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Temperament: Loyal, energetic and confident. Rottweiler Lab Mix Appearance Because this is a mixed breed, their physical appearance will vary depending on which parent breed the puppy takes after more. In general Labradors are thinner than Rottweiler, so Rottweiler Lab mixes will fall somewhere in the middle of these two breeds. Both breeds are broad-shouldered with a slight tuck and a large head. The first thing that you should notice with the Rottweiler Lab mix is how athletic they are. They should look muscular and give off a commanding presence. Their body usually resembles a Rottweiler, but their head and longer muzzle has more resemblance to the Labrador. Size The typical size of one of these dogs is anywhere between inches in height, with a weight of around pounds. Remember those pups with more Labrador will be on the smaller side, whilst those with more Rottweiler are on the heavier side. Coat and Colors These dogs come in a handful of darker colors including brown, black, gray or black and tan. A black and tan coat like that of a Rottweiler is the most common. The short to medium length coat of a Rottweiler Lab mix should be smooth to the touch. Because they have a double coat, these dogs shed quite a bit. To keep up with their shedding you should expect to brush your dog every other day or at the very least, weekly to keep the coat healthy. They are one of the largest hybrid dogs around. Despite the short coat these dogs are not hypoallergenic. This is a very adaptable dog and is suitable for most households. Rottweiler Lab Mix Personality and Temperament Rottweilers and Labradors vary quite a bit in their personalities, so it can be difficult to predict exactly how your mix will behave when fully grown. One thing you can know for sure is they love to be with their family. They will follow you all over the house and are happiest when they can be by your side. Because of this they are often prone to separation anxiety, so please be ready to work through this with your new dog. These dogs tend to be very playful and love nothing more than to play a game of fetch or tug with their owner or other dogs. And like working Labs they have boundless amounts of energy meaning that they will play for hours. Rottweiler and Lab mixes are a protective breed but are not typically aggressive — still caution is needed when letting your dog interact with strangers. Proper socialization when they are young can help to curb this but they will most likely never be very welcoming of strangers. Both Rottweilers and Labradors make great family dogs so expect this mix to be no different. They are more than willing to participate in any antics that their kids get up to. Just remember these mixes are protective by nature and will often view other children as a threat to their own kids. Caring for a Rottweiler Lab Mix The Rottweiler Lab mix is a highly active, very strong breed that needs discipline and a strong owner. They require obedience training from day one to make sure that you can keep control of them when they grow bigger and stronger. Other than that they do great in almost any household. They are a very adaptable dog that do not bark much. The biggest issue with this breed is the huge amount of physical exercise they need. Exercise Requirements Both the Labrador and the Rottweiler are high energy and athletic breeds, so your mix will be the same. These dogs like to go and need a lot of daily exercise. At least one hour walk a day with another hour of playtime is the bare minimum required for these dogs. Hiking or even swimming are great ways to tire out your dog physically. So make sure that you have the time to take them for an extra-hard hike at least once a week. You can also do dog sports with your Rottweiler Labrador mix, such as agility and rally. If these dogs do not receive the proper amount of physical stimulation they can become destructive. Number of Walks Per Day: 2. Grooming and Shedding Because of their short coat these dogs do not require regular trips to the groomers or daily brushing. However they do need to be brushed every other day or so. Regular bathing is also not necessary for these dogs. You can give them a bath just when they smell or look like they need it. Too many baths can dry out their fur and cause skin irritation. To remove dead hair and skin you can also use a wet washcloth and wipe it over their body. Feeding and Diet A high protein food specialized for large breed dogs is best for your mix. You should speak with your vet to establish the protein content your pooch needs it differs depending on how active your dog is. Because the Rottweiler Lab mix is prone to bloat it is best to feed this dog in smaller portions throughout the day. Giving them a cup of food three times a day is best. Never leave food out freely for this breed — they are prone to being overweight. Having pet insurance could save you from the headaches of going to the vets with reimbursement for every vet bill from now on! No, is the short answer to this question. Both parent breeds have coats that require little maintenance. Naturally, as it gets warmer, they get rid of their excess fur. This means your Rottweiler Lab Mix may need more regular grooming. Not all Labrotties inherit this feature. On the whole, Labradors tend to be faithful retriever dogs. If your lucky, your pup will inherit these fabulous qualities. On the flip side, a Rottweiler Lab Mix may inherit the characteristics of a Rottweiler. This breed is famous for being an excellent guard dog, so they have a natural distrust of strangers. Their aggressiveness can range anywhere from barking at strangers walking up your driveway to a full-on attack. Sadly, Rottweilers are responsible for a disproportionate amount of dog attacks, the majority of which are children. According to Dogsbite. The same principle applies to other pets. Leaving them alone for long periods of time not only triggers destructive behavior, but it can also cause separation anxiety. The last thing you want is for your pet to be unhappy. The best way to combat their aggression is to socialize them as much as possible as early as you can. Introduce your dog to lots of other dogs and different kinds of people from the offset. As puppies, this breed is supremely confident. A Rottweiler Lab Mix is best suited to a child-free household, where someone is around for most of the day. You should have time to take your dog on long walks. So grab your walking shoes and a coat and be prepared to get active! Ideally, you should take your Rottie on at least two 30 minute walks daily. You should also be an experienced dog handler. Due to their mixed lineage Lab Rottweilers are generally healthier than their pedigree parents. If left untreated, the disease can cause the bone to gradually deteriorate and eventually result in the hip joint losing all function. Hip dysplasia can also trigger a disease called degenerative joint disorder. This refers to the progressive deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints, the damage is sadly irreversible. Other illnesses to watch out for include: Hypothyroidism. These devoted and docile animals are often seen following their owner and always trying to please their family with a clownish behavior. They might become destructive if you keep them separated for long periods. The Labrotties are not known to welcome strangers or other unfamiliar pets due to their territorial instincts. This makes it necessary to expose them to different people as well as sights and sounds. These pets get along fine with kids if raised with them. Care Exercise Since it has a working heritage, the breed requires a fair amount of regular activity to keep it happy. Even though it remains somewhat inactive indoors, it will appreciate a minute walk or a romp in a fenced yard. It also enjoys one or two sessions of interactive games including retrieving a ball, which it will happily carry in its mouth. Do not over-exercise your pet as its double coat could cause its body to become excessively hot. Grooming When it comes to grooming, your Labrottie needs a weekly brushing using a firm-bristled brush. This will help in not only removing the loose hairs but also distributing the skin oils much more evenly. To keep it looking clean as well as smelling good, you need to bathe your Rottweiler-Labrador mix once or twice every two months. If its nails do not wear down naturally, trim them down once a month. Health Problems Like all big dogs with a deep chest, the Labrotties are susceptible to bloat or torsion. Therefore, do not feed your dog a single large meal, neither encourage it to eat rapidly nor make it exercise vigorously after a meal. Moreover, this breed is sometimes affected by hip and elbow dysplasia, bone cancer, PRA, canine cataracts, and allergies. Training This breed is not suitable for those owners who lack confidence or do not have the time to supervise and train their dogs. Obedience Training: Keep the commands short, one or two words at the most. You may use clicker training that is based on positive reinforcement, consistency, and cooperation to curb its natural aggressive behavior. Socialization: Carefully introduce your Labrottie to other dogs, which will help it to learn to coexist with its new companion. Feeding Apart from feeding your dog on canned food and dry kibble, you could provide it with bones and raw meat. Feed your pet a quality dog food that has at least 30 percent protein, 20 percent crude fat, and less than 4 percent fiber. Rottador Highlights Rottadors are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Rottweiler or Labrador Retriever parents. The main colors of Rottador coats are black, brown, and grey. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. While they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job. When around children, especially young ones, they should be supervised because they are so big and strong. When Rottadors are raised with other dogs and cats, they generally get along well with them. They are highly trainable, and thrive on positive reinforcement. Do not leave them alone for long periods. They can easily become board, depressed, and frustrated, which will result in unwanted behaviors. Rottadors are prone to weight gain, and they have high energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one hour-long walk per day. Rottador History The Rottador dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders started intentionally mixing Rottweilers and Labradors in North America, likely in the s. Breeders wanted to mix the two parent breeds to minimize health problems that affect many purebreds as well as create an ultimate family companion and watchdog. They continued to create Rottadors as demand for the mixed breed pups climbed. Even though Rottadors got their start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the dog for you. Check your local shelters, look up Rottador rescues, or check with breed specific Rottweiler and Labrador rescues, as they sometimes help to re-home mixed breeds. However, as a mix between Rottweiler and Labrador parents, you can expect the Rottador to be on the large side. Most weigh in at 70 to pounds and range in height from 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger. Rottador Personality Rottadors make affectionate family companions and watchdogs. Protective in nature, they will alert when strangers approach. However, once they befriend you, you have a friend for life. These pups hail from a line of two working parents. Their Rottweiler parents regularly work as police or guard dogs or cattle herding, while their Labrador Retriever parents have jobs as hunting or guide dogs. They make excellent family companions. Just make sure you have a lot of time and attention to devote to them. Rottador Health The Rottador mixed breed is predisposed to some of the same conditions that the Rottweiler and Labrador Retriever also face. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Fetch and other adventurous activities are also recommended. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth three times a week minimum, or daily is even better. Crate and kennel training should start in puppyhood. Rottador Feeding An ideal Rottador diet should be formulated for a large breed with high energy. Limit their amount of treats, as well. They usually have medium-to-short, dense coats, and while they are not a good choice of dog for allergy sufferers, their coats are pretty easy to care for. A good brushing per week will probably do the job and bathing is recommended every few months with a mild shampoo. Too much bathing can strip the coat of its natural oils. Their double coats do shed quite a bit. You will definitely want a vacuum on hand. Have you tried robot vacuums? See if the Eufy RoboVac is right for you! Their double coat gives them an edge when it comes to extreme weather. Many of these dogs absolutely love to run and play in the snow. Their double coats also help to keep them cool during hot summer months. Keep in mind they are indoor dogs and need to live indoors. Because of their cattle-driving heritage, they have a tendency to lean and push and can accidentally topple a toddler with a nudge. 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 should ever be left unsupervised with a child. They may have issues with strange dogs or adult dogs that are introduced into the home, being intolerant of same-sex dogs. With your training and guidance, however, they should accept new animals peaceably. Keep your Rottador on leash in public to prevent aggression or belligerence toward other dogs. Rottador Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Rottadors because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Rottweiler or Labrador Retriever breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. Do Rottweiler Lab mixes have health concerns? Labrador Retrievers got their start when they were imported from Newfoundland to England in the s. They were hunting and fishing dogs. Rottweilers are of German descent. They have been traditionally used as guarding, herding, and hunting dogs. The Rottweiler Lab mix was perhaps inevitable with two such high demand parents. One of the best things about crossed breeds is the wide range of potential shapes and personalities your dog could grow to have. But this can have its downside as well. In the case of the Labrottie, there are several different possibilities for both appearance and personality. Labradors and Rottweilers are different sizes, and your puppy may fall anywhere between. Rottweilers generally weigh up to pounds, while Labradors are significantly less heavy set at pounds. Rottweiler height can be up to 27 inches at the shoulder, whereas Labs only grow to a maximum of .Both breeds can vary in size within themselves, so it stands to reason that larger Labrador and Rottweiler parents will have a larger Labrottie pup. Most, however, should fall somewhere in the middle. Labrador Rottweiler Mix Coat Rottweilers are well known for their classic black and tan coloring. They have short, low-maintenance coats. Labs come in different colors. Yellow, chocolate, black — they could pass down their coloring to your Labrottie puppy, resulting in a unique coloration. All you can bank on is the range from both parents. Labrador Rottweiler Mix Shedding Labradors have a double coat that protects them from the cold in winter or while swimming in cold water. This is especially true during certain times of the year, as their winter coat starts to come loose. The Labrottie has the benefit of two parent breeds with generally low-maintenance coats. Both Labradors and Rottweilers have short, easily groomed coats. Rottweiler Lab mix pups will definitely have the same length coat. Then they may need a little more. Rottweiler Lab Mix Temperament Labradors have a proud history as faithful retriever dogs, whereas Rottweilers have an equally proud history as guard dogs. Labradors are generally friendly, and are bred specifically for the task of returning hunted game to their owners. A dog bred for this purpose needed to be comfortable around all sorts of people. Rottweilers, in their guarding capacity, have been bred in a way that a fearful and distrusting attitude toward strangers. But how does this combination affect your pup? Labrottie Personality First generation mixes are kind of like rolling a dice. Or you might end up with a protective guard dog that looks exactly like the Labrador. Rottie Lab Mix Aggression As a breed, Rottweilers are responsible for a disproportionate amount of dog attacks. They certainly appear to be among the more aggression-prone breeds. This should be seriously considered by people with kids. Guarding dogs are generally good with their families, but families have friends. Kids bring over other kids, and a family pet needs to be accepting of this. One is by meeting the Rottie parent and making sure they are totally at ease in the presence of you and your family. Socialization is vital for any breed, but especially for a breed like the Rottweiler. Rottweiler Lab Mix Socialization The idea of using traditional training techniques on your Rottweiler mix may be a daunting task for some owners. Fortunately, nowadays we have better and safer methods for training dogs. The first step is always socialization. Introduce your dog to lots of other dogs and people at a very young age to help desensitize them to strangers. You want them to happily accept people coming and going in their home as nothing to be afraid of. Your Rottweiler Lab mix puppy must meet new visitors every day. Make sure a large proportion of them are children. In the wild they would be under the protection of their family, so fear would be unnecessary. Therefore, this is the best time to throw them into all sorts of new situations. Training And Exercising Your Rottweiler Lab Mix Positive training techniques also play a vital role in crafting the obedience and temperament of a dog. For anyone still considering punishment-based training, I would strongly advise against it. Studies have shown that dogs trained in this manner are less obedient, and more likely to attack both their owners and strangers. Rottweiler Lab Puppy Training Like any puppy, your Rottador will require specialized training when they are young, in addition to socialization. Rottweiler Lab Mix Exercise All dogs require a good amount of exercise to keep them in shape. This is especially true with physically capable breeds like the Rottweiler and Lab. Given a good amount of space to run around in, your Labrottie will thrive. Lack of exercise combined with poor diet can unfortunately be deadly. Obesity in dogs, as in humans, leads to diabetes and other complications. Breeding two dogs that are genetically dissimilar results in a phenomena called hybrid vigor, whereby outbreeding undoes a lot of the harm done by inbreeding. These dogs can still carry on genetic diseases from either of their parents given the right circumstances. Labrador Health Both Labradors and Rottweilers suffer regularly from hip dysplasia, meaning their hips are improperly formed. One nasty complication of hip dysplasia is a disease called degenerative joint disorder. One of the more commonly reported concerns in Labradors is exercise induced collapse. This strange condition means that Labradors in the full swing of physical activity may suddenly be unable to hold themselves up. It has actually been linked to a gene, so it is doubtless inherited from dog to dog. Other problems commonly seen in Labradors include elbow dysplasia, PRA, obesity, ear problems, and skin allergies. Hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as PRA, can be tested for. Health testing is an important part of the process of taking care of our pets. Rottweiler Health Elbow dysplasia is also a very common condition in Rottweilers. A study of German Rottweilers found more than half suffered from this ailment. Rottweilers also appear to be susceptible to a few nasty neurological disorders, namely nueroaxonal dystrophy and leukoencephalomalacia. Both of these diseases are degenerative, meaning they gradually get worse and worse. Unfortunately there is no cure or treatment for either, and they sadly can be fatal. For more information on health tests and screens that should be done for Rottweilers, visit the British Veterinary Association and this panel from UC Davis Veterinary Medicine. Although he is potentially less likely to suffer from any of these diseases than a purebred dog, the risk is not removed. Health testing is still a vital part of good breeding practice, even for mixes. Rottweilers have a shorter span of years. Your Rottweiler and Labrador mix could fall anywhere in that range, depending on the health of the dog. What makes a pet good depends on the person, and also the individual pet. Your Lab Rott mix could look like a Labrador, but with the guarding instincts and characteristic wariness of the Rottweiler. Equally, your dog could look much more Rottweiler-ish and have the gentle, easily trainable personality of a Labrador. The likelihood is it will be somewhere in between. Socialization and training go a long way to producing a happy and friendly dog. But genetics play an important role. The Labrador Rottweiler mix is best suited to an active adult home, where the family is around for much of the day and is committed to positive reinforcement training methods. But they will need a lot of work in terms of socialization and training, to make sure you reduce the possibility of bad behavior later on. Both parents should be friendly, healthy and confident. This is by no means a guarantee, but stacks more of the odds in your favor. Please avoid buying from puppy mills or pet stores, as these have no real concern for the health of their animals. Rottweiler Lab puppies are now deliberately bred, but they have existed for quite a while by accident. You need to avoid backyard breeders by only going to someone who has mixed a beloved pet due to their excellent health and wonderful temperament. Good breeders ask lots of questions, and are happy to answer them in return. Both the Lab and Rottie parent of your puppy must have excellent hip and elbow scores. The breeder should provide you proof of this. They must also be clear for PRA and have recent unaffected eye tests from their vet. The appearance of this crossbreed dog will depend on the parent mix, but the Labrottie is likely to inherit a solid and sturdy body like the Rottweiler, a broad head like the Labrador and a short to medium length, shiny double coat. A Rottweiler Lab mix is one of the largest hybrid dogs around. It may look like a fearsome large dog but it can be very friendly, loyal, and loving. The Lab Rottie is a very energetic and muscular dog whose