining: If your dog whines or complains in your presence or when alone, and this is not his habit, he may be having pain or discomfort. Some dogs cry out loud in the anguish of the pain. Licking: A dog in pain will tend to lick the limb or the part of its body that is painful. This attitude, often overly compulsive, is meant to be calming. If you notice this behavior, check that your animal is not injured. If there are no outward signs, the pain may be internal, or he may even have obsessive compulsive disorder OCD. He tends to get up, lie down or sit down, changing his position regularly, as if he were looking for the one that causes him the least amount of pain. Whale eyes: If your dog is ill, his gaze changes and expresses his suffering. He has a sad look and can have red eyes or dilated pupils. Also, he may rub his eyes or try to close them. Gasping: If your dog starts to pant excessively, he may be suffering from internal pain in his lungs or heart or have a feeling of poor breathing. Limping: If your pet limps, it is a sign of pain in a limb. Limping can be due to pain or a fracture, but also to the formation of bone cancer or osteosarcoma. Low tail: A dog in pain will tend to keep its tail and head down. He can be prostrate, isolate himself in a quiet and secluded place or, on the contrary, constantly solicit your attention. Loss of appetite: If your dog sulks at his bowl or refuses to eat, this is a worrying sign, especially if it is his usual diet that he enjoys. This loss of appetite can have many origins, such as stress or worry about a change, or it can result from pain or illness that prevents him from moving around or having enough to eat. Aggression and irritability: A dog in pain may refuse to be approached or touched. If this happens suddenly when it is not normal for your pet, you need to be concerned. Your dog may also growl to show you that he is refusing contact because of the pain. He may also refuse to go out, follow you, or play. If your dog is not used to complaining or if you find that his behavior is suddenly changing, you need to take action because a dog is much more resilient than humans. If he is in pain, it is because he is in more pain than we could endure. The first thing to do is to consult your veterinarian. The specialist will seek to effectively relieve pain for the comfort and well-being of the animal but also to determine its origin. This is because dogs can be in pain from an injury or a fracture and from illness. Final Thoughts Obviously, your German Shepherd also communicates through his voice: barking , whining , growling, and other howls can tell you what he is feeling. It is through patience and time that you will learn to decipher his language perfectly, or almost. And after a few years in his company, you will have no secrets from each other! Digestive issues and a sensitive stomach Muscle and joint pain Hip or elbow dysplasia All of these problems can be concerning but try not to worry. Whatever the cause, never let it sit for too long without giving it attention and seeking help and advice from your veterinarian. Are you having trouble trying to communicate with your German Shepherd and read his body language? There have been countless attempts to bridge the communication gap between humanity and their dogs, but none have worked outside of tone and body language. Some people have even gone as far as training their GSD to listen to German commands! Check out this awesome short video from Zak George showing you how to communicate with your dog by using a quiet and sincere tone and lots of eye contact. German Shepherds are highly intelligent and can understand your intent if you express how you feel through physical motions, but they also hear the volume and tone of your voice. If you speak in an excited voice, they will be happy. For more info on the correct way to discipline your dog, check out this article, Disciplining a German Shepherd the Right Way. The best way to communicate with your German Shepherd is to use hand motions and copy what he tends to do. If you want to play with him, wave his favorite toy and increase the pitch of your voice. If you want him to back away from something, use a firm tone and point at or away from it. Females are much more submissive and will likely try to please you rather than go about their own activities. Always gesticulate to let him know what you mean. Finally, be persistent. Think about how hard it is for you to learn a new language. It can take weeks or months to form a proper sentence! The same rules apply when teaching your dog how to communicate with you and vice versa. They want to build on their bond with you, and they feel comfortable and relaxed in your presence. If you let your German Shepherd sleep with you , it might be a nuisance for him to lay on your head every night, but they do it for a few reasons. Here are three reasons why your German Shepherd lays on your head: He wants to be near you, and he knows that your head is where all of your expressions and vocal tones come from. Think about how they jump to your face when they want to lick you or play and how they look into your eyes when they want attention. If your head is warm, your German Shepherd is likely laying on it to keep himself comfortable. Our heads, hands, and feet are where the heat goes in and out of our bodies the most. He may be afraid of something. Your dog might not have an immediate fear of something around the house, but constant anxiety can make him lie on your head to calm down. My German Shepherd Willow laying down fast asleep German Shepherds, like all other dog breeds, can have lazy days. That being said, you might be a bit worried if they start to lie and hide away from you for more than a day. There are plenty of reasons that this could occur. When the weather starts to change and clouds roll in, we all get dreary and tired earlier. On the other hand, it could be a sign of depression. Remember, German Shepherds need lots of mental stimulation and play, not just a walk on the leash! Ask your vet if you notice signs of depression. He might be exhausted from playing all the time. If your GSD is a puppy, then you should expect him to lie down quite often. Tiredness is a common symptom with puppies of all dog breeds. In fact, sleeping is essential for healthy growth. Do your best to let them stay asleep as long as they can, as puppies can sleep up to 18 hours per day! Your German Shepherd might be looking for attention. Not all dogs have the courage to seek your approval continuously. An excellent way to notice if he is doing this is to watch his eyes. Try to walk toward him to see if their tail starts to wag. FAQs How can you tell if a German shepherd is happy? There are a few telltale signs that can help you determine if your German Shepherd is happy. A happy German Shepherd will have a relaxed body posture with their ears forward and their tail held low or slightly wagging. They may also be panting lightly or have a relaxed facial expression. How can you tell if a German shepherd is angry or aggressive? An angry or aggressive German shepherd will often have their ears pinned back, their tail held low, and may be crouching or standing in a tense posture. They may also be growling or snarling. Another sign is their eyes. An angry or aggressive German shepherd will often have a hard, intense stare. How can you tell if a German shepherd is afraid or anxious? There are several signs that can indicate if a German shepherd is afraid or anxious. These can include trembling, panting, excessive drooling, pacing, whining, and hiding. They may also display behaviors such as growling, snapping, or biting if they feel threatened or cornered. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are very expressive with their body language. Here are the main points of the article: German Shepherds bark and use their tails, eyes, mouths , ears, and body position to communicate. Get to know the German Shepherd stare and its possible meanings. Related Posts You May Like:. Where did the sloped back come from, then? Instead, they were bred to win competitions. Therefore, the breeders did not need to worry about practical considerations quite as much. As the show dogs were no longer bred with these practical considerations in mind, the breed standard slowly shifted from a normal rectangular shape to one that looked more like a triangle. However, that is the way the breed standard has been moving for decades. Many breeders are now producing dogs with very sloped backs. The sloped-back German Shepherd is largely the result of a very small number of influential breeders. Once these few breeders started breeding dogs with more sloped backs, dogs with bigger slopes began appearing in competitions. It became weird for German Shepherds to have straight backs in the show ring. There is little reason for this trait to exist except that someone simply decided that it should. It is simply a trait that has come to be expected in show German Shepherds. Strangely, the German Shepherd standard states that they should have a straight back without any sag. Still, these dogs have been winning competitions recently, which should give you an idea of where this breed standard is going. Luckily, not all breeders follow the breed standard, especially if their goal is to produce working dogs. The straight back will likely continue in working-breed lines, as it is necessary for the German Shepherd to perform its best. They are still prone to all the health conditions we previously discussed for straight-backed dogs. The health problems we discuss in this section are simply extra that they are also prone to. One study found that there is a significant health problem with the way these dogs are currently being bred and advised that the breed be watched in the future to prevent further complications from arising. This is quite easy to visualize. When they are lower to the ground, they have to move more to achieve the same stride. This can cause excess wear and tear since the hips are moving more than they would normally. Over time, this can cause arthritis-like symptoms. Many dogs with extremely sloped backs also use their hocks for walking. This behavior makes their gait irregular, which can cause more wear and tear. It can also make the dog expend too much energy when they are walking, causing fatigue. The weird angle can also cause lower back pain. As mentioned, hip dysplasia can occur in straight-backed German Shepherds as well. In fact, it is quite common in dogs with straight backs. However, those with angled backs are even more prone to having hip dysplasia. This disease can be very costly, so we recommend keeping this in mind when adopting a dog. If your dog needs surgery on both hips, then you could be spending thousands. Because of their sloped back, these dogs are prone to osteoarthritis. Many older dogs experience this problem, but it is likely that dogs with sloped backs will experience more arthritis symptoms and get it at a younger age. Overall, because these dogs are bred for show purposes, they tend to be less healthy than the straight-backed German Shepherd. You want them to work for as many years as possible. However, dogs that have health problems can still be shown and win competitions. Suitable For: There is very little reason why anyone looking for a companion animal should purchase dogs with a sloped back. They tend to have more health problems, are more expensive, and have lower endurance. They are sub-par in practically every stance, except when it comes to showing them. Over the past few years, these dogs have been winning many dog shows. Therefore, those who show their dogs have been eager to purchase them. However, many kennel clubs are cracking down on German Shepherds with sloped backs, so this trend will likely change shortly. Which Breed is Right For You? Those with straight backs are less prone to health problems and have higher endurance. They fit closer to what the German Shepherd originally was intended to be. They make much better working dogs as well since they have higher endurance and are bred for more practical purposes. Those with sloped backs have few benefits over the straight-backed GSD. For the most part, these dogs are only around in the show ring, where they have been known to win some competitions. However, this has led to lots of controversies, as their backs likely led to excess health problems and are not in line with the original breed. In fact, the breed standard specifically speaks against sloped-back dogs, so it is odd that they are winning competitions at all. Many kennel clubs are starting to stand against these sloped-back dogs, especially after the extensive media coverage that some of them have gotten. For this reason, we highly recommend sticking with straight-backed dogs on all occasions. In fact, we particularly recommend finding a breeder that produces working dogs , as these will have more practical traits and temperaments. Related Reads:. Understanding the body language of German Shepherds and how your dog communicates will help with both bonding and training. Star, Owner Jeanne Melanson German Shepard Body Language While the body language of dogs is a large topic, there are several quick tips you can learn very quickly. The best way to prevent this is to socialize your dog at a young age. Get your GSD used to being around people and other dogs. The muscles on the right side of the tail display positive emotions while the left shows negative. If your GSD wags his tail more to the right of his or her body, that dog is happy. More to the left and the dog is nervous, anxious or aggressive. Tail Positions: Tail wagging fast and wide — This means the dog is excited, happy and energetic. For instance, this type of tail wagging usually occurs when a GSD sees his or her owner after an absence. Tail held high and straight — This means the dog feels confident and in control of a situation. The dog is feeling good. Tail lowered — This means the dog is relaxed. Tail lowered between legs — This signifies that the dog is afraid. The dog may also be upset or embarrassed. Tail held loose and horizontal — This is when a dog is unsure about a person or thing. Tail held horizontally, but stiff and with a fast wag — This is an aggressive stance. The dog is agitated. Bowed down on front paws. Rear held up with wagging tail — When a dog does this, he or she wants to play and interact with you. Dogs will do this to people and other dogs. Additional signs of wanting to play include pawing in the air and barking. Lying down with one paw tucked under the body — This is a relaxed dog. He or she feels happy, safe and content, and is usually an invitation to pet the dog. Frozen or stiff body — Be wary around this dog. A dog like this might even attack, so be careful. Facial Features: Like people, you can also tell a lot about a dog by their facial expressions. Here are some common ways a dog uses his or her ears, eyes and mouth to convey feelings: Raised upper lip, bared teeth — This is a warning, usually accompanied by a growl. Corners of the mouth pulled back — Different than a snarl. A dog pulls their mouth back when they feel happy, relaxed and comfortable around you. In many ways, this is basically a smile. Cocked head and twitching ears — This dog is confused about something and trying to learn. Typically, this shows interest but be careful as it may also indicate fear. Ears forward — This one is pretty straight-forward. The dog may feel threatened, cornered or scared. Just leave the dog alone and, without approaching, try to alleviate whatever may be upsetting the dog. But body language is still a great substitute. By understanding how dogs use their face, tail, and body to express themselves you can always have a general idea of how a dog — even an unfamiliar one — is feeling. When you apply that general knowledge to a dog whose personality you know well, you can gain an even greater understanding of that dog. You just have to know how to listen. For more info on dog body language, visit us at Shepped. By studying the breed standards, we gain a basic understanding of German Shepherd structure and temperament. This guide is not a breed standard, but rather, it serves as a resource for those wanting to show and breed German Shepherds and can provide puppy buyers with the knowledge and confidence they need to quiz prospective breeders and identify quality puppies. The goal of a world-class German Shepherd breeder is to create and uphold a body type that is consistent—and produce healthy animals with stable temperaments—capable of performing a variety of functions. This guide shows breeders how to identify faults and virtues in their breeding dogs and through education, collaboration and commitment, we can help to ensure a healthier future for all German Shepherds. NOTE: There are a number of variations to the breed standard and while this guide is not affiliated with any specific club or organization, it is a culmination of basic breed standard information—presented in a easy-to-follow, visual format. When showing any German Shepherd, please study and understand fully the standard recognized by your show organization. The illustrations presented here are copyrighted and are not endorsed by, or affiliated with, any German Shepherd registry or club. They cannot be reproduced by any means—either electronic or mechanical—without permission in writing from the illustrator and GSDLiving. The German Shepherd Dog The first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong, agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep-bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curves. It looks substantial, giving the impression—both at rest and in motion—of muscular fitness and nimbleness. The ideal dog is stamped with a look of quality and nobility—difficult to define, but unmistakable when present. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex. Height, Weight, Proportion The first step to identifying a quality German Shepherd is to understand fully the basic anatomical structures of the dog. Correct conformation is paramount to general appearance and overall performance. During conformation events, the wicket is first set to the maximum height as outlined in the breed standard. It is then placed at the highest point of the withers A. If the wicket does not touch the ground, your dog is oversize. The length is measured from the point of the prosternum or breastbone to the rear edge of the pelvis, the ischial tuberosity. Height is measured in a straight line from the withers, down the forelimbs and to the ground. German Shepherd Anatomy Understanding Angulation Angulation refers to the angle degree of slant between two or more bones surrounding a joint. The illustration below shows ideal front and rear angulation for German Shepherds, circa .In more recent years, rear angulation has changed significantly in many lines of show dogs—and even in some working lines. Additional information on this angulation transformation can be found under our Then and Now tab under the conformation menu. Anatomically, front angulation is usually dictated by the length of the upper arm humerus. A short upper arm results in decreased front angulation and restricted movement. The scapula and humerus should be approximately equal in length. The longer the lower leg, the greater the rear angulation and rear reach. Note: Your German Shepherd must be stacked correctly to accurately determine angulation. This means the hock on the extended rear leg must be positioned perpendicular to the ground and the forelegs must be positioned directly under the body in a straight line down from the withers. Place your thumb on the joint and follow the humerus bone down to the elbow joint B and note the angle of your hand. While keeping your thumb stationery, swing your hand up until you feel the protruding rib of the scapula bone. Conformation judges frequently use this method to evaluate shoulder angles. Anatomically, the highest point of the scapula should be positioned between thoracic vertebrae T2 and T3. Most steep shoulders are a result of a short upper arm and frequently cause a depression along the topline flat withers where the tip of the scapula withers would be positioned on a properly angulated dog. Rear angulation is discussed in great detail under our Then and Now tab in the main menu. Examples of present day German Shepherd body types with varying degrees of rear angulation. Spine, Middlepieces, Topline Spine: The spine of German Shepherds consists of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum where the pelvis attaches to the spinal column , and the coccygeal vertebrae of the tail. Middle Pieces: The middle pieces are the bones making up the back and loin and are what determine the length of body in a German Shepherd. This is in contrast to the dog that is too long in body and must exert too much energy while in motion. Topline: The topline runs from the base of the neck, through a high, long withers, into a straight back and towards the slightly sloping croup, without visible interruption. The back is moderately long, firm, strong and well-muscled. The loin is broad, short, strongly developed and well-muscled. The German Shepherd Head The head of a German Shepherd is noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body. The expression keen, intelligent and composed. Seen from the front the forehead is only moderately arched, and the skull slopes into the long, wedge-shaped muzzle without abrupt stop. The muzzle is long and strong, and its topline is parallel to the topline of the skull. Nose is black. Noses that are not predominately black are faulty. Lips are firmly fitted. Jaws are strongly developed. The length of the forehead is measured from the occiput to the stop, while the length of the muzzle is measured from the stop to the tip of the nose. German Shepherd muzzles should be black and should be at a length equal to that of the forehead. The jaw should be strong and visible when the mouth is closed and the lips should be firm and not sag. On males, especially, muzzles should not appear narrow or snippy. Because they are the central component of expression, they should not distract from the overall impression of the head by being too light or protruding. The darker the eye color the better. They open toward the front and are carried erect when at attention. The ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Ears should be of a size that compliments the overall outline of the head. The height of the ear should be equal to its width at the base. Any dog with cropped or hanging ears must be disqualified. To check for size, fold the ear down toward the eye A. The tip of the ear should not pass the upper eye rim. The height of the ear should be equal to its width at the base B. The ears should additionally be set high, and well apart, with the base of the ear placed just above the center of the eye D. Secondary Sex Characteristics Secondary sex characteristics are sex characteristics not related to reproduction. In German Shepherds and other breeds, these characteristics include size, musculature and head and expression. Head proportions—including the angle and length of the forehead and muzzle, and slope of the stop—are identical for both the dog and the bitch. When examining the head of a German Shepherd, the sex of the dog should be easily apparent. Body size, head and musculature on stud dogs should be quite different from that of bitches. Overly broad, masculine heads on bitches, or studs with more refined, weak or feminine attributes are penalized. Skull and Bite Alignment: Tooth alignment is affected by several genetic factors including jaw structure, lip structure, number of teeth, and retention of baby teeth. Tooth placement can, however, be caused by an injury or habits such as excessive chewing, repeated carrying or fetching of very hard objects. German Shepherds should have scissor bites. Scissors Bite: The upper incisors just overlap and touch the lower incisors. This arrangement prevents wear on the incisors and keeps the teeth aligned. Level Bite: The incisors meet edge to edge. This bite is acceptable, but not ideal. The canines nor the incisors line up squarely. Crowded Bite: When the teeth are overcrowded, sometimes overlapping. Crooked Teeth: Usually caused by crowding in a too-small or too-narrow jaw or the result of damage to the mouth. Missing teeth are an inherited trait resulting in a weakening of the jaw. The first premolars are the most commonly missed teeth, and though not as serious a fault as missing the second through fourth premolars, or missing multiple teeth, any German Shepherd missing first premolars should not be bred to another dog with this same fault. The pairing could result in progeny with weakened jaws and missing teeth. An overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a disqualifying fault. Complete dentition is to be preferred. Any missing teeth other than first premolars is a serious fault. The bottom line of the chest should align with the elbows and the prosternum should stand out just ahead of the shoulder when viewed in profile. Commencing at the prosternum, the chest should be well filled and carried well down between the legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample room for lungs and heart, carried well forward, with the prosternum showing ahead of the shoulder in profile. Ribs well sprung and long, neither barrel-shaped nor too flat, and carried down to a sternum which reaches to the elbows. Correct ribbing allows the elbows to move back freely when the dog is at a trot. Too round causes interference and throws the elbows out; too flat or short causes pinched elbows. Ribbing is carried well back so that the loin is relatively short. Abdomen firmly held and not paunchy. The bottom line is only moderately tucked up in the loin. Rib bones should be relatively flat and attach to the spine at the top and to the sternum at the bottom. They should be long and carried well back into the body, keeping the loin short and strong. Ribs and rib cages that are too round barrel shaped push the elbows out and away from the body while ribs that are too flat and short cause pinching in of the elbows. Well sprung ribs that are correctly positioned in the body, function to protect vital organs, yet are flexible enough to allow ample room for proper breathing. Forelimb Alignment Forelimb: The forelimbs of a German Shepherd should be positioned firmly and squarely under the body. When viewed from the front, you should see a straight line from the shoulder to the center of the foot. If an adjustment is needed, make the change by picking up the leg from just below the elbow. Most dogs are very sensitive about their feet and do not like having them manipulated. Working from the elbow is much for comfortable for you and your dog. You do not have to bend all the way to the ground and your dog does not have to have its feet touched. If working with a young dog or puppy, you can place your hand between the front legs at the chest and lift gently until its front feet are off the ground. Then slowly allow the feet to come down naturally to the ground. Turning the toes forward can additionally cause the elbows to turn out. To measure adequate width of chest and correct placement of the forelimbs, slide your hand positioned flat with palm up down the forechest and between the forelimbs. Your hand should fit loosely between the legs. If tight, your dog lacks width of chest, if there is extra space, the chest could be too broad. A chest that is too broad can push the legs of the dog too far away from its center of gravity and will result in a loss of energy while in motion. Forelimb Forelimb: The humerus, ulna, metacarpal and carpal bones provide the infrastructure of the forelimb and play an essential role in supporting your German Shepherd when in motion. The tendons and ligaments however, are what usually dictate correct conformation. The strength, firmness and angle of the pastern provides protection during impact and this cushioning is directly related to the condition and firmness of the ligaments surrounding the joints. Any weaknesses of the forelimbs can make your German Shepherd prone to injury and cause premature arthritic conditions. Feet: The feet of German Shepherds should be tight and well sprung. Toes that are elongated or splayed display weak ligamentation with decreased cushion and spring in the foot necessary for efficient, stress-free movement. Splayed, flat or hare feet are serious faults. Hindquarters Hindquarters: When talking about hindquarters on German Shepherds, we are referring to the pelvis, croup, upper and lower thigh, stifle, and hock. Forward motion begins from the rear as energy is pushed forward through the body. Pelvis: The pelvis is a complex structure that serves as a bridge for the transmission of energy between the rear legs and the spine. Croup: The croup includes the sacrum and the first few vertebrae of the tail. A correctly sloped pelvis is critical for efficient transmission. Upper and lower thigh: The lower thigh on German Shepherds should be only slightly longer than the upper thigh. The length of the lower thigh plays a large role in determining the degree of angulation in the rear. The longer the lower thigh bones, the greater the angulation. Stifle: The stifle or knee joint is one of the most complex joints in the body and is where the femur, tibia and fibula join with the patella to form a powerful lever used for forward motion. Hock: The hock is where forward transmission begins and, because it is covered with a minimum amount of muscle, it is very susceptible to injury. It is crucial that this joint be straight and not bend either inward cow hocked or outward bandy legged. Sickle hocks are hocks that curve inward toward the body. A slight sickle is good, but a curve that causes the dog to walk with its hocks low to the ground like a kangaroo is considered faulty. When viewed in profile, the tail flows gently downward with a slight curved saber appearance. The tail set the point of the croup where the tail begins should be smooth and not bulge or dip. Tails that are set too high tend to form a bulge or tuck of hair at the base of the croup, while tails that are set too low will usually display a dip before transitioning in the tail. Very low tail sets might can also increase vulnerability to perianal fistula in some dogs. Nor should it be rolled up over the back past the base of the croup. Tails that extend above the back and curl forward past the base of the croup are considered a very serious fault. Body type dictates which style is most efficient for your dog. Suspended Trot — There is a period of suspension in which all four feet are off the ground. In a perfectly balanced dog, this effortless, rhythmic stride gives the illusion of slow motion and is spectacular when observed. Some experts believe the flying trot, though elegant and spectacular to watch, is not quite as efficient as the suspended trot. But it does allow the dog to cover more ground—at a faster speed. Flying Trot — There is no period of suspension. The hindfoot touches down before the forefoot even begins to be lifted. There is no period of suspension in a flying trot. The hindfoot touches down before the forefoot even begins to be lifted and also before the opposite forefoot makes contact with the ground. Additionally, the pasterns are usually flipped up in the follow through. With this type of extreme stride and speed, a large dog cannot generate enough power to lift and suspend its body. So which of these gaits is preferred? The dogs decide for us. Breeders cannot train a dog to suspend or fly. Stride is a result of body type, conformation and conditioning, and what breeders desire in our dogs. If you want a fast moving, flashy, show dog, the flying trot is what you strive to develop. If you want a solid, working-class dog with endurance and grace, then you breed for animals with suspended trots. Note that dogs falling in or exceeding the upper limits for height and weight for the breed might not be capable of performing either gaiting style and will have a greater tendency to amble or loaf while gaiting. There is a point in which the reach of a German Shepherd can be too extreme. Though flashy, some of these loosely ligamented dogs, with extreme reach, perform poorly at normal activities such as jumping, and some can have difficultly even standing or walking without appearing off balance. Notice also the tremendous pressure placed on the hocks due to their relative position to the ground. Pacing is when the legs on each side of the body move concurrently in the same direction. This action causes your dog to bounce and roll from side to side while in motion. Pacing is the easiest of the three gaits to perform. If your dog is pacing, it usually means you are not running fast enough for your German Shepherd to transition into a full trot or your dog is tired, overweight or conformationally deficient short coupled, under angulated, etc. You should avoid pacing while in the ring. Your dog will appear clumsy and the judge will be unable to properly evaluate its gait or transmission. Their bodies roll from side to side and their reach is greatly diminished. Dogs of very large stature must be in top condition and be tightly ligamented to successfully compete against smaller, more agile competitors. Shoulders that roll from side to side, and backs and abdomens that bounce while in motion, are typical of large, loosely ligamented dogs. As forward action begins, the forelegs move toward the midline of the body. This shift—or single tracking—increases balance and conserves energy. The forelegs should hold firm in a straight line from the shoulder joint to the toes. A German Shepherd that is wide coming wastes a lot of energy by carrying its feet too far away from its midline and this usually results in a choppy, side-to-side motion. Dogs that are close coming front feet cross over are not balanced and also loose valuable energy. Crabbing, or moving crabwise, is a term used to describe a condition where the front and rear of the dog move in two parallel tracks side by side instead of a single tract down the midline. This occurs when the front or rear overpowers the other. Energy is lost with any shift of energy in a direction other than the direction your dog is moving. Any joints that are not straight are highly susceptible to injury due to the tremendous force applied to these areas when in motion. As the rear leg is brought forward, a well conditioned, well muscled German Shepherd will show some shifting of the leg away from the midline at the knee. This is normal and is indicative of good muscling. However, you should not see any twisting or extreme pushing out of the knee. Poorly conditioned dogs, or individuals lacking muscle mass will move flat, holding both legs too close to the body. These dogs frequently show weakness of back, as well, and a shifting or rolling of the body will be observed both coming and going. A German Shepherd with good movement going will show great firmness of back, dense muscling and an even pressure applied to joints. Any deviations in structure can greatly increase energy loss and fatigue, and in the long term, could result in permanent damage to the affected joints. The illustrations below show how any curve at the hock creates added stress on the joint. Only a dog that is wide going retains a straight line on its driving leg, but looses energy because its legs are too far away from the midline of the body. In this section, we will show you where transmission begins and how it sets your dog in motion. Dogs that are loosely ligamented or poorly conditioned will also have faulty transmission. As your dog pushes off with its rear leg, energy travels from the hock, into the stifle and thighs, into the croup, loin and back, and ultimately into the shoulders and forelimbs. As you can imagine, if your dog has poor hocks, there is little chance for good transmission. Energy will be directed toward the midline of the body if cow hocked instead of up and into the thighs. The incidence of injury in cow hocked dogs is high because of the tremendous stress placed the hock and stifle joints. If your German Shepherd has a powerful rear assembly with great rear reach—but it is not equally balanced in front—its rear components will overpower its front. The hindfeet will likely strike the forefeet, causing your dog to move crabwise—or even result in a high, over exaggerated front reach. Every component of the body must be balanced to achieve fluid, effortless motion with the least misdirection or loss of energy. The pelvis receives all the energy generated by the rear and serves as a bridge to allow that energy to pass seamlessly into the loin and back. The amount of energy taken in by the pelvis is tremendous. Unlike the scapula shoulder , the pelvis is not connected to the spine with muscle, but is fused to the sacrum. A puppy that is born with a steep pelvis will have a steep pelvis as an adult. The angle does not change with maturity. Once energy passes through the pelvis, it moves into the spine toward the forehand. While in motion, the back should remain straight and firm. The forequarters of your German Shepherd generates only a fraction of the amount of energy that its hindquarters produce, but it is equally important because it serves as support for the front of the dog and controls braking and steering. The shoulders must be able to absorb the energy generated from the rear without interfering with it. Its front legs must be able to cover the same amount of ground as its corresponding rear legs. The shoulders of a German Shepherd must be correctly angulated, the upper arm should not be too short, and the withers should be high and well muscled. Any faults in gait or transmission are very serious in German Shepherds and should be penalized. Conformation faults have the greatest impact on transmission. If reach is restricted, transmission will also decrease. Flexors pull the joint closed and bring the limb close to the body. Extensors open the joint and straighten the limb out and away from the body. If your dog has a short upper arm, it will have short extensors. Short extensor muscles cannot contract enough to adequately extend the limb. The same theory applies to the hindquarters. The longer the lower thigh bone, the longer its associated muscles. Longer muscles can contract more and extend the leg further than short muscles. Illustrations A and C show well balanced dogs in motion. It is possible to maintain balance in a dog with an over extended reach C , but it is not typical, and these dogs can appear less stable while standing or walking. Photo B is an example of a moderately angulated, balanced dog. This dog will be able to stand or walk steadily—with ease and balance. Photo D shows a dog with tremendous rear strength that is completely over powering its front. Its short upper arm is also restricting reach. Dog D can sustain this type of gait for only a short period of time before exhausting. Below are examples of dogs with their weight evenly distributed over the length of their bodies and also dogs with increased angulation that shifts a greater percentage of their weight onto the stifle and hock joints. These more angulated dogs are susceptible to injury at these critical junctions. May 18, Reply As an Australian dog judge of three groups and currently learning to judge the German Shepherd Dog this site has been such a valuable learning tool. The illustrations are exceptional and as a visual learner these quality diagrams and explanations are equivalent to a gold mine. Sending sincere gratitude for your skills and sharing this with the world. So glad to hear you are finding this site helpful. Randy February 6, Reply This was a great read. My wife and I picked up our Shepherd when she was 6 weeks old. She is now 13 months old. By reading this I learned a lot more about her. Thank you Rangda January 18, Reply Thank you for this material — very informatiwe and detailed! Asia January 1, Reply I love this so much, I am planning on getting into showing and this is easy to understand. Is it possible to get this in physical form? For my own personal studies. Thank you so much for the feedback. The guide currently has an online version only, but feel free to review as desired. I am glad you find it informative and helpful. Education is the key to breeding healthier dogs regardless of the breed. Trinity July 12, Reply Thank you for this resource! I am hoping to adopt a GSD from a shelter soon and will be using this as a reference to help select a good sport prospect with stable structure. Marlon October 27, Reply Wow, this is very informative I will definitely use this as a reference. I learned a lot! Thank you so much for sharing! Leave a Reply.