exercise needs should not be underestimated by any potential dog owner. Early behavioral and socialization training will help this Rottweiler mix show its affectionate and positive protective nature. A Labrottie puppy is an adorable crossbreed dog. A brief history of this mixed-breed dog A Rottweiler Lab mix is a cross between a purebred Rottweiler dog and a purebred Labrador Retriever dog. When two different dog breeds are deliberately mixed, the crossbreed is known as a designer dog ; this Rottweiler and Labrador hybrid dog is sometimes nicknamed a Rottador. This breed is very confident and determined and is regarded as the No1 guard dog. Rottweiler dogs were as used to herd and guard cattle for Roman soldiers as they traveled around in their quest to conquer Europe; these cattle were the primary food source. Their alertness, discipline, and endurance made them an ideal guard dog. Fact: The Rottweiler is probably the oldest known herding dog breed with its origins traceable back to Roman times. The Rottweiler dog breed is believed to have descended from Roman drover dogs: a mastiff-like dog. Their intelligence, strength, and energy levels meant that these large dogs were used during the World Wars as guard dogs and for messenger or ambulance duties. They are still used today for this type of support and search and rescue activity. So what color is a Rottweiler dog? Parent 2: History of the Labrador Retriever — a purebred dog The Labrador Retriever is the best-loved and most popular dog breed in the world! It has a solid double coat in one of 3 colors; pure black, chocolate brown, or yellow. Whatever the coat color this is just an attractive and loveable dog breed for any level of dog owner or as an adorable and friendly family dog. The Labrador Retriever dog is from Newfoundland, Canada, and was used by fishermen to retrieve their fish from nets and catch any that escaped back into the sea. They are good swimmers and have a gentle mouth grip that will not further destroy any prey they are ordered to retrieve. The Newfoundland and Labrador Province, in Canada, provided this hunting and retrieving dog with its name — the Labrador Retriever or Lab to its friends! The Newfoundland Labrador Retriever dog breed came to Great Britain around , to be used as gun dogs for retrieving waterfowl from land and water, during the shooting season, in Scotland and England. Ongoing breeding is believed to have continued the pure Newfoundland lab bloodline in our Labrador Retriever breed today. The lab is gentle, fun-loving and loyal with an easy-going temperament. A Labrador Puppy, when trained and socialized it can be trusted and protective around anyone. Meet the offspring: The hybrid offspring of these two purebred dogs is the Rottweiler Labrador mix — the Labrottie puppy. Designer dogs gained popularity in the United States during the s and this increased demand and popularity for cross-breeds such as the Labrador Rottweiler mix. The Labrottie puppy is a hybrid dog breed and is therefore not recognized as a breed in its own right, by the American Kennel Club; nor can it be awarded pedigree papers. Any other colors may be due to a gene mutation and are rare. What are the main characteristics of a Labrottie? Any crossbred dog, like the Labrador Rottweiler mix, could inherit the characteristics and the health problems of either parent or from both; or perhaps they could get the best of both and be stronger and inherit fewer health problems than their parent breeds. It can be heavily weighted towards the characteristics of one parent more than the other. With any mixed breed dog, you just have to wait and see how it turns out. Labrottie puppies tend to have more of the classic appearance and sturdy build of the Rottweiler but with the friendlier facial features and floppy ears of a Labrador. This mix is likely to be courageous, confident and smart and also loving and affectionate. They will show devoted loyalty to their dog owner and family. They will be fairly active and enjoy having lots of company. Reputation: Any Rottweiler mix dog could be thought of as a fierce guard dog. The Rottweiler is a confident breed that looks fiercer than its behavior displays. When a Rottweiler is mixed with a Labrador Retriever, the perception changes, as the Labrador is considered a highly friendly, soft-natured, and docile family pet. When mixed the Labrottie will be loving, loyal, and protective of its loved ones, but wary of strangers, with a big bark. This mix is not recognized by the American Kennel Club AKC as it is not a purebred dog, but this will not affect this attractive dog being in demand. Trainability: Any Rottweiler mix puppy needs to be trained and socialized as early as possible. This Rottweiler Labrador mix puppy will be a powerful and muscular large-dog breed that needs to learn control and discipline early. They are intelligent and determined so training should be fairly easy, but this powerful dog is not recommended for an inexperienced dog owner or anyone who cannot provide it with lots of exercise and long walks. Positive reinforcement and reward-based training are recommended for this large dog breed as is very confident, and strong-willed, so it will need to build trust with its owner. Rottweiler mix puppies should be trained slowly and never negatively punished, challenged directly, hit, or locked up for misbehavior. Always reinforce change gradually and praise good behavior and learning. Clicker training would work well with this puppy. This powerful mixed breed dog is no more likely to bite than any other dog breed however with their muscular build they could be very physical in their attempts to play; therefore they should be supervised at all times around young children and smaller animals. The Labweiler is fairly energetic, so a Labrador Rottweiler puppy will need at least one hour of daily exercise and playtime, building up hours a day in adulthood. Power and intelligence: Labrotties are smart, very powerful with a protective nature. They are fast learners but can be stubborn and aloof, so they will need to be trained and handled properly to be able to socialize in public with other dogs and children. They will love to keep active and play games with their family in a way that keeps them challenged; catch the ball or frisbee, puzzles or interactive toys are popular with this breed. Socialization: Early socialization dog training and discipline are strongly recommended for any Rottweiler mix dog. This type of hybrid dog has two highly active parents and one is a powerful guard dog. This mixed breed dog will need to learn to control its strength and have discipline training early to become well—behaved and trusted with other dogs and children. It will thrive in an outdoor environment. Purpose: A Rottweiler Labrador mix will be observant and have herding and retrieving instincts and want to be kept busy. The Labradors have a soft bite that is delicate and careful when retrieving anything and the Rottweiler is determined and forceful. Over time both have used their skills for good activities such as search and rescue, as both can follow orders and commands. A Labrottie can be a disciplined and protective family pet or a good service dog. Behavior: A Rottweiler Lab mix can be strong-willed, occasionally stubborn, and physically powerful, therefore it needs to be trained early as it can become destructive, bark, or chews things if under-stimulated. Physical Characteristics of the Labrottie Size: The Rottweiler Lab mix is considered a large-sized dog breed that has a solid and muscular build, with the build of a fearsome guard dog but the face of a loveable Lab. Weight: You can expect both male and female to reach between 70lblb kg in adulthood. You can expect a Labrottie to live between years, and to spawn a litter size of between pups on average. Temperament: The Rottweiler Lab mix can be strong-willed and stubborn. This Rottador has a very high energy level and can be destructive and bark if not occupied. With careful training and socialization they can be affectionate, pleasant and kind and protective How should you train a Rottweiler Labrador mix dog? The Rottweiler breed has had a reputation for being aggressive and dangerous if not trained properly. The boundaries need to be set early for this mixed breed dog. Fun and positive reinforcement and reward-based training work best. Never hit or raise your voice to this breed during training as it may challenge this Labweiler to rebel and refuse to cooperate. Types of training required: obedience, discipline, agility, and socialization. So, if you are not going to use a professional dog trainer: 1 Develop basic command words: Stop, Sit, Down, etc. This hybrid dog will try to dominate and this must be controlled early in training. This will eventually become its nest and it will sleep there. Eventually, the puppy with your help will learn where and where not to go. They will eventually become creatures of habit and regulate their need and place to use. Health problems and health issues What health problems can a Rottweiler Lab mix suffer from? Hip Dysplasia and elbow dysplasia — common in many large breeds of dog. Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joint, where the ball at the top of the leg does not fit properly into the socket and the ligaments attaching it are weak. This allows excess movement of the fitting which can eventually lead to stiffness and pain for the dog. Early warning signs are visual stiffness then walking, a reluctance to get up when prompted, and a difference in walking style; limp or caution. Bloat — any large dog that eats quickly or drinks a lot before exercising can suffer from bloat. This dangerous excessive gas build-up can cause the stomach to twist and damage other organs. Other health issues include ear infections, bone cancer, heart problems, skin conditions and allergies, epilepsy, and cold tail. How do you care for a Labrottie dog? Exercise needs A Labrottie is outgoing, athletic, and energetic so it will need lots of mixed exercises that blend fun and challenges. They need outdoor space to run around and burn off their excess energy, long walks, and activities that involve exercising around 2 hours a day as an adult. Feeding Feed as a large-sized dog, around 3 cups of Kibble dry formulated food per day. They should be fed twice a day and slowly to prevent bloat. Grooming This mixed breed dog inherits a short to medium length, shiny, dense double coat. Bathing This shortish-haired, water-resistant coated dog does not need regular bathing, only when required. Certain dog formulated shampoos have a double effect of cleaning the coat and protecting it against fleas and insect bites. Cleaning teeth, nails and ears As with all dogs, their teeth need to be cleaned regularly to prevent a build-up of plaque. Chewing breaks down plaque, so use doggie chew-toys, bare-bones and soft toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Nails grow quickly and need trimming regularly, say monthly, and ears need to be checked for debris that could cause infection. Lifestyle This breed is very confident, intelligent, and highly energetic. It will try to be dominant unless controlled and needs to be kept occupied otherwise it can become destructive. They can be stubborn and aggressive until trained. They will chew things if bored or left alone for long periods of time, so keep stimulated and busy. Chew toys can help with boredom. They need your company and outdoor space to run. This breed is a natural watchdog that will act on instinct to be very protective of its family. Positives and Negatives of ownership Positives A Family dog and loyal companion Intelligent and affectionate. A Rottweiler crossed with a Lab is a large dog and will require at least 1, calories a day. The only way to achieve that is to go for recipes developed particularly for giant pups, such as these best large breed dry dog food brands. You may also serve them the overall best dry dog food , but remember to increase the portions. This crossbreed will have an insatiable appetite from their first months, so only give them the absolute best puppy food brands or even the best dry dog food for small dogs. Old goggies will still want to munch a ton, but the food needs to be appropriate for their age. The best senior dry dog food will have adequate ingredients for this age group and it will be softer so they can eat it with ease. This lessens the amount of food they will have per meal and reduces the risk of bloating, something that typically afflicts large breeds. Low-quality meals are also detrimental to their health, so keep your pooch away from the worst dry dog food out there. There are several good dry dog food for large breeds like the Rottweiler Lab cross. It also uses deboned chicken as its primary ingredient and eschews corn, soy or wheat. It reportedly also alleviates allergies and poor digestion. It also has flaxseed, which is abundant in omega-3 fatty acids. Nutra Thrive dog food supplement : Although not food per se, supplements are essential for the necessary intake of vitamins and minerals that your pup may need if they are particularly active or muscular like a Rott Lab mix. It also has glucosamine to improve joint health. You should expect their offspring to inherit that trait as well. A Lab crossed with a Rottweiler needs to be taken on long walks daily, with each trip lasting about 30 to 60 minutes long. The question here is whether you have the energy and stamina to match your dog. Lack of activity and eating too much can cause your dog to put on weight. Being overweight or obese can lead to diabetes and other health problems. A Lab crossed with Rottweiler also needs a lot of attention. It needs company and puzzles and toys that will keep it engaged. Otherwise, it will become bored and develop separation anxiety. These can manifest into some pretty destructive behavior, like incessant barking, chewing, biting, and digging. The right toys can give your dog an outlet for their energy. It also helps sharpen its mind and reflexes. Here are the top toys for a large breed like the Rottodor. This KONG dog toy has been bringing joy to countless dogs for years now. The toy is designed to be filled with treats to keep your pet occupied for hours as it tries to get to the goodies. Nylabone Big Chew: This toy has a distinct shape and is made from extra-strong nylon. A lot of dog owners claim that it takes years for their dog to wear down this toy. Kick Fetch Toy Ball: Another great toy for large and active dogs, the Chuckit allows you to play fetch with your dog. But instead of throwing the ball, you kick it like a soccer ball. The grooves on the ball make it easier for your pet to carry it back to you. Rottweiler Lab Training Training the Rottweiler Lab can be easy, especially if you already have experience with dogs. Having two intelligent parents, Rottador is also smart and quick to learn. Its instinctual need to please its human gives it the motivation to work hard and learn new tricks. Like other breeds, a Rottweiler Lab mix will respond to positive reinforcement better than through punishment or other harsh strategies. However, you should tap the services of an experienced dog trainer to help train your dog. Expose your puppy to other dogs and people by bringing it to a dog park. You might have to keep it on a leash initially until it learns to interact peacefully with others. Even if your Lab Rottweiler mix is socialized, you should not let it play with very young children. Training and socialization will be a lifetime process. Punishment-based training never works. Studies have also shown that using this technique raises less obedient dogs that are more likely to attack strangers and even their owners. Have a lot of visitors over while your dog is still a puppy. Puppies are very confident, so this is the best time to introduce them to new situations. They should not become afraid of other people as fear is what makes dogs attack. Correct nibbling behavior immediately. A quick tap or a spray of a citrusy mix will put a stop to it. Redirect their gnawing tendency towards an appropriate chew toy. This strong dog has an equally strong will and drive. It needs someone who knows how to handle powerful, intelligent canines and who can step up and be firm with it. In short, it needs a no-nonsense Alpha. The Labweiler also needs a family who has an active lifestyle since it needs to be exercised regularly. This dog has boundless energy so it needs a place to romp around. It will not do well in small apartments or with owners that are more inclined towards a sedentary lifestyle. This can lead to very destructive behavior. You could come home to a ruined couch or to complaints of excessive barking. Families with young children should also choose another dog. The Rottweiler Lab mix can be the greatest canine companion for the right person. This lovable giant needs a confident and experienced dog owner who leads an active lifestyle. Rottweiler Lab Mix The 3 most important traits to give your dog are: Exercise: Dogs, like people, need exercise for a balanced state of being. This is especially true for high-energy dog breeds. Training: The time you spend early in training your dog will save much more time and anguish down the road in trying to correct them. Remember the key to effective training—tireless and patient consistency and persistence in insisting upon your dog follow your commands. Socialization — Expose your pooch to different people and environments every opportunity you get. Whether it is taking the trash can out or taking a package to the post office. This last part of the article is split up into five different sections, all of which are very important if you wish to own a Labrador Rottweiler mix. The Training of your Rottweiler Lab Mix The training of your Lab Rottweiler mix puppy is crucial, not because this is their formative years, but because they are part Rottweiler. Rottweilers are an alpha dog breed, and if they sense any weakness from a pack leader. They will push their way into being the leader of the pack, over you and the rest of the family. So train your Lab Rottweiler mix from an early age, the sooner you get the little puppy to realize that you are the pack leader the better life you will have. Bo the Labrottie Image by Jackie Myers Constant training is the key to keeping the Lab Rottweiler mix happy and content in its place throughout its lifespan. In training, always have the puppy complete the instruction no matter how many times it takes. Exercise For The Rottweiler Lab Mix The exercise needs of the Rottweiler Lab are at least 30 to 45 minutes daily, they need regular exercise otherwise, they can become obese and depressed if their exercise needs are not given to them. Other than that they would be happy to join you on the couch until something or someone catches their attention. They do tend to love to play out in the yard with a ball, toy, or rope with you or a family member. If they do not receive their daily needs of exercise they will start to do destructive behavior throughout the house and yard. You will find clothing torn, tables, chairs, trees, shrubs, basically anything they can get their mouths on will be chewed up and pooped out. Until they get the right amount of attention and exercise. Socialization of The Rottweiler Lab Mix All animals, including ourselves, need proper socialization skills to navigate through life, an ill-socialized dog is spelled for disaster. Invite friends and neighbors over to your home regularly to get the puppy used to people coming and going from your home. Take him out with you when you go out for coffee, to the post office, or just anywhere you can bring a dog, such as your local pet store. Socialization teaches your dog that other humans and animals outside of the immediate pack are friendly as well. Zeus the Rottweiler Lab Mix We think and we have good evidence that Zeus and his fellow litter mates suffered abuse because he fears: men plaid shirts Zeus my Labrottie We had several very nice leashes, that I carelessly left lying about, and Zeus discovered them and destroyed them in no time flat. So my dad bought a chain leash, and when it arrived Zeus completely freaked out! Running off and began rolling over when he ran out of space to run away. Another time one cool winter morning I came downstairs wearing a plaid shirt he growled and started barking ferociously at me. Needless to say, it took him a while to calm down. During those few instances, his flight or fight side of the brain took over. But, I consistently reinforced good actions, and he steadily grew accustomed to chains, plaid shirts, and men. Today, in Zeus does not fear men or much of anything actually, and is quite a lovable, very protective, happy go lucky Rottweiler Lab mix. If you wish to read more about Zeus the Rottweiler lab mix , just click the link. Zeus my Labrottie The Health Issues of the Rottweiler Lab Mixed Breed Cold tail — Cold tail happens to sport dogs, they gradually lose the loss of their tail, this is quite painful for it is at the base of the butt. Bloat — Bloat happens when a dog has just eaten and is taken out and is run about for a while. This is a deadly condition if not take to the vet immediately. There the Veterinarians will cut into the stomach and untwist the stomach. Bone cancer — Sadly the Rottie has one of the highest rates of bone cancer. Obesity — The Labrador is prone to overeat and they can become obese. Hip and Elbow dysplasia — Happens to any dog breed that gets overbred without healthy standers. Conclusion of the Lab Rottweilers Mixed Breed. Due to their ability to be a multi-use dog and still be the families friendly pet with proper training at an early age. All in all the Rottweiler Labrador Mix is an awesome dog for anyone experienced with a large dog! All that owner has to do is give the Rottweiler Labrador Mix the proper amount of exercise, socialization, and positive reinforcement training. To make them an outstanding dog! A Labrador Rottweiler mix or any dog without any of these most important qualities, a dog will become unstable and unresponsive to you or anybody else. That any dog should get no matter what is happening, training, socialization, and exercise if you nail down those three qualities in your dog. You most likely will not have any behavior problems because you are keeping your dog mentally balanced, and also actively balanced. But if your dog does start showing a different behavior look back and see if you have slipped up in the three most important things to give your dog over their lifespan! This video is shortly after Zeus the Rottweiler Labrador Retriever arriving at my doorstep, enjoy! For those of you who have or are going to get a new puppy! We have several dog name article just for you.

Best Snacks for a Pug Overview Just as much thought should go into what you give your Pug for snacks and treats as it does in regard to main meals. When you look at the overall nutritional needs for this breed, as well as the importance of steering clear of additives that can cause allergic reactions, upset stomach and other issues, and weight gain being a common issue for adult Pugs, what you offer for snacks and treats will play a huge role in your Pug's overall health and well-being. This section will cover if snacks are really required, how often they should be given, the difference between snacks and training treats, how to get the most benefits from these, and some healthy and delicious options. Already know the details of why, how many, and how often and just want recommendations? Jump to: The Best Snacks for a Pug. You may be wondering if it's just fine to only give your Pug 2 or 3 meals per day without anything extra and if it's really necessary for a Pug to have any snacks or additional treats. And, if your Pug is on a diet to control their weight, this may be particularly relevant. The short answer is yes, most Pugs can benefit from both snacks and training treats, including those on a weight maintenance plan. Let's look at the advantages of each of these: Snacks: Snacks help satiate a dog's appetite in between meals. Without these, a Pug can end up so hungry at meal time that he eats much too fast. Rapid ingestion of food is linked to gastric dilatation volvulus commonly referred to as bloat which is a dangerous and often fatal twisting of the stomach. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes for the brain to realize that the stomach is full. If a Pug is so hungry that he wolfs down his food, he may want to keep eating even after he's had enough. If a dog's stomach is empty for too long of a time, churning stomach bile can cause an upset stomach, as well as cause vomiting of the bile often appears as a white or yellow foam-type substance. Training treats: The 1 method of teaching a dog what is right and what is wrong is to reward good behavior. While praise and petting play a role, a tasty tidbit of food is the most effective way to offer rewards. Giving a Pug reward treats can greatly boost your success for housebreaking, command training, efforts to stop barking, jumping up, or chewing on non-toy objects, and works well for the reinforcement of good behavior such as socializing with other dogs or with people. So, as you can see, giving snacks and treats to your Pug is important. The key is to find a good balance, only offering these tidbits at the right times, in the right quantities, and to stick with very healthy options. Frequency: Most Pugs do best with a total of 3 snacks per day. This can be any combination of snacks, though dental treats are typically reserved to just one per day. One snack is given between breakfast and lunch, one given between lunch and dinner, and one given one to two hours after dinner. If there is another certain time of the day that your Pug gets really hungry but it's not time for a meal, a 4th can be given. Serving sizes: One hard chew, 2 to 3 medium-sized biscuits, a small handful of bite-size biscuits, or one dental treat. Training Treats - These are moist or chewy small treats. Frequency: When any sort of training is beginning, reward is often given to mark each correct behavior. For example, each time a Pug goes to the bathroom in the designated area or each time a Pug obeys the 'sit' command. In some cases, once training is underway and a Pug is getting the hang of things, reward can be given more sporadically. For example, once commands are understood, praise should be given each time a Pug obeys but reward in the form of a treat can be given every 5th or 6th time. For every behavior that your Pug displays that pleases you, even well-learned actions like sitting nicely while you place a harness on or heeling beside you while being walked, randomly offer reward and praise to show your Pug that you appreciate their actions. Serving size: These are designed to be very small to offer just a tiny burst of flavor so that appetite is not affected by multiple rewards. Only one or two small training treats should be given each time you wish to mark good behavior. The Difference Between Dog Snacks and Dog Training Treats While technically you can give one in place of the other, there are a few main differences: Snacks, meant be given to a Pug in between meals should be dry. This is the best consistency to calm down the stomach and keep away hunger pains. These may be labeled as treats or chews often along with the words crunchy or dry, or you may see the terms cookie, cracker, or biscuit. These are often large enough that a dog has to chew at least a few times before swallowing it down. This also includes hard chews meant to be gnawed on for a while for either teething puppies or Pugs that see chewing as an enjoyable hobby. Training treats, meant to be given to a Pug during training and to mark good behavior should be moist. This is the best consistency to quickly deliver the message that a dog did a great job. These may be labeled as treats, training treats, chews, or training chews and you will usually see the terms moist, soft, or chewy. These are typically very small; they are designed to offer a quick burst of flavor while not having much of an impact on a dog's appetite. Snacks to Avoid Giving a Pug Before we dive into the best options for snacks to give to a Pug, there are 3 types that should be avoided: 1. This pose a risk to all just about every dog breed. Most are made from the inner layers of cow or horse hides and then artificially flavored. Dangers of these types of snacks include choking, contamination of E. Pig ears. The shards from these dry brittle snacks can cause tooth breakage and cause injury to the throat. Once swallowed, improperly chewed pig ears can cause blockage to the intestinal tract. Real animal bones. It is not safe to give a Pug real bones from ham, chicken, turkey, duck, beef roast or any other meat. Cooked bones are the biggest danger, though raw bones can cause problems as well. Cooked bones become very brittle and can crack into sharp splinters that pierce the mouth, throat, stomach, or intestinal tract causing choking, blockage or internal injury. Raw bones are a bit safer but still pose risks including splinters and over consumption of marrow that can lead to diarrhea and flare ups for dogs prone to pancreatitis. The Best Snacks for a Pug Avoid: Whenever you are giving your Pug any sort of food, it is just as important to be aware of which ingredients need to be avoided as it is to what is being offered. Ingredients to steer clear of include: Synthetic preservatives. And, as we covered, these should be dry not moist. Recommended: 1. There are so many awesome flavors including those with yogurt or a beef base, and this one is a variety pack that pairs pumpkin with apple, banana, blueberry, and cranberry. It's a great way to give a Pug different flavors, each is only 9 calories, and these are made in the USA. Bandit's Biscuits All-Natural Cookies. These have no corn, wheat, or soy, have just 10 calories per cookie, and are made in the USA. This is a fantastic option for helping a Pug stay happy until the next meal. These are dry baked biscuits made in North America the US and Canada with lots of yummy flavors to choose from. Note that some of these recipes have flour or some grains but there is also a grain-free option if you prefer that for your Pug. The small size works for most adult Pugs and mini size is best for most Pug puppies. Though 'rawhide' is in the name, that is just their way of letting you know that these chews are a great alternative to real rawhides which as we covered are dangerous for dogs that like to chew. These are designed for small and medium sized breeds, like the Pug, and literally have just one ingredient: healthy sweet potatoes. These are good for a dog's teeth, which is always a plus and these are made in the USA. The Best Training Treats for a Pug Avoid: Just like snacks, training treats should not have synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring or flavoring, soy, corn, high levels of wheat, by-products, generic meats or oils, or be made overseas particularly China. Since these are meant to offer just a small yet powerful burst of flavor to mark good behavior and help with training, avoid anything that is large enough that your Pug has to chew more than just a few times. Look for: Treats that use a vitamin blend as a preservative mixed tocopherols. These should have a strong flavor that dogs see as high-value including meats like bacon, lamb, and bison and sweet fruits like watermelon, apple, and berries. Fruitables Skinny Minis. Though all the entire line of Fruitables are pretty low in calories, the ones in this line have just 2 or 3 calories per treat which make these a great choice for adult Pugs that need an eye kept on their weight and are the perfect chewy consistency for giving rewards. These are all-natural and are made in the USA. Wellness does a fantastic job with both kibble and treats; there is no grain, soy, corn, by-products, or other additives and all are preserved with vitamins. And, these are made in the USA. These little square training treats are ideal because you can break these in half if you're doing a session that involves lots of action rewards, like heeling or working on a command or offer one square for one-time action rewards like house training. Zuke's Mini Naturals Dog Treats. There is no corn, soy, or wheat, these are made in the USA, and a citrus and vitamin blend is used as a natural preservative. Giving Fruits and Vegetables as Snacks There are some crunchy vegetables and soft fruits that you can give to a Pug, if you wish. Veggies - Not every dog will be thrilled to be given plain veggies, but some do like to chew on raw baby carrots which are good for the teeth. Other vegetables that a Pug can eat include peas, green beans, potato, sweet potato, spinach, and kale, but these are best mixed into meals. Fruits - Many fruits have good levels of fiber that cause natural sugar to be absorbed slowly, so fruit can be given in moderation. Fruits that Pugs can eat include pear, banana, blueberries, raspberries, and mango. On hot summer days , berries can first be frozen which can make a nice, cool treat. And Don't Forget About Dental Treats Taking good care of your Pug's teeth is a vital part of care and dental chews are edible so these should be looked at as necessary snacks. One of the most preventable issues that happens to dogs is dental decay and periodontal disease. Just like humans, plaque is constantly being produced. If it is not removed, it starts to harden into tartar in as little as 3 days. Plaque and tartar both form hard coatings on the teeth, often moving below the gum line, and eating away at enamel. Decay develops and this is a silent destruction that can lead to infections and tooth loss. You can help prevent this by performing at home dental care of your Pug's teeth via brushing them or using a spray and by offering a daily dental chew. This will take the place of one of your Pug's regular snacks that is given in between meals or as an after dinner snack. Note that some dental chews are very tasty so a dog will accept these as they do any other yummy treat. Also please note that these have a very hard texture they must, to do their job and for that reason a dog should be supervised when chewing on these. The teenie size is for dogs 5 to 15 lbs. If your Pug is over 25 lbs. Did you find this article to be helpful? This huge, comprehensive book is available in both hard copy soft cover and PDF ebook. Want to stay informed? Become a free PetPugDog Membe r to receive newsletters that announce new articles and updates. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Conclusion Training Treats vs Snacks Some treats are snacks, some snacks are treats. But how can you tell the difference between snacks and treats? The answer lies in HOW your dog thinks. Understanding how your dog processes things can help you figure out if the treat is a snack or a training treat. Knowing this will allow you to use treats more effectively while training and giving your dog a healthier diet. There are a lot of opinions on whether to give your pug training treats or snacks. The most important thing to remember is that treats should only be given in small amounts. This will help Pugs to focus on the task at hand. When it comes to treats, you want your pug to learn that good behavior is always rewarded. Dog treats will act as a great motivation to encourage them to keep performing the desired behavior. But, a snack is a general term used to describe any form of food or drink that your dog may enjoy. There are plenty of healthy snacks you can give your pug, like pieces of fruit or vegetables. Just be careful not to overdo it, because too many treats will quickly lead to weight gain. And can also provide a little bit of mental stimulation. Yogurt Drops: Another great source of calcium for your pug is yogurt drops. They make a tasty snack and are easy to chew. This is important for keeping their bones healthy and preventing joint problems down the road. Freeze-dried Liver: This is a healthy and nutritious treat that your pug will love. It is a great source of protein and vitamins, and it will help keep your pug healthy and strong. The liver is a good source of vitamin A, iron, and other important nutrients. Freeze-liver is also a protein-rich substance. All these nutrients make the liver an excellent choice for a healthy and nutritious treat for your pug. Green Beans: These are healthy and crunchy snacks that your pug will love. Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, C and K, as well as dietary fiber. Carrots: Another healthy and crunchy option, carrots make a great snack for pugs. They are a good source of Vitamin A, which is important for healthy eyesight, and also contain fiber, potassium, and other nutrients. Like most vegetables, carrots are also low in calories, making them a healthy choice for overweight pugs. Peanut Butter: This is a classic treat that pugs love. Just make sure to give it in moderation, as it can be high in calories. However, with the right type of treat, you can use them as a way to help train your pug and reinforce good behavior. Homemade Treats for Your Pug If you love cooking and pugs, or if you adore your canine companion. And want to try a new treat for them, this is the perfect recipe for you. Making a Pug Treat is very simple. These treats are great for rewarding good behavior or as a training treat for your pug. The best Pug puppy treats are typically homemade. There are many recipes that are simple, healthy, and will make your pup delighted. One of the simplest Pug puppy treat recipes is a mixture of boiled chicken, rice, and some vegetables. The chicken can be substituted with other meats or fish if desired. This recipe is low calorie, high in protein, and a good source of vitamins and minerals. Another great Pug puppy treat recipe is a simple mixture of peanut butter and oatmeal. Look no further than your own pantry. Your kitchen covers all the elements necessary to prepare delicious home-style treats. Using one of the many treats for pugs recipes offered. One of the key benefits of homemade treats for pugs is that when you use your own ingredients to cook homestyle dog treats. You can know for certain that unlike commercially made treats for pugs with their high quantities of fats and sugar. You are giving your Pug a treat that is delightful as well as being good for your pet as it contains a fraction of the important nutrients your Pug needs. They also do not have any artificial food colorings, other preservatives, or added sugar. They are also free from dangerous chemicals and additives when they are made in your own kitchen using fresh ingredients. The absence of all these things helps to make the treats both healthier and safer for your pug to chomp. One important reason you may want to make your dog some treats is to build up and develop the bond between the two of you. Again, this is a case of positive reinforcement. If you give your Pug a treat, he will feel loved and cared for. And he will thus be happier and more affectionate. Making your own treats for pugs at home can be exciting and save you money. Homemade treats for pugs are better for your Pug. Here are some simple recipes with items you already have at home. Flank Steak Lamb While you can try wild game, like self-hunted bison, deer, and other wild animals, it is best to freeze the meat first. You want to kill any bacteria on the meat before giving it to your dog, such as E. Manufactured Treats You can purchase pre-made manufactured treats from the store. However, be careful when you try out a treat. Try to stay with natural, healthy selections with minimal ingredients. Also, if your pug has allergies, you need to be aware of any potential irritants. Some ingredients to watch for are: High sugar High sugar or fructose Synthetic, cooked, or raw bones Because of the increasing awareness about popular dog treat ingredients, companies are starting to recalculate their angle for marketing. Even if a brand claims to have all natural ingredients, always take a look at the contents before you trust it. Homemade Treats Homemade treats are typically healthier, but they do require prepping. You can get some really nifty ideas online for recipes. These will involve less ingredients and more nutrition than processed treats. Plus, you are in full control over what goes into the creation process. Some ideas you could try for a snack include: Homemade dog biscuits Vegan, gluten-free, or organic treats Frozen pureed fruit cubes You can bake, freeze, or tailor-make your pet snacks just the way they like. Certain kinds of readily available treats are absolutely no good for your pug—or any dog, for that matter. While some of these treats have remained popular despite being unhealthy, you should avoid these treats at all costs. Sugar-Filled Treats Treats chalked full of sugar can lead to obesity, addiction, and dental issues. If they continue to ingest too much sugar over a long period, it can lead to more serious problems like liver failure and diabetes. Pig Ears Pig ears are very tough, and they can break into sharp bits—posing as a choking hazard. Pig ears are also a breeding ground for nasty bacteria. Artificial Additives When treats are filled with artificial dyes, preservatives, and flavoring. If your pug is sensitive to an ingredient in the treat, it could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. It can also trigger allergic reactions and prove toxic. Raw or Cooked Bones You may think that raw or cooked bones are a healthy alternative snack for your pug. However, raw bones can harbor lots of bacteria leading to gastrointestinal upset. Cooked bones can split apart and cause choking or damage to the throat, stomach, and intestines. But human food is a bad habit to get started that leads to poor health. Real chicken is the number one ingredient here, which is something you want to keep an eye on when you purchase treats. This selection has .You can break these little meatballs up to get the most out of them if you prefer. I break one in half for Sid to reward him for a job well done and save the other half for later. If your pug has food sensitivities, you may want to steer away from this one. Chicken can be a trigger for allergies in some pugs. Email Offering high value treats for your pug should be foremost on your mind if you want to raise it to be healthy. It is your responsibility as a pug parent to know just the right food to give noting the fact that this breed has weight issues. While it may sound lovely to prepare your own dog treat, time can be cruel on your side. Source: pugingtonpost. These treats are also low in calories and fat. Because they are quite filling, it makes them consume less but get the most of what they need leading to a more controlled weight. After scouring Amazon for the best pug treats, here are the top 3 bestselling ones. High quality made in the USA, this bag offers nothing but high quality proteins from single animal source, easily digestible carbs, and Omega 3 and Omega 6 for topnotch health. It also contains ZERO corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs, and no chicken or beef to prevent triggering allergies in your pug. For safety and authenticity, always order from Amazon. To feed your pug, it is best to consult your veterinarian. For healthy meaty eats. .This high value pug treat is recommended as training aid making them the best choice when potty training or doing skills training for your pug pup. Made with percent pure USA-sourced and made beef liver, it is dried raw or freeze-dried to ensure locking in the aroma and freshness leaving a smooth texture pugs love to eat. Low on calories and fat, this is truly heaven for pug parents who want nothing but the best for their pup without making them overweight. The Purebites Beef Liver Dog Treats are highly recommended also for pugs and other dog breeds with health issues like obesity, diabetes, allergies, and GI disorders. No wonder new pug owners reviews often give this one two thumbs up. Available in Amazon in various pack sizes—4. Each pack comes in resealable bags to preserve taste and freshness. Another flavorful choice from Purebites is its Cheddar Cheese dog treats. .Instead of meaty liver, this one is made from percent pure USA-sourced and made cheddar cheese to ensure quality. Aside from its pug snout-friendly size and design, it is freeze-dried raw to encapsulate wholly the aroma, freshness and texture. High in calcium but low in fat and calories, this also makes a great choice for pugs with weigh issues, GI problems, diabetes, and allergies. Reviews and feedback from pug parents have also hailed this flavorful PureBites Cheddar Cheese Dog Treats as one of that most pugs love. To order, feel free to choose from two budget-friendly sizes—in single or 2-pack .Order from Amazon to ensure authenticity, shipping and, of course, discounts. Feed Them Right! Source: petpugdog. If you want to raise healthy and disease-free pets, choose any of these high value treats for your pug. You can diversify the flavors in doing so but make sure to stick to either of these brands — Blue Buffalo Basics or Purebites—to ensure quality ingredients and content. When buying, the best and safest route is still with Amazon. So, order now and do it in bulk to save more. Everyone likes treats, including your adorable Pug. Carefully chosen health treats are not only great for the overall health and well-being of your pup. These also come in handy during training sessions. The 10 best treats for pugs is what you need and we got it. Dogs often listen to commands better when they know that something yummy is waiting for them. Treats are even more important for breeds that are stubborn to train, such as Pugs. Thus, as a Pug owner, it is important to know what treats will be safe and healthy for your dog so you can teach these flat-faced cuties some tricks and good manners. Here are the 10 best treats for Pugs that you can add to your to-buy list: 10 of the Best Treats for Pugs 1. This is one of the most popular brands you can find in the market today. The brand developed the Basic Skin and Stomach Care line. These treats are packed with high-quality proteins from a single animal source. These are also rich in omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids and easy-to-digest carbs to promote better health. The formulation is also free from eggs, dairy, soy, wheat, or corn. Beef or chicken are also not included in these treats to avoid unwanted allergy triggers in your adorable pup. These treats are available in an exciting hodgepodge of exciting flavors. These include grain-free potato and duck, potato and turkey, potato and lamb, and more. Fruitables Skinny Minis Even though Fruitables is best known for its entire line of treats with low-calorie content, the Skinny Minis collection only contains 2 to 3 calories per treat. It makes them a great option for your adult Pug that needs to keep a close eye on his weight. These treats also have a delightful; chewy consistency that makes them perfect as rewards for your small pups. Fruitables Skinny Minis is a variety pack that includes pumpkin and mango, pumpkin and berry, and apple and bacon. These choices are all-natural and made in the USA. The snacks are delectable treats for pooches made from top-quality ingredients. These include beef hide and real chicken meat. The flavors of these treats are hard to resist and something Pugs will always crave for. The gourmet treats are made even better by their funny shapes that make chewing them long-lasting fun. The freshness of these meaty bites is maintained thanks to the sealable bag they come in. These are hands-free tasty treats that will keep the mouth of your pup clear of plaque, tartar, and bacteria. The Veterinary Oral Health Council has given its approval to these treats, which means you can be assured of the safety of your pooch. These blueberry-flavored treats are also rich in nutrients that encourage easy digestion. Take note, however, that these treats are not wheat-free. It means these may cause issues for dogs with gluten concerns. Buddy Butter Dog Treat Dog owners know that peanut butter should never be given to any dog breed. Peanut butter scientifically contains Xylitol, a type of alcohol unsafe for canine consumption. But with Buddy Butter, you can have peace of mind knowing that the treats come from safe peanut butter. Your Pug will definitely love the nutty taste of these treats. This is basically peanut butter for dogs which they will love. Each piece has 27 kcal. The small meatballs can be broken down into tinier pieces so you can make the most out of these treats. However, you might want to avoid these treats if your Pug suffers from food sensitivities. Chicken happens to be one of the common triggers for allergies in some dogs. These high-value treats for Pugs can be used for training, including potty training and skill training. It is either freeze-dried or raw to help lock in the freshness and aroma that creates a smooth texture that pugs love. The treats are low in fat and calories, making them a heaven-sent for Pug owners who want to reward their dogs without compromising their weight. PureBites treats are also recommended for Pugs and other breeds with health concerns such as allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, and diabetes. In addition to the design and size that are perfect for the snouts of your Pug, the treats are freeze-dried raw to maintain the texture, aroma, and freshness of every piece. Low in calories and fat and high in calcium, these treats are great options for dogs with allergies, GI issues, weight problems, and diabetes. Wellness Training Rewards Wellness never fails to do an amazing job with its treats and kibble. Everything is also preserved with vitamins and made in the USA. Wellness Training Rewards come in the form of small square training treats that you can break in half. It makes these treats perfect for training sessions that involve numerous action rewards such as working on commands or heeling. You can also give your Pug one square treat as a reward for one-time actions such as house training. There are several delicious treats you can choose from including lamb and salmon, chicken and lamb, beef and turkey, and turkey and duck. Every piece only contains 3 calories and is available in various flavors that most dogs love. These include chicken, rabbit, duck, salmon, peanut butter, and oats. A vitamin and citrus blend is also used as a natural preservative. The treats come in small bits, which means you can use them depending on how you deem fit while training. These are also safe and soft enough for both puppies and seniors. These are absolutely one of the 10 best treats for pugs must haves. Best Treats for Pug Puppies Now that you know the 10 best treats for Pugs, here are some of your options for the best treats for Pug puppies. Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Soft-Moist Training Treats These soft moist training treats from Blue Buffalo are very tempting that even the unruliest pup will surely behave before you even know it. Blue Buffalo Blue Bits use real beef as its first ingredient. The treats offer Pug puppies the real nutrition they need. The treats also contain DHA which can encourage the healthier brain development of your pup. However, although the treats are great snacks for dogs, they contain some cane sugar. It means you need to limit the amount that you give to your pup. But of course, these still work perfectly as special occasion treats. The product is also free from corn, wheat, and soy. These are also enriched with omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids just like other Blue Buffalo treats. Old Mother Hubbard Wellness Puppy Biscuits One of the biggest benefits of dry treats is that they can clean the teeth of your Pug puppies. Old Mother Hubbard treats contain chicken protein. These are small but extremely crunchy biscuits that all puppies will love. Aside from chicken, these treats also contain apples, oatmeal, carrots, and a selection of added vitamins and minerals that can support the optimal growth of your puppy. Be sure to have some of these treats handy every time you play and interact with your pup to reward good behavior and manners. One of the best things about these treats from the Pupford brand is the fact that they are very healthy. These treats are made from simple freeze-dried beef liver, making them a great source of protein for canines. These treats are free of fillers and sugar. These snacks for puppies also have low-calorie content, with each treat only containing one calorie. Nutrient-rich and tasty treats that are low in calories like these are ideal for training, specifically for breeds such as Pugs that are at risk of weight issues. Dogs are known to be big fans of lamb and its taste. Salmon is also a great addition to the already rich flavor of these treats. Puppies love chewy treats, and these soft puppy bites are great options for them. These treats are made up of all-natural ingredients. Aside from pure salmon and lamb, they also contain other healthy ingredients like blueberries and sweet potatoes. Antioxidants are also added to further enrich these puppy treats. Fruits and Vegetables as Treats for Pugs Pugs are among the small dog breeds that are prone to weight gain because of their short snouts and legs which make exercise less appealing and tougher for them. Excess fat in their diet may worsen their breathing problems and even shorten their lifespan. The extra weight can also put additional stress on their tiny backs, legs and hearts. To prevent weight gain, it is important to take your Pug on regular walks and avoid overfeeding. One of the easiest ways to train and treat your Pugs without putting their health at risk is by using fruits and vegetables as treats. Listed below are some of your best options. Just make sure to consult with your vet first before you let your Pug munch on these treats: Apples.

One practical difference between curly and wavy poodle fur involves dog show competition. If your mature poodle's hair tends to waves rather than outright curls, you can't compete in conformation breed classes. Poodle Coat Standard The American Kennel Club, the governing body of canine breed competitions, states that the poodle's coat should be curly. It adds that the curly coat is dense throughout the body and of "naturally harsh texture. The cords are shorter on the tail puff and legs, and longer on the trunk or neck. The standard does not mention a wavy coat. Puppy Coats Poodle puppies have wavy coats, which are also softer than that of the adult dog. While the coat changes over time, how long it takes depends on the size of the poodle. In toy and miniature poodles, the wavy coat starts changing into a curly coat at approximately 9 months of age, and takes about 9 months to completely transition. By the time your smaller poodle reaches the age of a year-and-a-half, his curly coat should be complete. For standard poodles, the change in coat type begins between the ages of 9 to 16 months, but the entire transition takes just about three months to complete. By the age of 19 months -- approximately the same age as his smaller cousins -- the standard poodle sports an entirely curly coat. Poodle Mixes Because they don't shed and are believed to be hypoallergenic, poodles are often crossed with other dog breeds. The results include the cockapoo -- poodle and cocker spaniel; schnoodle -- poodle and schnauzer; Labradoodle poodle and Labrador retriever and many more. Crossing dogs with dissimilar hair coats is always a gamble, because you could end up with a shedding, non-hypoallergenic canine that only faintly resembles a poodle. One of the older crosses, the cockapoo, tends to breed true, although many of these hybrid dogs have wavy rather than curly hair. A good breeder can tell you what type of coat a cockapoo puppy is likely to have when the pup is still quite young. Poodle Grooming All poodles require regular grooming and clipping. Without this basic maintenance, they turn into a matted mess. Poodles whose curly coats haven't yet come in can sport a "puppy" clip, which is also an easy maintenance style for owners of older poodles who don't compete in the show ring. With a puppy clip, the tail base, feet, face and throat are shaved. Show dogs might appear in a continental, English saddle or sporting clip, each of which has strict rules about what areas of the body are shaved. If you have a poodle mix with a wavy coat, or a poodle still in his puppy coat phase, you can opt for a full coat, but that requires extensive grooming. A simpler option is the "teddy bear" clip, which just needs weekly brushing. Do poodle tails get docked? What is a curled tail? In contrast, the same tail on another show breed would be deeply undesirable. Can poodles have curly tails? A poodle with a curled tail running through the grass. The tail curl can also be caused by hemivertebrae, although this is not often associated with poodles. Hemivertebrae is a congenital condition where the vertebrae of the spine either fuse or develop as a wedge shape giving rise to the curvature or curl of the tail. In some dogs, typically breeds with longer tails, hemivertebrae will only cause the end of the tail to curl. Dog breeds with shorter tails can develop a corkscrew tail. This can be a sign of spinal problems in these breeds, which can be painful. The tail curl is hereditary, so puppies born to parents with tail curls are more likely to have it themselves. If you want a poodle with a straight tail, you should see both parents before picking your puppy out of the litter. Are there any health concerns associated with a poodle tail curl? If you have a smaller poodle whose tail is very curled or shaped like a corkscrew, it would be worth checking with your veterinarian. Will a poodle tail curl stop me from showing my dog? Whether or not you can show your dog depends on the kennel club, but most of them do want poodles with straight tails. The American Kennel Clubs poodle breed Standard states explicitly the tail should be straight. American Kennel Club Breed Standard If you want to show your Poodle, take full advantage of its tail and make it a real showpiece. Some people turn to surgery to try and straighten the tail, but this can be risky and painful for the dog and is not recommended. You will also find it challenging to find a veterinarian willing to help, and for a good reason. You can take your dog to a groomer and ask them to work on the tail to make it look as straight as possible. Of course, there are limitations to what they can achieve, but you might be surprised by what a skilled dog groomer can achieve. FAQ Do poodles have curled tails? Yes, with a slightly shorter tail this can be more pronounced than the Standard poodle. Yes, as the tail is shorter than the larger poodle variants, this can be even more pronounced. It can be an inherited trait from the parents or caused by wedge-shaped vertebrae. What is a gay tail in poodles? Yes, show dogs are expected to have their tails docked. The Doxiepoo is a mix of the Poodle and the Dachshund breeds. Every puppy looks a bit different — most have the long body of the Dachshund and the curly hair of the Poodle! Westiepoo: West Highland White Terrier x Poodle Mix The Westiepoo is an amazing hybrid dog breed that is full of love, affection, and offers a pleasant disposition. This smart guy matches perfectly with any owners, as they have a great personality — not to mention they are incredibly handsome with those majestic curls. Maltipoo: Maltese x Poodle Mix Maltipoos are a winning combination of the Maltese and Poodle — with those elegant, wavy locks, that cute black nose, and those button eyes, how can you not live him? Maltipoos also come with great intelligence and an easy-going disposition that makes them unique. They get along best with older, quiet kids and adults because of their shy nature. Aussiedoodle: Australian Shepherd x Poodle Mix This cross between the Australian Shepherd and the Poodle results in a playful, energetic, and affectionate partner. The Aussiedoodle can make you fall in love with just a glance — that wavy fur and those bright eyes are an irresistible combo! With a small-sized body, the Papipoo is an adorable tiny breed. These cute balls of fur are adaptable to any kind of place, and they can live happily in your yard or your apartment. They are elegant, affectionate, and have a sweet personality that matches with their cute looks. If you mix them up you will have as a result the Golden Doodle — a large-sized dog that owns the wavy curls and pointed black nose of the Poodle and the yellow hair and hanging ears that belongs to the Retriever breed. Besides its beautiful looks, this guy has a friendly, playful, and smart personality matching with an extroverted and kind soul. Similar to his big brother, the Mini Goldendoodle boasts bright curly locks alongside a fun and playful personality. We can personally attest to the cuteness and sweetness offered up by these darling crosses between a Shih Tzu and a Poodle! No matter which of these wonderful poodle mixes you like the most, any of them can be a perfect match for a lifetime. They are loving, smart, kind, and playful, and will bring tons of joy to you and those around you! What is your favorite poodle mixed breed? Share your favorite in the comments! Keep reading with our lists of:.

Introduction Adopting a French Bulldog puppy is a rewarding experience. These adorable pups bring joy, love and companionship to their owners. Not to mention, they are incredibly smart and adaptable to different living situations. If you are searching for a loyal and lovable pet, look no further than the French Bulldog. Do some research, assess your situation, and make sure you are ready for a puppy before you take the plunge. What is a French Bulldog? A French Bulldog is a breed of dog that originated in France. They are short, stocky, and have large ears that have become their trademark. French Bulldogs are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and playful personalities. They are also incredibly adaptable and can live in a variety of environments. Their cute little faces and big personalities are sure to bring a lot of joy to your life! French Bulldogs make excellent companions, thanks to their lovable personalities, adaptable temperaments, and sweet companionship. Not to mention, these pups are downright adorable! As a bonus, they come in a variety of sizes and colors, including brindle, cream, black, and brown. Regular exercise is also key for French Bulldogs, as they tend to become overweight if not given enough stimulation. During the colder months, consider investing in some cold-weather gear such as booties and a coat, as French Bulldogs can be sensitive to the cold. French Bulldogs make excellent companions and can provide a lifetime of love, loyalty, and companionship. If you are looking for a pup that is smart, loyal, and absolutely adorable, then a French Bulldog is the perfect choice for you. Start by looking in your local area for rescue centers and breeders that have puppies available. If you can, try to meet the parents and get a feel for the environment that the puppies have been raised in. Consider factors such as the size of your home, if you have enough time and energy to give it attention, and if you can afford the necessary veterinary care. When you find the right puppy, make sure you are prepared for it. Gather the items you need before you bring your new companion home such as food, a bed, toys, and a crate. Be sure to set up a good routine to help your new puppy transition into your home. Make sure it has a safe and secure environment with plenty of positive attention. Where to Look for French Bulldog Puppies Free to a Loving Home When looking for French Bulldog puppies free to a loving home, start by searching at animal shelters and rescue organizations. You will be able to find puppies of all ages, or even young adult Frenchies, that need homes. Exploring the Behavior of Our Furry Friends This can save you a lot of money and time in the long run. To find a rescue group near you check online, or ask your veterinarian or local animal shelter for recommendations. Another option is to search online classifieds. Many breeders advertise their puppies through these sites, so it is definitely worth taking a look. Be sure to read the advertisement carefully to make sure the breeder is reputable. Avoid buying puppies from puppy mills, as these puppies are much more likely to come with health and behavior issues. Consider networking with other French Bulldog owners. Ask around and see if anyone knows of a breeder or rescue organization that might have puppies for sale. This is also a great way to get information about the breed and to find out what other people have experienced when caring for their Frenchie. You may just find the perfect puppy for you! How much space do you have for a puppy? Do you have all the necessary supplies? Are you ready to commit to the responsibility of caring for a puppy? Investigate the local laws and regulations on owning a puppy. Have you collected food, a crate, treats, a collar, toys, etc.? Do you have a vet you can go to if needed? Being fully and properly prepared will ensure that your puppy has a good start to life in its new home. This means being able to afford the costs of a puppy which includes food, toys, vet visits, and training , being able to dedicate enough time to the puppy including walks, playtime, and training , and having the necessary accommodations in place for the puppy such as a safe space and toys. You should be prepared to make a long-term commitment to taking care of the puppy, as French Bulldogs can live up to 12 years. Do you have the time and energy to commit to a puppy? Are you able to devote the necessary attention and care to a French Bulldog? Can you afford the costs associated with a puppy? Answering these questions honestly can help you determine if a puppy is the right decision for you. Not only are French Bulldogs incredibly smart and lovable, but their temperaments also make them suitable for a variety of different living situations. Taking the time to prepare for your new pup will help ensure their transition into your home is as smooth as possible. Of course, providing a safe, loving environment for your pup to grow and thrive is paramount. Rest assured that with patience and dedication, you and your pup are sure to have a lifelong bond full of unconditional love and friendship. They make loving and loyal companions who will be happy to keep you company on long walks around the park or lazy days on the sofa. These smart pups are quick to learn and respond well to positive reinforcement training. You can look forward to many happy years with your French Bulldog pup as they tend to form strong bonds with their owners. When considering adopting a Frenchie puppy, it is important to ensure that you are prepared for the task. You will need to take the time to consider your lifestyle and the type of home that you can provide for your pup. You will also need to ensure that you have the proper supplies ready such as a crate, food, toys, and bedding. Once you have a French Bulldog puppy in your home, you will need to make sure you provide them with the love and attention they need to thrive. Spend time with your pup and give them ample opportunities to interact with other dogs and people in order to socialize them. You can also look into training classes or activities to help them reach their full potential. With the right amount of care and dedication, you can look forward to a lifetime of joy with your adorable French Bulldog pup. These dogs are known to adjust to many different living situations, so they can make great companions in any setting. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, they can fit into your lifestyle and become a beloved member of your family. They are incredibly smart, making them easy to train and care for. When you are looking for French Bulldog puppies, make sure you research the temperaments of the puppies you are considering. While French Bulldogs have an adaptable nature, you will still want to make sure the pup you choose is a good match for your lifestyle. Be sure to spend lots of quality time with the pup before you commit to adopting them. Doing these things will help ensure that you find the perfect pup and make the most of your new companion. These endearing little bundles of joy will make a great addition to any loving home. Not only are they loyal and affectionate, but they have a great capacity for love and companionship. These small bulldogs are highly intelligent, and they have an exceptional capacity for forming strong and lasting bonds with their owners. Frenchies are also highly adaptable and can easily adjust to different living situations. They are, of course, quite small in stature and very low maintenance, making them ideal companions for busy people. French Bulldog puppies make wonderful pets. They will bring years of joy and love to their owners. When you find the perfect puppy, make sure you have the supplies necessary for their care such as food, toys, and bedding. Ensure your new puppy has a safe and secure environment in which to grow and thrive. Frenchies are known for their smart and lovable nature, being incredibly adaptable to different living situations, and providing sweet companionship. You could even find an adorable Frenchie pup that is free to a loving home! When you find the perfect puppy, make sure you are ready with all that you need. Uncovering the Facts! Preparing for a puppy means assessing your situation, such as making sure you have enough space and time to take care of the pup, as well as having enough money to provide for its needs. Once you have everything set, you can be sure that your new puppy will have a positive, loving environment as they become a part of your family. What to Do When You Find the Perfect Puppy Once you find the perfect puppy, it is important to take the proper steps to make sure you are prepared and that the puppy gets off to the best start possible. It is important to do research on the breed and make sure it is the right fit for your lifestyle and home. French Bulldogs are known for their intelligence and adaptability, but they still require regular exercise and attention. You should also make sure that you have all the basics you need for the puppy such as food, a bed, a crate, and toys. It is also important to make sure that the puppy has a positive, loving environment from the very beginning. It is also important to create a routine and a schedule for the puppy so that it can learn the rules and know what to expect. It is important to provide affection and positive reinforcement. This helps the puppy learn that good behavior is rewarded and that it is safe and loved. Make sure to take your puppy to the vet for check-ups and vaccinations, and also to offer it socialization opportunities in order to help it adjust to its new home. Taking these steps will help your puppy grow into a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted family companion. Making Sure You Have Everything You Need Before bringing home your new fur-baby, make sure that you have all of the appropriate supplies that you will need. You will want to make sure you have food and water dishes, a crate or kennel, toys, treats, a collar and leash, and a bed. Having all of these items ready before bringing your little one home will make the transition a lot smoother. Ask experienced dog owners for tips and advice, take classes on puppy behavior and training, and familiarize yourself with puppy-proofing your home. With the right preparation and supplies, you and your pup will be ready to make a lifetime of memories. Ensuring Your New Puppy Has a Positive, Loving Environment When bringing home a new French Bulldog puppy, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your pup has a positive and loving environment. This means making sure any potential hazards are out of reach, and that your pup has plenty of comfortable space to rest and play. It can be helpful to introduce your pup to your home gradually, giving them time to adjust to the new environment. This means taking the time to play with your pup, providing belly rubs, and speaking to them in a calming voice. This will help your pup understand acceptable behaviors and help them feel secure in their new home. Post Views: .Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. Share A Story! French Bulldog Rescues In California A small commission may be earned on any purchases made via links on this page. Read our full affiliate disclosure. They are loving and do not require vigorous exercise, which is why they are considered one of the most popular AKC breeds. However, finding a french bulldog rescue in California to adopt from can be more difficult than it looks. At CharityPaws we never advocate buying from a breeder or puppy mill, but instead to adopt from a rescue. Adopting from french bulldog rescues in California can also be a rewarding experience. These rescues look for and save french bulldogs that have been abandoned or neglected by owners who can no longer handle the responsibility. Where to Find French Bulldogs Rescues In California As much as getting a french bulldog from a rescue is a good idea, starting your search might be confusing, especially if you do not know where to find these rescues. We have created a list of some of the best dog rescues in California where you can find some of these furry friends to adopt. Its mission is to save as many homeless French Bulldogs as possible. They search for, save and rehabilitate Frenchies. After rehabilitation, they place their dogs in suitable forever homes. They accept bulldogs from public shelters, high-kill rescues, and owners who can no longer handle the responsibility of owning a French Bulldog and wish to surrender. They have been rescuing and rehoming bulldogs for the past ten years, and in those ten years, they have placed more than 1, French Bulldogs in new forever homes. If you want to help them continue caring for this breed, you can support them through donations. To adopt a dog from this rescue, you need to apply through their website and reply to the acknowledgment email. A volunteer will screen applicants and push the approved applications to another volunteer who is charged with contacting you and scheduling a home visit. During the home visit, all family members and existing pets should be available during this visit. The volunteer also checks how secure your home is. The end goal is to see if your application will be approved. Once your application is approved, the rescue will contact fosters taking care of their dogs to see if there is one that matches your needs. This might take some time. They also host adoption events that allow approved families to meet the bulldogs.