If we want to learn anything about their offspring, we must review certain genetic facts and statistics beforehand. This is the dog that carries it. The Bichon Frise looks like a vanilla cupcake or cream puff with a height of 9 — 12 inches 23 — 30 cm and a weight of 6. It has an affectionate, playful, and cheerful temperament, with a slice of feistiness and sensitivity on the side. The primary health concerns to look out for are epilepsy, White Shaker Syndrome which causes the dog to shake uncontrollably , and dyskinesia — a type of movement disorder. But the vet will be able to make a proper diagnosis. A healthy Bichon Frise has a life expectancy of 12 — 15 years. Brief Overview Of The Poodle Poodles of all sizes toy , mini, and standard have two universal crowd-pleasing traits. The height and weight of a Poodle can be broken down into three categories. Across the mini, toy, and standard growth charts, the height fluctuates between 9 — 24 inches 21 — 61 cm. The weight between 6 — 60 pounds 3 — 27 kg. All sizes are intelligent, active, and faithful, and live between 12 years. Like the Bichon Frise, the Poodle may suffer from epilepsy at some point in its life. It may also experience the following health issues. The Poodle and the Bichon Frise have identical lifespans, so their offspring are predicted to live between 12 — 15 years as well. A full-grown Bichon Poodle should be about 9 to 15 inches cm tall at the withers with a weight of 6 — 17 pounds 3 — 8 kg. The Bichpoo can also be found in cream, black, blue, and apricot. There are certain arguments in life that will never be settled. Blonde vs. When it comes to dogs, there is no definitive, black and white answer. There will always be at least one exception. Although, the point of cross-breeding is to eliminate certain health concerns. So, what predictions can we make about hybrid dogs? The first generation of the Bichon Poodle Mix is healthier than its parent breeds. The second generation is not as healthy as the first, and any issues that arise in round two will most likely carry on in round three and so forth. With alert and active parents, the Poochon will be no different. This mix needs daily exercise preferably outside for at least 30 minutes. It has a lot of energy to burn. Keep in mind that mental and physical stimulation are different, and the Bichon Poodle Mix needs both. A bored Bichpoo will bark and whine or turn your shoes into a chew toy of its own with your permission. OK, we get it. The Bichpoo is smart, but can it be taught to play dead? Or roll over? Or give a high-5? And Yes. This breed is capable of learning a solid amount of tricks. Just make sure to have plenty of treats on-hand for positive reinforcement. Watch how well this Bichpoo gives its owner a high-5 and pay attention to how she rewards her dog! Every breed comes with at least one trait we wish we could alter. This comes from the Poodle side. If your Bichon Poodle Mix is not socialized at an early age, it can develop separation anxiety when left alone for hours. The Bichpoo can show moments of mild aggression around unfamiliar dogs. The Bichon Poodle is a loving companion for adults, children, and strangers, which makes it one of the best family dogs. Haircuts every two months are a necessity to keep its coat tame. If that sounds like too much responsibility or money, you can shave your Bichpoo in the summertime. Its coat causes minimal shedding, which makes it a good option for owners with allergies or who want a clean house. The last part of grooming requires occasional teeth brushing to keep mouth infections at bay. Bichon Poodle owner Sandy Rothra recommends feeding your mix canned dog food because it contains a higher percentage of meat protein. This counts for all dog breeds: if your pup gets sick with a kidney or heart issue, you will need to change its diet. You should never feed any dog chocolate, onions, grapes, and raisins. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Poochons have high energy and are prone to weight gain. Make sure your dog gets frequent walks and play sessions through out the day. If you keep a hanky near by to wipe their eyes when they get moist, it can help minimize the tear stains that their breed is prone to getting. Multiple dogs sometimes clean each others eyes, but dogs typically do not clean their own eyes. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking loudly against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as small breeds are prone to dental issues. Poochon Feeding An ideal Poochon diet should be formulated for a small breed with moderate to high energy. They have a tendency to gain weight if they are overfed, so you should stick to a regular feeding schedule and not leave food out during the day. The main colors of Poochons are cream, tan, and apricot. Usually their coats are solid, and sometimes they have blend of colors. Less common colors are black or grey. Both parent breeds are high maintenance when it comes to grooming, and you can expect the same from the Poochon. These pups will most likely require daily brushing along with shampooing every few weeks with a mild product and monthly grooming. Poochons are prone to tear stains. If you decide to adopt a Poochon, keep a cloth tissue on hand to dab their eyes regularly. It helps manage the tear staining quite a bit. Poochon Children And Other Pets Poochons adore kids and families and the endless noise and commotion that comes with them. However, because the Poochon is a small dog, they can be easily injured by overly excited children. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child. The Poochon enjoys the company of other dogs, as long as they receive their fair share of attention from their owner. Since Poochons have a social nature, a family with lots of animals could be ideal. For an active, social person, the Poochon could be your perfect co-pilot for life. Poochon Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Poochons because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Poodle or Bichon Frise breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. The difference between these variants lies in their size, when full-grown. While the former weighs about 6 to 12 pounds, the weight of the latter is 13 to 18 pounds. By height, they stand between 9 and 14 inches. Temperament Respectively, both the cheerful, cuddly, loving personality and the playful, intelligent and charismatic characteristics of the Bichon Frise and the Poodle have been inherited by this Poodle Bichon mix. Care Exercise The moderately active, very small bichon poo do not need vigorous exercise, but taking them to a regular walk and allowing them to play, especially being crazy about reflections in the mirror, is enough. But increase the session-time if your pet lives mostly indoors. Grooming Although not much maintenance is necessary for their very little hair loss, but their hair being long and curly gets entangled easily, hence they need regular brushing to retain a smooth coat, just like a haircut is, if it is too long, but by experienced hands approximately every 6 to 8 weeks. Bathe them if only needed, but do keep an eye for ear infections and brush their teeth few times weekly to avoid tooth decay. Health Problems As a cross, bichon poo does not have much health issues, except genetic disorders and common dog diseases like ear problems and infections, PRA, epilepsy, diabetes, cataracts, allergies and other skin disorders. Training Inheriting the intelligence of the Poodle, the Bichon Poodle puppies would be difficult to housetrain. You should also impart socialization and obedience training to your pets without being harsh and intolerant. In order to make the learning process interesting and fulfilling, you can incorporate positive reinforcement tricks. Feeding Do not feed your dog with chocolate, grapes, raisins or onions. Feed them with the correct proportions of high-quality protein, carbohydrates, vegetables and fats. They also need vitamins, calcium and other minerals in their diet chart. Eliminate harmful additives or preservatives. Homemade dog foods that are cooked can contain brown rice, chicken or other types of red meats and a variety of green, yellow and orange vegetables. If you want to include raw foods, give your bichon poo skinless chicken or other lean meats, green and orange vegetables and bones as a part of their meals. Dry dog food is also readily available in the market, but that has to be high-quality, meant for small-size, moderately active dogs. Interesting Facts Bichon Poos are tolerant with other animals. They make a good companion dog and love to be around its owner and his family. Bichpoos possess double coat. The inner coat is soft and silky but the outer coat is bigger and curly. Low History of the Poochon The history of the poochon is not well recorded. Purebred dogs have been bred for generations following a special blueprint called the breed standard, which is the written description of the ideal physical and temperamental traits of the breed. The breed standard is what gives purebred dogs predictable height and weight, body structure, color, coat type, and temperament. The poochon is a hybrid and not a purebred dog, so it does not have a breed standard and it is not standardized. This means that there is a lot of variation in the way individual poochons might look and act. A poochon that is a cross between a purebred bichon frise and a purebred poodle might look more like a bichon or more like a poodle, or could look different from both breeds. That said, these parent breeds are more similar than different, both in looks and temperament, so poochons are likely to look and act in a similar manner to the parent breeds. Some might question the reasoning behind breeding together such similar breeds. Crossbred puppies have the potential of inheriting congenital diseases and disorders present in both parent breeds. The poochon is not recognized by any of the purebred dog registries such as the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club. What Is a Designer Dog Breed? Poochon Care Grooming requirements for the poochon are the same as those for the bichon frise and poodle. The curly, dense coat of the poochon sheds very little or not at all, but daily brushing or brushing every other day is necessary to remove loose hair from the coat and prevent matting. Grooming Poochons with undercoats likely need more frequent brushing than poochons with single coats. Like their parent breeds, poochons need haircuts from a professional groomer every four to eight weeks. Clean the ears with a pet safe ear cleaner if they look dirty. If you see excessive dirt or redness in the ears, or if your poochon is shaking its head or scratching at the ears, schedule a veterinary visit. Exercise Both parent breeds of the poochon are lively and energetic, but poochons are small enough to get enough exercise through one or two daily walks plus playtime with you inside or outdoors. Some poochons are athletic and might enjoy training for dog sports like agility and flyball. Training Like the bichon and poodle, poochons are extremely smart and trainable. Bichons were once famous as circus dogs performing charming tricks, and poodles are considered one of the smartest breeds. Poochons respond readily to positive training methods like clicker training along with tasty treats and other food rewards. Most purebred dogs have specific inherited health issues common to the breed. Crossing bichons with poodles means that poochon puppies are at risk of inheriting any of the genetic diseases found in either breed. The bichon frise is prone to:. What Is the History of Bichon Poodles? In order to understand what a poochon might be like, we need to know more about the history of the bichon frise and the poodle. The bichon frise hails from Tenerife in the Canary Islands and was popular among the nobility of France, Spain, and Italy from about the 13th century onward. After the French Revolution in , these little dogs lost their noble benefactors. They ended up performing tricks, first as street performers, then in circuses. Just like bichon frises, poodles found popularity amongst French nobility and even spent some time in European circuses. However, their roots have nothing to do with luxury or the performing arts. Instead, poodles were duck hunters that originated in Germany. Even today, standard poodles are used for hunting fowl. As for the bichon poodle, this mix cropped up around the late s in Australia. It is believed that breeders were attempting to create an active but affectionate pet that would make a wonderful companion for families with kids. Though poodles come in three sizes, only miniature and toy poodles are typically chosen to mate with bichon frises. Poochons are small dogs with long curly hair often clipped short , fluffy tails, and cute button noses. They can come in various colors, but some of the most popular are apricot, cream, white, and red. Most bichpoos will be toy to miniature sized. What Size Is a Bichon Poodle? Bichon poodles are 9 to 15 inches tall and weigh between 6 and 17 pounds on average. Bichpoos with a toy poodle parent are more likely to be on the smaller side of this scale, whereas those with a miniature poodle parent may be on the larger end of this range. Both bichon frises and poodles have hair that is curly and grows long. Therefore, you can expect the same from a bichon poodle mix. Bichon poodles are happy-go-lucky dogs that see everyone as their friend. They make lovely family pets as they are great with children and enjoy activity and play. Bichpoos are very affectionate with their families and enjoy cuddling and being petted. Are Bichon Poodles Affectionate? Bichon frises were bred to be companion dogs, and poodles are known to be affectionate toward their families. Therefore, you can expect a mix of the two to be an absolutely loving dog. If you want a dog you can cuddle with; there is a high chance that a bichpoo will want to cuddle with you, too. They are wonderful little lapdogs who welcome physical touch. Bichon poodles are also quite friendly toward strangers. In fact, they tend to view everyone as friends and are quick to warm up to new people. This mixed breed is both gentle and playful. That said, it is important to always supervise kids and dogs. Because the bichon poodle is diminutive, children must be taught how to safely handle and respect this breed so as not to cause injury. While bichon frises have a low prey drive, the same cannot be said of the poodle, who was originally bred for hunting. So it would not be a total surprise should they enjoy chasing squirrels in the yard. If you have small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, or the like, be aware of the possibility that a bichpoo may see them as prey. Socializing a bichon poodle mix puppy with small animals can help, but it is recommended that you exercise caution if you decide to keep small pets in a home with a bichpoo. Though small animals may be out, other dogs are not. Bichon poodles tend to be quite friendly toward fellow dogs. Are Bichon Poodles Aggressive? Though it is possible for any dog of any breed to become aggressive, this is definitely not the norm for the bichon poodle. This breed is generally very friendly and happy-go-lucky toward everyone they meet. Fear can be a cause of aggression. Do Bichon Poodles Bark a Lot? Bichon poodles are not known for being quiet. How much a dog barks will vary by individual, but it is not uncommon for bichpoos to bark a lot. This may not make them the best option if you live in an apartment with noise restrictions. However, if you are dedicated to putting in the effort, you can teach them to bark less. This training can work especially well if you start it during puppyhood, but training at any age can still be effective. Are Bichon Poodles Intelligent? Bichon Poodles are very smart little dogs. Poodles themselves are considered one of the smartest dog breeds, and we know that bichons frises are more than capable of learning complex tricks — after all, they did spend time in the circus! So a dog born of these two intelligent breeds is likely to be a smarty-pants. Are Bichon Poodles Easy to Train? Training is a joy when you have an intelligent dog that enjoys learning. This is definitely true of the bichon poodle. These little dogs are eager to please as they love receiving praise and treats from their favorite people. Because they are smart, they can also learn a plethora of interesting cues, including complicated tricks. We always recommend that dog owners take their pups to a training class of some sort because it keeps you on task with your training, allows you to ask questions, provides socialization, and offers a new or distracting environment for your dog to learn in. However, the bichon poodle is relatively easy to train, so hiring a professional trainer, while helpful, is not necessary. Similarly, you do not need to be an experienced trainer to successfully teach your bichon poodle new skills. Do your research, be clear and consistent, and use positive reinforcement techniques. Respect your dog and remember that training should be fun, and your bichpoo will be trained before you know it. Are Bichon Poodles Energetic? The bichon poodle is considered a high-energy breed, which is no surprise since one of their parents, the poodle, was originally bred for hunting. You should definitely walk a poochon daily as well as engage in play. Bichon poodles will enjoy a romp around a yard but are also happy to play indoors. Most bichon poodles are satisfied with about an hour of exercise per day. If your poochon seems bored, then you may need to provide even more exercise. Aside from their barking habits, bichon poodles can be a great option for apartment living. They can easily get their exercise via walks or even indoor games on rainy days. Are Bichon Poodles Good Watchdogs? A bichon poodle will alert you to the presence of someone at the door or anything else they find out of place. For this reason, they can be considered good watchdogs. However, they are very friendly toward strangers and, of course, are quite small, so they cannot offer you much more than a four-legged alarm system. Bichon poodles are too small to fit every service niche for instance, they could not guide the blind , but they can make for talented service dogs in general. Their loving, affectionate nature would also make them a great option for someone who is looking to get an emotional support animal. For those who want to bring joy to others, a bichon poodle would likely excel as a therapy dog because they tend to be quite friendly and do well with children and adults. How to Care for a Bichon Poodle The bichon poodle usually requires visits to a groomer every four to six weeks to have their coat clipped. Otherwise, they require brushing at least weekly and should have their ears checked for infection regularly. Perhaps the most vital care for a bichon poodle is dental care. You must brush their teeth every single day. This is because the bichon poodle is predisposed to periodontal disease, and it is not uncommon for this breed to lose teeth because of it. This is because the bacteria growing in an unhealthy mouth can spread, often leading to systemic issues in the heart, kidneys, or liver. As their hair grows back out, you should brush even more frequently to prevent matting. Mats make it difficult for groomers to give the dog a neat clip, and severe matting is painful. Bathing once a month is enough for a poochon, but you can also choose to bathe as needed. Do Bichon Poodles Shed? The bichon poodle mix is a minimal shedder. This is because their hair grows long and continuously. This cycle of growth can take years, which is why the breed is considered low shedding and hypoallergenic. What Should a Bichon Poodle Eat? Bichon poodles should eat the highest quality small breed dog food you can afford. The best dog foods meet AAFCO guidelines, are formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, and undergo feeding trials. To determine how much to feed your bichon poodle, check the guidelines on your preferred dog food. Bichon poodles are at risk for all the same diseases for which poodles and bichon frises are at risk. Though these health risks may seem scary, there are ways to increase your chances of getting a healthy pup who will live a long, happy life. The best option is to get your bichon poodle puppy from a responsible breeder who health tests their dogs. These health tests ensure that the parent dogs do not have any identifiable diseases that could be passed on to the offspring. Responsible breeders not only health test their dogs but are also more than willing to share the results with potential adopters. Poodles live between 10 and 18 years whereas bichon frises live about 14 to 15 years. Therefore, you can expect a bichpoo to have a similar lifespan. Are Bichon Poodles Expensive? Your recurring monthly expenses for a bichpoo will mostly consist of grooming and food. How to Find a Bichon Poodle Breeder? What are your credentials? You should learn about how long the breeder has been in business and how familiar they are with bichon poodles. Have the parent animals undergone health testing? Ask to see these tests. Can I see where the dogs are kept? Can I meet the parent? How do you socialize your puppies? Socialization is important for puppies to become friendly and confident. Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations? Do you offer a health guarantee with a contract? Some breeders guarantee the health of their puppies: should your puppy come down with a serious illness early on, the breeder may offer to reimburse the purchase price of the dog or even take the puppy back. This will also help you avoid irresponsible breeders. What do you require of potential adopters? Many breeders want to make sure their puppies are going to homes where they will be treated well and kept for life. Therefore, breeders may ask a number of questions about you, your situation, and your experience as a dog owner. Can You Adopt a Bichon Poodle? These shelters typically rescue mixes of their designated breeds. You should also keep an eye on small breed rescues. Are Bichon Poodles Purebred? Bichon poodles are not purebred. Rather, they are the offspring of two purebred dogs: the poodle and the bichon frise. Some bichon poodles may also have two bichon poodle parents. Can You Show Bichon Poodles? Unfortunately, only purebred dogs are allowed to be shown. This is partly because purebreds have a set standard for how each breed should look and be proportioned. No such standard exists for mixed breeds like the bichon poodle, so they cannot participate in dog shows. The bichon poodle would make a great first dog for a new dog owner. The bichon poodle is a wonderful dog with many desirable traits. The Bichon poodle may be right for you if: You want a dog you can cuddle with. You have children and want a family dog. You want a dog that has low-maintenance grooming needs. Finding a Bichon Poodle puppy The History The Bichpoo originated in Australia during the s, as a loving household pet that would do well with children and other pets. This hybrid has quickly grown in popularity in recent years, as more people discover their benefits as companion animals. But their history goes way further back than that. The Bichon Frise is thought to be descendant from the Bichon Tenerife, a member of the Barbichon breed family. The Bichon got its start on the Canary Islands, specifically on the island of Tenerife. The breed has roots dating back to at least the 13th century, when they grew quite popular with European royalty as lapdogs. Eventually the breed made its way to the Americas, where it was officially recognized by the AKC in the early s. The Poodle has a storied history dating back at least years. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where it was bred for retrieving waterfowl for hunters. The Standard Poodle, the original breed, was bred down to the Miniature, which was then bred down again to the Toy variety. Today, all three versions of the Poodle — as well as their various cross-breeds — remain popular. What is the temperament of the Bich Poo? The Bich Poo typically takes on many of the characteristics of its parent breeds. Most Bichon Poodle mixes will have a lively, affectionate and active disposition. They are also quite intelligent. Typically a Bichon Toy Poodle will have an accommodating, patient nature. This makes them a good choice for households with children or other pets. They are prone to sudden bursts of energy, so you will commonly see them zooming around for short periods of time. They also tend to bark a lot. This can make them good watchdogs. But it also means that if they are not trained properly at a young age, barking can become excessive. Poochons typically do not do well if left alone. They are prone to separation anxiety and tend to bark continuously when left by themselves. Bichon Poodle puppies could take on more characteristics from one parent breed or the other. Physical Characteristics The physical characteristics and appearance of this breed can vary, just as the behavioral tendencies can differ. It depends which parent breed comes through stronger. With that said, the bulk of these dogs are small, at 6 to 12 pounds on average. They typically have a height of 9 to 14 inches when fully grown. The size of a Bichpoo dog will also vary depending on the size of the parents, and whether the Poodle parent was of the Miniature or Toy variety. Their cute button nose is the only feature to emerge from the thick curls. Their coats are typically quite soft, as long as they are properly maintained and cared for. They also inherit the Poodle tendency for very minimal shedding. The Bichon Poodle coat is typically white or apricot, with various other light shades being possible, but not common. The Bichon Poo requires frequent brushing to keep their coat soft and prevent matting. Ideally, you should brush its coat daily. Frequent Bichon Poo haircuts are a necessity. Coats should be trimmed every two months or so to maintain a manageable length and prevent matting. Shedding is very minimal with this breed, but routine brushing is still essential. Dental care is also important for this breed, as they can be susceptible to gum infections and related dental problems. They have a moderate to high energy level, and enjoy frequent walks and playtime. Because of their small size, they do better with frequent shorter walks, instead of long ventures once a day. They also tend to have quick bursts of energy, during which time they love to run around and play. As for training, this mix is typically eager to please. This is particularly true with problem behaviors like excessive barking. Health Concerns Bichon Poodle mixes are prone to many of the health concerns that are prevalent in their parent breeds. Eye problems are common, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Dental concerns are another common issue. Bichons, in particular, are prone to gum infections and tooth loss. Other concerns like patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, sebaceous adenitis, and Von Willebrand disease are also common. Many of these health concerns can be tested for. Reputable breeders will conduct health tests on their breeding stock to help minimize the risk of complications. Interestingly, there is some evidence to suggest that first generation mixes i. Second generations and beyond the offspring of two Bichon Poodle mixes are more likely to show health concerns common in Poodle and Bichon Frise dogs. Thus, some experts recommend specifically seeking out reputable breeders that offer first-generation puppies. As with any breed, frequent veterinary checkups are important and should be scheduled at least once a year. A good breeder will conduct health tests on their breeding stock to help reduce the risk of various inherited health concerns. To locate breeders, search the web for resources in your area. Before settling on a breeder, be sure to do some research into the background and reputation of the company or individual. Reputable breeders will not hesitate to show you health records and test results. It is considered a designer dog breed. The mix originated in Australia and started appearing in the late s. The goal was to breed a low or non-shedding dog that was sturdy and active with a temperament for families with children. The Bich-Poo is charming, affectionate, highly intelligent, and eager to please. They tend to get along well with other pets and with children, which makes them a great fit for families. Bich-Poos are also alert watchdogs. They can be prone to excessive barking, but training and socialization as a puppy can curb this tendency. Although they will alert you as a watchdog, they are more interested in making friends, so will not make a good guard dog. Bich-Poos are highly adaptable. They do well in apartments or larger homes as long as they get enough exercise and fit right in with families with children, other pets, or both. They do well in most climates and, as with most dog breeds, caution should be taken with extreme heat or cold. With this first generation cross, many of the health issues associated with the parent breeds are often not a concern. However, there is always the potential for inherited issues. Some of the potential breed-related health concerns are allergies, patella luxation, and progressive retinal atrophy. Because they are a small dog breed, they are also prone to breaks and fractures if dropped. This designer dog breed tends to be highly intelligent. That, paired with their eagerness to please their owner, makes them quick learners and fairly easy to train. They tend to be a good fit for owners of any experience level. Novice owners may want to enroll in obedience and training classes to ensure training and socialization is going as it should. A professional trainer can also help you put a plan in place to eliminate any potential issues with separation anxiety or the nipping that can become a common fear or anxiety response in small dogs. A Bich-Poo will often have a soft and curly coat. If their coat takes on Poodle properties, then it will be low-shedding and hypoallergenic. Common coat colors are typically light, like white or apricot, but can appear in other colors like tan, brown, black, or gray. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is also a good idea for a healthy coat. You will also want to trim their nails monthly and clean their eyes and ears regularly. Although small, these dogs are robust and energetic. They tend to have bouts of high energy and require regular exercise throughout the day. Although they are active dogs, moderate levels of exercise will be enough to tire them out. Regular exercise, like daily walks and active playtime, will help immensely when your pup gets a sudden spike of energy and starts racing. Some of their energy bursts can seem endless, but, due to their smaller size, they do tend to tire quickly, so these bouts of energy will likely be on the shorter side. After that, your Bich-Poo will likely be ready for a nap and some cuddles. Keeping your dog well-exercised and engaged is key. A bored dog is one that can become restless and start to whine, chew, or bark. This designer dog breed usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh between pounds. A Bichpoo will generally live between years. Featured Bich-poo Article.

American Pit Bull: Boxer Puppy Biting and Nipping When we talk about Boxer puppies biting children, both younger and older kids, toys or even biting at your feet, what most are actually talking about is nipping. There is a huge difference between the 2 words. A nip is a quick snap of the jaws, it can be done in the air close to a person or it can make skin contact yet it is a pinch type bite that often does not break the skin. Boxer puppies and even older dogs nip, not to attack someone, but to send a warning. The warning is not necessarily that of an impending attack… Boxer puppy nipping is done for one of several reasons: As play — Young pups are used to nipping at their littermates as a form of play and this may carry over as they transition into their new home. If a Boxer puppy is biting a lot, it may be an issue of the dog needing to learn the rules of the home and needing to learn that was used to be acceptable with other pups is no longer acceptable with his humans. A Method of Sending a Message — Boxer dogs of any age may nip for many reasons. Unable to vocalize, the nip is a message. Often it is a low growl, lasting just seconds, with teeth bared. In some cases, there will only be a growl as the dog lowers his back, hunches over and bares his teeth yet does not actually physically bite. On the other hand, an actual bite not a nip is a full force, aggressive action in which the jaws lock down and teeth puncture the skin. The dog intends to inflict injury and the person on the other end often receives it unless thick clothing gets in the way, etc. In the following section we will discuss how to stop a Boxer dog from biting in the sense that the dog is actually nipping and it is not a full force, aggression bite meant to do serious harm. Training to Stop Boxer Puppy to Stop Biting and Nipping Overview Many owners feel, and rightfully so, that a bite is a serious issue and a behavior that needs to be addressed immediately. For this reason, they feel that taking serious action is the only way to stop the behavior… and this is where things can go wrong. And this is because it does not teach the dog what he needs to learn. Yelling, hitting or otherwise intimidating a puppy or dog will only serve to make the dog afraid of his owner. Alternatively, some dogs will see this as a challenge. So, owners must choose: Fear or respect. For a happy, healthy environment in which humans and canines live in peace, the Boxer or any other dog should be taught to respect his humans, not fear them. In addition, for a dog that bites, physically isolating him will stop the problem short term…while the dog is taken away of course he is not biting anyone…. It is a huge mistake to miss out on a chance to train a dog to stop biting. Of course, in the rare chance that a dog is full out biting, causing injury and is clearly dangerously aggressive, the dog should be removed… And measures must be taken to keep the family safe from any potential attacks…but again, this does not relate to puppy nipping, play biting or nipping due to teething, etc. Training a Boxer puppy to stop biting takes a bit of mental will power. You may have heard this before: Ignore the puppy. There is no other way for a dog to interpret this, as it is canine mentality. His humans and any other animals in the home are his pack. Every single pack that exists has a leader. Having a leader is a defining element of a pack. Problems can arise when a dog does not have a clear understanding of who that leader is. Humans begin eating. Two to three minutes pass. Once the dog obeys, a delicious and healthy meal is set down for him. So, once a dog knows that his human is in charge, how does this training stop the Boxer from biting….? When a Boxer understands that his human s are his leader s , being ignored is akin to being rejected by pack. A dog will suddenly be very humbled. He will worry that his pack has turned their backs on him… he will question his behavior and, when done correctly, he will make the connection that his action of biting caused a major problem with his standing in his family…. If you were both on the floor, stand up. If you were holding him, place him down. If you were both sitting on the sofa, rise up. This means zero talking, absolutely no looking in his direction…nothing. As a Boxer puppy works very hard to gain attention of any one in the house, everyone even those who were not bitten should be completely indifferent to the dog. Allow 10 minutes to pass. Now, when you are doing this, 2 minutes may feel like 20, so take a look at the clock and then choose an activity flip through the TV, check your email, get a drink…do whatever you want, but do remain in the house so that your Boxer can see that you are ignoring him and wait it out. After those 10 minutes, it is time to speak to your Boxer, but not engage him in any activity yet. Many times, the puppy will test things out. Simply mull around near your dog, speaking a bit and acting matter-of-fact. Do not give praise. Wait things out for about 5 minutes. If your Boxer does not nip or bite at you, it will be time to go back to the position that you were in when the bite occurred. It is at this time that if your Boxer does not nip at you that praise and attention can be given. If the dog does bite again, the complete ignoring method of training must be done — this means that the dog is testing things to see if it was indeed his nip that caused his temporary outcast from the pack. Dogs , Puppy training Alex Andes Beyond Puppy Biting: When Mouthy Behavior Continues Into Adolescence If you have a puppy under six months of age, play biting is a very normal albeit annoying and often painful part of your puppy's development. For bitey pups under six months of age, read this blog. But what happens when your dog's biting is lingering beyond that six-month mark, or you acquire an adolescent or adult dog that comes into your home with a chompy mouth? First of all, don't get too alarmed just yet. Excessive play biting in adolescence is still not an indicator of future aggression. The vast majority of adolescent dogs we work with that are still showing mouthiness with people have some or all of these three factors contributing to the behavior: 1. Needs are not being met. Meeting a dog's most basic needs is simple: provide food, water, shelter, love them, play with them. The first thing you should do to stop your adolescent or adult dog's mouthy behavior is take a look at how you can provide a more physically and mentally enriching day-to-day life for your dog, while still working within what's reasonable for your own schedule. A few ideas: Ensure you're feeding your dog three times a day up to a year of age sometimes longer for giant breed dogs and that you have appropriately increased food based on their growth. With your vet's approval, you can typically drop to two meals a day by one year of age. Provide short minute training sessions a day to work on basic obedience, tricks — whatever you want. Offer mental enrichment options — see our Day Training Challenge for training and enrichment tutorials and ideas. Increase your dog's physical exercise — playing in the backyard is simply not enough. Options include adding a daily walk, a game of fetch, taking an obedience class or getting involved in a dog sport. Find what works for both you and your dog — if it's not something you both enjoy, one of you will get burned out quickly. The behavior is being reinforced. In order to address this issue, we have to look at why it's lingering. What is the function of the behavior for your dog? As puppies, biting was a way for them to try to instigate play and attention, explore the world, and burn off some teething frustration. Which of those three still serves a functional purpose in an older dog? Instigating play and attention. Whatever you are currently doing as a reaction to your dog's biting is reinforcing the behavior — in short, your dog thinks it's worth doing it again. Yelling "no," pushing your dog away, running away, etc. Or if you do something too forceful or scary, you run the risk of losing your dog's trust and causing more serious issues. So instead, find the least dramatic way that you can stop reinforcing the behavior. Do not look at your dog or talk to them when they start biting. Cross your arms and do not engage your dog with your hands. You can block more intense advances from your dog by lifting up the side of your leg like a wall do not knee your dog in the chest, please! If you find it too difficult to ignore your dog, you can remove yourself from the room or go behind a gate, but you must do so without it become a fun game of chase. Your dog will come back harder a few times as they try to figure out why their usual method of attention-seeking isn't working, but if you stay consistent, they will ultimately give up and go grab a toy or settle down elsewhere. The behavior is intrinsically reinforcing for your dog. If you're reading the above thinking "I've tried this, and I'm still not seeing the changes I want to see", then this may be a game-changing answer for you. Some dogs are selectively bred to enjoy things like chasing, grabbing, biting, or stalking. This is what makes dogs excellent at certain jobs — police dogs, military working dogs, herding dogs, ratting dogs, etc. While we see this in herding breed dogs and terriers most frequently, it can apply to any individual dog. This doesn't mean that a dog that enjoys to bite is an aggressive dog — it just means that the dog may find the act of chasing, biting, tugging, etc. These dogs don't need these instincts "trained out of them" — that's not fair or realistic — but instead need outlets for that natural drive. Remember: many adolescent dogs need an outlet for their natural drives! Here are few things to try, in addition to the recommendations from points 1 and 2: Add a flirt pole to your daily routine, times a day. This is my favorite activity for dogs that naturally enjoy chasing, nipping, and biting, as it's an excellent outlet and easy for most dog owners to use. You can make your own, or this is our favorite one to purchase. Simply run the toy on the ground back and forth, eventually allowing your dog to grab it if she wants. We recommend using this drop technique to teach your dog to drop the toy at the end of the game. Play tug with your dog, with some rules. If your dog grabs your hand instead of the toy, game over. Teach your dog to drop the tug when asked. Use a good, sturdy tug toy like this one. The key is, you're still letting your dog know that biting people isn't appropriate, but you're also giving them an outlet for that natural instinct. For additional information and tips on puppy biting, we have another blog on the topic here. Need professional guidance on your play biting issues? We offer private and group online dog training that's accessible from anywhere in the world. More details here , or contact us. Dogs , Puppy training Alex Andes Puppy Biting: What's Normal, What's Not, and How to Curb It One of the most common issues we see poor dog training advice given for is puppy biting and mouthiness, so we're going to give you the most standardized professional advice possible for this issue. There's a reason why it's discouraged for non-professionals to give legal or medical advice to strangers on the Internet. At best, their advice could be wrong; at worst, it could it be potentially dangerous. We so wish the same rules applied to dog training advice. Puppies go through at least two fear periods in their first year of life, so when those sensitive puppy brains are involved, it's especially important to follow professional instruction! They go through an uncomfortable teething process that lasts for months. They play hard with their siblings, often using their teeth to successfully instigate play and attention. Herding breed dogs are predisposed to nip, herd, and chase small, fast-moving things. Young children often get the brunt of this behavior. Retrievers are predisposed to picking up and holding anything and everything within reach, including your hands and arms. A word on what to avoid: Above all else, avoid physical punishment when it comes to puppy biting. I have heard people given terrible albeit, well-meaning advice over the years, from squeezing your puppy's mouth shut, to pinning them on their backs, to muzzling them to stop the biting. Physical punishments like this range from silly and ineffective to cruel and downright abusive. In fact, you can create fear and aggression in your dog using these types of methods. So, what should you do about puppy biting? When you bring a puppy into your home, it's your job to create fair, consistent boundaries for unwanted behaviors, including when it comes to teeth on skin. Note: You are not putting your puppy in a time out. That involves way too much time, talking, and attention to be an effective punishment. You are either ignoring the behavior or removing yourself from it. That means play is over, fun is over, attention is over. Be as non-dramatic as possible. If the behavior is hard for you to ignore, go behind a door or baby gate where your puppy does not have access to continue nipping at you. If your puppy tries to nip at you when you return, remove yourself again. You should see a major decrease in the intensity of biting as well as the amount of biting attempts within a few days. An Important Caveat: Some puppies find the act of a person walking away reinforcing. If your puppy seems to enjoy you removing yourself as a game of chase, you can alternatively use the side of your leg not your knee, please! You may have to block them multiple times before they stop trying; don't give up! And most importantly, still avoid yelling or using your hands — bitey puppies tend to find both of these things very exciting. Remember, it's normal for young puppies to explore the world with their mouths. Things to keep in mind: Be sure to give your pup attention and praise when they are behaving nicely! All family members and guests MUST be consistent in order for this to work! Be aware that even doing everything right, this behavior may not go away entirely until months of age. Remember, this is a normal developmental period in puppies. For extra-bitey puppies, or those that are biting after months of age, this blog will help give you some additional tips and recommendations. Why Does This Work? A behavior that doesn't get reinforced will stop. Your pup will learn that we don't react to biting with play, attention, or even a negative reaction. All of these things can be fun for a puppy. Your pup will learn to self-entertain. Once they realize the nipping isn't working, they will eventually redirect themselves onto something else. Your puppy will seek out appropriate ways to get your attention, like offering a "sit" or laying at your feet. A few other suggestions: It's also important to have a management place for your puppy, such as a play pen or baby-gated bathroom. It gives you a break from your puppy, and is a calm place for your puppy to settle down if he gets too wound up. Make sure your puppy has plenty of rubbery teething toys, is getting daily exercise, and is not excessively crated. If his needs are not being met, the nipping will take longer to extinguish. Make sure your puppy is eating three meals a day. Things we may think are punishing, like pushing your puppy away, yelling at him, etc, can be considered fun, play-like behaviors for your puppy and can encourage biting. When doing the above exercise, be as quiet and calm as you can. When should you be concerned about biting in puppies? You should seek out a certified professional if your puppy: Is growling, snapping, or biting when a person comes near a resource. Food, toys, etc Stiffens and stares at the person before biting. Is consistently biting and breaking skin. Barks, growls, or nips not in play at new people entering the home. Snaps or growls at children. What if it's not getting better? Remember, we do not expect this behavior to go away entirely until at least months of age. We also need to take into consideration a dog's breed, social history, and any medical conditions that could be contributing. For example, if a puppy has an intestinal parasite that's depleting their nutritional stores, we often see an uptick in biting. For extra guidance with extremely bitey puppies, or those that are still regularly biting after 6 months of age, check out these additional tips. Need professional guidance on your puppy biting issues? We offer private and group online dog training that's accessible from anywhere in the world. More details here , or contact us.