One or both of this puppy's parents have undergone genetic testing. One or both of this puppy's parents are hip certified. One or both of this puppy's parents is OFA Heart certified. This puppy has had early neurological stimulation exercises. 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 Maryland 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 Maryland? 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 Maryland? 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. Share 0 Shares Possibly the most important thing to consider when choosing a Golden Retriever breeder is that they focus on the health, longevity, and temperament of their dogs. This means that they do not just care about what their dog looks like, but that they are also healthy and have a solid personality. In order to do this, all reputable Golden Retriever breeders will health test their dogs to ensure that their lines will be as genetically healthy as possible. According to the Golden Retriever Club of America, these health tests should at least include screening for hip and elbow problems and screening for a variety of eye conditions. Similarly, reputable Golden Retriever breeders will socialize their puppies from a young age to give them a good start in life and set them up for having a good temperament. Here are the top 7 Golden Retriever breeders in Maryland. Additionally, this breeder is also a proud member of the Golden Retriever Club of America. The main goal of these breeders is to bring healthy, happy, and good-natured Golden Retriever puppies into loving homes. To ensure that their dogs are genetically healthy, this breeder clears all of her dogs through health testing. Puppies are also kept up to date on their vaccinations and deworming, and they are also seen by a vet before going to their new homes. Puppies receive an extensive amount of socialization from an early age to ensure that they are ready to go to their new homes as well. Please note that this breeder requests that you fill out their puppy application form before making inquiries about puppies or putting a deposit down. From here you will need to wait for approval from the breeder and wait for the next steps. Name of Owner. As with any mixed breed, they can take on the traits of one of the parent breeds or any combination of both of them. With a Golden Retriever Mix, the goal is to get the highly-trainable, super-friendly, and sweet nature of the Golden Retriever and the best traits of the other dog in the cross. Because there can be variation in the puppies, you will want to ask the breeder about the other dog in the cross. This will give you an idea of what other traits you could be dealing with in a Golden Retriever Mix puppy. A Golden Retriever is known as the quintessential friendly dog with a happy-go-lucky personality. They get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. They also tend to be good with strangers as they are more interested in making friends. The other dog breed in the cross could provide some other traits and variations to this, but your Golden Retriever Mix puppy should have a similar disposition to the Golden Retriever. Golden Retriever Mixes tend to be highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in larger homes with room to run and can adapt well to apartment living. As long as they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and affection, they tend to be quite happy wherever they live. Golden Retrievers do well in most climates and are sensitive to heat, as with most dog breeds. Your Golden Retriever Mix should be about the same. A mixed breed can take on potential health concerns related to one, both, or neither of the parent breeds. Overall, a Golden Retriever Mix should be a relatively healthy dog breed. Reputable breeders will screen their stock to avoid passing on genetic conditions to puppies. You can also ask to see any relevant health clearances or test results. Golden Retrievers are famously easy to train, which makes them a great fit for owners of all experience levels. Depending on the other parent breed, there may be a chance that your Golden Retriever Mix could have an independent or stubborn streak. In this case, you will want to be prepared for puppy training and obedience classes in case you want a little help in dealing with stubbornness. Classes are a great idea either way because they help strengthen the bond you have with your puppy and are also a great opportunity to socialize your puppy. Golden Retrievers tend to have a medium-length coat that sheds moderately year-round and requires brushing a few times a week. Bathing is usually on an as-needed basis. This may be the same for your Golden Retriever Mix or their coat could require more or less grooming depending on the other parent breed. Monthly nail trimming is usually sufficient to keep them from growing too long. Weekly ear checks and careful cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Golden Retrievers are high-energy dogs. Your Golden Retriever Mix will likely be the same. Even if the other parent breed is a low or moderate-energy dog, you will need to be prepared to deal with a high-energy dog. Daily walks, playtime, plus extra activity are a must for dogs with a lot of energy. Be prepared to try a lot of different activities to find your favorites. Teach your dog to play frisbee , go for a swim, go running together, try taking a few hikes, go on trips to the dog park, and more. A Golden Retriever is a medium-sized dog breed that stands inches tall and weighs pounds. Your Golden Retriever Mix could be the same or they could take after the other parent breed. Make sure you talk to the breeder about the other breed in the mix and meet the mother dog. This can give you a good idea of what size to expect as your Golden Retriever Mix puppy grows. Golden Retrievers generally live years. Unless the life span of the other parent breed varies largely from this range, you should be able to expect something similar from your Golden Retriever Mix. Featured Golden Retriever Mix Article.

Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. There is nothing cuter than a fluffy bundle of German Shepherd goodness. Quickly, however, reality sets in. German shepherd puppies are a lot of work! From housetraining, chewed up household items, and establishing a routine, the very first day your adorable puppy enters your home, there are sure to be challenges as well as heart melting rewards. To help you and your puppy start off on the right paw, you need to set your puppy up for success. To get started, there are numerous books on puppy training that you can buy, free training advice online, and many opinions on the best way to raise a German Shepherd dog. You can also learn a lot from the mistakes that other German Shepherd owners have made and most are more than happy to share their experiences. Some of the most common mistakes that people make when raising a German shepherd puppy are: Getting a puppy that is too young According to the American Kennel Club, the best time for a puppy to leave its mom and littermates is at eight to twelve weeks old. Puppies develop many life skills from their mom and littermates. When placed in their new home too soon, they can develop anxiety, lack confidence, suffer from health issues, and have many more behavior problems. If a confident, healthy, well socialized dog is your goal, the wait is worth it. Trying to channel the energy of a true working line dog into the average pet home is unfair to the dog and often results in destructive behavior by the dog. There have been many frustrated owners who have ended up trying to rehome a dog with behavior problems or worse, dump them at a shelter. Before you choose a puppy, talk to breeders, rescues, and other experts to find the perfect fit for your home. Not puppy proofing the home German shepherd puppies are smart, full of curiosity, and love to chew. Left to their own devices, they will inspect every inch of your home and chew anything that catches their eye. Not being prepared for the pupping biting Like all puppies, German Shepherds like to chew. But given that they are herding dogs, they are mouthier than most breeds. Many first-time German Shepherd owners have been caught off guard by just how much their adorable puppy likes to bite and how razor sharp their teeth are. Although a small puppy nipping fingers and ankles can be cute, German Shepherds quickly start teething and soon grow into rowdy adolescents who may learn that biting is a fun game. This behavior can easily escalate and hurt someone. Chew toys can be used to redirect biting onto something acceptable. They also need plenty of chew toys to offer to teething puppies. Allowing resource guarding behavior German Shepherds are naturally protective and easily given to resource guarding. Owners should never allow their puppy to guard anything including their food, space, or favorite toy. Some signs of resource guarding include protecting an item, hard stare, laying on an item, growling, lunging, air snapping, chasing, and biting. This behavior could be as simple as a look, head turn, or slight baring of the teeth. Some ideas on how to prevent resource guarding include hand feeding and treating your puppy from their food bowl while holding it in your lap, trading up their toys and treats for higher value items, teaching them to allow you to take it, drop it and leave it, teach them to place, and letting them enjoy high value chews in peace. Failing to socialize Young German Shepherds not only need to learn the house rules, but they also need to be exposed to people and places outside the home so they grow up to be a confident dog. This should be done in a safe way, so they have good experiences and are not forced into fearful situations or hurt by other animals and people. Before your dog has its shots, you can start socializing by having people come to your home, taking your pup on car rides, drive throughs, and vet visits. Once your puppy has its shots, you can expose your puppy to all sorts of people and situations, such as people of different genders, colors, races, ages, sizes, disabled wheelchairs, crutches, etc. Not keeping to a schedule Puppies do best when they are kept on a schedule. When a puppy has regular mealtimes, potty breaks, walks, play time, and bedtime, it makes all training much easier and sets the puppy up for success. Conversely, lack of a schedule or an unpredictable environment can cause your German Shepherd puppy to develop behavior problems, cause training setbacks, and potty-training accidents. By sticking to a realistic routine, your dog will be calmer, happier, and grow up to be a confident dog. From the day you bring your dog home, commit to schedule that includes predictable mealtimes, potty breaks, training time, naps, play time, and bedtime. Avoid unrealistic schedules, such as expecting a young puppy to not have frequent potty breaks or to skip meals and drinking water. Not starting training immediately German Shepherd puppies love to learn to please their owners. Puppy training should begin the day the move into your home. By starting training early, you will help your puppy develop and grow into the amazing dog they were born to be. Young puppies can easily learn basic commands such as sit, down, wait, come, and more. We hope you enjoy this article. As always, please feel free to share with your friends. This is meant to be a brief overview and is by no means comprehensive. Pregnancy Dogs are pregnant for approximately 9 weeks, or 63 days. During this time, our job is to keep the mother well fed, well exercised, and relatively stress-free. The mother will visit our veterinarian at least three times—once for a prenatal health check, once for an ultrasound, and once for an x-ray. The first ultrasound is to simply confirm her pregnancy so we can begin accepting deposits and preparing to whelp. The X-Ray is for later in the pregnancy to get a more accurate count on how many puppies we are expecting. The mother is fed with proper nutrition as recommended by our veterinarian as well as prenatal and postnatal supplements. Puppies are born blind and deaf. To minimize stress, we do not remove the puppies from their mother for long periods. We do not want the puppies to associate the smell of humans with stress of any sort—rather, we want them to associate humans with safety and comfort. We desensitize the puppies to human touch while they are in the whelping box with their mom. From birth we touch their feet, ears, tails, mouths, stomach, etc. This helps the puppies to accept invasive human touch as a normal part of their lives. This will minimize any problems later on in life when your dog needs grooming, nail clipping, teeth brushing, etc because your dog is very familiar with these experiences already. ESI gets the puppies smelling novel and unique scents from birth to get the olfactory system working well and sharpen their limited senses at an early age. I went through diaries from the last ten years or so to come up with the usual times pups begin doing all sorts of things, and the ages at which I do different challenging and socializing things with them. Knowing how much people enjoy cute puppy photos, I put one or two photos in the main text to illustrate a new development and supplemented those by a link to more photos that you can view if you like. I have been breeding for 42 years. Years ago, all the screening anyone did was OFA hips. Then OFA began offering elbow certifications. As I went on and encountered other problems such as eye conditions and bad hearts in dogs I bought as breeding prospects or was offered by breeders as breeding prospects, I began screening my dogs for them as soon as OFA began offering certifications. I began with the old American lines, which still had a lot of German imports in their pedigrees. For example, photos from the C litter [whelped ] are distinguished from those of the CC litter [whelped ] by the use of the one-letter or the two-letter label. First, Selecting Parents I do more health screening on a prospective breeding prospect than most breeders. Thyroid ad eye certifications must be redone annually. When I buy pups as breeding prospects, usually 1 out of 3 pass all my health screenings at age 2. The problem is that most health problems are multi-gene recessive faults and can hide in the gene pool for generations. When a particular pup is conceived, it may get an excess of the bad genes and have a health problem. I follow my pups all their lives and keep track of any problems they might have, hopefully minor, and use that knowledge as I choose future breeding partners. So we breeders work in the dark, guessing which combinations of breeding partners will give us what we want, grieving when individual pups get a concentration of some bad genes for a certain trait. I have a friend who had an absolutely gorgeous, super social, fantastic Rottweiler who had 10 generations behind him of every ancestor having OFA good hips. When he turned two she did his OFA hip x-rays and he was severely dysplastic. It happens. All we have to go by are the phenotypic traits that show up on x-rays, not the genes that the dog has. For OFA evaluation the dog is sedated, stretched out on its back, and an x-ray taken. Three radiologists look at the x-ray and rate it excellent, good and fair are passing grades; failing dysplastic hips are rated mild, moderate or severe. In PennHip, the dog is sedated more deeply. After the standard x-ray is taken same view that OFA uses , a fulcrum is placed under each hip and pressure applied. The actual laxity is measured in the joint. PennHip rates each hip separately and gives each a distraction index and rates the possibility of its developing arthritis as the dog ages. PennHip is MUCH more expensive than OFA and only veterinarians who have completed PennHip training can do the x-rays so for me it not only involves a higher fee for the x-ray but also travel expenses and a day lost from other activities. The only health problem for which we have a gene test is spinal myelopathy DM , where the spinal cord gradually becomes constricted and the dog loses control of its rear end. DM comes from a mutation in a famous German dog who was bred to extensively in Germany and whose progeny are all over the world. DM Carriers will not get the condition as the dominant normal gene carries the day. My breeding dogs also must have some kind of training title. Mine usually have Nosework titles, often the Canine Good Citizen title, sometimes agility titles. Outside stud dogs to whom I consider breeding must have as many health screenings as possible and titles, either those listed above or others such as AKC obedience or tracking titles, or Schutzhund BH or further Schutzhund titles. I am serious about breeding dogs that are mentally and physically sound, with good working drives, and I want prospective breeding partners to have proved that in some way. I show a pedigree for the litter with the titles and health screenings listed for four generations. Artificial Insemination, especially with frozen semen, is iffy, so I wait at least until we do an ultrasound at four weeks in whelp before asking for a deposit; sometimes I wait until the pups are born. People on the waiting list are notified first and allowed to put down a deposit before I advertise the litter on my website. I ask people to spend some time doing the application as it gives me a first idea if one of my working-line pups would work for them. My dogs are intense and highly intelligent, not good for people with couch potato lifestyles or who will not spend time training and socializing. Once I approve a person as a possible puppy owner, they are welcome to come meet all of us. Beginning when pups turn three weeks old, people are invited to come play with them. I have to do an ultrasound to determine if my girl is pregnant. Twenty-eight days after breeding an ultrasound will show fetuses, and more importantly, fetal heartbeats. The heartbeats let you know you have live, developing puppies. The uterus has two horns, with puppies implanted and developing in each horn. German Shepherds are so thick that ultrasounds are of little value other than to confirm pregnancy; learning how many pups she has must wait until we can do a x-ray just before her due date. Otherwise, life as usual continues until just before her due date. We keep on training as long as she enjoys it and she exercises as usual, including her daily ball sessions. The Last Week in Whelp As close to her due date as we dare, we take an x-ray to see how many pups she has so I know for sure that we get all of them safely into the world. A week before her due date, I begin taking her temperature twice daily. I also begin adding some raw beef liver or heart to her lunch. I always save hearts and liver anyone gives me just for the near-to-whelping moms because organ meat helps induce milk production. Even if they begin refusing the raw beef cubes, they will gladly eat the heart or liver. The puppies have begun to drop from high in the rib cage to the abdomen area — her lower sides are larger while there almost seems to be a space up higher. The puppies are just too large to remain up under the ribs any longer. Mom has lots of mammary development, getting ready to lactate, and when she moves she clicks as her udder sways back and forth. Quinta shortly before whelping. She is so big that she looks like a snake as she walks towards me, the puppies swaying to the left during one stride and to the right on the next stride. I let her determine how much exercise she needs and just throw the ball when she returns it to me. I begin to really watch her as her behavior starts to change. She will be restless and want to stay close to me as I wander around the house, often begging me to rub her tummy, placing herself so that she can lean her head back and look into my eyes with her own and make sure I know how miserable she was. The strips absorb fluids as each pup is born and are easy to grab in handfuls to remove before placing more fresh strips in the box. I have tried shredded newspapers at times but generally prefer the strips to be wider. For the first couple of weeks they give the fragile, blind pups a place to squeeze into in case mom lies upon them without realizing it. A thermometer helps me make sure the whelping bed is warm enough. I have a doggie door going to a small private yard where she can potty if she needs to. All is ready. Her crate is right by my bed so I can hear if she becomes restless during the night. If at bedtime the thermometer says anything close to .For whelping, I pull the whelping bed out into the middle of the room so that I can access all of it and have plenty of light. I try to take photos as soon as mom has them cleaned up, but I usually wait to weigh the pup and put on its collar until mom is busy with a new arrival and not too worried about me handling the previous one. Average weight is 16 ounces, though occasionally one will weigh up to 20 ounces. I used to sew pieces of Rickrack into collars, but recently have been able to find Velcro collars in a wide enough range of distinguishable colors to make them practical. The first-born male always gets a blue collar, the first-born female always gets a pink collar, and for subsequent pups I try to put darker collars on the sables and lighter collars on the black and tans, again for better quick identification especially in the low-light whelping room during the first few days. I sit by the whelping bed and read a book, frequently checking mom as she peacefully nurses her pups, then go on alert when she goes back into labor. If she goes longer than 2 hours, I will give her an oxytocin shot to stimulate more contractions. When she delivers a pup, I let her clean it — tumbling the pup around as she chews the umbilical cord and dries it, gets it breathing well and rids it of any fluid inhaled during whelping puppy yelling is healthy! Pup on the heating pad while another is being born, BB litter. More photos: BB litter and LL litter When all are born, I give mom a last oxytocin shot to be sure she has expelled all the placentas. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract, thus forcing out any leftover fluids and sometimes a hidden puppy. I remove all the shredded newspaper, scrub the whelping bed, let it dry and then put layers of flat newspapers under an absorbent fleece bedding that will wick moisture away from the pups plus give them good traction. Quinta with part of the CC litter my Lively is the pup with the multicolored collar. I then lift the pups back into the whelping bed. Joyful with the BB litter, all black and tans. More photos: FF and KK litters After taking a few photos, I push the bed under the table to create a draft-free, private den for them and add a big bowl of cool water for mom. Newborn pups sometimes roll away from mom and not yet know how to sniff and find her. Eventually they figure things out and the new mom relaxes — their yelling having upset her as she tried to be everywhere for everyone. Peace descends and all of us sleep. A few things are as cute as a litter of German Shepherd puppies, but the idea of caring for all those bundles of fluff can be overwhelming. So, what do you do after your German Shepherd gives birth? After the whelping process is over, clean the mother GSD as much as possible, without disturbing her or the puppies. Instead of using soaps and disinfectants, clean your dog using warm water and a washcloth. Remove soiled bedding from the whelping box and replace it with clean towels or blankets. If your female German Shepherd is about to give birth, you need to be prepared to step in and care for her newborn puppies if necessary! Read on to find out how to take care of newborn German Shepherd puppies to raise a healthy and happy litter. It may come as a big surprise, but German Shepherds are very self-sufficient during birth. Though your GSD is more than capable of giving birth to puppies on her own, you should still be there to offer her support and help out in case of an emergency. Wrap the puppy in a towel and continue rubbing their back to stimulate them to breathe. Keep in mind, delivering the puppies is a messy business and there will be some drainage and waste in the area for the next couple of weeks. Your best bet to keeping the mom and the puppies clean and safe is to set up a designated nesting box before the delivery. Proper hygiene is the key to ensuring the health and well-being of both mom and her pups. Besides using towels and blankets you can also use a heating pad or a heat lamp inside the nesting box. If you decide to use a heating pad, choose a quality product and make sure that it is set at an appropriate temperature. Nose Suction Bulb Sometimes, puppies are born with excess fluid and mucus inside their noses and rely on you to clear their airways and help them breathe properly. As mentioned earlier, delivery is messy so make sure that the bedding inside the nesting box can be easily removed and disposed of. Remove the soiled bedding and replace it with clean sheets once a day to maintain hygiene inside the whelping box. By the end of the second and the beginning of the third week, the puppies will open their eyes and become more active. Feeding German Shepherd puppies spend their first week of life nursing and sleeping! However, you should start weaning your puppies when they are around three or four weeks old. Three weeks old German Shepherd puppies can eat wet puppy food or puppy kibble mixed with water as it is easier to chew. If this happens, have your vet prescribe you an artificial puppy formula to feed to your pups. During the first week, keep the temperature inside the room between 86 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In the second week, you can lower the room temperature to 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the puppies turn three weeks the ideal temperature for them is around 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure not to exceed 65 percent humidity, since too much moisture can cause diseases. Use a humidifier or place the nesting box in your laundry room to maintain ideal humidity levels. Weigh the Puppies Use a baby scale to weigh your puppies regularly to ensure they are gaining weight. Puppies are generally checked over and weighted two weeks after birth and then again at four weeks of age. However, you can use baby scales to weigh your GSD puppies at birth and then every other day to see if they are gaining weight and developing as expected. Once their baby teeth start to grow your puppies can start eating wet puppy food, or kibble soaked in water. By the time your puppies reach seven or eight weeks of age, they should be transitioned to solid food. Nevertheless, there is no harm in wanting to be prepared to welcome the new puppies the best way you can. Caring for a litter of newborn German Shepherd puppies can be a daunting idea, especially if you never raised puppies before. Related Articles:. The German Shepherd is a widespread breed of service dog that is popular with breeders. This breed develops into a beautiful large size body with well-developed muscles giving the dog the ability to perform well in many different environments. With proper care and competent training , an owner will get a loyal and devoted friend. Raising German Shepherd puppies is a responsible and difficult task which will require a lot of patience and love. Of course, we can easily fall for these German Shepherd newborn puppies whose photos look so cute on the Internet and in magazines but they also need competent care. Litter size The normal litter size for this breed is often of interest to novice dog breeders and this information is especially relevant for those who have their first experience with a young bitch. Amongst German Shepherd breed experts, there is consensus that the normal litter size is generally driven by genetics and the conditions or the timing of mating do not have a significant influence. A shepherd dog can give birth from 1 to as much as 15 puppies but in most cases a little less than the median of this range is more typical. Basically, you can expect a litter size of five to six puppies, which is really the optimal size. Of course, a healthy bitch is able to feed twelve babies, but it will be much more difficult for her, and the babies may not grow strong enough. Mating Experienced dog breeders recommend no more than one mating per year, otherwise it may affect the physical appearance and health of German Shepherd newborn puppies and the health of the mother herself. First two weeks of the German Shepherd newborn puppies Learning to care for the puppies during the first two weeks of their lives is particularly important. The condition of a German shepherd puppy immediately after birth, already speaks volumes to the fact that he is absolutely helpless as babies are born blind and deaf. However, despite this obstacle, their sense of smell is already quite developed and they perfectly feel the maternal scent and look for nipples of the mother by touch. Moreover, newborns instinctively know that the rear nipples contain more milk, so a struggle begins between them for the most advantageous places. Hearing in newborns starts functioning three to four days after birth. In the first hours after birth, babies are susceptible to various kinds of infections and they are especially vulnerable in cases when the health condition of the mother is not good. Real life experience shows that those who were born last have a much higher survival rate than those who came out first. If there are more than six newborns in a litter, the owners will need a lot of strength and patience to help the mother hatch and provide the conditions necessary for their survival. The litter will need to be divided into two areas and newborns fed in two steps. It is recommended to set up two box or containers to separate the group. In that case, you will need the help of a nurse dog who could take over some of the feeding responsibilities. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead in case the need comes up. There are certain criteria for selecting a nurse dog: Height at withers more than 50 cm Strength Health Milk availability It is important, to pay special attention to the weak and small puppies and place them against the rear nipples. Monitoring of German Shepherd newborn puppies You will need to closely monitor the behavior of newborns, weigh them daily and record the results in a log book. In doing so, you can track the evolution of the babies and identify those that may have development issues. In the first week, babies suckle their mother about twelve times a day, then the frequency drops to eight and in the final days it will go down to four times. At first, the mother stimulates the physiological functions of the puppies by licking them. Once the German Shepherd newborn puppies begin to eat a little solid food, the mother stops doing it. Keep in mind that from that point on you will have to take care of the cleanliness of the birthing area where the bitch lives with her puppies. If you notice that the mother does not really care for the babies, you will need to massage their abdomens. You can do so with a cotton swab dipped in sunflower oil. When the babies are five days old, the dog owner should start changing the litter in the box on a daily basis. Make sure the area where the litter is set up is warm but well ventilated and that nothing can contribute to suffocation of the puppies such as fabric, attachments, etc. On the seventh day, trim the small claws of the front legs as they can scratch the mother while feeding. If the case she has wounds, lubricate them with synthomycin liniment. In that case, wash them with a weak potassium permanganate solution, rosehip oil or sea buckthorn oil and make sure that she does not lick that area. Feeding of German Shepherd newborn puppies You can start feeding puppies once you notice a decrease in their daily growth, despite the fact that they become restless, whine and try to crawl. Appropriate timing is crucial as rushing the process is just as dangerous as delaying it. If you start feeding too early, the mother will have less milk production, which is a source of vitamins and antibodies to various infections. In fact, breast milk is the best whey that protects droppings from all sorts of infections. In general, feeding can start around the fourteenth day. In cases where the shepherd mother has problems with lactation, you can start on the twelfth day. You can give milk from a cow, sheep or goat by mixing egg yolk and powdered milk into it. A bottle with a nipple is suitable as a feeding tool and the hole should be of such a size that milk does not pour out, but drips. The frequency of feeding in case of insufficient lactation in a bitch is every three hours and three times a day with normal lactation. Learning to care for Shepherd puppies A one-month old German shepherd puppy is not much different from its younger counterparts, but it is much larger. Its weight is from two and a half to four kg and height at the withers is from 19 to 21 cm. Once the puppy starts eating solids, the diet should be optimally balanced. The young German Shepherd is growing fast and his food intake must be nutritious! Meals should be provided at regular intervals with 6 meals a day being the optimal frequency. Then, gradually increase the amount of servings and decrease the number of meals. The main principle is that each meal should provide the shepherd puppy with the necessary complex of vitamins, fats, carbohydrates and proteins. One serving of food is usually around g. Only select premium quality food for large dog breeds and make sure they contain all the necessary nutrients. Alternatives to processed food are natural products cottage cheese, porridge with meat broth, grated vegetables, boiled eggs, boiled or raw minced meat. Both approaches in their pure form have their advantages and disadvantages. Get the help of a dog nutritionist, if needed. Good luck! Related topics of interest to our readers. Not just for you, but for your German Shepherd puppy as well. For most new parents, though, the thought of that initial introduction is a bit nerve-wrecking. Introducing new smells, working on training, and socialization can all help your German Shepherd get ready to meet your new addition! This excitement can stress your puppy out, causing him to get overexcited. Try rubbing baby lotion onto your hands, and having your puppy sniff from a safe distance. Your goal should be curious, but a respectful puppy. Similarly, recordings of babies crying will help your pup avoid getting overexcited when hearing these noises for the first time. Also, be sure your dog is prepared for lots of visitors; this is a good time to work on socialization. On daily walks, make sure your puppy is following commands. Work in the backyard on other training and commands. Set Ground Rules Your home will be undergoing lots of changes as well, with new furniture, gates, and bedding moving in. Set ground rules with your dog about this new furniture. To start, make the nursery off-limits, especially for the first few months. A burp cloth or nursery hat works great! When you bring the clothing item home, make sure your puppy sniffs from a safe distance, and reward calm sniffing. How to Introduce Your Baby and Your German Shepherd The initial introduction might cause you to become nervous, thinking about how it might go. Start by taking your puppy for a long walk. This will help him burn off extra energy and naturally calm down. If your puppy is just overexcited — he might not have seen you for a few days, after all! Pay Attention to Your Emotions Your puppy mirrors your emotions in many situations. Start slowly! Have one adult hold the baby, while the invites the animal into the room. Your puppy will likely want to sniff. Start at a safe distance, a few feet away is best. Then you can slowly allow your puppy to get closer if he stays calm. Use Rewards to Reinforce Positive Behavior If your puppy shows positive behaviors, have treats or a new toy handy. This will help him have positive associations with the baby. You might offer a new toy after your puppy has sniffed from a safe distance and is remaining calm. Long-Term Success: What to Do After Your Introduction After the initial introduction, there are some steps you can take to ensure safety and help ease the transition for your puppy. Here are a few tips: Supervision Is Always Important You should always keep a close eye on your puppy when he is in the same room with the baby. And they need to exercise daily to stay happy. Try to keep the routine as normal as possible. Chances are your routine will change. Teach Baby about Boundaries In the first year, your baby will grow quickly, start crawling and moving. This can help prevent any territorial issues from cropping up. A trainer can help to determine the cause of problematic behavior and provide actionable tips for reversing behaviors. Do you need a training refresher to prepare your puppy for a new baby? Schedule a session with Misty Ridge today. We bring decades of German Shepherd training experience and can help you prepare for a successful family introduction. Gestation length according to accurate hormone measurements in dogs Please note that these values are averages and individual dogs may have slight variations. Getting Ready for Delivery Before giving birth to its babies, a female German shepherd begins exploring private and safe places for her puppies this process is called nesting. For the comfort of the mother and the safety of the puppy, keep some blankets and towels in the whelping box. She begins to spend more time in her nest. This way you will not have to distribute her puppies in hidden places. Taking Care of German shepherd Puppies Newborns cannot see or hear until 5 to 8 days of age. Puppies do not stand until at least 2 to 4 weeks of age. Same for the barking behavior. If left in the litter or orphaned, or if its mother is unable to produce enough milk, or if the suckle reflex for the puppy is poor, ask your vet for the Lactose-Free weaning milk prescribed for German Shepherd Puppies. Check if the temperature is warm enough as the puppies cannot control their temperature at this stage. You do not need to bathe them this time, because the mother GSD cleans her litter by constantly pressing. If the puppies are orphaned, you can wash them gently using a warm and damp cloth. Mothers for German shepherds , depending on her experience and the size of the litter, work an average of 6 to 18 hours, usually to deliver puppies. When new contractions begin, arrange the already-born puppies with a heating pad fitted in a small box and keep them away until the next puppy is born. Immediately after birth, check that each puppy is breathing properly. Observe closely their movements to make sure there are no faded puppies. German shepherd giving birth for the first time Usually, after birth, the mother cuts the umbilical cord and cleans the puppies by gently pressing their bodies. She starts with the genitals, then the legs complete with the rest of the body. She may not do so if she has no experience, or when she is exhausted after childbirth. This colostrum is very nutritious for babies. Hygiene Mother GSD, by licking its genital area, encourages her litter to urinate or defecate, but if left in the litter, you should stimulate them with potty cleaning essentials because new-borns cannot do this on their own till the first 2 weeks of life. Gently massage the anal area using a damp cotton ball or washcloth. Use a suction bulb syringe if something obstructs the nasal passages of the puppy. Also Read: When do German shepherd ears Stand up naturally? Track the growth and condition of each puppy. Using the Baby Scale, weigh each puppy immediately after birth and log its weight. Healthy German Shepherd puppies weight is about 0. Well-fed puppies sleep quietly, while air-swallowing puppies appear to be well-fed, but behave satisfactorily, initially crying and wandering around a lot, then, not moving enough. German Shepherd puppies are completely weaned and completely independent from their mother by 8 weeks of age, so it is best to train them to avoid behavioral problems. If puppies are not trained to be considered completely stupid, train them now. If necessary, bottle feeding with a canine milk replacement formula can be introduced, following veterinarian guidelines. Puppies should be fed every hours, including overnight. Weaning Introduce a small amount of softened puppy food to start the weaning process. Consult with a veterinarian for appropriate food and feeding guidelines. Start offering puppy food mixed with milk replacement formula, gradually reducing the formula over time. Begin to introduce the puppies to lapping from a shallow dish of water. Socialization Continue handling and gentle interactions to build trust and positive associations with humans. Introduce the puppies to new sounds, sights, and experiences in a controlled and safe manner. Allow supervised playtime with littermates to encourage socialization and development of motor skills. Veterinary Check-up Schedule a veterinary visit for a check-up, deworming, and vaccination recommendations. Hygiene and Cleanliness Clean the whelping area regularly, ensuring a warm, dry, and comfortable environment. Puppies may begin to crawl and explore, so provide a safe space with appropriate bedding. Monitor the puppies for any signs of illness or abnormalities and seek veterinary assistance if necessary. Sleep and Rest Puppies spend most of their time sleeping and should have a designated area for uninterrupted rest. Ensure the sleeping area is quiet, warm, and away from drafts or excessive noise. Provide soft bedding or blankets for comfort. Checklist of essential items for the Newborn German Shepherd Puppies and Mother Here is a list of things newborn German Shepherd puppies and their mother need: For Mom Whelping Box : A safe and comfortable place for a mother to give birth and nurse her puppies. Bedding: soft, clean bedding for the whelping box to keep mother and puppies warm and comfortable. Food and water bowls: Provide easily accessible bowls for the mother to have food and water. High-quality dog food: Provide a balanced and nutritious diet that meets the needs of the mother during pregnancy and lactation. Consult a veterinarian for specific recommendations. Freshwater: Ensure a constant supply of clean, fresh water to keep the mother hydrated. Medical Supplies — Keep a first aid kit on hand that includes items such as wound cleansers, gauze pads, and other basic medical supplies in case of emergencies or complications. For newborn puppies Help Box: A safe and warm environment for puppies to grow and develop. Bedding: Soft, clean bedding to keep pups warm and comfortable. Heat source: A heat lamp or heating pad is set to a low temperature to provide adequate warmth for puppies, since they are initially unable to regulate their body temperatures. Milk Replacement Formula — If nursing is not possible or additional supplementation is required, a high-quality canine milk replacement formula is available. Nursing bottles or syringes — can be used to provide supplementary feeding if puppies are unable to nurse from their mother or if necessary. Weight standard: Check the weight of the puppies regularly to ensure proper growth and development. Vet Contact Information — Have the contact details of a veterinarian with experience caring for puppies handy for any emergencies or questions. Identification bands: Use different colored bands or collars to help distinguish between puppies and track their progress. Socialization and nurturing toys: As puppies get older, introduce appropriate toys and objects to stimulate their senses and encourage early socialization. Remember to consult a veterinarian for personalized recommendations and guidance based on your specific situation and the needs of your German Shepherd mother and puppies. The mother should be given small, frequent meals throughout the day to support her energy requirements while feeding the puppy or during nursing. How often should newborn German Shepherd puppies be nursed? Puppies should nurse from their mother every 1 to 2 hours during the first few weeks of life. They have small stomachs and need frequent feedings to meet their nutritional needs. When should I start introducing solid food to the puppies? Solid food introduction typically begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age. Start by offering softened puppy food mixed with milk replacement formula, gradually transitioning them away from exclusive nursing. Consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations. How do I keep the whelping area clean? Clean the whelping area regularly to maintain hygiene. Remove soiled bedding promptly, wipe down surfaces, and replace it with fresh, clean bedding. Use pet-safe disinfectants as recommended by your veterinarian. When can I start weaning the puppies from their mother? Weaning usually begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age when puppies start showing interest in solid food. Gradually introduce softened puppy food and reduce the amount of milk replacement formula or nursing sessions. Monitor their progress and consult with a veterinarian for guidance. Final Thoughts In conclusion, newborn German Shepherd puppies and their mother require special care and dedication. Here are some key points to keep in mind: Proper nutrition is very important for mother and puppies. Make sure the mother gets a balanced diet that meets her needs during pregnancy and lactation. Consult a veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations. Newborn babies depend on breast milk for nutrition. Make sure they nurse frequently, usually every 1 to 2 hours to meet their nutritional needs. Monitor their weight gain to make sure they are thriving. Provide a clean and comfortable helping area for mother and baby. Keep the area warm, dry and draft-free. Clean and replace bedding regularly to maintain cleanliness. Gradually introduce solid food to puppies at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Start with soft puppy food and gradually transition them away from exclusive nursing. Check with a veterinarian for specific feeding guidelines. Socialize puppies from an early age. Handle them carefully, expose them to different sights and sounds, and introduce positive human interactions. This helps them develop into well-adjusted and sociable dogs. Look for any illness or abnormalities in the mother or puppies. Seek veterinary help immediately if you notice anything concerning. By providing proper nutrition, a safe environment, and early socialization, you can give newborn German Shepherd puppies the best start in life and ensure the well-being of both mother and her precious offspring.

Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. The Labrador Retriever is possibly the most beloved dog around, and these active, friendly pups are one of the most popular family dogs. Get ready to find your new best friend! The 10 Labrador Retriever Breeders in Georgia 1. All puppies sold are on Limited AKC registration and are available at 8 weeks of age with up-to-date vaccinations and worming. Parent dogs are also screened for PRA and exercise induced collapse. Before they ever reach your home, puppies will have been introduced to water, whistles, birds, retrieving, and simulated gunfire. They come microchipped and with current vaccinations and worming, plus will have had their dew claws removed. Your puppy will be sent to its new home with a written warranty, along with a starter kit, including food samples and care instructions. They use the Puppy Culture program, an approach based on science, for training and socialization. They do not breed champagne, silver, or charcoal Labradors. They also do not sell on a first come, first serve basis but instead are dedicated to getting to know potential owners through a two-step process. Puppies are sold on Limited Registration, and there is usually a 6—12 month wait for one. They have a stringent screening process to find the best homes and owners for their puppies. They comply with AKC rules and regulations and offer yellow, chocolate, and black Labradors. To become one of the top breeders in the Southeast, they routinely bring in show champion lines. Horizon ships to all major airports. They do not allow visits but are active on social media, so you can check out plenty of pictures and reviews from other buyers. Puppies are exposed to people and sound to get them socialized and introduced to crates to make crate training easier for you. Puppies come with Limited Registration and a 2-year genetic health guarantee. Their puppies are family-raised, so are socialized via plenty of playtime with children and adults. Parent dogs come from strong Champion Pedigrees or are Champions of Conformation, plus are given clearances for health before breeding. Puppies come with AKC registration, proper vaccinations, worming, and have their dew claws removed. This breeder also offers a lifetime guarantee up to 10 years if your pet is kept on the same food they were started on. Plus, if you find yourself unable to keep your pet at any time in the future, they can help you place it in a new home. They were so easy to work with and we highly recommend them to anyone looking for a beautiful lab to add to their family! Puppies are screened for genetic and congenital issues and given proper vaccinations, flea and heartworm medication, and intestinal parasite prevention. They typically have puppies available in spring and fall. Related Read:. These predictable, durable, steady breeds, like Labs and Goldens, are great with kids and offer the whole family more dog to love. At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for almost forty years. Our industry setting Puppy Guarantee makes buying one of our pure-bred Labrador retrievers one of the wisest decisions you will ever make. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Labrador Retriever owners from around the country. Visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-the-minute puppy information at .Located near Laurel Hill, NC, we deliver our world class Labrador retriever puppies and adults to locations as far away as Alaska. We can easily deliver our guaranteed Labs to your location in or around Atlanta. For details, call Woody or Judi at .Labrador Retriever Puppies and Children In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Labrador retriever can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article: Dogs are better than popping pills or drinking elixers. Children with dogs for pets have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and fewer overall physical complaints than those without dogs. In fact, there are several diseases where dogs have been used to help those who have the disease. Two of these are: rheumatoid arthritis and emotional disturbance stemming from cases of severe abuse. Samuel B. Be sure to read the rest of her article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog. Our world class Labrador Retrievers puppies for sale! Our Latest Happy Clients! Become A Happy Client! We have answers. There are quite a few factors that can affect the price of Labrador Retriever for sale in GA, from pedigree and breeder experience to type English or American and color chocolate, silver, yellow, et cetera. Luckily, our MatchMaker process helps us narrow down your breeder choices to those that fit your preferences and your budget. If there are no Labrador Retriever puppies Georgia near me, can you still help me find a puppy? How do you screen Atlanta Georgia Labrador Retriever breeders? Our strict standards cover breeder experience, facilities, animal care, and much more. Head on over to our Breeder Pledge for additional information. We want to give great breeders a chance to shine, and to give families a place where finding a great dog from a loving, ethical breeder is fun, fast and easy. What is a puppy mill like for Labrador Retriever puppies for sale Georgia? At puppy mills, helpless dogs are forced to breed litter upon litter of sick, improperly raised puppies to sell for cheap. Mill dogs are more likely to act out, to develop dangerous genetic diseases, to require expensive veterinary care, and to die young. Are there any Labrador Retriever puppies for sale in Georgia right now? All you have to do is answer a few quick questions about your perfect puppy, and our network of vetted, honest businesses and breeders will take care of the rest. MatchMaker involves a brief questionnaire that helps us learn about your puppy preferences. We know how tough it can be to tell if a Labrador Retriever Atlanta breeder is legitimate or not, which is why we help families eliminate the guesswork using our own vetting processes. This event features beautiful bikes and classic cars. Proceeds from this event benefit the Suffolk County United Veterans Project, a local charity that provides housing and support services for homeless and at-risk Veterans. It is one of the largest motorcycle parties in the region. A motorcycle poker run requires participants to sign up for the event and pay a fee to participate. The route is designed so that participants must reach different checkpoints before time runs out. Each checkpoint has a number of playing cards, and riders work to accumulate enough cards to create a winning poker hand. These organizations will be able to help you promote the event and recruit participants. The route should include a start and finish point, with three or more stops between them. 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PDWRA has been receiving an increasingly high number of surrendered pugs, so please consider either of these options to give these pugs the future they deserve! Please see our Adoption section to find out more about the requirements to take into account for adopting, also to apply. Fostering We are in URGENT need of more foster homes due to the increasingly high level of surrendered pugs, many requiring dedicated healthcare or rehabilitation prior to adoption. Please read our Fostering section for all the details and considerations, also to apply. As with many rescues, the volume of pugs being surrendered has risen greatly, many in poor health, over and above the suitable homes available for them. We will be focussed on doing the best for those in our care, in order to Re-Open as soon as possible. Please read our Surrendering section for further details. Volunteering There are a number of ways that you can volunteer to support PDWRA, including: Home checking, by assessing adoptive or foster applicants in your near locality, according to rehoming requirements. Transporting involves the collection, delivery and safe transportation of a PDWRA pug to its new home. Fundraising, in a variety of ways including at Events, or organising your own, to raise much needed funds for the pugs in our care. There are also vacancies for specific, dedicated roles in the charity, that you can apply for. If you would like to find out how you can get involved or to apply to volunteer, please see our Volunteering section. Lynn lives in the lovely South West of England with her husband Geoff, and their family of five male pugs. Great loving dogs n great with children as i have two of my own. I have one beautiful Kennel Club Registered orange sable Pomeranian boy puppy looking for a loving home. Mum and grandmother are here to see and photos available of dad. I also now have two beautiful Kennel club Registered oran.She is a family dog who loves company and being social. Due to myself not being able to take her for walks am looking for a loving family who can look after her Amazing Solid Kc Registered Blue Staff Puppies Pets For Sale - london london - April 17, .Coming from the very best black and blue lines thi.It is known for its loyalty; its happy-go-lucky attitude family raised and loves to play with children, CALL friendly,Pomeranian Pets For Sale - Chesterfield England - December 8, .Family raised with TLC and well socialized with children. Ready today for a loving home. Up to date with shots and dewormer and vet checked as well. Comes with a health record and guarantee. Five year health.Monkeys will be coming with all their papers, supplies, playing toys and food manual. CALL .Lines from mum are Eifel von de monarchia Chocolate line and tan from great grandad " Stunning French Bulldog Puppies!!! They are being lovingly reared in my home with children and lots of attention. The mum is my lovely fawn girl who can be seen with her p.The puppies are being reared in our loving family home and are used to children and other household noises and are very well socialised. Mum is our family pet and can be seen with.Dad is Bentley our pet and Holly is mum also our pet. Family dogs used to children, horses, sheep. They have had a litter of gorgeous Black and.They are extre.Will be wormed and microchipped. Deposit secures. One male, one female. Mixed litter. All very well handled and used to children and cats. Different colours from light brown to nearly black. Both parents can also be seen. Small bag of starter food with sale. Please contact me for pic.Glow in the dark harnesses. Size medium. Ring or text or email shell2roam yahoo. Selecting A Pet Name Important checklist for Pug puppy Mypetzilla recommends that all potential buyers or those looking to adopt a puppy; fully read and understand the checklist below before they visit the puppy. Mypetzilla suggests you download this checklist and take this with you during the viewing of the puppy. If you have any concerns over an advertiser please report them to us. Research thoroughly before committing Adopting, or buying a new puppy or dog is an important decision and big responsibility. As an owner, you will solely responsible for the welfare of your new pet and will also be financially committed. For further information on caring for puppies and dogs, please visit our pet advice section. You can also find out more information about the Pug breed by visiting the Pug Dog Breed Information. The puppy must be 8 weeks of age or over Before bringing your beloved puppy home, it's important that the puppy is over 8 weeks of age and has been properly weaned before they leave their mothers. Some sellers will keep the puppy longer than this and this is perfectly fine. There should be absolutely NO reason for you not being able to see the mother of the puppies. Mypetzilla forbids third-party selling of puppies. All puppies advertised must have been bred by the advertiser. If this is not the case, Mypetzilla will report the advert to the authorities for necessary action. It's worth asking the seller a few questions regarding the mother: How old is the mother? How is the mother's temperament? You can do this by arranging a visit with the potential advertisers home if they try to avoid you visiting, or make excuses, and then you should be concerned. If the advertiser asks for money, or deposit to be paid online without you visiting the dog at their home, or they request to meet you somewhere or drop the dog off at yours, then please DO NOT agree. We advise that you should never send money online. Mypetzilla conducts various checks on advertisers on this site, but are unable to confirm that all are genuine. So please make sure you visit the advertiser at their home and verify this yourself. Important health checks for puppies and dogs It is very important that you check the health of your puppy or dog before you decide to adopt or buy. A responsible seller will fully understand the need and therefore fully cooperate with assisting in the checking the health of the puppy. Majority of sellers will agree that you can return the puppy or dog within 48 hours should they have any health issues. Mypetzilla recommends taking your puppy or dog to the vet for a health check as soon as you take them home. It is also worth ringing the vet to confirm everything beforehand. Vaccinations must be up to date Check the puppy or dog is up-to-date with their vaccinations. All puppies should have received 2 vaccinations. The first vaccination should be given between weeks of age and the 2nd vaccination should be given no more than 2 weeks later when the puppy has reached the age of weeks. Older dogs may also need booster vaccinations and this is normally recommended by the vet. It's important that you check with the seller what vaccinations the puppy or dog has had. It's worth noting that puppies should have had their first vaccination before they leave their mother. If the seller has not provided a vaccination plan, then it will be your responsibility to make sure you arrange both vaccinations 7 days before letting your puppy go outside. Check the puppies have had their treatment for worms and fleas It is recommended that all puppies should be wormed at the age of 2 weeks and then receive another treatment at the age of 5 weeks old. Before the puppy leaves the seller, they should have had more worming treatment at 8 to 12 weeks of age. Check to see if the puppies have been socialised It's necessary that the puppies have interacted well with their puppy litter and have been raised in a home environment around other adults, children, and general household life. Puppies that don't receive this kind of training and development from a young age, may go on to develop behavioural problems later in their life and become difficult to train. They may likely develop temperament issues and will find it difficult to adjust to family life. Kennel Club registration? It's worth considering to check the documentation and phoning the Kennel Club to verify the registration. Check the Puppy has been microchipped This is a very important point and is also law abiding. From the 6th April , it is required by Law that all dogs over 8 weeks of age are microchipped and that the keeper's details are registered in their name and are kept up-to-date. You must make sure you receive the microchip documentation with the chip number and then arrange to change the microchip details into your name. You can find out more information about this by visiting our puppy and dog microchipping article. Considering pet insurance Insuring your puppy or dog is one of the most important decisions you should make when bringing your beloved puppy home. Veterinary fees can become extremely expensive and it's important that you have the correct level of cover beforehand. We recommend that you research pet insurance providers and purchase the correct level of cover. Most policies will allow you to start the cover the day your puppy or dog arrives at their new home. Please check our pet insurance section for further information. Please make sure to visit their how to buy a dog section. Similar Pet Adverts.

Some of these you can help prevent, while others are out of your immediate control. If your GSD carries the genes for ears that lie down, instead of standing erect, then more than likely they will have floppy ears. This means they may have ears that never stand up and are floppy for life. Breeding Some breeders choose to pair parents that both have large, erect ears. And some buyers and owners prefer this larger style of ears for show or aesthetic purposes. But, there is some theory that breeding a German Shepherd with larger and larger ears might contribute to ears that stay flopped over. Always see the parents of the puppy you buy from the breeder on the premises to see their appearance. Physical Damage or Accidents Puppies are active and mischievous and can get into plenty of trouble. This includes physical damage or accidents that have the cartilage or muscles in their ears. If this happens their ears may suffer long-term damage and not stand up naturally on their own. So watch out for a rough play that might lead to ear damage. And, if your pup has been in an accident that hurt their ears, take them immediately to the vets. Improper and Poor Nutrition German Shepherds need balanced nutrition during crucial growing stages, including vitamins and minerals that aid in cartilage and muscle development of their ears. You should ensure your dog gets the right nutrition from the start to avoid any issues. Along with Vitamin D, calcium helps strengthen the cartilage to aid in building a strong foundation for the ears to stand up later. Neglecting Ear Cleaning Puppies still need ear cleaning when dirt and build-up are overly present. Dirty ears that become neglected can inhibit proper growth and cause discomfort for your dog, causing them to excessively scratch their ears which can cause damage. This could cause them more harm! Instead, wipe away the dirt from the skin of the ear with a warm, damp washcloth or use special ear cleaning wipes. A dog with one floppy ear and one ear upright is totally normal. Occasionally, your German Shepherd might have one floppy ear and one ear standing upright. If they are a small puppy then they are most likely growing and the one ear down still needs time to go upright naturally. These are some of the best techniques that will help their ears to stand up. They only need to sit inside the ear enough to support cartilage growth. Make sure you check for any creases or folds in their ears before moving on to the next step. Repeat in the other ear. Make a Popsicle Support Now, take the popsicle sticks and place them at the top of the foam rollers both ears should have foam rollers in them at this point. You might need another pair of hands to help with this, so ask your family or friends to help. Take the self-adhering waterproof tape and place a medium-size piece across and around the two foam rollers and popsicle sticks. This ensures even and symmetrical growth. Make a bridge across their ears instead. If your German Shepherd puppy is 9 months old and their ears still flop over, please see your vet for further assistance. When in doubt, get your vet to show you what to do for their ears. Your puppy might become annoyed with the tape on their ears, so they may need close supervision and even some distraction during the taping process. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a German Shepherd that has floppy ears and putting them at risk to have any unnecessary surgery to get their ears to stand up can cause them pain. Speak to your vet about the side effects and pain associated with ear implants. You can help prevent floppy ears in your dog by taking the appropriate steps to keep them healthy. The top ways to help a GSD with floppy ears include: 1. Feed them a high-quality food Giving your dog the proper nutrition for optimum growth is a necessity, especially when they are puppies and growing rapidly. Choose a puppy food with the correct ratio of nutrients and vitamins to ensure they get the correct building blocks for development. When you choose to give them treats, pick ones from this list of the best healthy dog treats for German Shepherd puppies. Provide them with the proper chew toys Chewing helps to strengthen the muscles that surround the ears. Or worse… Injure them. Learn to play and discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way to avoid accidental ear injuries or damage. German Shepherds with ears that are floppy are a joy to own, no matter their age! Floppy ears are adorable and give your dog even more character. Go on, and find out what makes your companion the happiest dog on the planet! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. It commonly occurs anywhere from eight weeks to six months. So, any German Shepherd parent would know that these adorable dogs have floppy ears when they are just puppies. However, stronger cartilage will be developed as you give them the proper nutrients. It might mostly occur as a response to your call or noise in the surrounding area. It can be a result of poor nutrition or slow development. Your German Shepherd needs abundant vitamin D, calcium, and protein. Lacking these nutrients in their diet will result in weak cartilage. Switch to better food or visit the vet for a checkup. They are still incredibly cute, anyway! If you want to ensure that you have a pooch with perky ears, make sure to look for parents with standing ears. Do all German Shepherd ears stand up? Even if you have already, you can know whether your pooch will have floppy or perky ears when it grows. It can compromise their health and adversely affect their growth, including strengthening the cartilage. Regular checkups and fecal exams can help prevent or abate that problem. Your vet can give your dog deworming medicines to see that your growing furry friend is free from parasites. Any traumatic injury to the ears can cause permanent damage and prevent the ears from growing strong enough to stand. It can be caused by a child pulling its ears and rough play among its littermates. Regularly monitor your pup and keep anyone from playing with its ears when they are in its developmental stage. But there are things you can do to help it get strong and healthy ears. These steps will also protect the ears from possible damage. Get high-quality food for your puppy to boost their development. Cheap foods usually have more fillers that contain negligible nutrients. Keep the puppy away and safe from other puppies that play bite with their ears. Educate your children and everyone else at home on how to handle the puppy carefully and gently. Giving your puppy chew toys will give their head, jaw, and surrounding muscles some exercise. It can lead to better ear development. Make sure to buy durable ones, as German Shepherd pups are stronger than you think! Clean their ears gently if you notice dirt. Keep your dog happy! A happy dog is a healthy dog. It will have fewer or no health problems if you keep the dog fit. Using the tape too early or during its growing stage can harm its natural development. However, the 7th to 8th month might be a little too late. But that may not be true for all, as some German Shepherds are just built differently. Their looks come second when you experience how good of a companion they can make. But the young ones carry cute floppy ears that eventually stand up. Some take longer. Remember that floppy ears do not affect their health negatively. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Aug 18, Share German Shepherds have a distinctive look that includes alert, erect ears. For most pups, the ear cartilage begins to harden around week 20, or when the pup is finished teething. At that point, it can take up to 20 weeks for the ears to stand up fully. This can vary by the individual, however. Like human ears, dog ears are made of cartilage. As they grow and gain nutrition, German Shepherds develop stronger and stronger cartilage to support those ears. Typically, puppies at weeks will have floppy ears that occasionally stand up but quickly fall back down. Around week 20, or 5 months, your pup is done teething and its ears will begin to harden and stand. Your vet may have some suggestions to help the process along. If your pup reaches 8 months and still has floppy ears, the chance of them standing on their own is slim. Some breeders try to breed for larger ears, leading to ears that are too heavy to stand up. If strong, alert ears are important to you, be sure to look for a pup with parents that have erect ears. If the ears sustain trauma during that time, it can cause permanent damage to the cartilage. If your puppy gets parasites, it can impact healthy development, which includes the hardening of its ear cartilage. Be sure to take your puppy to the vet regularly and have routine fecal exams to check for worms and other parasites. Your vet can recommend an appropriate deworming protocol for your growing puppy and treat parasites if they occur. However, if you want your puppy to have strong, alert ears, you can help the process along in a number of ways. In an effort to move ear development along, some owners will add supplements like calcium. Chew toys are also good for teething and keeping your puppy occupied. German Shepherds are strong, even as pups, so be sure to choose solid, durable chew toys that are safe and appropriate for your puppy. It should only be used as a last resort, however. If you use tape too early, it can hinder natural development. That said, if you wait until the seventh or eighth month, it may be too late to help. Glue the ends of the popsicle stick to the tape on both ears, horizontally. Once a week, remove the popsicle stick, foam, and tape. If the ears stand on their own, leave them. Related Reads:. Bright eyes, strong profiles, and of course, those perky, attentive ears! When you first bring your German Shepherd puppy home, its ears will probably be floppy and droopy — at times, those ears may try to make a stand, only to fall back down again. What gives!? As your German Shepherd grows and gets the right nutrition among other things , the cartilage gets stronger and stronger. And voila — straight, pointy German Shepherd ears! But is it really that simple? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. German Shepherd puppy ears can be unpredictable! The key is to be patient and give those ears time to develop on their own before stepping in. Those ears should perk back up after teething is over. If you want to learn more about the timing of teething and what to look for, check out this article on German Shepherd puppy teething. When went to visit my German Shepherd, Allie pictured above at 7 weeks old , her ears were floppy and undeniably precious. I brought Allie home at 8 weeks, and those ears still had their ups and downs, but by 10 weeks old, her ears were up permanently. So, the key is to catch it in time. This flip-floppy stage is completely normal. Genetics can also come into play when some breeders try to breed specifically for German Shepherds with larger ears. As a result, those big, oversized, heavy ears may be too much to stand up. If pointy, perky ears are important to you, then choose your breeder and puppy carefully. Make sure to check out the parents — how do their ears look? Any significant trauma to the ears during this time can cause permanent damage — which may also cause droopy ears. Try to have everyone keep their hands off those adorable ears as much as possible. Parasites: Yuck. Puppies need chew toys, as it exercises their jaw and their head and neck muscles. Those muscles are important for perky puppy ears. So, let your puppy chew, chew, and chew on the right things of course. If you need some ideas for durable dog toys that can withstand those chomping jaws, then check out this article for my picks of the best tough German Shepherd chew toys. Stick to a high-quality, natural diet instead. Cottage cheese and yogurt both have plenty of calcium without overdoing it , and chicken feet are a natural source of glucosamine, which helps strengthen cartilage. Give those ears time to develop on their own before you resort to taping. At the end of the article are some sources that go over common methods of taping. Note: There are several options that you can use for this — there are even foam dog ear forms. Thin, white surgical tape that tears easily. A 2-inch wide tape works well, and you can also get this at Walmart, CVS, or somewhere similar. Note: Do NOT use duct tape or electrical tape — these will do way more harm than good! An unsharpened pencil or popsicle stick. Adhesive — either skin bond adhesive or eyelash glue are good choices. Give those ears plenty of time to develop and get stronger before taking action. How old was your German Shepherd puppy when its ears finally stood up? Let me know below! Especially during the first six months, be extra careful not to aggressively clean their ears. They will be more prone to lesions in the ear cartilage at this time. Yet it would be understandable if you are reading this and feel dismay or even horror. How can that possibly be a good thing? But understand we are not talking about doing anything harmful or invasive. The techniques you are about to read about will not harm or hurt your German Shepherd puppy at all. They will simply support the ears to grow into the upright position without having to work so hard to get there — or stay there. You want to give your pup enough time to try to do this naturally. But you also want to intervene before the cartilage in the ears starts to harden usually around seven to eight months old , leaving the ear flaps in the wrong position. You will need the following supplies: Some type of surgical tape NOT duct tape or any super-adhesive tape. Foam roller inserts or foam pipe insulation cut to size. Two plain popsicle sticks or unsharpened pencils. Wrap the surgical tape around the outside of the ear to hold the insert in place. Be prepared for your puppy to find a way to paw off this strange contraption several times before they finally get used to it and forget about it. You want to leave this in place for a week and then remove it to check the ear position. You may notice the ears start to stand a little straighter week by week. But if you see them flop over again, you need to re-tape them until they are strong enough to stand up on their own. Ear gluing Another option you can try is puppy ear gluing. This is actually not nearly as awful as it sounds and is far easier to do than the ear taping method. Another perk of puppy ear gluing over taping is that you are not going to cut off any air circulation to the inner ear canal. The key is to pick some kind of fabric glue do NOT use super glue or super-bonding glue that may not come off. What you need to do for this method is to add a dab of glue to the outside of the inner ear flap about two-thirds of the way down from the ear tip point. Then press the two ear flaps together for 30 seconds to allow the glue to set. Wherever possible, if you have multiple dogs in your household, try to keep your German Shepherd puppy from playing rough games with the other dogs. Rowdy playtime can easily cause the ears to separate. The glue will wear off on its own after a while and you can observe if the ears are able to remain upright and erect when this occurs. If you need to, keep reapplying the glue until the ears are strong and stable to remain in the correct position without glue. It may take a few weeks or longer for this to occur. Do not worry if the ears are not in a perfect position. As long as they stay upright, the inner muscles and tissues will naturally self-correct over time. Surgery Certain situations may even require surgical implants, like when ear cartilage damage occurs. Massage the Ears Massaging the ears helps by increasing blood flow to the ears, helping your form strong ear: Muscles Cartilage Chew Toys Chew toys are not only great for keeping your pup occupied, but they can also be great sources of collagen. This will help build strong ear cartilage capable of holding the ears in the upright position. Chew toys also work the ear muscles. This will strengthen the surrounding tissues. This is especially true for dogs prone to health issues, like German Shepherds. Foods rich in nutrients like calcium and glucosamine will help your dog form strong and healthy ears. These nutrients are vital for developing sturdy ear cartilage. Stimulation Dogs communicate a lot with their ears. Just think of German Shepherds that are alert and focused on something, like an odd noise they heard outside. Chances are, their ears will be standing erectly. Stimulation like this encourages the use of the ear muscles. There are two areas where you will definitely want to pay closer attention. Bath time and during playtime with other dogs. Keeping water out of the ears will reduce infections and head shaking. Using a headband is an easy way to do this, and can also prevent injuries when playing with other dogs. What causes German Shepherds to have floppy ears? The most common ones include breeding issues, teething, cartilage development issues, trauma, and poor nutrition or hygiene. Breeding Pointy German Shepherd ears are among the top distinct features of the breed. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to improper breeding practices. Teething Floppy ears are a common occurrence when the dog is teething. Developing cartilage German Shepherd puppies are born with floppy ears. As their bodies develop, their ear cartilage and muscles also develop up to the point that they are able to support the weight of the ears, keeping them upright. German Shepherd ears typically start to perk up when the dog is about 6 to 10 weeks old. They can also sometimes flop back down while the dog is teething only to stand up again. Trauma Trauma is a common reason for floppy ears in German Shepherds. Physical trauma caused by an accident or injury to the ears can cause one or both of them to drop. If you suspect trauma, visit your vet to address any wounds and prevent infection. However, their ears need to be kept clean in order to prevent infections that could cause their ears to drop. Dogs not getting enough calcium and vitamin D during puppyhood may have trouble keeping their ears up as their skeletal support structure is not developed properly. They should be well-aligned, symmetrical namely just as wide as they are tall , and carried upright. However, not all dogs will have perfectly standard ears and some may have ears that are too large, too small, too high, too low, or just ears that point in the wrong direction. In fact, there are at least 12 different German Shepherd ear shapes , each with their own distinct characteristics. German Shepherd ears will usually stand up at around 4 months of age. But this can happen as early as the 1-month mark, or as late as the 6-month mark when teething finishes. But more than anything, they tell you how the dog is feeling at any given time. The ears really are the window to the soul for not just GSDs, but all dogs. During this time, more calcium is being directed to the growing teeth, and away from the ear cartilage. When teething is over, and more calcium can be directed back to the ears, they will most likely stand back up again. This is especially true if your pup has sustained an ear injury in the past, and broke the ear cartilage as a result. German Shepherd puppies are especially prone to this during the first 6 to 8 months, since their ears are still developing. These injuries can occur during rowdy play with other dogs and people, or from excessive scratching. This will help their ears develop faster and stronger, and will help prevent ear injuries in the future. But in most cases, if you act fast enough, even the floppiest German Shepherd ears are capable of being corrected. Ear development can vary from puppy to puppy. If they stand up when the puppy is scared or excited or when they bark, you can expect to see fully erect years by the time they are six months old. Will my German Shepherd mix ears stand up? Depending on the genes they inherited, your German Shepherd mix may have erect ears or not. You can support their ear development by giving them chew toys, massaging the base of their ears, and giving them calcium and vitamin D supplements. The ear flap is the outermost ear and is often called the pinna plural is pinnae. A dog has two pinna — one for each ear. Each pinna can work independently of the other, which is part of what gives dogs such keen hearing. This is the same reason all German Shepherd puppies are born with their ears down and floppy. It takes time for the cartilage to form, thicken and then harden into the characteristic erect ear position of the German Shepherd. The ears might pop up as early as four weeks old only to flop back down around four months old. Not only is the cartilage in the outer ears still forming and hardening, but the many muscles, tendons, ligaments, and tissues that help the ears move and function are still getting coordinated as well. This is why it is wise not to get concerned about ear position or stability until after your German Shepherd puppy has finished teething. There is just too much growing going on to expect your little puppy to look like a full-grown adult dog yet. This video gives you some unique tips to help their ears get stronger and stand up without human assistance like some of the tips you read about in this article. I get a lot of emails about taping German Shepherd puppy ears. The majority of these emails come from people who are jumping the gun and worrying too much. By that, I mean their pups are 3 or 4 months old and they are starting to panic because their puppy's ears are not standing. I tell these people that they need patience, they need to wait until their pup has finished teething. I caution these people not to jump the gun and tape the dog's ears too early or in the wrong way. I know people who have screwed their dog's ears up for life by doing this. I have had puppy customers who go ballistic on me and panic. So I issue a word of caution here. With that said, the other side of the spectrum of taping ears is something that many people do not take seriously until it's too late. When ears are taped at 7 and 8 months, there is very little chance of it working. This is an unfortunate fact of life. German Shepherd puppy ears can come up between 8 weeks and 6 months. If they are not up when the dog is through teething this varies from dog to dog but in general between 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age , I tell my puppy customers to get very interested in their ears. While it's not time to panic, it is time to sit up and take notice. The first thing to do is make sure that your puppy is in good health. This means no intestinal parasites. Take a stool sample to your vet to have it analyzed. It's also important to make sure the pup is getting good quality food. We feed and recommend a raw diet but if you do feed a commercial diet, I strongly recommend researching all the options available and feeding the highest-quality food you can afford. View our list of all-natural kibble alternatives. In fact, a lot of times, a pup will have both ears up and all of a sudden, they will come back down when the pup starts to teeth. Many owners panic when this happens. But not to worry, I have never seen a pup whose ears did not go back up when this happens. If a pup does not have his ears up by 5 months, I strongly recommend that you get involved with taping your dog's ears. Use the thin white surgical tape the kind that's paper-thin and tears easily. The 3M Micropore tape, 2" wide, works well. I like to use women's hair rollers. Take the plastic out of them and just use the foam. Wrap the ear around the foam and tape them into a tight roll. In a vertical position. Take a popsicle stick and attach it to the top part of both ears. In a horizontal position. The pup is going to tear the tape or stick off the ears several times. The key is to continue to re-tape the ears. Sooner or later, the pup will forget the tape and ignore it. About once a week, take the tape off and see if the ears will stand on their own. Continue to re-tape until the ears stand. If the ears are not up by 7 or 8 months, they are not going to come up. The ears should look like this once taped. The same dog with ears now up. I have seen ears that did not stand, which in my opinion would have stood had they been taped. So this process is not something to take lightly. I also need to say that many ears will be a little weak right after taping but with time, they will strengthen. So when an ear does not stand perfectly after taping don't panic. Just have patience and see what happens. You will really not have an idea exactly what you have until the pup is 12 months old. When ears do not stand, there are ear implants that can be surgically added. I have no experience with this and do not know anything about them. If you are unlucky enough to have a dog whose ears will not stand, I would point you toward a vet that has some experience in this area. I don't think it's something that normal small animal vets know how to do well. In my opinion, too young to tape. The material to use to tape German Shepherd Ears The pup with its ears taped I prefer taping German Shepherd Dogs ears after the dog has finished teething. This usually means the dog is older than 4 - 6 months. Maybe waiting another month would have been a better idea for this puppy.