Feeding your puppy a high-quality , complete and balanced puppy food helps set him up for a long and healthy life as an adult dog. This raises a lot of questions for first-time and even veteran puppy owners, though. How much should you feed your puppy and when? When should you stop feeding puppy food? Get answers to these questions and more in our complete puppy feeding guide below. Our experts answer your questions and offer advice to help set you and your puppy up for success. What to Feed a Puppy When it comes to feeding puppies, there are a lot of factors to consider. Overall nutrition, breed size and the type of food all play a role. Feeding puppies a complete and balanced puppy food ensures they get the proper nutrition to develop and grow into healthy adult dogs. Puppy foods are formulated with a balance of nutrients to help puppies grow up healthy and happy. Look for formulas rich in high-quality proteins to support their growing bodies. Fat and carbohydrates supply the energy active and playful puppies need, while calcium supports developing teeth and bones and DHA helps support healthy brain and vision development. If you have a large breed puppy, he may benefit from a large breed-specific puppy formula. Small breeds can also benefit from small breed-specific puppy formulas. Regardless of breed size, the food should be complete and balanced for growing puppies. The difference in formulas comes down to the unique needs of large and small breeds. Large dogs have a higher risk of developing joint problems, so a large breed puppy food should include proper levels of nutrients to support their healthy growth and development. Small breeds may prefer smaller kibble so they can more easily chew their food, which helps ensure they get all the nutrients they need. This results in a nutrient-dense, high-energy formula which adults and puppies need to support a healthy lifestyle. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy food s. This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence. You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation. How Much to Feed a Puppy Now you know what to feed your puppy, but just how much food does he need each day? A Labrador Retriever will weigh more at maturity than a Russell Terrier , for example. So, the larger dog requires more food as a puppy. The chart below can help you determine how much dry food to feed your puppy. You should also review the specific feeding instructions on the back of his puppy food and consult with your veterinarian. Puppy Feeding Chart. Naturally, Labrador puppies would require more feeding times. Hence, you should only set a few hours interval between meals. As for adult Labs, optimal feeding times would be one in the morning, afternoon, and night. Almost identical to human eating hours. Along with implementing a time frame for mealtime, owners must be open to modifying combinations of puppy food throughout the first two years of the pup. Abrupt growth spurts may bring changes in their eating habits. Once your dog reaches one year old, its dog food is enough to sustain its energy for longer. Always ensure to follow the correct feeding schedule when feeding kibble or other types of dog food to ensure nutritional requirements are met. Regardless if you have chocolate , red fox , or Dudley Labrador , make it a priority to visit a pet nutritionist to obtain an accurate feeding time and quantity specifically designed for your pooch. They help in hunting, farming, and even therapy. As such, they require an energy-loaded diet and dog foods that are rich in protein and carbohydrates to keep up with their activities. Since they belong to the large breed classification, they are also prone to common health risks such as arthritis and other joint diseases. To prevent this, scour the local pet store with dog food that contains omega fatty acids, B vitamins, beta-carotene , and amino acids. These nutrients are essential to obtain, whether from a raw food diet, home-prepared meals, or commercial dog food. Here are some of the best dog foods we recommend for your Labrador Retriever: Wet Food: Like kibble, commercially available wet dog food is common and already a complete and balanced diet for your Labrador puppy or adult dog. Its smooth texture is well-loved by purebreds and mixed breeds alike. Eating wet food that contains Docosahexaenoic acid DHA , glucosamine, and Eicosapentaenoic acid EPA helps support the condition of their joints and heart. Dry Food: When on the hunt for the most suitable dry dog food, always look for grain-free and made from whole food sources so it can easily be digested. Also, check the food labels and ensure that it has a perfect balance of carbohydrates and fats. Highly fortified and breed-specific kibble is also recommended. Homemade Food: Considering how much your adult dog or Lab puppy eats, a healthy diet made from scratch can be a great alternative to avoid obesity. Just mix everything together with a little water to incorporate them better. Furthermore, this diet opts for low sodium content. Owners should include fish and flaxseed oil, carrots, eggs, liver, and beans into the raw puppy food diet. Since Labrador Retrievers are energetic and active dogs, it is best to give them a moderate to high-fat diet. As long as they are able to exercise daily, they can easily work it off and avoid being overweight. However, if they are more on the lax side, adjust their food intake from low to moderate calories. If they cannot burn off the calories, enroll them in a low-fat or low-protein diet instead. Excessive carbs can increase their blood sugar and may put your dogs at risk for diabetes. It may take extra time and effort, but the investment will definitely pay off. Once you learn the appropriate feeding pattern, then having a healthy dog with strong joints and a better digestive and immune system is easily attainable. That includes sharing our belongings, space, and most especially, our food. However, the American Kennel Club reminds owners to be aware of what human food is safe for dogs. In this section, you will learn which foods are okay for consumption and which food can harm our Labrador Retrievers. Physically, it can block their esophagus if not chewed properly. Moreover, some may also contain salt that can be fatal to their heart. Chocolate: Chocolate in any other form should not be given to dogs. Chocolate has toxic substances called methylxanthines that put a stop to their metabolic process. It can still be toxic even in the smallest amount as it may cause diarrhea or vomiting. Garlic and Allium Plants: Alliums such as garlic, chives, leeks, and onions are not good for dog consumption. Although regularly seen across social media, feeding your pooch ice cream is not recommended. It contains loads of sugar, and some dogs may be lactose intolerant as well. As an alternative, owners can always freeze berries and apples as a regular icy treat. On the contrary, here are some of the most friendly human foods for all dogs, including Labrador Retrievers: Milk: Milk is a great supplement of other nutrients for dogs. Just be mindful that your dog is not lactose intolerant. It should only be given in small quantities as a treat. Popcorn: On a movie night, dogs can also munch on popcorn. However, ensure that it is unsalted, unflavored, and air-popped. In moderation, it is a good source of thiamine and riboflavin for eyesight. Remove any unpopped kernels to avoid choking. Seafood: In addition, seafood such as salmon and shrimp contain good fats and are high in antioxidants. Seafood boosts their immune system and brain health. Be sure to thoroughly cook salmon, fish, and shrimp all the way through to avoid parasites. Eggs: Eggs are also safe for dogs so long as they are also cooked well. Cheese: Cheese can also be given to dogs in moderate quantities. Go for low-fat cheese as a treat. Mozzarella and cottage cheese are some that can be fully enjoyed by dogs without the fat guilt. A small amount of prohibited food is not worth an emergency trip to a vet. Throughout their life stages, a dog will not just undergo one food switch. Age, health, and other factors can fuel a change in their diet. As stated earlier, an abrupt change in their food will only cause an upset stomach and indigestion. There are a couple of reasons to switch food. Add the new food into each meal gradually and reduce the portion of their current food. This method can also be followed when changing from dry kibble to raw feeding and vice versa. Some reasons for change can be prompted by age. Different life stages will require different nutritional requirements for your dog. Other reasons may be caused by allergies, brand availability, and weight management. It is still best to consult your trusted vet about changing their overall food regimen. They just enjoy feeding their pooch with tons of food and love seeing them get fat. However, that is not considered proper care for them. Experienced dog breeders know precisely what an overweight dog looks like and how to feed them properly. Labradors are known for their love of food. They are incapable of switching off their hunger signals even after eating. As a result, Labs have a higher number of overweight dogs in the United States. Like with other dogs, overfeeding a dog can lead to obesity. Thankfully, there are ways to address this and protect the health of our pooch in the long run. An eye-opening first step is to have a handy Labrador food guide. Having this will help you gauge the correct amount of food your dog needs depending on its age and other factors as well. Log what they eat and how much they eat during each meal. Calculating their calorie intake is also helpful for medical purposes and when switching food. Furthermore, avoid feeding overweight dogs table scraps. Many owners are guilty of this habit. Much like table scraps, it is also best to limit dog treats. Entice dogs with treats only on special occasions and during training. These are just some of the simple things you can do to control an overweight pooch. When it comes to other methods, it is always advisable to speak with your vet. Dogs lose their appetite due to some reasons. Do Labrador Retrievers Eat a lot? Yes, Labrador Retrievers are a food-motivated breed. This is why owners need to control their food intake. Can Labrador Retrievers Eat Bones? Bones are a good source of minerals, so they can be good for Labrador Retrievers. However, it may come with serious physical trade-offs. Give only large, raw bones and supervise them from time to time. Dispose of the bone after 3 to 4 days. Can Labrador Retrievers Be Vegetarians? Yes, Labrador Retrievers can thrive with a proper vegetable diet in place. In fact, soy and other whole grains are perfect substitutes for meat for protein. However, a vegetarian diet is something that needs professional input from vets. Final Thoughts Labs are the most popular dog breed in the United States. Thus, there are a lot of available materials on how to take care of and feed this easy-going pooch properly. For starters, it is highly recommended to have a Labrador feeding schedule to guide you with the amount and frequency of feeding. Although Labrador food is accessible for purchase anywhere, you can also introduce them in a raw diet or homemade meals. Regardless of what type of food you choose to give, you need to ensure to feed your dog a complete diet that supports their growth and overall health. As an owner, it is a big responsibility to provide them with only the best, so these high-spirited companions can have a happy and longer life. Will you follow this Labrador food guide? What are your feeding methods with your pooch? Share and comment your thoughts below! My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. Made with real meat and no artificial colors or flavors how much should a lab eat? Allergies Labs can also have allergies. Some dogs may be allergic to wheat, macadamia nuts, etc. It can manifest as a runny nose, high volumes of shedding, rashes on the skin, and so on. Different dietary needs are crucial, especially if they display allergy symptoms. Avoid all types of human foods. You can give your lab puppy supplements You can get great quality adult dog food and puppy kibble from companies like Royal Canin Labrador Retriever, Blue Buffalo, Canidae Grain-Free, etc. Only adult food must be given to labrador retrievers who have crossed 1. Your puppy needs 4 small meals consisting of half a cup of food per meal till he is 2 months old. From 2 to 6 months, he needs 3 meals daily consisting of 1 cup of food per meal. From 6 months onwards , you can give your puppy 2 meals daily of 2 cups of dog food per meal. Is This A Problem? Yes, this is a major problem! Fat dogs are adorable but also extremely unhealthy. An adult labrador retriever should weigh at most pounds. Labs that are fatter than this stand at the risk of obesity, arthritis , and other lifelong diseases. Refrain from feeding your labrador too many dog treats. Onions and garlic: surprisingly, anything in the onion and garlic family is incredibly toxic to dogs. Meat with bones: if not chewed properly, sharp edges can rupture the throat, stomach lining, intestines, and other parts of the digestive tract. Other human foods and beverages to avoid giving your dog are alcohol, sugar, citric fruits, and anything with caffeine. Your labrador retriever should weigh between 55 to 70 pounds at full adulthood. Male labs are heavier than female labs, so they can fall on either side of the optimal weight spectrum. Some healthy treats for your labrador retriever are cut fruits and vegetables. Carrots, celery, cucumber, beetroot, apples, bananas, and berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, etc. Dogs also love peanut butter! Veggies dipped in peanut butter also make a great snack for your dog. This is entirely up to you as dog owners. If you have the time and patience to cook meals for your dog, go for it. Store-bought food is easier and is filled with the right nutritional requirements for your lab puppy. On the other hand, with the right recipe, home-cooked food works, too. What Should I Do? A dog growling at you when you go near his food bowl is most commonly a trauma response or a way to protect his food. We often see this with rescues. House training your lab puppy is equally important to avoid food aggression. Labrador Retrievers get piddly after their meals. Dog owners must take out their lab puppy as frequently as they eat sometimes even more often to let their energy out and adult labradors less frequently. A lab puppy needs a ton of exercise. The amount of kibble you should feed your Labrador puppy will vary depending on their age, weight, and activity level. A good rule of thumb is to start with cups of kibble daily and adjust as needed. Best Dog Food For Lab Puppies: The best dog foods for lab puppies include those that are high in protein and low in fillers. The food you should feed a black lab puppy is the same as for any other Labrador puppy. A chocolate lab puppy should be fed the same food as for any other Labrador puppy. A 2-year-old chocolate lab should eat about cups of kibble daily. You should stop feeding puppy food to your Labrador at around months of age. At this point, their growth plates will have closed, and they will no longer need the extra nutrients found in puppy food. Labradors live for years. They start to slow down around 7 and may develop some health problems in their senior years. You should also increase their exercise level. Lab breeders feed their dogs high-quality dog food specifically formulated for large-breed puppies. A lab puppy should drink about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily. This amount may increase as they get older and more active. A labrador needs at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. This can be a combination of walking, running, and playing. Golden labs live for years. Chocolate labs live for years same like labs of any color. Labradors lose their baby teeth between 3 and 6 months of age. You can start to transition your puppy to eating twice a day at around 6 months of age. By the time they are 1 year old, they should eat only once daily. You should stop feeding your large breed puppy food at around 18 months of age. Why Are Labs So Hungry? Labradors are a very active breed of dog, and they need a lot of calories to fuel their energy levels. They are also prone to gaining weight, so keep a close eye on their food intake About The Author Shradha Kabra Shradha is a seasoned writer at Labradorandyou. Her experience as a pet owner and dog enthusiast drives her to create meticulously researched and fact-checked content, offering valuable insights on Labrador training, grooming, and health. Each article reflects Shradha's passion and dedication, enriched by personal experiences with her beloved Labradors, Tom, and Kurt. Whether exploring breed-specific training techniques or providing product reviews, Shradha ensures Labrador owners receive the most accurate, up-to-date, and trustworthy information, aimed at enhancing their companions' health and happiness. The source of protein matters when considering a high-quality diet. FATS The rest of the diet should be made up of fats, carbs, and vitamins. Labs need to have a correct protein -to-fat ratio, where protein takes the lead. Dogs tend to convert fat into glucose, so this is an important source of energy. Dogs rely mostly on protein and fats, but carbs are necessary. That said, a low carb diet is best for puppies. However, you still need the right percentage of carbs, since this gives your dog the sensation of being full. These include starches, fibers, and sugars. Try to opt for more complex carbs like starchy grain and veggies because these are easier to digest. Your Lab puppy will thrive when his or her diet includes: Vitamin B12 especially during puppy development , Vitamins A and E, C, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium, Potassium Each of these required vitamins and minerals contributes to a healthy, happy, and energetic puppy. They also help offset issues like obesity. Vitamins A and E are important because they help your dog burn calories and promote eye and skin health. Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, on the other hand, are part of a trifecta that works to strengthen teeth and bones. Potassium is a heart health-preserver. Labs with poor genetics are especially prone to orthopedic issues. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are common health problems for this breed. Glucosamine, an amino-sugar, together with chondroitin sulfate, helps replace and support naturally degrading cartilage during old age. Recently,"grain-free" foods are being championed as a preferred and even high-quality form of dog food. That's, not the whole story. An investigation launched by the FDA revealed that there are potential links between a form of canine heart disease and grain-free foods. So far, researchers have provided an update to this researchers have provided an update to this research staring that the issue may not just be grain-free diets. Grain-free may be part of other trends knows as "BEG"- boutique companies. Puppy diets don't' need to be complicated. They also don't need to include ingredients that humans might enjoy. Enjoyment doesn't necessarily bring any nutritional value to your puppy's development. Keep it simple, using the guidelines for fats, proteins, and carbs above and don't shy away from food with grains in them. It's not their presence that's a problem it's often the ratio. There shouldn't be more carbs or grains than protein. Nor does including only legumes, seeds, lentils, or chickpeas as the primary ingredients make the food more superior. It's perfectly healthy to include complex carb sources like starchy rice and other grains. Grain-free isn't and shouldn't be a qualifying factor for your choice in puppy food. Feeding Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is dried, pelleted food that stores well is easy to eat, and is pre-formulated with everything your puppy needs to thrive and grow in his early developmental months. There are plenty of popular brands that don't measure up to the Snowy Pines standard. That's why it's so vital for you to learn how to read puppy food labels. Puppies should stick with "puppy stage" food, while adults should stick to bags marked "adults. Instead, your dog should have regular bowel movements, allowing them to absorb all the nutrients available. You should also keep in mind that caloric intake is calculated a little differently for puppies. Kibble diets are measured by how many calories the proteins, fats, and carbs represent for each gram. For puppies, this should be 3. Sticking to these ratios will help ensure your kibble choice is a healthy one. It's also important to note that kibble calories are often higher when compared to wet food. If it's high-quality wet food, it won't have as much fat to preserve it, which means fewer calories. You may have to supplement with dry food, especially if you're trying to keep the calories of carbs, proteins, and fats in the right per-gram ratio. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. Although I am not a veterinarian myself, I have been a lab owner for 11 years and been in the pet food industry for the last 6 years. However, if this is not the case for your pupper, no need to worry. Be sure not to feed normal cerelac or cow milk as that will result in loose motion as well as stunted growth. At this tender age, you need to feed your lab pup via feeding bottle like you would feed a human baby of age 2 months. Milk is the only food apart from purified water which your dog is gonna need till 1. After this age, till 3 months you have two options. You can either continue with milk or look at starter food options like Royal Canin Maxi starter , Drools starter, Farmina Puppy Starter, Canine Creek Starter , Orijen puppy and plenty of other brands which are available in the market. The kibble for starter food is small and most probably, your puppy will be able to chew it. Certain dry food can be extremely hard to chew, so depending on the toughness of the kibble you might have to break i. Puppies of age 1. You should be following this diet of starter food till 3 months age at least. Also, make sure you are vaccinating as well as deworming your pup at the right intervals. So, a proper nutritious diet is essential to achieve good growth. You can either go for Royal Canin Maxi Junior or Royal Canin Labrador Junior or puppy variants of other brands like drools, canine creek, Orijen Puppy and Junior Recommended , Acana large breed puppy, pedigree not recommended at this age. If you are giving a good diet like Royal Canin, farmina or even home-made food, growth should be good. For those who can extend their budget, you can go for something even more premium like Acana, Orijen, Arden Grange and the likes. No need to add additional supplements. If you are feeding home-made food like boiled chicken which itself is a very good food option, consider adding some fish oils like Beaphar Salmon Oil. However, a good diet is recommended to ensure a good life span above 12 years and muscle development. Homemade food can be a healthy option as well. Feeding guide amount to feed in grams depends on dog weight and varies from brand to brand. You will find the recommended portion for your brand based on the calories it carries on the packet you will buy. At other times, you can give chews or treats but whole meal should be fed not more than twice a day. Do not keep food available in front of the dog except during his eating time. However, you can keep water available in a bowl all the time. Sticking to schedule regularly is recommended. Wait, till now we have been speaking about commercial dry food. Yes, this happens to many dogs. While some dogs like pugs are voracious eaters, labs or goldens can be extremely choosy. They will eat whatever liquid you put in the feeding bottle at this age. However, once puppies mature and learn to eat themselves, they may not like dry food, rarely touch it. In these cases, the best option is to first add a home-made additive with the dry food. You may add many things dog like in small quantities of chicken stalk, chicken pieces boneless for puppies , curd, egg and others to the dry food. Changing or trying out another brand helps as well. I have seen many dogs who hate Drools but like Canine Creek although they are manufactured by same company. Every dog has a mind of his own. Most common diseases of Indian bred dogs like canine hyp dysplasia, ear infections, bent hind legs can happen to any dog. Take your dog to a registered veterinary practitioner in case such situations arise. Lack of appetite is also observed during this age at times. For not-so-severe cases, you may administer Himalaya Liv52 syrup or tabs or other appetite stimulants of various brands twice a day for days. In case, your dog has gastrointestinal disorders, referring to a prescription diet under the guidance of a veterinarian can be immensely helpful. This entry was posted in Pet Blog. Bookmark the permalink. You are planning to adopt a Labrador puppy, or already are a proud pet parent of one, you must be anxious about how best to assure optimum growth and health to your pup. This piece of writing is an attempt to give you some useful information about the kind of food which you can feed and also about how best you can feed it. In earlier times, the breed was mostly utilized and appreciated for being a versatile hunter. It can hunt on land as well as water; besides, this intelligent dog is a possessor of a gentle temperament, which makes it easily fit into the role of a friendly family dog. Types of Dog food Broadly speaking, the food for your pet is available in three forms — Wet, Dry and Raw. Wet food is the commercially manufactured food which offers chunks of meat, with or without gravy, with added vitamins, minerals and other important elements to make it nutritionally complete and balanced. Dry food consists of pellets called kibbles of food, which are easy to store and convenient to serve. The ready-made food bits meant for puppies consist of nutrients in the right proportions to support a healthy growth. Raw diet consists of raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables. There are benefits and risks involved in administering a raw diet, which one should be aware of before adopting a fully raw diet. You may go for dry, wet or raw diet, or a combination of them. You may also consult your vet to guide in case you are confused about your choices. Labradors are always hungry and that is because of their huge appetites. As a pet owner you need to monitor the amount of food they eat, as their greed for food can easily drive them towards obesity, and consequently towards various diseases. Commercially made food Many companies categorize their foods on the basis of life stage puppy, adult, senior , breed large, medium or small , or may offer pet food specifically targeting a particular breed like Royal Canin Labrador Junior , which seeks to take care of a Labrador dog up to 15 months of age. The formulation of diets like this are based on the assumption that all pure breed dogs have their unique needs, which if addressed would bring the dog to an optimum level of health. Information from the breeders If you have brought the puppy from a breeder, then he would supply you a diet routine which needs to be followed, some food or may be some information regarding feeding. Follow it religiously for some days to give some sort of familiar touch to the puppy that is undergoing the stress of being separated from its mother and siblings. In absence of any information from the breeder, best thing would be to consult a vet. Milk for the puppy? Beware of confusing food labels Learn how to read a food label. The food label is given in decreasing order, making the first ingredient the biggest element in the food. That is why it is very important to know what the first two or three ingredients of the food are. Ideally, the first element of any dog food should be a specific kind of meat like chicken, duck, beef ; meat-by-product, meat or animal should not be mentioned on the package as they present an ambiguous picture. Leftover of slaughter houses can find its way to your dog food, something which cannot be classed in the category of healthy and complete food. So if you care for your dog, be aware and make the right selection. Water Make sure that water is available to the puppies at all times of the day, except for one hour before sleeping time. Divide the daily diet The daily dietary requirement of your Labrador pup should be properly divided into portions of meal to be fed at regular intervals. This would help in managing digestion and for keeping its overall health at a good level. You can begin by feeding four meals a day to your 8 to 12 weeks old puppy, and have a time marked for each. Have a gap of at least 3 hours in between each meal so that the little doggie is able to digest it well. Two meals a day is also something which most dog owners continue to feed even after the dog grows up. Feeding your dog once a day after 12 months of age can work as long as you feed it raw meat. The dry kibbles tend to swell once the dog drinks water, and this may cause bloating and also damage its stomach, hence is strictly not recommended. Teach the dog to eat at meal times Your dog would learn to eat the food when it is offered to it if you take back the bowl after a specific interval of time, say 15 to 20 minutes. Household scraps Avoid giving leftovers from your own meals to your puppy, unless you have enough knowledge and experience in dealing with the nutritional requirements of a growing canine. The nutritional needs of your puppy are different than that of humans; also it may differ from one breed of dog to another. The growing pup needs complete and balanced diet to achieve its potential growth, otherwise lifelong disabilities or problems can find easy entry into its life. As, your heartfelt, but nutritionally lacking edible additions might unbalance the diet of your dog. How much to feed? How much food to feed your dog each day is something no one can precisely tell. But the guidelines on the package of the food you are feeding, along with your observation of how the dog is doing with the quantity fed, would help you decide an adequate quantity. The important thing to remember is that the dog should neither be too fat or too slim. Following some instructions related to diet, regular appointments with vet, observing the puppy and showering it with lots and lots of love would give such environment to the little canine in which it would thrive. About Petsworld Team The blog editor of Pets World is a pet aficionado and fervently follows her pet-obsession. A pet parent to animals big and small for the past two decades. The sum of all experiences gathered is an amalgamation of useful knowledge and research. More like this.

Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Florida Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Florida? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Florida? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Handler and dog must work together to have a successful outcome. The pinnacle accomplishment for any dog running in field trials is to earn a Field Champion FC title designation or an Amateur Field Champion AFC designation — or for some, it might be both. Your dog runs, finds them, and retrieves them as quickly as he can while responding to hand signals or whistles from you or your handler. Contestants are judged on various traits they are born with including a strong memory for marks, intelligence, perseverance, and more. Section 7. Master Hunting Test. Dogs shall be tested in a minimum of five hunting situations as follows: multiple land marks, multiple water marks, multiple marks on water and land, a land blind and a water blind at least one that shall be a double blind in any combination. There shall be at least three series. At least one of the series shall include a walk-up. The 3 falls must be presented before a dog is sent to retrieve any mark or blind. During a double set of marks 2 falls Master judges shall include additional elements of testing, i. Train ability must be evaluated more stringently than in Senior Hunting Tests. While distance is not crucial, Master Hunting situations are more severe and difficult than Senior Hunting situations. A dog that displays unwillingness must be scored relatively lower on Marking and Perseverance than in the Senior Hunting Test. A dog that goes to the area of the fall and finds the bird unaided shall be scored appreciably higher than a dog that must be handled to a bird. Master Hunting dogs must exhibit those qualities expected in a truly finished and experienced hunting companion. The five qualifying progeny must earn a combined total of 48 points. Two of the five required progeny MAY have a combination of a six point title and a five point title or two six point titles. Points are not cumulative within a category and only the highest achievement earned in each category is recognized. Additional points may be earned by qualifying progeny. All titles below the five point level will only count towards the OS if earned by already qualified progeny. Should the titles of the five qualifying progeny not total 48 points, then additional points including those titles worth less than five points may be counted for those dogs already recognized as qualifying progeny by the point value of other titles earned. GRCA will not track the accumulation of points, only titles. Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Texas Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Texas? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Texas? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Best Golden Retriever Breeder in Colorado? Well, we will let you be the judge, but we love our dogs like family and treat them as such. We do not over breed our dogs or participate in any crossbreeding tactics or exotic dog types. We are Golden Retriever lovers, enthusiasts, and protectors. Every dog is like family to us. While we are happy to entrust our puppies to loving families, we do have a puppy acquisition process in order to ensure our high quality dogs are delivered to warm homes that are able to care for our dogs properly. Every puppy we sell is depending on us to properly screen new owners, so please understand we take this seriously. This also protects your interests and maintains high standards for you as well. All puppies MUST be picked up in person. No exceptions. Golden Retriever Lovers Welcome! If you have a wonderful home for one of our puppies, we would love to hear from you. Whether you want a family retriever or a specialty dog for hunting, we will help find the exact fit for you. Many times there is a waiting list so apply early! If you are just getting started and would like to discuss our process, we are also eager to hear from you. Contact Us Today! Look at the current breedings or litters we have or are upcoming and fill out our contact form specifying what breeding you are interested in. Before puppies are born we only take deposits on the first pick, second, and possibly third picks on both males and females. After puppies are born and all spots are filled you will be told what pick you have. Get ready to welcome a lovely puppy that will bring all the love and affection. Tucker is now 3 born and is my best companion. Tucker is the quintessential Golden, beautiful, faithful, active, family-oriented, and geez I cannot come up with enough good things to say. Tucker is my soulmate. He makes me smile every day. If I feel bad he cares and comes to comfort me. He is so wonderful. My parents adopted another Slater Creek Golden, different parents, and she is phenomenal. So beautiful and sweet. Slater Creek Goldens are all love, loyalty and so much fun. Linda — you and your pups are my favorite ppl! Linda you will be in my heart forever. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article.

We make sure that happens by making sure they are properly dewormed, that they see the vet for a full health exam, have their shot administered by a licensed vet, and are loved on lots by our family so they acclimate well to their new one! We stand behind the health of our puppies with a 1 Year Health Guarantee. Thank you! He is so perfect and child. She has a fantastic temperament, is amazing with toddlers, infant and senior chihuahuas, and is unbelievably smart and trainable! I love my Penny girl! We now have our new Goldendoodle Finnegan. He just turned 4 months old and he is just a dream come true! I truly recommend Golden Acres to anyone that wants a healthy, and happy puppy. Thank you for an amazing puppy! We love him! Liz was so easy to work with and we got the most wonderful puppy. Our mini Goldendoodle is good natured, healthy and was easy to train. I highly recommend Golden Acres if you are looking for a healthy well raised puppy. We bought an F1b Goldendoodle there in .You can trust them to provide you a great puppy! We will definitely return to them when we are ready for another puppy. We make your puppy adoption process easy! Just follow these three easy steps and you'll have your new puppy safe and sound in no time. Step 1 Find the perfect Golden Retriever puppy! Browse through the puppies on our website or contact us if you don't see what you're looking for. Step 2 Pick up your puppy or we'll bring it to you! We can arrange a convenient meeting place or we can hand deliver your new puppy right to your home. Step 3 Bond with your new puppy. We're here to help! If you have any health-related questions or tips on getting your new puppy used to his new home just let us know! Check out some of the feedback we've gotten from our adopting puppy parents below. Christina Ortiz August 22, At first I was skeptical due to so many scans out there. Also my puppy came from an Amish family in Ohio so requested cash only and landline communication only. I drove miles and took my chances and they were so communicative and really nice family. They answered all my concerns and so did Gold Star Pups and would respond within the hour. My puppy been check by the vet and is healthy and well and super loving and sweet. I ended up changing his name from Prince to Miles because it took Miles to get this little guy. Thank you so much and have already recommended this site to others. He has been such a joy and he even goes to work with me! Easy process for purchasing. I had no issues at all. Ashley Barns August 21, thank you soooo much gold star puppies! Karen Zeigler August 14, I was concerned about buying a dog on line, but I quickly learned that Lancaster puppies only use reputable stores, not puppy mills. Gold Star was helpful, trustworthy, and did everything they promised. My puppy is smart, and healthy. She is sound minded and I absolutely love her. Sharon Secrest August 14, Gold Star puppies is the best! They walked us through each step on purchasing our forever puppy We highly recommend them! Thank-you Gold Star! The process was very easy! I had him delivered to Arizona. The delivery service guys were great on updating me when they would be arriving. Leo is been great and is adjusting well! Thanks gold star pups! Madison Chrisman June 12, We love our sweet puppy we got! Gold Star pups is a "middle man" for the Amish breeder. However, our little puppy came from a very nice farm and super nice people. She was exactly what we thought she would be. These people were very nice and professional and worked with me on price and pick up. I would definitely buy another puppy from here. Here is our sweet Rue, a mini bernadoodle! He came to us healthy and happy and we are surprised at what he knows, from fetching a ball to potty training. .Highly recommend working with them if you are looking for an awesome puppy. Janette Mac February 21, She is so adorable. .I got my 2nd fur baby from gold star pups LLC and we are so happy with everything. .Looking forward to get our next fur baby's soon!!! They made everything so easy and took care of everything needed to get our puppy home. Thank you Gold Star Pups for this adorable addition to our family. We might have another breed of puppy that would also be a perfect fit for you! Check out all our gorgeous pups and give us a call if you need any help. Welcome to Goldenstar Goldens Louisville, KY We have been breeding and raising goldens in our Kentucky home for over 35 years while showing in conformation, agility and obedience. The show quality goldens we breed all have four genetic clearances hips, elbows, hearts and eyes. Puppies are placed in loving pet family homes. We call them the velcro dogs… because they always want to be with you. Bobby lost his battle and I lost my husband of 30 years on September 20, .The last six months took ever ounce of my soul trying to be a good caregiver, and the last 21 days where …well there just are no words. So please bare with me as I try to find my life again. I can tell you that my dogs have been my salvation through all of this. They have given me purpose and filled a very sad heart with love. I would not be here without them. My golden family has grown to eight!!! These two have kept me on my toes to say the least, but they have also been so good for each other… Bella Stanley x Emmy joined the family in , and then in Skye joined the family. For what seemed a very brief moment I had eight goldens that I loved and cherished…then the most heart breaking thing happened… May 16, , I lost my precious heart boy, Toby! I will share the story on his page…. I am devastated! He and I were on a cloud that day… January , first time ever I have sent one of my girls Gabi out with professional handlers to enjoy the show ring. I was fortunate to get her first two points and put an International Champion title on her. Well, I have not been let down. She also has 20 Grand Champion points to date!!!!! Shows were cancelled and it took time to be able to get him out again. Deacon had all but three points to finish his title when I had the opportunity to send Deacon and Skye out with Carrie once again. Even winning grand champion points before coming home. Deacon even took a Best of Breed. The day Skye and Deacon both had Major wins!! Deacon finishes his championship. .Skye is close behind! Enjoy our site and our pictures. Road trip!!!!! Knoxville, TN November, .We have answers. It's a simple process. Just start looking through all of the adorable pups listed. Maybe an adorable Golden Retriever for sale in Louisville you see will tug at your heartstrings. Contact its breeder. Get any questions answered and then you can talk about transportation. That's it! That pup will soon be in your home. What makes Uptown different from other places with Louisville Golden Retrievers for sale? Even if you could visit all of the Golden Retriever breeders in Louisville, that would still only allow you to see a fraction of the potential pups available through Uptown. We've assembled an unrivaled network of the nation's top breeders and businesses to give you a safe and secure place to pick out that perfect pup. Does Uptown have the cheapest Golden Retriever puppies for sale in Louisville? And be very wary of extreme bargains when looking for a four-legged friend. The "cheapest" puppies often come from puppy mills and backyard breeders. These folks have no business breeding pups and contribute to health problems in canines. You could very well pay with veterinary bills later if you get a "cheap" puppy from one of these breeders. What is a backyard breeder? On the opposite end of the spectrum from puppy mills, large-scale operations, backyard breeders are amateurs who breed dogs on the side. Some may have good intentions. Others may not. But they rarely have the skills or the facilities needed for doing the difficult work of properly breeding and caring for puppies. How do I know the Golden Retriever puppies Louisville breeders offer are healthy? Each of the Louisville Golden Retriever breeders and companies we allow into our network offer comprehensive nose-to-tail health checks. They can examine everything from your puppy's ears, eyes, and teeth to respiratory, circulatory, and gastrointestinal systems. You can get documented proof of your puppy's health! Is a Golden Retriever considered a "designer dog? For example, if you stir up a little romance between a Golden Retriever and a Siberian Husky you end up with a darling Goberian. Uniqueness makes designer dogs quite popular! Are Golden Retriever puppies in Louisville available for in-person pickups? Each of the Golden Retriever breeders Louisville has often have differing policies on transportation. So you can contact them directly about how to best go about the transfer. In speaking with them, you can also get lots of other information, about your puppy's health, history, diet, milestones, and much more. What should I feed my Golden Retriever? Should you select one of the Golden Retrievers for sale in Louisville listed on the site -- think protein! High-quality kibble often has sufficient protein, and aids with dental hygiene. Just be sure the protein comes from meat or fish and not meat by-products. Where did the Golden Retriever puppies for sale Louisville has originate? All of the Golden Retrievers for sale Louisville has today owe a bark of gratitude to Lord Tweedmouth we're not making that title up! In the mids, the Scottish aristocrat set out to create the perfect hunting companion with a breeding program that first crossed a Tweed Water Spaniel with a Yellow Flatcoated Retriever. Couldn't I just get a Golden Retriever Louisville shelters have? We love dogs and the reputable shelters that care for them. And we don't compete with shelters, as we're very different. Information is one key difference. Shelter dogs can be mysteries in terms of health and behavioral histories. But any Golden Retriever for sale Louisville breeders and businesses list with us comes with extensive info. OH MY!!! GRRAND was contacted by a shelter that feared bringing Athena and her pups into their shelter, because they were going to have to euthanize them all upon intake due of lack of space!! It took a village, but they are all safe, bathed and in foster homes! They all apparently lived in a barn stall, never leaving it, and standing on a ton of feces, which they were covered in when they arrived. Some of the pups are terrified, having lived in the barn stall, with no socialization, all their lives and are going to need families with a lot of patience! Kane known as Charles and Penelope are in the same foster home and here is what she has to say about them: "They are definitely more settled in now and some personality is starting to slowly show. Getting used to people is completely new for them and it shows, as you know. However, they both get excited, happy and eager when any of my dogs come around. Miss P or Charles have no issues with appetite, wrestling with each other, tolerate baths and the more exposure to odd things they have, I think they will turn into a very sweet and great dogs. Be in the lookout for the famous side eye he throws! He loves belly rubs and takes better to being held than his sister. Interested applicants should expect these puppies to be big, and you should be prepared for that sweet and independent Great Pyrenees personality… to know the Great Pyr breed is to love them, but they are not Goldens, and we suggest you do some research on this beautiful breed before applying! These puppies all will need a secure above ground fenced yard as Great Pyrs love to be in their yard to protect and patrol, and this happens best when they are in a secure space! GRRAND policies stipulate a few important things that may stop you from applying, and here are 2 big ones- A: GRRAND will NOT place a puppy under the age of 6 months with families with children under 6 yrs old B: Any applicant with children under the age of 16, will require a home with direct access to a securely fenced yard… meaning direct access to the yard from the home… so this means no apartments or condos. As with all puppies, they will need a home where someone is home most of the time as they need to be fed regularly, and let to go outside consistently and constantly ALL DAY LONG so potty training can be a breeze. They will be looking for a home with a fenced in yard and a family with LOTS of time and patience to socialize and work with a puppy so they can grow up to be good pups! It is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work, and if you don't have the time, an active and non-stop playful puppy may not be for you! Families must understand there needs to be constant supervision as children of all ages need to learn to respect an animal and puppies, and need to be taught boundaries. We are excited these pups will finally get to know what a nice soft bed, in a warm and cozy home with a loving family is all about!

Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Our home-based, family-owned Australian Labradoodle breeding program is located about 50 miles northwest of Chicago. We are committed to breeding authentic, multigenerational Australian Labradoodles with bloodlines originating from the two breeding research centers in Australia, Rutland Manor and Teagan Park. Multigen Australian Labradoodles are consistently non-shedding, allergy and asthma friendly, loving, calm, intuitive and at times quite comical. All of these qualities make them wonderful family companions as well as excellent therapy and service dogs. Raising puppies is a lot of fun but it is also a lot of work!! As a breeder, it is our responsibility to make the most of our puppy's critical growth periods and introduce them to as many new sights, sounds, smells and situations as possible. At birth, days 3 to 16 with Bio Sensor Stimulation, and right through to the day you take your new fur baby home we are handling and socializing our puppies. Ultimately, it is our goal is to provide you with a healthy, well socialized, intelligent, lovable, easily trained doodle that will be a joyful addition to your family for many years to come. The main goal of Brightstar Labradoodles is to introduce and produce healthy, intelligent, and loyal dogs that go far beyond what you expect from a dog. Their puppies receive daily socialization to ensure that they are well-rounded, confident, and affectionate. They also receive lots of love from the family so that their children can learn how to interact with them properly. They provide a genetic health guarantee for all of their labradoodle dogs and lifetime support for their customers. All Labradoodle breeders in this article except Brightstar Labradoodles are accredited with ALAA, so you can rest assured that their pups are healthy. They also take responsibility for the Labradoodles they raise before they can be taken home, making sure their families give them all the love and care they need before settling into their new homes. If you are looking for a labradoodle puppy, it is highly recommended to purchase one from an accredited breeder. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. These days I have two adorable fuzzy rascals around me, that ensures I get plenty of exercise and laughter throughout my day! Legal Information The owner of this site, LabradoodleHome. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Labradoodle Home does not intend to provide veterinary advice. All articles and posts are aimed at giving users a better understanding of their dogs. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Amazon OneLink. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Mahomet Illinois and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. Contact Ericas doodles is committed to helping our families bring a new family member into their lives. We have decided because families are struggling to stretch their dollars but still want to bring joy into their families we are reducing our prices effectively immediately. We have been professionally breeding Doodles over 20 years. We know this doodle breed inside and out. We are also state-licensed we are not a backyard breeder we stand behind our dogs. We are 45 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago. We are a family of 6 that loves the doodle breeds. My husband, myself and my 4 children are all involved in the daily care of our beautiful dogs. We have researched and selected the best quality dogs for our breeding program. Our dogs get lots of free time with our children to run free on our ten beautiful acres. Our puppies are raised in our home underfoot and get handled from the day they are born. We truly believe that our children are very instrumental in helping with the daily socializing of our babies. Socialization is the key for puppies developing into the lifelong companions that families can be proud to own. Our goal is to breed the most beautiful and healthy puppies that will bring happiness and joy in any family. I went to meet Mike to talk about an upcoming litter and Bailey was sitting by herself. I pretty much changed my mind and wanted her immediately. She was introduced to a 6 year old cocker spaniel with and IVDD condition and they became best friends. Great Temperament, Incredibly smart and absolutely beautiful addition to my family. Mike has been following up since I got her checking to see if I had any issues. His training packet was detailed and if you follow the crate training and feeding regiment you will have no problems. Angelica I brought home an F2 labradoodle from here. My pups has already learned several commands within a few weeks of having him. The breeder has plenty of space for the pups and you can tell that there is a lot of care put into the environment. My dog has a great temperament and deals with people well. Upon the first meeting my pups was excited to greet people you can tell he had been socialized well. Mike does well with communication and answers any questions. Highly recommended! Javier Sanchez Got my black lab from Mike trained. He is very good and is comfortable with a crate, walking and great temperament. Overall an awesome dog from a great breeder! Maura Eaton My 12 year old son did all the research on Mike and his company. He had 5 star reviews across the board. Once we saw the picture of Zoey, a Chocolate Labradoodle, we knew we had to meet her. Mike's business is clean, the dogs are all loved by him and well trained. Zoey was Stage 1 trained. This is my first dog as an adult and Mike was excellent in providing advice and recommendations. After we adopted Zoey, Mike would periodically check-in on how Zoey was adjusting to her new family and home. As you can see in the pictures, she is very happy. Mike knew her personality well - smart, sweet and social. A perfect fit and addition to our family. He worked on training with the puppy before we brought him home, which was a big help in the adjustment! I would recommend Mike to anyone looking for a labradoodle puppy. Our puppy has been the best addition to our family and we have enjoyed working with Mike. John Schmadeke We were looking for a labradoodle puppy from a reputable and experienced breeder. Mike was super helpful, and we really appreciated that he cared so much about things like genetics and DNA testing for the dogs. Mike has always been available to answer our questions and to give advice. Tom Riniker We found Mike to be very professional, knowledgeable, and helpful when we purchased a puppy from him. His kennels are clean and organized, and his puppies are well cared for. He really loves his career and it shows! He has followed up with us on numerous occasions regarding the health and well-being of our puppy, and I always know I can reach him if I have questions. Thanks for everything, Mike! Yunhua Chen I have bought a stage 2 F1 labradoodle from Mike. His name is Zen, and just like his name, he is a well-behaved and well-trained little man. He only cried about 15 - 30 minutes during the first few nights and later he was sound asleep. I highly recommend Mike as a breeder because not only he deeply cares about the dogs, but also he has the expertise to make the dog the perfect match for you. Michelle Balchunas Mike was absolutely wonderful to deal with and very helpful with adding a new puppy to our family. If you are looking for a lab to add to your family we would highly recommend working with Mike. Charles Arnold Mike was a great help with our new puppy, Archie. Great experience… and a great dog. Junie is gentle, kind and very loving. She's also extremely athletic and smart. Working with Mike was a very smooth process and his "dog siting" service has proved helpful as I do travel on occasion. Having someone I could trust to care for Junie is super helpful. Mike James I recently had the fortunate privilege of working with Mike to find my next pup. For multiple reasons, the breed is perfect for me - the temperament, lifestyle often on the water , and hypoallergenic fits a tough lifestyle. I without hesitation recommend you work with Mike if you are looking for an amazing pup and great support network. Charlie is so gentle. He was just outside getting petted by his fan club, the neighbors. He licks. I got him the week of July 4th he was outside during that noise. He looks at noise. One of his other puppies was the same way, gentle. Day one he knew the trail through the woods back to our house. Charlie is a beautiful Chocolate lab with the softest hair. I got him at 16 weeks. You have no idea how helpful that is. Of course you want a healthy dog. Took the shots like a champ. The Vet remarked how firm his joints were. Yes he lets you brush his teeth! He goes to the door when he has to go. Another reason I wanted a 16 week pup. Peanut butter to continue gentle licks on my fingers. He always gets small chicken or liver for COME. You should see him come. Is Charlie gentle because some hunting dogs have a gentle mouth or is he gentle because Mike treated him right? Oh do exactly as Mike says on the take home instructions, he knows his dogs! Highly recommend! We brought our pup home with all the documentation of his superior genetics. Mike also sends several handouts which help prepare you for puppy ownership and ensure a smooth transition for your pup to his new home! In addition to his exceptional breeding he is exceptionally well-trained. We opted for a stage 2 puppy and not only does he sit, lay down, stay, he has an incredibly calm demeanor and his additional exposure to other dogs was also incredible. He is so well-tempered and well-behaved due to his additional training. We are so happy and in love with our sweet boy! Brent Viditz-Ward We were looking for a chocolate lab puppy for a long time from a reputable breeder and our experience with Mike was wonderful. He took time to get to know us and make sure that the dog was going to a good home and is always available to answer questions, give advice, etc. I highly recommend Mike and his puppies! M Fowkes Mike is a fantastic breeder. We got an F1 puppy from Mike. She is a sweet beautiful girl. Before she was born Mike knew what the puppies would look like generally, and was really easy to communicate with. He is very responsive when I had a lot of questions. He is like that even now that my puppy is 4 months old…available to answer questions and be supportive. Josie Palma-Aurelio We stumbled on this website when we were looking for our next fur baby. All the reviews speak truthful about Mike. He calls us to check on Nala for updates and gives us pointers on how to take care of her. Nala is such a lovable puppy and we are so happy to have her. We highly recommend! Juan Tellez Mike was a great helping my family and puppy get adjusted to our home. You can tell Mike has a lot of dedication and love towards his dogs. Snoop has been a great addition to our family! We are first time pet owners and Mike handheld us through the entire adoption process. His reference material, responsiveness and his genuine care for the puppies has helped us navigate the critical period of 12 weeks smoothly. The puppy is super smart outwitted me in a game of hide n seek when he was 10 weeks old! He is a bundle of joy! We are first time pet owners and had a lot of questions! He is always enthusiastic in answering any questions we have and supporting us before and after getting the pup! He cares about his dogs and pups and it shows in the research he has done and the knowledge he has about them! He has a lot of information on his website about the breed, food, toys and snacks! He also gives a couple of handouts when we book a pup with him and some when we take them home! Those helped a lot in the preparation for our pup! When you take them home, he also gives you details about the breed, vaccination records, and DNA testing done for the litter! Our girl, Shuri, is very energetic and curious! She does really well when we train her and has already learnt so much! For anyone looking for a labradoodle, Mike is the best! Jocelyn I highly recommend Mike. We are first time dog owners and he made the process so easy for us. Our labradoodle has made an excellent addition to our family!

What is a mini golden retriever? On average, they weigh pounds. Our Mini Goldens are crossed with specific Poodle lineage to avoid health and temperament issues the other breeds can cause, and are hypoallergenic, shed less and live longer than Golden Retrievers. Occasionally, we have some that weigh more than 45 pounds, or even less than 30 pounds. They generally have more Golden Retriever in them, so they are a closer carbon copy than the smaller Comforts. They generally have a little more poodle, so they may have more hypoallergenic and reduced shedding traits. Occasionally, we get white spots abstract or parti-colors from the Poodle side. Sometimes, we produce curly coated Comforts. We classify our coat types based on DNA results, not on visual appearance. Shed levels are individual to the dog, so while we hope that the majority of our dogs are low shedding, there are those who are moderate to heavy shedders. There are many factors that influence shedding as well. Some of these include season changes, weather, stress, illness, and a puppy transitioning to its adult coat. What guarantees do you offer with your puppies? We provide a 2 year health guarantee for all genetic conditions for all of our puppies. An additional 2 year guarantee is available as well more info Where are you located? We are located on the beautiful countryside of Versailles, Kentucky. Happy Valentine's Day to all, both big and small! Thanks for submitting! It has been proven by mixing this combination of dogs it can drastically reduce many health problems. We only choose quality breeding stock for our breeding program. Our breeding dogs are genetically tested for different genetic defects through Embark. We also do OFA certification and Penn hip. It is our priority to produce only the healthiest puppies that will be part of your family for many years! We want all of our dogs to live long, happy, health lives. Miniature golden retriever personality There's a lot of reason why golden retrievers are so popular and why people want a miniature version of them. For many, they are an ideal dog breed. Friendly, easy going and clever, they make great family pets for most families. Mini golden retriever Size We use www. We cannot guarantee the size of your puppy but we do the best we can. Our Miniature Goldens range in size from lbs. Their affable nature, stunning appearance, and remarkable intelligence have made them a favorite among dog enthusiasts for generations. And now, a new variation has emerged that takes all these wonderful qualities and packages them in a smaller size — the Miniature Golden Retriever. We'll delve into the captivating world of Miniature Golden Retrievers, exploring their characteristics, care needs, and the considerations to keep in mind if you're interested in bringing one of these delightful pups into your home. These pint-sized companions are the result of carefully selected breeding, combining the beloved traits of the standard Golden Retriever with smaller breeds to create a charming and compact version. They retain the signature golden coat, the warm eyes that reflect their boundless affection, and that unmistakable wagging tail that instantly brightens any room. Characteristics That Steal Hearts Miniature Golden Retrievers embody all the qualities that have made their larger counterparts cherished members of countless families. Their intelligence shines through as they quickly grasp commands, making training an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Just like standard Golden Retrievers, they possess a natural desire to please, making them fantastic companions for families, singles, and seniors alike. While they may be smaller in stature, their hearts are as big as ever. Mini Golden Retrievers are known for their gentle and friendly demeanor, making them excellent playmates for children and other pets. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in various living environments, from apartments to spacious homes with yards. Care Considerations Caring for a Miniature Golden Retriever is a deeply rewarding journey that requires attention and dedication. Their lush double coat requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and free from tangles. Weekly brushing not only helps maintain their appearance but also strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend. Consult your veterinarian to determine the right type and amount of food to keep your Mini Golden Retriever in optimal health. Regular exercise is equally important, as it keeps their minds sharp and their bodies in shape. Bringing a Miniature Golden Retriever Home Now, you might be wondering where to find these enchanting companions. You might have searched "mini golden retriever puppies for sale" or "mini golden retrievers for sale" which led you to us. So when seeking a breeder, it's essential to prioritize ethical practices. Reputable breeders focus on the health and welfare of their dogs, ensuring that puppies are raised in loving environments. These dogs can live up to years, so be prepared for a long-term partnership filled with love, loyalty, and unforgettable moments. Their friendly nature, intelligence, and undeniable charm make them a wonderful addition to a variety of households. Whether you're seeking a loyal companion for leisurely strolls or a furry friend to join in family adventures, the Miniature Golden Retriever is a breed that promises to enrich your life in countless ways. So, if you're captivated by the idea of sharing your life with a Miniature Golden Retriever, take the time to explore reputable breeders offering mini golden retriever puppies for sale or mini golden retrievers for sale. With proper care, patience, and a heart full of love, you're bound to find a loyal companion who will brighten your days for years to come. We are passionate about these little treasures and our small breeding program. We are a busy family with 4 children ages .Our dogs are part of our family and live with us, in our home, and under foot. The Miniature Golden Retriever, also known as the Petite Golden and Mini Golden, is a Designer Breed that has been crossbred to produce a healthier dog with the happy people-loving temperament of the Golden Retriever, the small size and sweet cuddly personality of the King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, and the intelligent temperament and low shedding coat of the Poodle. Our Miniature Golden Retrievers range in size from pounds. Occasionally we may have smaller puppies maturing at closer to 15 pounds and larger puppies maturing closer to 50 pounds. We will do our best to make an estimate of the adult size of your puppy, but ultimately we can NOT guarantee adult sizes. We breed for temperament, health, and size. Our dogs are DNA tested and annually health screened by our vet before breeding. All our puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee. Start the adoption process today!!! Not only will you learn the skills you need to be successful, but your puppy will learn incredible manners and behaviors as well! Each puppy that comes from our kennel comes home with a beautiful Registration Certificate. Continuing this daily regimen is the easiest and best way to keep your pet on the path to perfect health! NuVet Plus is a lifetime product to help support their immune system and provide assistance to their optimal health. A strong immune system will protect them from environmental and food toxins such as back yard pesticides, hormones, germs from public places, and even toxic formaldehyde in furniture and carpeting. NuVet Plus is a full spectrum, immune system support supplement that contains over 30 different nutrient dense ingredients that well better equip puppies to get and stay healthy. She is already so comfortable here and so attached. She gets so excited every time she sees us. And she has such a sweet disposition Everything goes for her. She just rolls with it. She loves to play and has lots of playful energy when she chases behind a toy or plays tug of war. But she loves to cuddle too, and she can busy herself well too without complaint. Yesterday we left her home when we went on a walk and she never barked or whined and was fast asleep when we returned. She accepted her crate as if she had never known any other place to rest. She just crawls in there and rests when she is tired. And when she wakes up, she quietly plays until we take her out of the playpen. Her potty training is going well. A couple of accidents here and there, but most of the time we catch her before anything happens, and she always does her business right away when we put her on the grass patch we have on the patio. She is getting a treat when she does her business. So, she actually figured out that if she spares some pee and squats several times, she will get several treats. Only One treat for the first time, everything after does not get rewarded any more. Wow, I have never seen a puppy learning that fast. And loving to learn. Being really food driven helps. I could not think of a better quarantine buddy to brighten up our day. I think she will be an amazing therapy dog who brightens up the day if many more people. Oh, and did I mention she is absolutely beautiful? Thank you again for that gift, Michele. I hope you are all doing well and are coping with the many new puppies. Some stressful days ahead of you, I am sure. And you are the best puppy mom I have ever encountered. Lots of love to your whole beautiful family! We are a family-owned breeder located out in the country in Loudonville, Ohio where we have 30 acres of beautiful farmland for the puppies to run. It is our goal to make sure all of our Golden Retriever Puppies are ready for their new family, so being a family of 11, the puppies are well socialized. We pride ourselves on making the adoption process easy, convenient, and comfortable. If you are looking to adopt a Mini Golden Retriever and do not live nearby, we offer specialized delivery right to your door. Thank you for visiting - we look forward to meeting you! Our Mini Golden Retrievers are magical! They also can be mixed with only Golden Retriever and Poodle. We strive to duplicate the Standard Golden Retriever but with added benefits. These benefits include fewer health problems, more manageable size and weight, and less shedding. Available Puppies Nationwide Puppy Delivery We offer specialized and custom delivery to any destination in the lower .We want your new puppy to arrive home safe and happy, which is why we have a designated puppy delivery team to hand deliver your special new family member! We can deliver by car or by plane and are flexible to meet your needs. More About Delivery Options Recommended Food For Your New Puppy We know that it's important for us to consume a healthy diet to maintain our health and keep us away from the doctor, and your puppy is no different. Proper nutrition plays a vital in supporting growth, muscle development, a strong immune system, and overall health so your puppy can live as long as possible. It is important not to cut corners and give your puppy food that is filled with non-nutritional fillers. PawTree is an AMAZING company that offers incredible products, and we have never found another company that is so focused on the health and growth its customers' puppies. Their recipes are clean and don't have any artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or poultry by-products. They offer interesting seasonings to change up your puppy's food flavors, a variety of treats, toys, shampoos, potty training products, and more. Use the link below to begin shopping for the best dog food you can get! Order pawTree Products Recommended Supplements For Your New Puppy Weaning your new puppy can be quite a change in your puppy's life and your puppy won't have the antioxidants it used to have while nursing. So let's take look at your future puppy a bit closer. If your puppy is recently weaned, it may not be receiving all of the strong nutrients and antioxidants like they used to during weaning. This, along with the added stress of rehoming, can be a bit concerning for your puppy's health. With all that your new puppy is experiencing during this period of time, it is important for us to watch them closely and get their immune system up so they can naturally fight off certain ailments such as environmental and food toxins like backyard pesticides, hormones, and germs from public places. You may be thinking, "WOW, sounds pretty worrisome! These supplements come in a wafer or powder form. The wafer form can even be offered as a treat since puppies enjoy the taste so much. With these supplement boosts you can rest easier knowing you are improving your new puppy's overall health. NuVet Plus has natural ingredients and they go to great lengths to create this product in a safe yet effective form. We have not found any alternative that we recommend more! We suggest taking advantage of this product and ordering NuVet Plus even before your puppy is either delivered or picked up. When ordering, use code for our special discount. Life Span Did You Know? This cross is meant to produce a smaller version of a Golden Retriever that retains the classic Golden look and their characteristic friendly and sweet temperament. Mini Golden Retrievers tend to maintain a temperament very similar to Golden Retrievers. They tend to have a sweet, open, and friendly nature. Mini Goldens get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. These dogs tend to make great family pets and can also be found working as service dogs or therapy dogs. Due to their smaller size, the Miniature Golden Retriever is a highly adaptable dog breed. As long as they get enough exercise, they are happy in apartments as well as larger homes with yards. They also do well in just about any climate. As with most dog breeds, they are sensitive to extreme heat or cold. Because these dogs are so people-oriented, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time as they would much rather be an active member of the family. For Mini Golden Retrievers, these could include elbow dysplasia, heart issues, eye disease, and hip dysplasia. Asking the breeder about the genetic history of the parents and checking out available health clearances or tests can help allay potential health concerns. All of the dog breeds in the cross for a Mini Golden Retriever are highly trainable. So, these dogs tend to be highly trainable, intelligent, and eager to please their owners. They tend to be a good fit for dog owners of all experience levels, including first-time dog owners. They respond best to positive training methods focused on praise, play, and reward. Although the aim is to have the Miniature Golden Retriever look just like a smaller version of a Golden Retriever, there will be variance in the coats because it is a mixed dog breed. You may have puppies that look identical to a Golden Retriever or you may have puppies with tightly curled or wavy coats from their Poodle or Spaniel parents. With the Poodle in the cross, there may be a chance of a low-shedding coat, but you will want to be prepared for a dog that will shed moderately year-round and that requires regular brushing and bathing with the occasional professional grooming session. Floppy ears tend to be more prone to ear infections, but regular checks and careful cleaning can help prevent them. Dental care for dogs is so important. But, it is often overlooked, which is why dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs. The Miniature Golden Retriever is likely to be a high energy dog that requires plenty of exercise to be happy and healthy. Daily walks, plus playtime and some extra activity should be sufficient for this dog. They will likely enjoy any activity that means they get to do things with you, which means they may enjoy hiking with you, taking trips to the dog park , swimming, or even training to compete in dog sports. A fully-grown Miniature Golden Retriever usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between pounds. A Mini Golden Retriever generally lives years. Dwarfism does occur in Golden Retrievers, which results in a smaller Golden Retriever and can also cause additional health concerns. Meeting the parent breeds in person and asking to see health tests can help you verify that you have a Mini Golden Retriever. Miniature Golden Retriever Puppies for Sale. Get on the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens. When registration opens for the course you'll be the first to know! Allow All Customize Privacy Preference Center When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. 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New Feature 7 dapper hairstyles for your poodle Your poodle is an elegant dog that deserves to be taken care of with impeccable style. The poodle's coat is its most distinguishing feature, and it's essential to keep it looking its best. Grooming is key, and a good haircut can make all the difference! As your dog's fur grows out, it can become tangled and unruly, making for a frustrating appearance. Your poodle is an elegant dog that deserves to be taken care of with impeccable style. There are many different styles of haircuts a poodle can have, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for your pup. It can be hard to know where to start with so many options available. Don't worry; we're here to help! In this article, we'll take a look at seven trendy hairstyles your poodle can rock on his walk. The Lion Cut Let's start with one of the most popular poodle haircuts of all, the lion cut. Sometimes referred to as the "puppy cut," this hairstyle takes advantage of your poodle's long fur to give them a mane-like appearance. The dog's limbs are left hairless, except for a pompom around the tail, front and rear paws. A perfect look for poodles who want to show off their luxurious locks! This hairstyle will last a while since the short hairs on your poodle's face and body will help prevent matting. You should still brush your pup regularly to keep his coat clean and healthy! The Puppy Cut Another popular haircut for poodles and other small dogs like the Yorkshire Terriers is the "puppy cut. While the fur looks a little longer around the face, the haircut mimics a human infant rather than a furry animal. With this cut, your pup will feel extra comfortable as he goes about his day! While many owners opt for this style as it doesn't require as much maintenance as other cuts, it's easy to get tired of the same look over time. Your poodle will still need regular brushing to remove tangles and maintain his healthy coat. Teddy Bear Cut Do you love the look of a teddy bear? The teddy bear cut is another popular choice for poodle haircuts. It's an adorable style that looks kind of like your pup has a bushy mane! This technique leverages the poodle's tiny round eyes and creates the illusion of a furry face. The hair should be cut uniformly at mid-length with a rounded shape to the top of the head. It's important not to cut the body fur too short, as we need the poodle's curls to be seen clearly for this cut. The fur around your pup's paws is left untouched, so it appears thick and full, giving your poodle the appearance of having tiny bear paws! These cuts are extremely popular with older dogs who won't have to worry about frequent brushing or bathing. Summer Cut Although you want your poodle to look cute, you also want them to be comfortable! In the summer, it's hot and humid, and your pup will thank you for cutting his hair shorter. The summer cut is an excellent choice for those sweltering days. In this style, all of the hair on your poodle's body is trimmed very short, except for a small tuft around the tail and large pompoms around the legs. This style is easy to maintain and will help your pup stay comfortable in the summer heat. Dutch Cut Known for its frequent appearance in dog shows, the dutch cut is a great choice for poodles that want a unique look. This creates a "Mohawk" look that is sure to turn heads! The tail can also be left long or cut short to complement your pup's look. The face and paws are the only parts of the body shaved, so you get a little bit of extra grooming time! This cut requires regular brushing to keep your poodle's coat clean and tangle-free. English Saddle Cut The English saddle cut is a popular choice for poodles with longer coats. This haircut is similar to the dutch cut, but it explicitly leaves more hair on the top of your poodle's head. The face and legs are also shaved, but a little more fur is left on the body to create an overall rounded look for this cut. This cut is great-looking but will require regular brushing and bathing to prevent mats from forming. Short Cut This is a prevalent choice for poodles with shorter hair, as it is low-maintenance and easy to groom. In this style, all of the hair on your dog's body is trimmed short, except for the ears. The fur around his face and paws is also shaved short, giving your pup a clean, polished look. This style is perfect for owners who want their dogs to look neat and tidy with minimal effort! Although this style doesn't require as much grooming as other styles, it's still necessary to brush your poodle regularly as the fur grows back. Things To Know Before Grooming Your Poodle Now that you know a little bit about the different types of poodle haircuts, there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started. All poodles require regular brushing Regardless of the style of haircut you choose. Brushing helps to remove excess hair and keep your poodle's coat healthy. It also helps to stimulate blood flow to the skin, which is important for natural oil production. Be sure to give your pup a good bath before grooming him, It would be best to wash your dog too often, but bathing him before grooming will help remove loose fur and leave your poodle's coat soft and shiny. A lot of groomers also recommend giving your pup a good brush after bathing to remove any excess hair, as it can clog drains or just be tough to clean up. Grooming should be a fun experience for your dog Please don't force your poodle to do anything they don't want to! Teaching them that grooming is a positive, relaxing experience will help the process go by more quickly and smoothly. Start grooming early If your dog is still a puppy, it might be a good idea to introduce him to the grooming process early on. This will help him get used to the sights, sounds, and smells of a groomer's salon, and he'll be more likely to cooperate when it's time for his actual haircut. We recommend sending your dog to a professional groomer for his haircut. This will ensure that your pup gets the best possible cut and that you don't accidentally cut him too short or leave any bald patches. Most groomers offer various services, so be sure to ask what they include in their price. Generally, a groomer will begin by bathing your dog and then trimming his nails, cleaning his ears, and starting to cut the hair according to your specifications. The process will continue with a blow-dry, and then your pup will be ready for his final trim. Poodles are known to have a lot of hair, so it can take a long time to groom them completely. You should expect the process to take up to two hours or more. You should consider many factors when choosing a groomer, including experience, pricing, and location. The best way to find a qualified groomer near you is to use Pawsh's directory. Top-Rated and Vetted Groomers All the groomers on our platform are top-rated, with glowing reviews from previous clients. We also verify all of our groomers based on training and professional experience to ensure that they're the best in their industry. At-Home Grooming Pros Our platform is special because our groomers offer grooming delivery services, meaning they come to you. This can usually help you save a lot of money and offers you the convenience of getting your poodle groomed in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. Save time and hassle by using Pawsh today! App for Android and iPhone Pawsh is available as an app for Android and iPhones to make booking groomers easier than ever before. Just download the application, enter your zip code, choose a poodle-certified groomer near you, and book your appointment! Take advantage of cashless payments to pay, tip, and rebook all through our app! Conclusion Poodles are a pretty high-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. They have a lot of hair that needs regular attention and time-consuming maintenance. If you want your poodle to look his best, investing in a great haircut from a qualified groomer is key! For an easy way to book quality grooming services at home, Pawsh is the best option for you. Just download our app, book an appointment, and sit back as we take care of your beloved poodle! Related Posts. By Yvonne Villasenor Yvonne Villasenor is a freelance writer and animal lover who just so happens to be allergic to cats and dogs. That doesn't stop her from cuddling with them! When Yvonne's not working, you can find her lounging with her charming Chihuahuas, weightlifting, or wandering around Halloween stores. Having such unique and versatile fur means there are countless poodle haircuts for you to choose from, and a professional groomer can give your poodle a makeover with a hairstyle that best matches her personality and lifestyle. With so many options available, learn how your poodle can look like anything from a plush toy to elegant royalty! Teddy Bear Cut The teddy bear cut is a popular trim for poodles and other long-haired breeds. With this look, your poodle has longer hair on her face for a soft, rounded "teddy bear" appearance, and the rest of the fur on her body is cut at a shorter, uniform length throughout. Talk about cuddly cuteness! Summer Cut Because poodles have a single coat, they can enjoy the luxury that comes with it: the summer cut. Known as one of the most low-maintenance poodle haircuts, the summer cut is a practical haircut option that keeps your poodle's fur short so she stays comfortable in hot weather. So if you're looking to cut your hair to beat the heat in the summer, you and your poodle can rock shorter hairdos together! Puppy Cut No matter your poodle's age, you can seemingly turn back time with the puppy cut. Also a popular choice among poodle parents, the puppy cut is a simple, natural-looking trim that leaves your dog with an evenly cut length, typically 1 to 2 inches, all over. This is a highly modifiable look, so consult your groomer for a length that best fits your and your dog's preference and lifestyle. Continental Cut The continental cut is a glamorous and traditional hairstyle often worn by poodle show dogs. With this look, your poodle's face, throat, feet, and part of the tail are shaved. This look is characterized by full hair on the rib cage and chest, pom poms of fur on the tail, ankles, and hips, as well as a banded topknot on the head. German Trim Looking for a haircut that looks fancy but not too fancy? The German trim uses the power of angles to give your poodle a sharp profile. The hair on your furry friend's legs is left long, while the hair on the body and ears is cut short. This is a great option not only if your poodle is more active but also if your pup is prone to ear infections or ear matting. Modern Cut The modern cut is an elegant hairstyle that combines aesthetics with your poodle's natural features. This cut keeps the hair on the body short, accentuating your poodle's shape. The fur on the head, ears, and tail is left longer to create a fluffy appearance. When your dog has such curly, coarse locks, you may wonder how many trips to the groomer you and your poodle may be making. Poodles and poodle-crosses also go through a coat change in the first year of life, so they need to be groomed more often," says Danna Alexander, owner of Prestige Dog Grooming School. To keep mats and tangles at bay, it's best to brush your poodle at least two to three times a week. Toy poodle haircuts aren't off limits for miniature and standard poodles, just as standard poodle haircuts aren't off limits for miniature and toy poodles. While any poodle can sport any style, there may be common options you'd like to choose from. Because there are various names for different types of poodle haircuts, make sure to bring your groomer a photo of the haircut you'd love your pooch to have. Was this page helpful? This will be good practice for later on — for both of you! Yes, haircuts are essential for Poodles. Their thick, long, curly coats are prone to tangling and trapping debris. When will my Poodle puppy need haircuts? Then, at around four months old, they will shed their puppy coats and start to grow out their rougher adult coats. Frequency As a general rule, Poodles should have their coats clipped every weeks once their adult coats grow out, whatever your desired length. This is because they grow so quickly and can become matted just as fast! What equipment should I use? There are three main types of dog grooming scissors; straight scissors, curved scissors, and thinning shears, and they all perform slightly differently. Straight grooming scissors are a multi-task tool, they have straight blades for general, basic grooming, creating straight lines in the coat, and adding the finishing touches to haircuts. Curved dog grooming shear has a curved blade that can be used to fine-tune and shape specific areas of the coat, such as the paws and hindquarters. Thinning shears have a cutting edge on one blade and teeth on the other, and there are also double thinners that have teeth on both blades. They are designed to remove lots of hair in even sections for a natural finish, and they can also be used to blend out the harsh lines from clippers and texturize the coat. Or, if you just need something for the occasional touch-up between visits to the groomer, a simple pair of electrical motor clippers will do just fine. Electric motor clippers are also good for keeping short coats short. You should also be aware of the types of blades that come with clippers. The higher the number of the blade, the more hair that it will remove. Or, you can get guards that fit a single blade to customize the length, which is a lot more convenient. Start by showing them the equipment and getting them used to the sight and sound of it before you cut any hair. Reward them just for being around it and then try cutting a small section of hair. If they react well, reward them again, and then do another section. Keep rewarding them as you go and again after the haircut is finished. Do it in a well-lit, comfortable part of the home that your pup can stand up in. Once you get them into a routine — keep it up! Work your way down the legs first, then from the neck to the hindquarters, or vice versa, and then the tail. Take care with the feet, underside, and head, shielding their eyes from falling fur. Use long strokes and go from the neck down to the back legs. How to deal with grooming anxiety If your pup is afraid of the scissors or clippers, take it really slowly and try to make it an enjoyable experience. You can do this by breaking up the haircut into smaller sessions to make it less stressful and taking breaks in between each one. Give your dog lots of praise and a reward every time you take a break and ask another family member to comfort them during the haircut. You can start brushing your Poodle from any age. To brush them, simply go in the direction of hair growth using short strokes. Hold the fur at the base with your free hand to remove knots, and use a mat remover for any stubborn mats. Bathing a Poodle puppy As for bathing, you should give your Poodle pup their first proper bath at months old to help them shed their puppy coat, unless they get seriously dirty before that. However, you can give your pup a bath any time after weeks of age to get them used to the sensation, but avoid overbathing them, as this will strip the fur of its natural oils and make it dry and brittle. Once they have their adult coats, your Poodle pup will need a bath once a month. You can even buy shampoo that is designed especially for Poodle coats. To give your Poodle a bath, lather up their wet fur with the shampoo, massage it in, leave it for as long as directed on the bottle, and rinse thoroughly. Follow up with conditioner if necessary. Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way. She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly.