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Request Barking One reason your Golden Retriever may bark is to communicate a need or desire to you. Meals, potty time , fetch, ear rubs, access to the yard, walks , car rides, bully sticks , etc. A dog who is request barking may stare at you intently between barks, and their feet may be a bit dancey. They may also run between you and the thing they want while barking, such as trotting to the door and then back to you to bark. Your dog might bark in the direction of the thing they want, rather than at you. Sometimes a request bark is accompanied by some whining and tail wagging as well. An owner might unintentionally reward a dog for barking, which then can result in more barking. For example, your Golden starts getting antsy because they know dinner time is soon, and they let out a few barks in your direction. This prompts you to get up and feed them. You can bet your bottomless pit took note of that and will be barking more to try to get you to feed them. If a bark works to get what they want, they will keep barking because it has been proven effective. One way to approach request barking is to stay a few steps ahead of your dog. If you know your dog will need to go potty a certain amount of time after a meal, for example, take them out before they can start barking at you. This prevents your dog from practicing the barking behavior and avoids you unintentionally rewarding the barking by giving them what they want. Another way to address request barking is to give them an alternative consequence. If your Golden Retriever starts asking for dinner through barking, you can put a leash on them and bring them over with you while you finish up your emails, or put them in a covered crate. Wait until your pup is chilling on their bed, then pick up their favorite toy for some playtime. This will teach your dog that if they act in calm, quiet ways, good things happen. Alarm Barking Some Golden Retrievers will bark to announce the presence of something, usually a person or animal, near their house or property. Alarm barks can vary by dog, but are usually a sequence of one or two barks, a pause, and then more barks. Some dogs may bark incessantly while the object in question is within sight outside the house, and others may mix in some growls too. Many dogs will run to the door or window where the potential threat is located, and some pace around a bit too. Alarm barking is a natural behavior for dogs, but if you prefer your dog respond in a calmer way to the daily occurrences outside your home or yard, there are some things you can do. An easy fix is to put up some frosted window film on windows where your Golden Retriever plays neighborhood watch. Another solution is to train a positive interrupter. This can work well for dogs who alarm bark at things they see, and also for dogs that alert to noises. Repeat a few times in a row. Step 3: Practice this in different rooms at different times of day for a couple of days. Step 7: Now that the cue is well-established, it can be used to interrupt alarm barking! As they show success, you can call out from further away in the house. With time, you may notice your Golden Retriever skipping the barking and simply coming to find you when they see or hear something. If they do, be sure to reward them with some treats! Follow all the steps and be generous with the rewards before using it in a real-life situation. Excitement Barking You may notice that your Golden Retriever starts barking when they get excited. A Golden Retriever who is barking out of excitement shows wiggly, loose body language. A pup who is carrying their favorite ball or stuffed toy is unlikely to bark. Keep a stash of toys near locations where your dog tends to bark out of excitement so you can help calm them down. You can also train your dog to go find a toy, which creates a positive new routine in exciting scenarios. Rather than barking like a happy fool, they know to grab a puppy pacifier. If your dog is overexcited, a short time-out can also help them learn to be quiet. Calmly guide them to their crate, your car, a mat, or just further away until they can show some self-control. This helps them understand that calm and quiet behavior is what gets them back to having fun. Another solution for excitement barking is to teach your dog to focus on you. Step 2: Toss a treat a couple of feet away, let your dog eat it. Toss another treat to repeat the pattern. Step 3: Take the game to new locations, starting with low distraction spaces and building up to more challenging places. Step 4: Add in other distractions. Instead of tossing a treat, use an easy distraction to play the game, perhaps a family member walking by, or a toy set on the ground at a distance. Step 5: Build up to more challenging distractions. Practice this focus game in increasingly hard situations, working up to the situation that causes them to bark out of excitement. You can reward at a high rate for their focus. Getting a golden retriever puppy? Check out the Golden Retriever Puppy Handbook! Fear Barking Sometimes Golden Retrievers will bark out of fear. There may be something in their environment, such as a person, dog or object, that causes them concern or stress. Golden Retrievers are known for being very friendly dogs, but some may be more sensitive than others and will exhibit fearful barking. Barking that comes from fear can look differently depending on the dog. Some dogs may lunge forward while barking at whatever is causing them discomfort. Others may retreat from the scary or weird thing while looking back and barking. Fearful barking may also be accompanied by growling, bared teeth, and raised hackles. Is it men with beards? Kids on bikes? Large dogs? There are two games you can play to help your fearful dog feel more calm and confident: Look at That and Treat and Retreat. Simply give them a treat. Repeat this ten times. Repeat this another 10 times. Play steps one and two a few times at home. You can use different people or dogs that your dog is comfortable with to start. Keep your dog at a distance where they can be successful as they learn how the game works. Step 3: Take the game on the road. Perhaps you can chill in a quiet corner of the park where your dog can spot a trigger without reacting. Find a way to create more distance and try again. As your dog shows success, you can gradually get closer to the trigger. As you progress with this game, your dog will begin to point out triggers they see in their environment and then check back in with you, rather than reacting. Step 1: The person throws treats away from your dog. Give the person a supply of treats. Ask them not to make direct eye contact with your dog. When they enter your house, or your general vicinity if doing this outside, have them toss a treat behind the dog. The dog will have to move away from the person to get the treat. Not only do they get a yummy snack, but they also get more distance from the person. And that distance is what they want. So they are getting double rewards! Step 2: The person alternates tossing the treat behind the dog, and between them and the dog. Start with a treat toss behind the dog. Then have the person toss a treat in front of the dog. The dog will have to move toward the person to get it. Then another toss behind the dog. Go back and forth between these two treat placements. Again, repeat this with different people and environments. You want to see your dog looking happy and confident with this. Loose body language and easy movement are good signs. As they show success, the person can toss the treats closer and closer to their feet. Aggression Barking Some Golden Retrievers may bark out of aggression in certain situations. Aggression is a broad term to describe a wide variety of dog behavior, but in general can be defined as threatening or intentionally harmful behavior directed toward another dog or human. Goldens are notorious for their friendly demeanors, but aggression can show up even within this typically social breed. Aggression is complex, and sometimes a dog may bark aggressively in an attempt to avoid a potential conflict, rather than trying to start one. A dog may bark aggressively if someone infringes upon what they perceive as their territory, such as a home, yard or vehicle. Your Golden may also bark aggressively at other dogs due to a social conflict. Pain can also result in aggressive barking, as a dog may not want to be touched or approached out of fear of making the pain worse. Typically an aggressive bark is loud and deep, though it can vary from dog to dog. You can usually hear a difference in an aggressive bark compared to other kinds of barks — it sounds more intense and serious. A Golden Retriever who is barking aggressively may also growl, show their teeth, lunge, snap or bite. Their body may be stiff and they may give a hard stare in the direction of the person or other dog. Your Golden may also pin their ears back and quickly flick her tongue or lick her lips. The first thing to do in order to stop barking due to aggression is to prevent the behavior from happening. If you know your dog acts aggressively in a certain scenario, do everything you can to avoid putting them in that situation. Then, get help from a certified professional, such as your vet or a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. Aggression needs to be taken seriously, so that you, your dog and the public remain safe. You can find a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant here ; many work virtually, so even if there is not a professional in your city, you can get the help you and your dog need. If you, another person, or another dog approaches the valuable thing or reaches for it, your dog may bark and show other signs of aggression. Resource guarding is a normal, natural behavior for dogs, but it can become dangerous. Your Golden can escalate from a bark to a bite if the behavior is not properly handled. A resource guarding bark will look like an aggressive bark described above in the Aggressive Barking section. You may see body stiffness, growling, snapping, and other aggressive behaviors accompany the barking. You might also see your Golden Retriever bark and then pick up the item if they are guarding a bone or toy, for example and take it further away. Your pup may put themselves in between the valuable thing and whoever they think may be trying to take it away while they bark. Resource guarding is a serious issue and can put your safety, as well as the safety of family members and other pets, at risk. First, do what you can to prevent the guarding behavior from happening. Perhaps that means not giving your dog a bully stick, or putting toys in a cabinet. Then, get help from a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, which you can find here. A very common solution that is recommended for dogs who guard their food bowl is to feed the food from your hand, or to stick your hand in the food bowl so they learn to tolerate your hand around their food. Not only is this not an effective solution, but it can actually make resource guarding worse! Always let your Golden Retriever eat in peace, without touching them or their food. Your Golden is the same way. You might think that punishing your dog will get them to stop barking. Resorting to physically punishing a dog is not recommended by dog behavior experts. It can really damage the relationship between you and your dog, and can create other behavior issues. Some dogs will actually bark more if you start making noise too. And if your dog is barking out of aggression or resource guarding, trying to punish your dog may very well make the behavior worse and put you at greater risk of a bite. You got your Golden Retriever because you want a loving, loyal companion, not because you want to intimidate or scare them. Getting help from a certified, professional trainer or a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant is also a great resource to help you work through the barking. How much and what kind of exercise are they getting? Are they getting quality sleep? Are they receiving appropriate mental stimulation? Are they eating a healthy, balanced diet? Are they experiencing pain or chronic health issues? Is your home a stressful living environment? A Golden Retriever whose needs are not met is more likely to resort to barking. If your Golden is in pain or sick , they may bark more. If your pup is living with a lot of stress or anxiety , barking may become their go-to behavior. Have any questions about golden retriever barking? Let us know down in the comments! Related articles:. By Tom Massey Jan 25, Known as a friendly and devoted family dog, the Golden Retriever has been one of the most popular breeds for 30 years. These energetic animals come in various golden shades and make excellent pets, working dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, and more. The Golden Retriever is a remarkably intelligent dog and learns quickly when properly trained as a puppy. They are active animals who love to play, seeking attention from their owners to expend physical and mental energy. Most Labrador and Golden Retrievers are not known to engage in excessive barking and any dog owner of a Golden Retriever will tell you that this is not an aggressive animal. This is a genuinely happy-go-lucky dog breed, and if it starts barking without stopping, something is clearly amiss. Some speculate that the lack of excessive barking is because they were bred to help hunters, so barking would scare the prey away. Golden Retrievers are also friendly dogs and are not known to behave aggressively. They will let out several usual dog sounds , including howling, growling, chortling, whimpering, yelping, and fear or alarm dog barks. Sometimes, you will encounter dogs who simply like the sound of their voice and will bark for fun or attention. Then, you can take the appropriate training measures to reduce barking. Why Do Golden Retrievers Bark? A Golden Retriever bark can signify multiple things, but there are a few general feelings your dog may be trying to communicate. And they will start barking when they feel ignored. Repeated barking, which could get louder as time passes, is a sign that your Golden insists you pay attention to it, whether to play, feed, or pet it. They might start barking when you mention dog parks or pick up a toy and start playing with your dog. A Golden Retriever might also indicate that they want to play or visit the dog park by using body language and barking. These fears can range from being scared of thunderstorms and fireworks to acting terrified around the vacuum cleaner. Whether the fear is legitimate or not, your Golden Retriever is bound to release some extra barking when stressed or scared. And, as your puppy grows, you can reduce these stressors in its life. You can also train it to let go of irrational fears—for example, showing your dog that it has nothing to worry about when you run the vacuum. Their frustration can result from several things: their squeaker toy is too loud, they want more water in their bowl, or they want you to play. When they are frustrated, Goldens might repeatedly bark at the object of their frustration. They might also become a bit aggressive or destructive. They love their owners and are eager to please them. So when the time comes for its owners to leave for work, the dog might start experiencing separation anxiety and express it through barking. Addressing separation anxiety is crucial to having a healthy Golden Retriever. Your dog will not only be loud because of its anxiety, but it can also engage in destructive behavior, like chewing your belongings in the house. Training to help it overcome such anxiety from an early age is key to good behavior in the future. This type of barking is also accompanied by different body postures that make your Golden seem more threatening. According to the American Kennel Club, you can use a variety of training methods and strategies to reduce barking and promote good behavior. It should all start with determining why your Golden Retriever barks a lot, identifying any other stressors in its life, and then spending time to correct this behavior through training or working through stressors. There are different ways to train your Golden pup to reduce the different types of barking. Reducing Boredom and Attention Barking Most of your barking problems will be solved by mental and physical stimulation. Spend more time playing with your dog and stimulating it physically or mentally. A tired dog is less likely to have the energy to bark, so whenever you feel like your Golden Retriever is barking a lot, try playing with it. A better way to address playfulness barking is to create a fulfilling play schedule. If you follow a routine of playing with your Golden a few times per day, it will learn that schedule and know when it can expect to have fun. If even after setting a play schedule, your Golden is still barking, you need to increase the frequency of play. Reducing Alarm and Fear Barking If you hear your Golden barking out of fear or alarm, you should go to them and acknowledge the object of their fear. Then, wait until the dog has stopped barking to give it a treat. They need to know you are confident in the situation so they do not feel like they have to handle it. Once the dog understands that these sounds are not a threat, it will have no cause for alarm or fear. If you find it challenging to train your dog, you should look to get your Golden from a reputable breeder who has invested time into socializing and training it. They are trying to get something from you by barking, so if we acknowledge their barking, it shows them they are getting what they want. Reducing Aggressiveness Barking When your Golden is becoming aggressive or territorial, you need to train it to understand that you are the one who takes care of threats. When you hear loud barking with growling and see your dog in a protective stance, immediately step in to reassure it that you will deal with it. Golden Retrievers are particularly smart, and they can learn how to behave the way you want them to without punishment. While you should avoid rewarding them for bad behavior, punishment is not a solution. Spending time with your dog and giving it the attention and stimulation it needs is key to addressing unwanted behavior. Ask yourself the following questions: Is there anything scaring or alarming your Golden Retriever? Have you played enough with your Golden Retriever? Has your Golden Retriever received enough attention and pets? Are you establishing a regular training schedule for your dog? Does your Golden Retriever feel threatened? Conclusion Golden Retrievers are loyal companions, and they are an ideal dog breed for families. And to avoid buying a puppy that could have barking problems, you can get your Golden Retriever from an experienced breeder who has spent time training the dog and teaching them healthy behaviors. We train our purebred puppies so they form healthy habits at a young age. We also feed them the best diet to maximize their well-being. Get one of the most popular dog breeds in the country with the passionate and loving team of breeders at Snowy Pines today. Share on.
All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. Print Start training your hunting dog now! Thirteen-week-old puppies are challenging. If you have heard of the terrible twos for toddlers, a three- or four-month-old puppy is very similar. They are still puppies and therefore are still cute, do some fun and hilarious things, but they are also very troublesome. Here is the training for your week-old Labrador puppy. About this series of posts This is post six of a step-by-step training and socialization program for Labrador puppies. If you read our first post , you know that this series follows our training of Bubba, a female chocolate lab puppy. Bubba is already sold as one of our Custom Trained Retrievers, so it is our responsibility to raise and train her until she has progressed to the level of training the owner has requested. In this case, Bubba will be with us for almost a year and a half. Bubba Training and socialization for week-old Labrador puppy Here are the things we worked on this week while training of Bubba. Crate training At this point, I consider Bubba crate trained. We are no longer actively working on crate training her, it is just a natural part of her life. She goes in and out of the crate without issue, is quiet in the crate and sleeps soundly in her crate throughout the night. We put her in the crate around 9 pm and take her out at 6 am. She also spends time in her crate each day between periods of training or play time. Looking for more information on crate training? Housebreaking Housebreaking will be an ongoing process for the next couple months at least. Bubba rarely has accidents, and we know they will become less and less over time and will eventually just stop. Looking for more information on housebreaking? Obedience training your week-old puppy At three-months of age I start formal obedience with our puppies. We started formal obedience with Bubba last week and this will continue for the next several months. The key command I work on first is SIT. While we have already been working on SIT inside the home, moving this command outside and in a more formal setting will challenge Bubba. Formal obedience will be done on leash with a chain collar. In the past, I have enforced SIT with a push down on her bottom. Now, at this age, I will start using my dog training tools and will introduce the use of a heeling stick. Each time I give a correction with the heeling stick I say the command before and after the command. Currently Bubba will sit still for around seconds before getting antsy. Sometimes she gets distracted by her own tail, which is funny. I do some movement with my body to add distraction and firm up her SIT. My movement helps Bubba learn that just because I am moving, that does not mean she can. Over time I will add a lot more distractions, but I add them slowly based on how well Bubba is understanding what I expect of her. But so vital. Getting a good consistent reaction to the HERE command will require a little more maturity. Eventually, we will use an electronic collar to achieve quick responses to our obedience commands. But we want the puppy to be a bit older for before we start with the electronic collar. For now, I must be content with taking Bubba outside on lead and using a long lead for doing fetching and marks. She is starting to understand when I am not happy with her behavior. Luckily, Bubba is very tractable. I have already seen some adjustment in her behavior just from my stern commands and corrections. While I am not a big fan of treat training, I know that it is very effective to get a puppy responsive to the HERE command. I have started working with treats I use little kibbles of her dog food to get a better response from Bubba on HERE outside. Introducing your Labrador puppy to hunting elements We continue to introduce Bubba to various hunting elements. So far, we have introduced her to water and swimming, decoys on land, and a live pigeon. These introductions have all gone well, so this week we added a few more introductions. Introducing your puppy to boat on land There are several ways to hunt ducks and geese. Some hunt from a boat and some hunt from land. We take great care to make sure our dogs are trained to hunt from both. To do this, we start with an introduction to a boat on land. The surface of a boat can be slippery, and many dogs do not like to get into the boat at first. With retrievers this is generally easy to overcome by throwing retrieves from the boat. Bubba jumped into the boat with a little encouragement. She has been well socialized with walking on top of various items and surfaces, so the boat was not a big challenge for her. While Bubba was in the boat, I threw a bumper for her to fetch. When she brought it back to me, I had her jump back in the boat and repeated this a few more times. This is a trained behavior; it is not natural for a retriever to do this. The first step toward teaching your puppy or dog this behavior is to teach HOLD as a command. You can wear a leather glove if you are worried about damaging your hand. Be prepared to have a bit of a fight on your hand. Your puppy will not like this the first few times and will likely resist strongly. After a while your puppy will not fight it so hard and may even willingly SIT and hold your hand. Once your puppy starts getting adult teeth, you will want to stop this training since the teething process is painful and your hand will cause them more pain and will do more harm than good. Increased distance for assistant marks Bubba continues to get assistant marks each day. We have begun to increase the distance but are still limited to the length of our check cord until we can get a consistent response on the HERE command. Final thoughts on training for your week-old Labrador puppy Your week-old retriever is capable of learning quickly. Set boundaries and enforce infractions with a quick correction. If you are struggling or need additional help with your new puppy, you can email me ottertailkennels gmail. I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer. Until next time, happy retrieving. Training your week-old Labrador puppy? Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. Hello from 2 year old Molly and me. The first thing to be said is that Reggie is a normal 13 week old puppy. His biting is not agression, though that doesn't,make it any less painful and unpleasant. He is just a baby and babies learn through their mouths. When Molly was Reggie's age my hands were covered with fresh blood, and scabs it various stages of healing. I, like you was in despair, nothing I tried worked. She grew out of it at about 18 - 20 weeks. She learnt bite inhibition during that awful period, an essential skill for a large dog with big teeth and powerful jaws. Today I would trust her mouth anywhere. The advice you have been given on toilet training is spot on. I know it is difficult to remember to take him out every 20 minutes of so, and to find the time to do so, but dedication pays off. Molly was about Reggie's age this time two years ago. I remember standing in a cold, dark garden pleading with a little,furry scrap to pee when all she wanted to do was chase leaves etc. You might find it helps to give him the majority of his food in filled and frozen Kongs and other toys. Make him work for his food. He will enjoy it and it will give you some peace. The early waking is a real pain, it is a question of his maturity. It feels like it will never end and you long for your old life back, but like many things it does pass. You can teach him some simple commands like sit, give paw and many others. Involve your son in this. I always teach a verbal command and a hand gesture. Kids love this. It is quite a sight seeing a four year old waving her hands imperiously at a dog while telling her to "sit". Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.
More Use tab to navigate through the menu items. At Champion Poodles, we pride ourselves on breeding the highest quality poodles. As a family-owned business established in , we are dedicated to excellence in every aspect of our breeding program, from the health and temperament of our dogs to the pleasure to placing the babies with their "fur"ever families. Come see why we're the top choice for champion-quality poodles. WE believe everyone deserves a Champion! Why a Champion? You do not need to be a breeder or in the show ring to have a champion dog. Every dog that I breed has champion bloodlines. Because I want only the finest of poodles and I want you to have the finest poodle. A champion bloodline will insure a dog with qualities of a champion: A beautiful healthy poodle that looks like a poodle, a highly intelligent and easily trainable dog. Are you looking for a loyal, allergy friendly, easily trainable, intelligent, therapy-suitable, family dog? A guard dog that keeps you company and stays by your side no matter what? You have come to the right place!! Applications are here on the web site. Our story began with one red standard poodle puppy named Sienna. Rob and I believe when we first held her, that the seed for Winters Wind was planted. It is fascinating how the human heart beat can connect with the heart of our canine family. Parents can understand, as it is similar to the bond that happens when you first hold your newborn. Often we hear from people who do not own a Standard Poodle, that they are fru fru dogs. Far from it! Here at Winters Wind we believe that the Standard Poodle has the capability to perform at any task. We see this in our poodles. We hope to add search and rescue work to this list in the future. It takes time; not just in chores and raising puppies, rather in researching for the right lines and checking for genetic issues within those lines. There is the cost of getting dogs and then they may not make the cut after investing in training, showing, genetic testing and vet bills. So then we start again with a new puppy and the investment begins again. I found one on Pet Finder for less. A puppy is in investment in your family. I remind folks you can invest in a healthy puppy or spend money on vet bills for a less expensive puppy. Winters Wind has health tested poodles because our mission is to improve this amazing and versatile breed. In your puppy packet you can request a copies of all the testing and results or they are available on the OFA site. Diversity is needed within the breed. Not all Poodles are created equal. Winters Wind strives to give each puppy born here an edge or a jump start. Beginning with Momma getting excellent nutrition, supplements, exercise and health checks. Puppies are born in a whelping room right off our bedroom video under the litters tab We have invested in a state of art neonatal unit which includes an special incubator Puppy Warmer , oxygen bubblier, uniquely designed whelping box and our vet makes house calls. You can google these training methods to learn more. On a side note that Dr. Jeannie mentioned in the article owns a Winters Wind Poodle. We also use Puppy Culture in raising these wonderful puppies. Our puppies are given toddler interactive toys for increased cognitive skills, we have a puppy play gym concept is similar to the play sets for infants and toddlers , we host puppy play days; we invite friends and families to come and socialize with our puppies. Puppies when older are exposed to kittens, cats, and other small dogs Yorkies. Puppies are beginning house training at 4 weeks special whelping box design and begin crate training before leaving our home. Puppies move from their whelping room around the age of 4 weeks to our living room. Here they are exposed to the tv, vacuum and other family noises; from here they can romp freely around our home. This is what we believe sets, a Winters Wind Poodle apart. Like children they say the most informative years are up to age 8. Our philosophy is the first 10 weeks of a puppies life are critical for cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. This is why we keep our pups until at least 10 weeks of age. Winters Wind is very proud to be working with serveral Service Dog Organizations, by not only breeding dogs they use but helping to establish through our lines their own Poodle service dog breeding programs! Service Dogs is our passion, however we are very proud of the other legacy we leave. Our dogs are beautiful and also very talented. I truly believe that our dogs are exceptional! They are exceptional! We believe this creates the overall picture of a poodle that glides down the sidewalk, makes heads turn in the show ring, leaps in the fields and creates the wonderful silhouette seen around the world in the Poodle. In breeding we have a high standard for temperament, performance and structure in every Poodle we breed. Parents are Championed, fully health tested and totally "cleared" before they are bred after 2 years of age. Parents are Color Tested and no merle. Currently, we have produced 55 working Service Dogs with a "Natural" ability! Ask about our Service Dog Trainer, to help train you and your new puppy. Please fill out our puppy questionnaire for approval first, then you may contact her for an affordable quote. Thank you. Puppy Culture. Click on Puppy Culture page for more information. Exquisite standard poodles bred to AKC breed standard. Always trying to "better" the breed by always breeding forward with every breeding. We offer AKC Registered litters of solid inky blacks, silvers, whites and apricots. We also offer AKC Registered litters of multi-colors as in parti's, brindle parti's, brindle tuxedo's, full brindles with brilliant defined stripes and brindle pointed phantoms, tuxedo's, sables and sable tuxedo's. Our puppies are whelped and raised inside our homes. We do NOT sell our puppies to brokers or pet shops of any kind! We do NOT support the cross breeding of our purebred poodles with other breeds, nor sell to doodle or merle breeders. Some of our poodles live in our "approved" guardian homes and co-owner's homes. If you have never had a standard poodle, then you don't know what you are missing! Once you have a standard poodle, you will never live without one!! Our poodles are raised as part of our family to become part of yours. They make wonderful family dogs; they love to take long walks and swim. Hours of research and dedication to breeding healthy puppies, as well as a gorgeous specimen of the AKC breed standard went into the breeding of these gorgeous poodles. Currently, we have produced 23 Champions! They have great dense show coats, dark pigment and correct conformation. Our pups are whelped and raised inside our homes with lots of love, socialization, raised with children, other animals and handled daily. We are not a puppy mill or backyard breeder. Our dogs do not live outside in a dog run with dirt, and a dog house to get out of the element; they live inside our home, underfoot, as part of our family. They sleep in our bedrooms and hang out with us as we watch television. We breed for health first, temperament second, intelligence, conformation, type and beauty. We also "specialize" in Service Dogs. As of September of , we have produced 68 working Service Dogs! Poodles are very athletic high achievers and participate in outdoor activities. Our pups are very well suited for show in conformation, performance, sport, companion, obedience, rally and agility. They are also used for therapy, hunting, herding, tracking, working, tricks, dock diving, weight pull, lure coursing, service and medical alert dogs. Also tested for personality and Service Dog of a "natural ability" performed by our professional Service Dog Trainer of 25 years experience to determine and ensure proper home placement. Parents are temperament tested to ensure their offspring have correct temperament for service work; which is why we produce many Service Dog! Pups come pre-spoiled with a puppy packet, current starter puppy food and freshly groomed. All pups started on potty training at 6 weeks old to go outside, and crate training is well underway by 9 weeks old, however there is no guarantee that your puppy will be fully house trained at time of purchase and to hold Princetin Poodles LLC liable for any damage your puppy or older dog may incur after purchase. Some puppies or older dogs may go through separation anxiety from missing their mom or siblings, and may take longer to house train than others, so please be patient. In addition to that, a large open metal building roof overhead to prevent direct sunlight and rain which provides a spacious exercising area for proper development and growth, as much needed. This allows Mothers a lot of space, in a comfortable environment to teach her babies how to play and scold them when they are wrong, just as you would your child. Puppies are put out enough time per day for adequate exercise, then they are brought back inside our home. We do not sell our puppies to just anyone who wants one. We pre-screen everyone to try to match the puppy with his new home to ensure the puppy has a forever loving home and does not end up having to be re-homed or end up in a shelter somewhere! All puppies come back to us if you can no longer care or keep the puppy or adult, to be re-homed, at no expense to us. Our poodles are highly intelligent, diverse, very athletic high achievers and loving family companions. They love to cuddle and spend time with their family and have their people around. A poodle is an inside dog. Poodles are non-shed, and do not smell. They require frequent brushing and grooming every 4 to 6 weeks. Having been brought up on a farm, I learned the responsibility and fulfillment of such a lifestyle. I started my adult life breeding and showing horses and ended up with a miniature poodle named, "Fluff. Place out of 65 dog entry's in Novice Obedience, with a score of .Since then, I have trained and taught Basic and Advanced Obedience classes in our local obedience club. I have also shown other dogs and did very well in the Obedience ring! Poodles have always been my favorite breed, so I purchased my breeding stock of high quality, Multiple Championship pedigrees for my breeding program. They all came from well established, reputable breeders some of which had been breeding poodles for well over 35 years. I have now bred Standard Poodles for many years, producing sound, healthy pups, free of genetic disorders. I am very proud of this great accomplishment and all the hard work that went into producing a great specimen of the breed standard and always breeding forward to "better" the breed! Additionally, great confident "beta" temperaments which is the best of the best for all venues! Intelligence and very loving demeanor's are prevalent in these gorgeous Princetin Poodles. When you are looking for that perfect puppy, you may need to wait for a litter to be born. Reputable and careful breeders do not have puppies available at all times, and a good puppy is well work the wait! We are always willing to accept your deposit on future litters. Remember, if you are willing to settle for just any puppy, that is exactly what you will get - Just any puppy! You are his life, his leader. Missouri is the home to Purina Farms which supports dog ownership, Conformation and Performance dogs! I am a retired veteran after 20 years in the US Air Force. My poodles are my pets! I believe in taking good care of my fur kids because a good, healthy dog will give you years of unconditional love and friendship. All poodles are groomed by myself and given that special one-on-one mommy time. Please do your research when looking for a reputable breeder. Don't be fooled by breeders who say they have "show quality" puppies when they have NO Champions! If you are just looking for a "Pet," you should care about having a dog that comes from champions or is a retired champion. Conformation Champions have been judged by the bred standard to be the quality and temperament to carry on the next generation. It is proof that you are getting the best representation of a poodle. Beware of breeders who do not health test or just the minimum! Breeders who do more then the minimum for the breed signifies that they are concerned about the health of their dogs and the puppies that they will produce. Ask for copies of the certificates or look for the results posted in the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals database. Your research will pay off in finding the best breeder who will be there for you and for the life of the puppy. I believe it is a life-long, loving relationship between dog and human and it should not be taken lightly or in haste! Contact Us What makes a poodle a Champion? Officially, the American Kennel Club designates a dog a Champion of Record if it has won fifteen points in at least two shows and under two different judges. The winner in each classification receives a number of points based on the number of eligible dogs competing in its class and gender. Classifications are designated by breed, of course, but by other factors as well. Puppies six to twelve months old, for instance, are in a separate class from older dogs. Those dogs who have been previously undefeated winners in other classes compete against each other in the Winners class. Every physical quality of the dog, such as the shape and color of its eyes, the way its tail is set, the quality of its coat and for poodles, its clip , the shape of the skull and how its ears hang, is examined and judged. Other points are awarded for gait and temperament. At homestead Poodles, we breed Champions; some by AKC guidelines, and some who are simply the Champions of their families. Our health guarantee is one of the best offered by any breeder. While no one can predict with percent accuracy which puppies from a litter will become Champions, we are extremely proud of our puppies and their bloodlines.
Usually the answer is our Frenchie puppies of course! Simply click the button below to go right to our fantastic Frenchie puppies, or read on to find out more about our valuable fur babies. This video highlights what we offer with each of our Frenchie puppies, but you get so much more than this when you choose RickJenn Frenchies. At RickJenn Frenchies, we do everything within our ability to produce the best French Bulldog puppies, period. But, we also do everything we can to make the puppy process the best it can be for you! We know how important it is for you as a puppy buyer to find out as much as you can about the French Bulldog breed, and the breeder that you plan to get your puppy from, before you ever sign a purchase agreement. We hope that you will find all of the information you desire here on our website. We welcome any and all questions, provide references, and are willing to video chat so that you feel comfortable with us. We also offer to travel up to 4 hours to meet you in person at a halfway point to deliver your new fur baby. We love to meet our new frenchie families in person because we feel it is the beginning of a great relationship. We also love to see the joy that our puppies bring to each new owner! Testimonials from our Frenchie families Image Slide 2. We have answers. All you need to do first is check out the adorable Indianapolis French Bulldogs for sale, and enjoy their sweet faces! When you see a pup you love, send their breeder a message and take it from there. They can give you all the information you need to find out more about how to add that sweet pup to your family. What kind of dog is the French Bulldog? French Bulldog puppies Indianapolis excel as family companions, and they love nothing more than snuggling up with their owners. Why are French Bulldogs more expensive than most breeds? The breeding process that French Bulldog breeders in Indianapolis have to go through to guarantee the health and welfare of both female dogs and their pups is much more complicated than for most breeds. The narrow hips of the Frenchie means females have to be inseminated artificially, and then have their pups born via C-section. As a result, French Bulldog breeders Indianapolis have to charge more for their puppies. Can I collect my puppy up in person? You sure can! The partners in our network are total pros at helping to arrange for your puppy to travel to their new forever home. How do you guarantee transparency of breeders with French Bulldogs for sale in Indianapolis? Our high standards mean that every company on our network has to undergo a rigorous application process before they can advertise their French Bulldogs for sale Indianapolis on Uptown. How do I know my puppy will be healthy? That means each Frenchie pup will have a full pre-purchase veterinary examination, and of course you can see those results. We suggest booking an initial checkup for your new pup with your own veterinarian once you bring your puppy home too. Do you recommend particular food for French Bulldogs? That means the best food for your pup might not suit another dog. Your veterinarian can help you develop a feed regime to suit your Frenchie perfectly. Bear in mind too that these pups can easily gain weight if fed a little too much! Do you sell the cheapest puppies? Instead, we want to provide a boutique experience where you get looked after every step of the way. Each business on Uptown can set their own prices for their Indianapolis French Bulldog for sale but rest assured, they provide a five-star service as well as the best pups out there! How much exercise does French Bulldogs need? French Bulldog puppies in Indianapolis are definitely not as energetic as some other breeds. Their squashed faces mean you need to take particular care not to over exercise your Frenchie in humid or hot weather, as they can struggle to breathe. Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? Each French Bulldog for sale Indianapolis wants nothing more than to belong to a family ready to shower them with love. From playing with kids to napping with the grandparents, these little pups truly enjoy spending as much time as possible with their families.
Do you hand make unique gift items? Do you frequent a local dog loving spot? Maybe you have a beach or mountain house? If any of these apply to you, we need your help! We are seeking in-kind donations to make our upcoming events a huge success. Please click the button below share your information and a volunteer will contact you. In-Kind Donation Form International Rescue Want to learn more about our international efforts and how you can help golden retrievers in need? Click the button below. Here you can interact with our available dogs, complete foster training, and learn how you can become involved with supporting NRGRR. See the calendar below for details. Please click on the event to see the list of dogs attending. Event Calendar Make a donation. Our volunteers give their time, their homes and their hearts to every dog who comes to us for help. Unfortunately, warm homes and loving hearts alone do not pay for the medical care and supplies our dogs need. Sadly, the number of golden retrievers who have entered our program, and the costs related to their medical care, have dramatically increased over the past several years. When you make a tax-deductible gift to the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, you can be assured that your donation is directly supporting golden retrievers rescued through our program, and allowing us to continue to provide help to others in the years to come. Thank you for your support. Box , Raleigh, NC Phone: .Welcome to Carolina Gilded Retrievers! We are a family-owned and operated breeder of American Kennel Club-registered golden retrievers. Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Travelers Rest, SC, our state of the art kennel is situated on a 6 acre plot of land with plenty of room for our puppies to grow and develop. At Carolina Gilded Retrievers we believe that a hands-on approach to our dogs and puppies is key, and as such we built our kennel just a stone's throw away from our own house. Our dogs are our pets first and foremost. They are treated as family members and it is important that each of them receive their dedicated time with us, go on adventures, car rides, and trips. We enjoy finding each dog's desired activity whether that be agility, therapy work, or hunting. Our Values What We Breed For At Carolina Gilded Retrievers we breed our puppies for three main criteria: health, demeanor, and structure beauty , making them ideal for companionship, therapy, and service. The naturally loving temperament of the golden retriever breed is further magnified in our puppies by the hands-on love, care, and attention they are given from day one. For the first three weeks of their life they are under hour supervision. Females are all assisted during their delivery, and carefully watched prior to their delivery date. Beginning at 3 days of age, we begin our puppy curriculum which lasts until take home day. We believe it is important to set our puppies and families up for success from the beginning. Beginning at 3 days of age and continuing until 16 days of age, we engage our puppies in Early Neurological Stimulation exercises. We follow the Empowered Breeder puppy curriculum which begins at 3 weeks of age, as well as, the potty training process. From week we begin to have various novelty and exposure activities in the whelping pen. From weeks , the puppies have their own dedicated "puppy bowl" room and astro turf play area, where we offer the puppies a wide variety of exposure activities, objects and textures. Think wagon and stroller rides, to ball pit and tunnel fun, to a variety of toys that are different shapes and sizes. In addition, we begin sound desensitizing and the puppies are exposed to a wide variety of sounds such as fireworks, train noises, clapping etc. At 7 weeks of age we perform the Volhard Aptitude test. Our Commitment To You Carolina Gilded Retrievers is committed first and foremost to the health and well-being of our dogs and puppies, but we also take great joy in helping our clients find the perfect puppy for their needs. We go above and beyond for our puppies and their new families at every turn. Our extended puppy family is ever-expanding, and for us this business is a genuine labor of love.
Look out for things like how the pups interact with each other. Do a general visual health check of each puppy. They should be nice and round - not fat, and certainly not skinny. Even Greyhounds and Whippets are round little beasts until they are about four months of age. Look for a confident little pup who struts up to you and your family with head held high and tail wagging with excitement. A bit of a cheeky lick on the hand is also ok. Have a close look at the pups eyes, ears , gums, teeth and rear end. You want to see bright eyes, a shiny and clean coat, and no sign of any discharge or debris. Be wary of a shy and fearful pup when choosing a puppy. Pups at the week stage shouldn't show any sign of these undesirable traits. Many people end up selecting a puppy such as this because they feel sorry for them. Don't fall into this trap - it is not a valid reason for picking out a puppy! It's no good for anyone and you will most likely regret your decision for many years to come. When you have identified one or two puppies that you like the look of, conduct a bit of a hearing test. With the puppy facing the other way or possibly playing with another member of your family drop a set of keys on the ground or stamp your feet. It's very difficult to pick a deaf puppy out of a litter, if the pups are all together in the same pen. It's important that the puppy you end up choosing has energy levels which are compatible with you and your family's lifestyle. These energy levels will vary a great deal even in the one litter. After spending some time with the puppies you can make a judgment yourself, or the breeder will give you some insight. Pick the puppy up, hug him and cradle him. This is a bit of a test, if he reacts by squealing and wriggling and doesn't settle down, this is not a good sign. You may experience problems with a puppy such as this. A little struggle is ok, followed by quickly settling down and peering back up at you. Touch the puppies all over their bodies including paws, mouth and earsto monitor the reaction. A puppy who has been handled from an early age won't have any problem with you doing this. Many pure bred dogs have breed specific ailments which can cause problems. Check the puppies parents and even grandparents for any sign of breed specific problems. Also check if the pups have been screened for them if appropriate. This step can save you a whole lot of heartache in the future. Many larger breeds such as German Shepherds , Labradors and Rottweilers can suffer from hip dysplasia. Check out the family history if you are searching for a puppy susceptible to hip dysplasia. Check the Vet records of your puppy including vaccination and worming record. Once you've made the big decision and have your heart set on a puppy it is advisable to have your Veterinarian do a thorough examination of the pup. Choosing a puppy is an important step towards ensuring you end up with a healthy, well adjusted and happy long term companion. Once you bring your puppy home it is then your responsibility to provide proper socialization and obedience training. This will shape the temperament and behavior habits of your puppy and set him up to thrive in society. Good luck - I hope you find you and your Wow excellent thanks Monica a lot of this i can not use as were picking at two weeks , but there is still a lot I can use , thanks very much for this. A lot of people make the mistake of buying an English Bulldog without doing much research, only to later discover that these dogs have a lot of special needs. In this guide, I will lead you through all you need to know before buying an English Bulldog, and also what to look for, particularly with the breeder. What should I know before buying an English Bulldog? Although English Bulldogs are known to be sweet, loyal, and very people-centered, they are also prone to a host of health problems. This is the most important aspect of all… you need to be prepared for the potential for high vet bills. These specific needs can make them time-consuming and expensive dogs to keep. Unfortunately, far too many English Bulldogs end up abandoned once they develop costly health problems. As a result of decades of breeding to ensure a flat nose and stout figure and those famous wrinkles , English Bulldogs are unfortunately prone to a few genetic disorders. These include hip dysplasia, brachycephalic syndrome, and ventricular septal defect, where a hole develops in the heart. However, many of the other conditions that plague this breed are avoidable with a little foresight and care. As they are a brachycephalic flat-faced breed, they find it harder to breathe than other dogs. This is especially true in summer when they are prone to heat exhaustion. Additionally, they are also predisposed to a multitude of skin conditions. If the folds around their face are not kept clean, it can cause bacteria growth that can result in irritation and even infection if left for too long. With that said, these are charming and loyal dogs. Full of personality and affection, they make perfect family pets and ideal companions for the right owners. This next step will depend on whether you want to adopt an adult English Bulldog or a puppy. Each choice has its advantages and disadvantages, so it depends on which one will suit your lifestyle better. Buying English Bulldog puppies Aside from the cuteness overload, arguably the best advantage when it comes to buying an English Bulldog puppy is that you can train them early on to fit in with your lifestyle. However, if you have the time, experience, and patience to get through those initial months of training, you will have the opportunity to build an excellent bond with your new pup. Buying a puppy can present a lot of challenges, but providing you know what to look for, it will be a rewarding experience! By ensuring that they are getting adequate training from day one, you can help them to avoid bad behaviors. In a similar vein, by making sure they are getting the right healthcare early on, you can ensure that they avoid any unnecessary health complications. Buying an English Bulldog puppy from a reputable breeder also means that you can be sure about their heritage. English Bulldogs are not cheap from the get-go, but as puppies, they will require plenty of trips to the vet for all their initial check-ups and vaccinations. Buying an adult English Bulldog Buying an English Bulldog who is fully grown means that there will be fewer surprises. On the downside, any bad habits they have developed will be firmly ingrained. Buying an adult English Bulldog who has already been trained can be a lot easier. The only challenge here is that it may take some time to find the right dog to fit your needs. On the flip side, there are also plenty of adult English Bulldogs looking for a home who have behavioral issues. Although some of these issues are minor and may only need remedial training to correct, there is also the risk of encountering more severe behavioral problems. A dog who displays fearful or aggressive behavior may take years of training to correct and is not a task for an inexperienced owner. The only danger here is that you may not be adopting a purebred dog. Aside from this, there are also dedicated rescues just for English Bulldogs. How to buy an English Bulldog Arguably the most crucial step you can take when choosing to adopt an English Bulldog puppy is to ensure that you are going through a reputable breeder. An honest and dedicated breeder will always put in the time and effort to ensure that any puppies they are raising are as healthy as they can be. The puppies should be socialized from a young age, and the breeder should have no issue with you coming to visit the kennels. This is where you do not want to hunt for a bargain. English Bulldogs are expensive to breed, owing to the unique complications and special needs involved with this practice. Although you could go for a cheaper puppy, you risk adopting a dog with severe health issues. As a general rule of thumb, a cheaper dog can end up costing you far more in the long run. Also, many good breeders should be able to provide you with a bill of clean health before you adopt, and they should offer you a guarantee. Once you adopt, they should give you at least two days so that you can get your new puppy checked out by your own veterinarian. If you find any unexpected health issues within this period, the breeder should be willing to offer you a refund or to replace your puppy. What to look for when buying an English Bulldog puppy Once you have settled on a reputable breeder, now comes the best bit: picking out your new puppy including what to look for when buying an English Bulldog. For one, you need to ensure you pick the happiest and friendliest puppy in the pack. If the puppy is curious and shows confidence when approaching you, that is an excellent sign. Instead, enter the enclosure where the puppies are kept, and sit down to observe them. As hard as it can be, resist the urge to reach out for any of them, and instead allow them to come to you. Doing this also allows you to observe their behavior. The puppy that you pick should be friendly, easy-going, and well natured. Other signs to keep an eye out for include: Clean eyes and ears: The puppy should not be squinting. Red eyes in particular can be a sign of a serious problem. Look for a straight tail that shows no restriction while moving: Additionally, the tail should not be pointing down. These can all be an indication of screw-tail — a malformation of the vertebra in the tail. This condition can result in severe discomfort for the dog, and expensive treatment later on down the line. See how often you should walk your English Bulldog. Where you can, avoid puppies with abnormal coloring: This type of coloration includes chocolate, black, blue, and lilac. All of these colours are clear indicators that the puppy may develop severe health issues as it grows older. Decide on a male or female puppy: In general terms, males tend to be more energetic, whereas females can be more relaxed. Be cautious if the price is too cheap. An unusually low price could be the sign of an unhealthy English Bulldog puppy. That said, by keeping an eye out for some of these signs, you are more likely to be adopting the healthiest puppy that you can. English Bulldogs only have 3 to 4 puppies in a litter and only should be bred a handful of times over their lifetime. Questions to ask an English Bulldog breeder Before you settle on buying an English Bulldog and have ticked off all the things you should look for, please, please, please question the breeder extensively. Ask how many litters the mother has had: an English Bulldog should only really have 1 litter a year, preferably only one every couple of years. More than that is a warning sign that she has been bred more than she should have been. Make sure your breeder is knowledgeable: on looking after his breed. Also Google the breeder first to see what other people have said about them. Ask if the puppy has been assessed by a vet: You also want to be sure the puppy has had the right vaccinations. Injections should be sorted out by the breeder before the puppies are available to buy. By doing so you can see what the puppy might grow up to be like and whether the mother is healthy. Ask if the parents have had health checks: This will also help you decide whether the puppy will grow up healthy with no genetic traits. Things to look out for on the health check include hip problems, cataracts, cherry eye, deafness, and soft palate problems. The best breeders will be transparent and honest. Ask how old the parents are: A mother younger than 3 years old ca present a problem as health problems might not yet have appeared yet. Try to buy an English Bulldog puppy whose mother is older than this age. Ask where the puppies have been living:You want to buy an English Bulldog puppy who has been socialized a little. Ask how often the puppies have been handled: Puppies that are handled from a young age will also be easier to train. Conclusion Regardless of these issues and health concerns, English Bulldogs are beautiful and sweet companions. They are full of personality and will be sure to make you laugh with their confidence and quirkiness. However, they do require a lot of care and attention… and any potential problems can be reduced providing you know what questions to ask and what to look out for when buying an English Bulldog puppy or adult dog. I write about the things we've learned about owning dogs, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips we've picked up along the way. Recent Posts. Contact Us Buying A Bulldog The Definitive Guide English bulldogs are the mascots of choice for many colleges, organizations, and even military branches. Bulldogs are mostly docile and well-behaved, choosing sleep over other popular canine activities. For those looking to purchase a bulldog, there are several considerations that must be made beforehand. Below are some tips on how to shop and buy a Bulldog puppy, what to look for in a breeder, and what to consider when purchasing a dog. What should I expect to pay for a puppy and how do I choose a reputable breeder? Many are surprised to find out that bulldogs are an expensive breed. In fact, quality puppies will set you back anywhere from two to four thousand dollars. But, there is a reason for this. Bulldogs are the result of specific and selective breeding process especially when it comes to champion dogs and bulldogs that represent the breed well. There are huge expenses for the breeder as well such as progesterone testing, stud fees, c-sections, milk formula, vaccinations, de-wormings, puppy checkups, special diets, whelping gear, etc. Choosing a dog because of a smaller price tag could cost you more in the long-run. You should search for a reputable English bulldog breeder. But where to start? One of these requirements is health testing. This way at least you know that you are dealing with Breeders who are conscientious about producing healthy puppies. Do not look to purchase puppies through Craigslist, Social Media Sites, Pet Stores or the Walmart parking lot yes, I have seen them for sale in parking lots! Breeders who sell thru these venues are generally profiting and are not truly dedicated to the breed. These puppies are often poorly bred which results in an unhealthy puppy. A reputable breeder will be available to you for the long haul and eager to help with any questions or concerns throughout your bulldogs life. Look for breeders who can provide you with a complete pedigree of your dog, a health guarantee, and a bill of sale. Finally, never have a bulldog shipped to you. Since they are brachycephalic flat-faced , they are less likely to survive the shipping process compared to other breeds. What should I know about Bulldog health and Cost? You should know beforehand bulldogs can have minor but common health concerns, including cherry eye and skin allergies and require excellent veterinary care so before buying a puppy make sure to have the puppy checked out by a Vet. A reputable and responsible breeder will have a clear and transparent health guarantee listed on their website and give you hours to get the pup examined at your own vet just in case there are any costly or life-threatening conditions outside the minor issues common to bulldogs that can be easily treated. Check to see if they will replace the puppy; refund you in the event something is untreatable. Caring for a female dog in heat is messy and time consuming, and male dogs with their testicles intact tend to be more headstrong and have more of a tendency to lift their legs and mount yours than neutered males. Finally, decide on appearance. White bulldogs resembling the University of Georgia mascot are very popular, but the breed standard also allows for dogs to be brindle or red. Black or blue colors however, are not part of the breed standard. The English bulldog is a great breed, but be sure to know what to look for in a breeder and in a puppy before purchasing. Finally, if a puppy is not your thing, there are many bulldog rescues throughout the country that can provide you with an adult dog. Whatever method you employ, remember to take your time, do your research, and always opt for quality over cost. For detailed information or to have a question answered by a breeder click here. Since then they have been dedicated to responsible Bulldog breeding and passionate about breeding as well as competitively showing English bulldogs. This mid-size breed is 16 to 17 inches tall at the base of the neck. Males are about 54 pounds and females 50 pounds. Adult dogs are prone to becoming overweight. Bullies have thick necks, short faces, and heavy wrinkles that need frequent cleaning. A bulldog coat is straight and short and sheds a moderate amount. The bully has low grooming requirements. The standard colors for bulldogs are fawn, red, white, or brindle tiger-stripe. They can also have 2 piebald or 3 tri-colored colors. English bulldogs are laidback and only need 20 to 40 minutes of exercise per day. But they are physically unable to swim. The bulldog is people-orientated and needs a moderate amount of attention. Bulldogs are brachycephalic flat-faced and do not do well in hot weather. They tend to overheat and have breathing difficulties. Still interested in owning an English bulldog? Due to potentially serious health risks, reputable breeders have a significant investment in each puppy. You can find bully pups online and in pet stores. They are usually more affordable but also poorly bred. These dogs typically end up costing their owners thousands more in vet bills due to ongoing health issues. Buying English bulldogs through these venues also keeps in existence an industry that thrives on the unhappiness and pain of defenseless animals. A breeder must follow stringent guidelines before the BCA will endorse them. When picking a reliable breeder, it is essential to know their reputation. How long have they been in business? Are the dogs allowed to mature before breeding? Is the breeder comfortable with you visiting their facilities? A reputable breeder should come across as open and honest and welcome your visit. Preferably, the parents will be together, and the animals can go outside to play. Check if the puppy has been socialized with cats and children as well as with other dogs. You should not buy an English Bulldog puppy if they offer to fly it to you. Are they healthy and friendly toward other animals and each other? What do they look like? Those adorable puppies are likely to grow up to look like and act like one of their parents. Meet the Puppies Of course, you are going to fall in love. Puppies are adorable! But step back a moment and make sure you pick the right puppy. Study the puppies to avoid obvious health issues. Here is a list of what to look for when buying an English bulldog puppy. If the puppy is five to six weeks old, she should walk and breathe normally. Rasping, rattling, or wheezing is a red flag. Is the puppy happy and friendly? His tail should be straight and move easily — not restricted or pointing down. The puppy should not need to squint when looking at you. Is the dog deaf? White or predominately white bulldogs are prone to deafness. The puppy should be aware of his surroundings and be lively, not sluggish or overly tired. If elongated, the soft palate can cause issues. Be cautious about selecting the runt of the litter as they may have more health issues. Temperament Is the puppy friendly? Did she come to you? Look for signs that the pup is fearful. Is he whimpering, crying, or urinating due to fear? Check for aggression or rebellion. How does the puppy act if restrained for 30 seconds? Will she follow you? Will the pup let you carry him? You want your puppy to be confident, curious, easy-going, and good-natured. Gender Male or female? Many believe a female bulldog is easier to train, and the males are less emotional. Every dog has its own personality, so judge the pups by their temperament. Body Type All bulldogs have slightly different body shapes. Observing the parents should give you a good idea of how large your dog will grow and its body type. Perhaps its head will be a bit larger or its legs a bit shorter. Color English bulldogs come in eight standard colors. The piebald 2 colors and tri-color bullies combine these colors. Brindle tiger-stripe — is a striped pattern with a different colored base. Fawn red — ranges from a pale tan to deep deer-red. White — a popular choice that may be pure white or have a few freckles in another color. Lilac — rare color variation, the purplish-gray color is a mix of blue and brown hues. Black — a rarer color, the shiny black coat may have a fawn undercoat. Blue — the coat will appear gray in the sun or against darker-colored objects. Chocolate — another rare color. A deep, rich brown. Seal — very rare. These dogs have light-colored eyes and a reddish or brownish cast to their coats. Their legs and tail will be darker than the rest of their coats, and they will have a dark stripe down their backs. Some experts suggest that bulldogs that are black, blue, lilac, chocolate, or seal color could have more health problems than the brindle, fawn red , and white dogs. The Breeder Should Question You A reputable breeder cares for his dogs and wants them to have a good forever home. It is usual for them to question you on your suitability as a dog owner. They will not be enthusiastic about selling dogs for breeding or showing, so you will pay a premium if that is your intention. A good breeder will not hand over the puppy until it is eight weeks to three months old. Before eight weeks, puppies need their mothers for health, developmental, and weaning reasons. Separating them from their mothers too soon can lead to health and behavioral problems. With another month, the bully pup learns a lot and is less miserable to leave his dam. Expect to sign an agreement with the breeder that you will have your pup spayed or neutered when they reach the correct age. Medical Records and Certification Every dog breed has some health issues, and even the best quality bulldogs can suffer from many ailments. Minimize the potential for underlying severe health issues by purchasing from a reputable breeder. Breeders with quality dogs care about their reputations and work hard to produce healthy puppies. The breeder can provide those records. A puppy with a historical bloodline of purebreds and champions shows that the line still meets the original bulldog standards and should have fewer health issues. Open 7 Days Choosing a Healthier Puppy The reality is that veterinarians generally have vastly different criteria than breeders for choosing a healthy puppy. Breeders adhere to standards that are for the show ring, not health, whereas veterinarians are more interested in health. So with this in mind, What do you need to know to choose the healthiest pup you can? We suggest you follow these guidelines: 1. Look at the parents as well as the pup, but you gain more from the parents. Choose as wide nostrils as possible. Choose the longest noses you can find yes we agree shorter noses are cuter, but that comes with a price. That price is a sadder pup through life and far higher veterinary costs. So please be acutely aware of this when choosing your pup. Choose longer necks and narrower chests. Cambridge studies are showing that this is a better predictor of less breathing concerns than even long noses. In our opinion the classic stocky dog that many breeders prefer are the worst for health concerns including back problems. See a more detailed explanation below. If possible, watch and play with the parents for 15 minutes. How noisy are they? How much do they need to stop and rest? Behaviour: Ensure parents and pup are friendly and happy, and that you can open their mouths and play with them. It is irrelevant what your breeder tells you about breathing concerns as they pretty much all say their dogs have never had any breathing concerns! There is no testing, standard or certificates for breathing concerns so you need to follow the above guidelines. Shorter, wider necks, narrow nostrils and shorter noses all mean a much higher chance of breathing concerns. Longer noses, longer necks, wider nostrils and narrower chests are less chance of more severe concerns. There are some back scoring systems in place that your breeder may or may not have engaged in. Our concern is the current systems which are employed are grossly inadequate, passing healthy backs that potentially still have severe and significant problems. A grade 3 is a severe deformed vertebrae that has a high chance of causing pain or a prolapsed disc. A grade 2 is a moderately deformed one and a grade 1 a mildly deformed one. An overall score of 15 has been considered a pass, and reasonable to breed from. Potentially, such a score may entail 5 shocking grade 3 vertebrae if no other deformed ones exist , or 10 moderately deformed ones. Ask for the x-rays for both parents and pup if they have been done, and get your own brachycephalic vet to look at them and interpret any score that it comes with. At the very least, ask the exact score, how many of each type of vertebrae and where in the spine they are. There are different areas that carry different risks. In our opinion the standard is severely inadequate for breeding which is allowing this problem to continue. DNA Testing This one worries us the most. DNA testing is done for a number of extremely rare conditions that are almost nonexistent anyway, and none of them test for hemivertebrae or breathing concerns , allergies, hip dysplasia , cherry eyes , or any of the encephalitis seizure problems these breeds can suffer.
Little to zero shedding equals a higher maintenance dog. The Tiny Bernedoodle is a relatively easy keeper in the grooming department compared with the Miniature Poodle. The curlier the coat the more they need groomed. Most Micor Bernedoodles need to be brushed at least 3 times a week and need a cut or trim every weeks. When brushing focus on areas that easily matt like behind the ears and the belly. You can see our favorite brush in our shopping list here. When people think of a Mini dog they usually picture something the size of a Mini Poodle or something the size of a Cavalier. When Bernedoodle breeders talk about a Mini Bernedoodle you need to keep in mind that Mini compared to a pound Bernese can still be over 50 pounds with some Mini Bernedoodles getting as large as 65 pounds. This is because each inherits separate genes from each parent. Some puppies get more of the Bernese genes and some get the Mini Poodle genes. Becase of the request we often get for a dog that will stay under 50 pounds or for a dog that will stay around 20 pounds we decided to add Tiny Bernedoodles to our Bernedoodle program. Tiny Bernedoodles are consistently smaller than F1 Mini Bernedoodles. Tiny Bernedoodles are great for families that live in an apartment or a small area. Tiny Bernedoodles are a great option for a family with allergies, a family looking for a smaller dog with the Bernese temperament, or a family just looking for a unique great dog to have as a companion. The Tiny Bernedoodle is a moderately active dog who requires around 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise. They adapt quickly to most hot and cold weather climates, making them an excellent all-weather dog selection. This crossbreed is excitable but will match their energy level to yours, so plan on snuggling on the couch together or playing fetch in the back yard. Tiny Bernedoodles are lap dogs so plan on your Tiny Bernedoodle puppy spending long hours hanging out on your lap. Are Tiny Bernedoodles good with young children? The cost of a tiny bernedoodle will depend on the breeder. Tiny bernedoodles cost more than standards or mini bernedoodles. How much exercise does a Tiny Bernedoodle Need? These bernedoodles litters will have a variety of coat types. We see tight curls, lose curls, and wavy in our Tiny Bernedoodles. This bernedoodle cross, like the other Bernedoodle crosses, comes in many different colors and producing many more colors than the F1 crosses due to breeding poodle color genes from both parents. While producing more color variations they are still categorized similar to the other crosses, consisting of a tri-color micro mini, bi-color micro mini, and a solid color micro mini. We specialize in tricolor, merle, and parti Tiny Bernedoodles. What is the Tiny Bernedoodle Temperament like? Do you have any Tiny Bernedoodle Puppies Available? Some breeders use toy poodles to create Tiny Bernedoodles. This is a pairing where it would be ok to use a toy poodle. The reason we do not want to use a toy poodle in an f1 Bernedoodle pairing is so we can maintain good confirmation. We bred for calm docile Bernedoodles. Most puppies in the litter tend to be calm and even tempered every once in a while you can get a puppy that has the higher energy. Tiny Bernedoodles like to be with people. Because of this if they are not taught at a young age that it is ok to be alone they can develop separation anxiety. We offer a great training program for our Tiny Bernedoodle puppies. If puppies are taught by the time they are 12 weeks old this will help tremendously. What size is a tiny bernedoodle? Tiny bernedoodles are pounds full grown. The average tiny bernedoodle will be 20 pounds full grown. What do tiny bernedoodles look like full grown? Full grown tiny bernedoodles look similar to a mini bernedoodle. Full grown tiny bernedoodles remind me of a little teddy bear. Some tiny bernedoodles can have curly hair like a poodle. We breed for the fleece coat type. Tiny Bernedoodles are eager to please and very smart which means they are incredibly easy to train. This dog will not need many training repetitions because of how swiftly he learns commands. In particular, Tiny Bernedoodles make good agility dogs. Even as young puppies Tiny Bernedoodles can start learning basic commands. What type of coat does the Tiny Bernedoodle have? Tiny Bernedoodles can be pounds. The average Tiny Bernedoodle will be around 20 pounds full grown. The size will be determined by the parents. When people think of a mini they usually think in terms of a mini poodle. When Bernedoodle breeders talk about a Mini Bernedoodle you need to keep in mind that Mini compared to a pounds Bernese can still be up to and sometimes larger than 50 pounds. What colors do Tiny Bernedoodles come in? How big do Tiny Bernedoodles get? How much do Tiny Bernedoodles cost? We currently do not have Tiny Bernedoodle puppies available. We are planning Tiny Bernedoodle litters through the year. We are expecting tricolor, merle, and parti Tiny Bernedoodle puppies. If you would like to get on the list for one of our tiny bernedoodle puppies please fill out our Bernedoodle Puppy Application here. This hybrid is excellent with kids of all ages, and is gentle enough for interaction with even the youngest children in the family. Because of their friendly, gentle natures, Tiny Bernedoodles thrive as service and therapy dogs. Their loyalty, protectiveness, and affability make them an ideal partner for people with disabilities. Because of their smaller size it is important when you Tiny Bernedoodle is a puppy to watch them closely when being with children and teach your child how to handle a smaller Tiny Bernedoodle puppy so they do not hurt the puppy. How often does a Tiny Bernedoodles need groomed? Tiny Bernedoodles come in Tricolor, sable, merle, black, black and white, cream, chocolate, and phantom. We specialize in traditional tricolors, merle tricolors, and phantom tricolor Tiny Bernedoodles. We love all colors Bernedoodles come in but cannot get enough of the stunning tricolors and merle tricolors. We were one of the first breeder to produce true F1B merle tricolor Tiny Bernedoodles. NOT the result of an Australian shepherd mix. We do not use Australian shepherds in our program. Are Tiny Bernedoodles easy to train? THEY're here! We have an amazing community of doodle families and future families who would love to get a puppy from our litters. If you are interested in getting a puppy from our upcoming litters and don't want to miss out please fill out the puppy application. This will go towards your final puppy payment. As soon as we have a puppy or upcoming litter with your preferences you will have have first pick in order of deposits received. Step 1 Please do research on this breed. Make sure this breed with match your family and puppies' needs and figure out which litter your interested in. Step 5 Once the pups turn 8 weeks we will get their puppy boosters, first exam, deworming, and microchip inserted. Step 2 Once you find out which upcoming litter your interested in, fill out a puppy application. Please add us on facebook and feel free to PM me. It is so important that our future puppy families understand our puppy culture Step 6 Take home day comes with so much support. Step 3 Once your application has been approved, we will contact you to submit your deposit and your name will be added to our waitlist. For your convenience Step 4 I will add you to the group message with all the families getting a puppy from the same litter. This is where the community starts. I will update you on the group text when labor starts, during the delivery with a live video feed, and during the whelping of the litter. What comes with your. This crossbreed is a mix between a Miniature Bernedoodle and a Poodle, and typically weighs between 10 and 25 pounds They are a smaller version of the Mini Bernedoodle, making it an excellent choice for those who want the temperament and intelligence of a Bernese Mountain Dog in a more compact package. Like their larger counterparts, Micro Bernedoodles are known for their friendly and affectionate personalities. They are intelligent, trainable, and eager to please, making them great companions for families with children or other pets. These dogs also tend to be hypoallergenic, making them a good choice for those with allergies. One of the unique features of the Micro Bernedoodle is its tri-color coat, which typically consists of black, white, and brown markings. This coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling, and may shed minimally. However, the low-shedding nature of the Poodle parent means that the Micro Bernedoodle is generally considered to be a low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming and upkeep. Overall, the Micro Bernedoodle is a charming and friendly breed that is well-suited for families and individuals who want a smaller, hypoallergenic dog with a fun-loving personality. Showing 1—12 of 80 results. Welcome to Alpine Bernedoodles, we are located in beautiful southwestern Colorado in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. I have been a Veterinary Technician for over 16 years and it is my passion to produce exceptional quality Bernedoodles. I am committed to breeding for excellent health, confirmation and sound temperament. My bernedoodles are bred with responsibility and integrity to be cherished family companions. Every puppy is raised with attention to physical and mental health, and nurtured with love and care. We cannot guarantee size or color but we will deliver a beautiful, happy healthy puppy. We are accepting applications for future litters. Please visit our Purchasing information page regarding our waitlist policies and application process. Now is a good time to start planning for your next best friend. Cannot recommend Alpine Bernedoodles enough! Our trainer at puppy class raves about how lucky we are to have such a smart trainable pup. Kathryn was great throughout the process sharing pictures and providing information to help us pick our pup and made it so smooth in getting her. The Kingery Family, Washington Today was a great day because we welcomed home our new puppy! She instantly lit up our home with joy! We adore her! They are amazing! The Priehs Family, Michigan I fell in love with bernedoodles about 3 years ago or so, I have wanted one for along time. It was important to me to find the right breeder of this breed as there are alot that are not. I had the most enjoyable experience from the day I sent in my deposit to this day. I love all the new friends I have met watching our puppies grow together. Kathryn is super great to work with! This puppy has changed our house. Less stress, more love. And I thought we were in pretty good shape before, so that says alot. The Heidemann's, Idaho Big day for the Porter family! We love Minna Hayley so much, we had to have Rocket Noah too! Marley and Logan and Kathryn sure make some awesome pups! This was a surprise to our kiddos, hence the tears The Porter Family, Colorado Kathryn, it was lovely to meet you and your husband. Thanks so much for everything! Thank you, Kathryn Hadfield for everything! What a wonderful experience it has been finding you, Alpine Bernedoodles, and this perfect little guy! The Cowgill's, Wisconsin Colt Mack has been such a joy! He is so sweet, happy, smart, and adorable! We are always asked about him when we are out in public and everyone always says how cute he is. People actually think he is a Bernese puppy because of his markings. His coat gets more beautiful every day. It is shiny and wavy and has not faded a bit! It has gotten much thicker and fuller and is gorgeous. The Dutton Family, Colorado We had a fantastic experience with Alpine Bernedoodles, well worth waiting for the perfect dog for your family! Finley has a hilarious personality and could not be smarter or more lovable. She was sleeping through the night after one week and we had her potty trained in two weeks using the bell method — they are SMART dogs. She is a favorite of everyone she meets and has not met a stranger yet. Alpine Bernedoodles has been there for us every step of the way if we have questions, and we love knowing there is a Facebook group for additional support if we need it. We could not be happier with our puppy and suggest Alpine Bernedoodles to everyone we meet! The Bogenreif's, Texas From the moment our puppy arrived we knew we had made the right choice with Alpine Bernedoodles. She arrived happy, beautifully cared for and well behaved. We would highly recommend Alpine and Kathryn to everyone! Thank you for giving us our perfect Scout! She melts our hearts and makes us smile all the time. Her fabulous looks are only enhanced by her amazing personality. She is so sweet and very spunky and she literally stops traffic wherever we bring her. Timber Ellie is the best pup we could ever ask for. She loves cuddling on the couch, politely sitting at the kitchen table with us, and hiking all around Colorado while winning over the hearts of everyone she meets. Timber has a beautiful, silky coat and a fluffy teddy bear face. She is like a person with how smart she is and how well she listens to us. We love her tri-color markings that are still there even as as she approaches 2 years old…and no shedding! Thank you so much for our furry family member! The Meyer Family, Colorado. The most typical breeding of a micro mini would consist of a miniature bernedoodle girl being bred to a small toy poodle boy. Micro Bernedoodle Size The micro mini bernedoodle is expected to mature at pounds depending on the size of the sire and dam. The Tiny Bernedoodle Coat The micro mini is considered more of a non-shedding or very minimal shedding bernedoodle due to being an F1B cross and possessing more of the non-shedding poodle gene. This bernedoodle cross, like the other Bernedoodle crosses, comes in many different colors and producing many more colors than the F1 crosses due to breeding poodle color genes from both mommy and daddy. While producing more color variations they are still categorized similar to the other crosses, consisting of a tri-color micro mini, bi-color micro mini, and a solid color micro mini. Temperament or Micro Bernedoodles The micro mini may differ slightly in temperament, as expected with the F1B cross. They may be more high-strung and energetic, similar to the toy poodle Tiny Bernedoodles Dogs for Sale We currently have no Tiny Bernedoodles for sale. If you would like to be notified, please contact us and we will notify you when our Tiny Bernedoodles become available. Tiny Bernedoodles Past Litters.
Though, you get what you paid for. Best Features What makes the Haige heavy duty crate so much better than any other dog crate is the frame. Young Golden Retriever puppies, in the midst of teething, will certainly try to chew up the crate. So, this feature provides a great dog-safe enclosure for your pup. However, the only negative for some people is the one-door option. It makes it slightly more difficult to access whatever you put into the crate bowls, pads, etc. Because the second door is on top, it provides a clever way of getting things in dog crate without the chance of your dog escaping. The degree rotated locking caster are 4 wheels that can lock in place for better mobility. All quality dog crate should have removable plastic trays, including the Haige heavy duty. Unlike other dog crates, this brand comes with a 3-year warranty. Check out the current price and more reviews on the Haige Heavy Duty here. I must have forgot that this crate included a bowl, water, and mat for the cage. I was so happy and for the price. Such a deal! My dog has separation anxiety and destroyed a standard wire crate and a plastic crate, injuring himself while doing so. But so far no damage or injuries. Plenty of room, our dog is 65 lbs and he can turn and move easily. It provides freedom for him with an added security to me that I still have control. He is a larger dog pounds but this is strong and durable. The sling pack makes it an easy addition to our walks. I highly recommend this product! This also does not come with a divider sold separately , which I think is such an awesome feature for dog crates. Security is always important with crates, which is why the New World crate comes with slide-bolt latches to ensure your dog is safe in the cage. In fact, Golden Retrievers much prefer to chew on socks! Like the first two options, this dog crate is foldable and can collapse in a few seconds. Easily slide out the tray and hose it down or wipe it clean with ease. As mentioned, there is no divider. So, I would only recommend this for adult-sized Golden Retrievers. If you were to purchase a divider separately, it would probably cost you more. To check out the current price of the New World dog crate, click here. Extremely secure, plenty of room for our golden retriever pup plus plenty of room for her to grow into , and the thick plastic floor is very easy to clean. This crate, however, is great value. I had one downstairs but it was too troublesome to move every time I went upstairs. Now, Max can sleep upstairs too. This is super awesome, and super neat! Consider the age of your Golden Retriever when selecting a crate. Different types of crates offer different advantages and disadvantages. Using the wrong crate size can lead to discomfort, restricted movement, and anxiety. Make sure you understand the role of a crate, not just for training but also transportation. Crate training for Golden Retrievers requires proper timing and practice. Where to place the crate and what to put in it will help make the most of your crate. Golden Retrievers will typically grow to by 20 to 24 inches tall and up to 75 lbs, so you need to make sure to get them the right size crate. Follow these steps to determine the size of your dog: Measure the height of your Golden Retriever: Have your dog stand up straight, Measure from the floor to the top of their shoulder blades. Add around inches to this measurement to determine the minimum height for the crate. Measure the length of your dog from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail. Remember to add 2 to 4 inches to the measurement. Measure their width by having your Golden Retriever standing with their legs slightly apart. Focus your attention on the widest part of their body, which tends to be the chest area. Once again, always add up to 4 inches to the figure. Finally, you want to consider the age of your Golden Retriever. For example, if you have a puppy, keep in mind that they will grow rapidly. You may want to choose a crate that will work for their adult size or opt for an adjustable crate with dividers, so you can gradually increase the space as they grow. Your Golden Retriever puppy will rapidly outgrow a nice crate that is not suited for an adult size. Now that you have all the measurements, you can refer to this Crate Size Calculator to find out the right and best dog crate size for your golden retriever. Types of Crates For Golden Retrievers Crates come not only in different sizes, but also with different structural elements. Below, we explain the pros and cons of each type of crate. Wire Crates Wire crates are popular due to their durability and visibility, They provide excellent ventilation and are easy to clean. However, bear in mind that some Golden Retrievers tend to find them less cozy than other options. Plastic Crates Plastic crates are a popular choice for travel. They offer more privacy and create a den-like environment for your Golden Retriever. Being lightweight, they are easy to transport and provide a sense of security. However, they may not offer as much airflow as wire crates. They are perfectly suitable for strong and aggressive chewers , which is a frequent issue among puppies! Bear in mind that steel crates can be heavy and less budget-friendly than other crate types. Soft Crates Lightweight and collapsible, soft crates are convenient for temporary use, such as short transportation needs. They are not suitable for dogs that like to chew or scratch as they are easily damaged. These crates come in various materials, including wood or wicker, and provide a stylish alternative to traditional crates. Yet, they may be less durable, and some favor design over ventilation. Recommendations for Best Golden Retriever Crates We suggest discussing crate recommendations with your veterinarian and your Golden Retriever breeder for tips and favorite brands. It has a removable plastic tray for easy cleaning and folds down for storage. Having double doors on the crate is a practical feature as it offers convenient access and flexibility in terms of crate placement. The secure locking mechanism adds an extra layer of safety. Cons: While the crate is generally considered of decent quality, there could be durability concerns for dogs with a history of trying to escape crates. This means it might not be the most suitable option for such dogs. This plastic crate is airline-approved in the USA and provides a secure and comfortable space for your Golden Retriever during air travel. It features ventilation on all sides and a durable, heavy-duty construction. Withstood mile flight. Arrived on time. Easy to set up. Met all airline guidelines for flying pets. The dog had ample room for a mat. Adding that this is also rust resistant! Spacious and roomy: The crate offered plenty of space for dogs to stand up and move around comfortably. Cons: Durability concerns: Considering the price paid for these crates, it was mentioned by previous buyers that they were not as sturdy as expected. This raised doubts about their long-term durability. Potential safety issues: The crate had plastic edges and lips that protruded, which proved problematic for dogs with severe separation anxiety. If you have a strong and powerful Golden Retriever, this steel crate is an excellent choice. It has reinforced steel tubing and multiple locks for maximum security. I used to worry while I was out, and would come home to a 45 min cleanup, not anymore! Thanks for the great product that is, as advertised. It effectively prevents the dog from escaping and causing damage to the surroundings, giving peace of mind when leaving my dog alone. Durability and strength: The crate is built to be indestructible, and it lives up to its claim. The sturdy construction and quality materials used make it resistant to escape attempts and capable of withstanding the efforts of even the most determined dogs. Cons: Inconvenient assembly and weight: The crate can be challenging to assemble due to the use of hex screws, which may not be the most user-friendly option. Additionally, it is quite heavy, making it less portable and difficult to move around. Grated bottom design: The grated floor of the crate, although intended for easy cleaning in case of accidents, may not be comfortable for dogs to lie on or move around. Some dogs may find it less appealing, and additional padding or a flat surface may be necessary to ensure their comfort. This soft crate is lightweight and portable, making it ideal for temporary use. It features three mesh doors for easy access and ventilation. I used it for a weekend dog show and plan on using it often. I may need to purchase another for my other pup! It provides ample room for your golden retriever puppy to stand up and stretch out, allowing for comfort and mobility. Lots of ventilation: The 4-door model offers excellent cross-ventilation options, making it suitable for hot weather conditions. Sturdiness and portability: The crate feels sturdy and durable, giving you confidence in its ability to contain my dog. Lightweight: Despite its strength, it is relatively lightweight, making it easy to transport and handle. The included storage bag with various handle options adds to its portability. Cons: Limited instructions and assembly complexity: The provided instructions were not comprehensive, and there was a lack of guidance on disassembling the crate. Assembly can be straightforward, but taking it down and folding it back may require some trial and error. It may not be suitable for dogs with such behaviors, and additional caution is necessary. Additionally, the larger windows and netting material can pose risks for puppies, as they may get caught or try to escape through them. This aesthetic crate combines the functionality of a wire crate with a stylish cover. It blends well with home decor and provides a cozy den-like environment for your Golden Retriever. No more stuck paws. After my puppy got her paw stuck twice in the kennel bars and woke me up screaming, I knew I needed to find a way to make her kennel safer. This is a great solution. Not only does it keep her from accidently getting caught in the bars, it looks great and is high quality and well made. My huge kennel looks so much nicer in my room now and the crate pad is pretty nice. I love the option for side or front entry too as my kennel has both. The fabric is described as plush and the bumper and pad offer protection from the wires of the crate, making it more den-like and cozy. The set created a more appealing and inviting space for the dog. Cons: Inadequate size and ties: There were issues with the sizing and ties of the bumper set. The side panels were reported to be slightly short for the cage, which could affect the overall fit and coverage. Additionally, the ties on the bumper set were not sturdy enough and ripped easily, particularly during playful interactions inside the crate. Misleading washing instructions: While the packaging stated that the set was completely machine washable, the bumper was later found to be spot clean only, resulting in twisting and seams starting to rip after washing. One user felt that the packaging and description were misleading, and that clearer instructions should have been provided. Advantages of Choosing the Right Crate Size Comfort A properly sized crate ensures your Golden Retriever has enough space to lie down, stand, turn around, and stretch comfortably. Safety The right crate size prevents your Golden Retriever from getting stuck or injured while inside. It reduces the risk of accidents or escape attempts. Effective House Training A correctly sized crate aids in house training by discouraging your Golden Retriever from soiling their sleeping area. It helps establish a routine and promotes bladder control. If the crate you choose is too small, your dog will be uncomfortable. And if the crate you choose is too big, they may feel comfortable pottying inside of it. Downsides of Choosing the Wrong Crate Size Beware of some of the most common issues when picking the wrong crate size. A crate that is too small can cause discomfort, stiffness, and limited mobility for your dog. Insufficient space in the crate may prevent your dog from stretching, changing positions, or engaging in natural behaviors. Finally, a cramped or confining crate can lead to anxiety and stress for your Golden Retriever , resulting in behavioral issues or reluctance to enter the crate. A crate offers several benefits for both you and your Golden Retriever. Crates provide a secure and private space where your Golden Retriever can retreat when they need rest or alone time. The crate helps build a routine and provides a designated area for your dog. Crating your Golden Retriever when unsupervised can prevent them from engaging in destructive behaviors, such as chewing furniture or household items. Finally, a crate will give your dog safety and prevent distractions while traveling in a car or an airplane. Benefits Of Crate Training Crate training can present many benefits, such as accelerating house training. The crate helps establish a routine and teach your Golden Retriever to hold their bladder and bowels until they are outside. For anxious dogs, crate training can provide the safety and secure space they need to rest and feel protected. Finally, crate training also reduces separation anxiety through a cozy environment. Of course, it is important to ensure the crate is well-ventilated and meets the necessary travel requirements and airline approvals. Ideally, you want to start crate training when your Golden Retriever is still a puppy. Puppies are more adaptable and open to learning. However, that being said, crate training can be successful at any age. Make it more comfortable by providing toys, blankets, and treats. Step 2: Once your pup is at ease, close the door and bring toys and treats inside. Keep an eye on them and let them out if they become distressed. Step 3: Increase the time your puppy spends in the crate with the door closed gradually, and step away from the crate while they are distracted. Step 4: Extend the time you are away from the crate. Remember, crate training requires patience , consistency, and positive reinforcement. Make it comfortable! Add a soft and washable bedding for your Golden Retriever to rest on inside the crate. Never rush the introduction phase. Always introduce the crate slowly, allowing your dog to explore and associate it with positive experience. They should always see the crate as a positive place to be. Clean the crate regularly. Opting for washable beddings makes it easy to maintain the crate. You should also wipe down any surface after use, especially for temporary or transportation crates. Remember to use safe and gentle cleaning products. Provide toys and chewable treats for your dog when they get in the crate. This will engage their mind and keep them entertained. Make sure you put the crate in a quiet, sheltered and well-ventilated spot inside your home. Poor placement of your crate may cause stress for your dog. Conclusion Choosing the right crate size for your Golden Retriever is crucial for their comfort, safety, and effective training. Measure your dog accurately and consider their age when selecting a crate. Bear in mind that crates can come in a variety of materials, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of each crate type. It may be worth having more than one crate if you suspect they will need to cover different purposes. Finally, crate training your Golden Retriever provides numerous benefits, both for your dog and for you. Generally, it is recommended not to exceed hours for adult dogs. Should I crate my Golden Retriever at night? Crate training your Golden Retriever at night can help with house training and provide a safe space for them. However, ensure the crate is appropriately sized, comfortable, and placed in a quiet area. Is it better for dogs to sleep in crate or bed? Some dogs feel more secure and comfortable in a crate, while others may prefer sleeping in a bed. What age can dogs stop sleeping in crate? The age at which dogs can stop sleeping in a crate varies. Some dogs may be ready to sleep outside the crate as early as months as they are fully house trained too. Others may benefit from longer crate usage as their house training progresses. Most pet carriers are designed with safety features that protect your dog from injury during travel, such as secure latches and ventilation. Additionally, many airlines require pets to be transported in an approved carrier that meets certain size and weight restrictions. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian or animal transportation specialist for advice on safe and comfortable ways to transport your dog. Galen has been connecting quality Golden Retriever breeders with loving families since and is the founder of My Golden Retriever Puppies. He and his wife have four children and love spending time together, traveling lived oversees for 4 years , enjoying the outdoors and connecting Golden families. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Too large or too small and it will not be fit for purpose. You have to get this just right. This article will discuss all these factors so that by the end you will be highly informed and confident in making the correct buying decision. A crate should be just big enough for your dog to stand up without hitting their head, to turn around comfortably, and provide room to lay on their side with their paws stretched out before them. This is an unnecessary waste of money. Many brands of dog crates have dividers available that can be used to reduce the available space of a larger crate to suit a puppy. The divider is a removable panel you can place inside the crate to reduce the space to suit the size of your dog. So my advice is to buy a crate large enough to suit an adult Golden retriever, then use a divider to scale it down to a size that suits a puppy. This will save you money in the long run. However, the best way to know what size crate your Golden Retriever needs is to measure their size and buy the crate that best fits. Add 4 inches and this is the height of the crate you want to purchase so your Golden can comfortably sit or stand inside without hitting their head on the ceiling. Secondly, have your dog stand on all fours and referring to the picture, take measurement B, from the base of their tail to the tip of their nose. Again, add 4 inches and this is the perfect length of the crate for your Golden to be able to lay down comfortably without being cramped. So to summarise, your Golden needs a crate of height A plus 4 inches, and of length B plus 4 inches. So now you will be able to get exactly the right size crate for your adult Golden Retriever. But how about buying a crate for a puppy? As previously discussed, I recommend you purchase a crate for an adult Golden and use a divider to make it suit your puppy, thereby doing away with the need to upgrade to increasingly bigger crates 3 or 4 times during their first 18 months. But if you do wish to have crates just right for your puppy without the use of a divider, please take measurements as detailed in the previous section to guide you in your buying decision. And be prepared to upgrade and replace every 4 or so months as they grow. The sheer number of different styles of dog crates on the market is quite startling. There are crates made of wire, plastic, wood, cloth, and many more besides. As explained on www. There is still some variety of styles available within this one type: Some have a single door, some have two or three. Most have a removable plastic tray at the base…but not all. But with these choices aside, what are the pros and cons of a wire crate: The Advantages Of A Wire Dog Crate Very strong, durable and long-lasting Very easy to keep clean Most have a slide out tray as a base that makes cleaning after accidents very easy make sure to look for this feature when buying! Folding ones are available for easy storage or moving the crate They allow the maximum flow of air compared to other styles, making them most suitable to hotter climates. They allow maximum visibility of the surroundings to the dog inside. This can be important for some dogs. Dividers are readily available for most models so you can buy a large one and re-size it for a puppy instead of replacing it as they grow. Though you can of course cover them if necessary. They are one of the easiest types to escape from if your dog is a budding Houdini! They are noisy if placed on solid surfaces and you have a fidgety dog. The crate comes with a lightweight design. For better ventilation, it has three mesh doors. Three mesh doors will ensure smooth airflow and sunlight. On the top, it has an adjustable padded shoulder strap which would make it easy to carry. With some simple steps, you can fold down this soft crate and make it easy to store. Petmate Navigator Pet Carrier This can be a good choice when looking for a sturdy wire dog crate for the Golden Retriever. This sturdy iron crate is built to last longer. As compared to a soft crate, the Petmate ProValu wire dog crate has a longer lifespan. It can be folded down for easy storage and mobility. By folding it down, you would be able to carry it without hassle. Talking about security, the company has used a five-point precision lock system. With this locking system, your canine would be safe inside. It also has a removable plastic pan. It would prevent floors from getting dirty. Thus, the locking system needs improvement. The crate is built with high-quality, sturdy materials to ensure a longer lifespan. Assembling this crate would be easy. Inside the package, you will get all the required items for assembly. To ensure the safety of your pup, the kennel comes with a strong and secure lock. Though the crate is expensive, it is strong and durable enough to last long. The bag is built in such a manner to make traveling with your pet easy. The attached shoulder strap and top handles make it easy to carry. This pet carrier is designed especially for those who want to travel by plane with their pets. For breathability and outer view for your pet, it has mesh panels on all four sides. On the side, it has a zippered pocket. There you can put essential items of your pup. The Medium size of Sherpa Delta Travel Crate has a weight capacity of up to 16 lbs, making it ideal for small puppies. Among so many travel crates out there, finding the right one can be a bit difficult. Will you travel by car or plane? One of the crucial aspects to consider before buying a crate for traveling is whether you will travel by car or plane. If by car, make sure it is car-safe and has all the essential features for a hassle-free journey. And if by plane, make sure the travel crate is airline approved. Size To provide a comfortable experience to your pup, make sure to select the right crate size. The right crate size varies from one dog breed to another. If you own a female Golden Retriever, 36 inches can be the ideal crate size. Metal Vs. A metal crate would be strong and long-lasting, but its higher weight would make mobility a bit difficult. On the flip side, a soft crate would be lightweight and easy to carry, but it can get damaged easily. Your focus should be on getting a crate that is lightweight and durable as well. Safety features Make sure the crate is durable and has a sturdy lock mechanism. A metal crate will have bolt latches, while a soft crate will have a zippered lock. With a poor lock mechanism, the pup would be able to escape easily. Foldable Foldability is the crucial aspect you should look for in a travel crate. You need to get a crate that is easy to fold down and set up. A foldable crate is easy to store and move. The Golden Retriever travel crates I have mentioned above are foldable. What crate size should I buy for my Golden Retriever? What crate size should I buy for my Golden Retriever puppy? After using the puppy crate for some time, you will have to buy a new crate once your pup grows. To prevent this, I recommend you to get one with dividers. This way, you would be able to make the crate smaller. If you want to buy a separate crate for your Golden puppy, consider a soft, lightweight, and easy-to-carry dog crate. Here I have already mentioned travel pet carriers for Golden Retriever puppies. Can you fly with a Golden Retriever? The answer is Yes. Some airlines require pets to be a minimum of 8 weeks old before traveling by air. It is advisable to know about crate requirements, age criteria, etc. Are Golden Retrievers good for traveling? Whether you are planning to travel by plane or car, a Golden Retriever would be adaptable. However, the main issue is higher physical needs. Before going on a trip with your Goldie, note that this energetic dog breed requires regular physical activities. The best way to avoid destructive behavior is by providing a lot of exercise just before leaving for the trip. Final Thoughts The Golden Retriever is a fun-loving and adaptable dog breed. Your golden dog will enjoy traveling with you. You will have to prepare for yourself as well as for your canine. Be well-prepared before leaving for the journey. I hope this guide helped you find the right crate for your canine. Spread the love Brandon Dickinson I love playing and spending time with pups. Search About Us.
The first thing you need to do before buying, is to find a responsible Poodle breeder. They are the ones who take care of their puppies, they regularly check on them, take care of their well-being, and do all the necessary health tests. When negotiating a purchase with a breeder, always ask them to show you the health findings of the parent of the puppy you intend to bring into your home. This way, you will learn everything you need to know about possible hereditary diseases in your dog. It is also a good idea to contact several different breeders before you definitely decide to buy. A reliable breeder will be happy to answer all your questions. It is a good sign if the breeder also has questions for you, such as questions about your lifestyle, work, family, the amount of time you spend outside the home, and similar. In this way, you can conclude that the breeder takes care that his puppies end up in good homes. These breeders ask all potential Poodle owners to come and visit their kennel, where they can meet all their puppies and choose their favorite. Cantope breeders offer Poodles in all standard colors, as well as Parti Poodles and multi-colored Poodles. When their Poodle puppies are born, they interact only with their mothers. Diana and Peter believe this is the best way a mother dog can nourish her puppies. At 8 weeks of age, Diana and Peter start crate-training their dogs. Breeder Info. Bringing a Poodle into your home is a rewarding experience for the whole family. As a Poodle expert, I get asked all the time about reputable breeders in certain areas. Based on the millions of visitors and by surveying our subscribers we found five reputable Poodle breeders in Ontario that are ethical, quality, and not extortionate. PuppySpot is a reputable dog marketplace where you can browse and find compatible puppies right from the comfort of your home. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! If you want further information about their dogs, get in touch with them directly. Be sure to ask plenty of questions! Jessica and Jeremy Edgar and their two children raise the dogs in their home. They are fortunate to have a farm and acres to explore. This breeder ensures that the puppies are well-socialized before going to their new home. They have regular contact with adults, children, other dogs, and a cat in the house. An outdoor play area is provided for the puppies; they also have regular routines for bathing and brushing. A gray merle Poodle is incredibly rare. They require a thorough application to ensure the prospective owner is a good fit for the puppies. Potential owners must describe their previous experience with dogs and knowledge of Poodles. They will be asked to explain their housing and yard situation, their family make-up, and their lifestyle. All Poodles are vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped before going home with their new owner. They have had a complete exam by a veterinarian as well. Jessica provides support to owners long after they bring their puppy home. People who have received a Poodle from this breeder say that the dogs are intelligent, good with children, and easy to train. Contact Details:. Here are some tips to help you to find the right Poodle breeder in Ontario. When looking for a breeder, it is important to find someone who is reputable and responsible. The breeder should be willing to answer any questions you have about the breed or the puppies. They should also be willing to provide you with references from other people who have purchased dogs from them. The breeder should also be able to provide you with proof that the puppies have been health tested and are free of genetic defects. The dogs should also be well socialized and raised in a healthy environment. The puppies should be well-cared for and healthy. When you visit, be sure to ask to see the parents of the puppies. The parents should be healthy and free of genetic diseases. They should also be well-socialized. If you are not able to visit the breeder in person, be sure to ask for pictures of the puppies and their parents. More Information About Poodle Puppies in Ontario When it comes to popular dogs in the state of Ontario that comes in both small and medium sizes, Poodles are at the top of the list. These pooches come in three different sizes which include, Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Their coats are one of their most defining features. They can range from long and shaggy to extra fluffy. You can choose from longer to shorter-haired Poodles, and you also have a handful of coat color options to pick from — including traditional black and tan, Red and silver. Plus the best part about Poodles is that they neither shed hair nor dander which makes them a good option for families with allergies. This devoted breed is sweet and versatile, making it easy to care for. If you know any great Poodle Breeders who lives in Ontario, please let us know in the comments below. So we can add it to our list. What is the Breeder Name? Where are they located in Ontario? It really helps others who are looking for Poodle puppies in Ontario. And we believe there are many but we thoroughly review and close check the breeder before adding it to our list. If your friend and relative looking for a Poodle Puppies in Ontario, you can share this post with them. If you are looking for the best Poodle Breeders in Ontario, So you can consider any of these breeders. Ready to Adopt Puppyspot Poodle Adoption 5. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! Each puppy has up-to-date vaccinations, a written health check guarantee, and complete vet checks. Happy red Poodle puppies All puppies go to their new homes with dew claws removed and tails docked. They will have a complete vet check, up-to-date vaccinations, microchipping, and deworming. The new puppy kit includes: A collar and leash A blanket with scents of mom and litter mates A sample of food You can reach Arreau Red Standard Poodles by calling , emailing [email protected] , or completing their online request form. Bijou Standard Poodles For anyone in the Niagra Falls area, Bijou Standard Poodles is a reputable breeder of this favorite dog and provide brown and red puppies. They do not treat their breeding sires and dams as a business but as part of their family, providing the utmost care and support for their dogs and each litter. A miniature chocolate Poodle puppy eating his dinner. They register with the OFA Orthopedic Foundation of Animals and have complete genetic testing done for all their animals to ensure the best health possible. Puppies from Bijou Standard Poodles come with a thorough health check, microchipping, deworming, tails docked and dew claws removed. They will receive the appropriate vaccinations, deworming, and have CKC registration, along with a leash and collar and full-time breeders support. You can reach Bijou Standard Poodles by emailing [email protected]. They breed dogs from Mexico, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States to increase the genetic lines and preserve the optimal traits of the breed to avoid interbreeding. When do Poodles shed their puppy coat? At what age? Whether you want a show dog or just a terrific four-legged friend, the miniature Poodles from Denali are a great choice. They have excellent temperaments, possess exceptional beauty, and carry the traits Poodles are known for, including intelligence, grace, and companionship. You can reach them by calling or by submitting an online contact request through the CKC website. They offer top-quality miniature and toy Poodles that will be exceptional show dogs or family companions in your home. The colors they breed for litters include: Black. Come with first vaccinations and deworming. This super sweet girl is hypoallergenic and non-shedding. She will be approximately .Carefully chosen and paired together to create the most spectacular, unique.There are 5 males and 2 females. The 2 females are full black. Pups will be ready to go to their.Peterborough Beautiful F1b Goldendoodle puppies - in need of good homes now! Mom is Goldendoodle and Dad is purebred standard poodle. Pups expected to be between lbs full.I pride myself in.Stratford Playful and cute purebred standard poodle puppies ready for their new homes on September .These pups will be pounds full grown Both parents are healthy purebred standard poodles. The puppies.Visit Website Below to Order Now! D had a wonderful litter of 4 male standard poodles. They are available now. Two pups are a cream and white colour and the other two are apricot and white. They will mature to be about.They are absolutely gorgeous!! These will mature to be about 50 to 65 lbs. The pups range from light cream and white to red and white. One of the pups was born with no.They will mature to be between 50 to 65 pounds. Mom is a beautiful cream coloured poodle weighing at 50 lbs. Dad is a gorgeous white and red poodle.Parents poodles with a great temperament and were easily trained. Mom and Dad are both pure Standard Poodles. Bernadoodle Puppies Norfolk County Are you looking for an animal friend that is hypoallergenic n sheds hair minimally? These cute puppies are smart and so lovable. Gorrie One sweet, 7-week-old female puppy ready for a new home next week! Has had vaccinations, vet check and deworming. Mother is on site and very good.Named Zoey. She's considered on the standard side, but won't be as big. She is well trained, listens very well. Potty trained to go outdoors. Ready to go home now!!! Our girl Charlie had the most stunning litter of 7 high quality parti standard poodle puppies on July 7! Mom Charlie and Dad River are both.Born on Aug .Mom is golden retriever. Dad is standard poodle. Shot and deworming will be done. It will come with chip, vaccine paper and a towel. I will offer free.They will come vet checked, first set of vaccination with a record and dewormed. Puppies are socialized.Catharines Beautiful small standard poodle, 3 years old, spayed and up to date with shots. She is energetic and loves to play but usually just lays around the house. Knows lots of commands sit, lay down, stay, Only used a couple times to transport standard poodle. Woodstock I have a beautiful golden doodle puppy available for reservation! She is 7. Mom is a family pet and purebred golden retriever, dad is a purebred Standard poodle There is.Cross between a Bernese Mountain dog, and a Standard Poodle. Innisfil This will be moms last litter!! Our Goldendoodles are a perfect fit for any family. Do not be.I got 30 years experience in Dog.Mom is a standard golden doodle and dad is a standard poodle. Full grown i expect her to be 55lbs approx. Buttercup is fully pea pad trained and has some basic.Both parents are standard around 60lbs. Standard poodles are energetic, highly intelligent dogs who thrive with activity, learning, and time with their.They come with vet
brindle puppy french bulldog - Repeat attempts to keep your pet confined to the yard may be frustrating, but every escape opens up the possibility of tragic consequences. If your dog is running loose, they are in danger of being hit by a car, injured in a fight with another dog, or hurt in any number of other ways. You're also liable for any damage or injury your dog may cause, and you may be required to pay a fine if they are picked up by an animal control agency. To prevent escapes, you'll need to find out how your dog is getting out of the yard, and more importantly, why they are so determined to get out. Why dogs escape Your dog may be escaping because they are bored and lonely, especially if: They are left alone for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with you. Their environment is relatively barren, without playmates or toys. They are a puppy or adolescent under three years old and don't have other outlets for their energy. They are a particularly active type of dog like the herding or sporting breeds and need an active "job" in order to be happy. They visit places after each escape that provide them with interaction and fun things to do. For example, they may go play with a neighbor's dog or visit the local school yard to play with the children. Recommendations: Expand your dog's world and increasing their "people time" in the following ways: Walk your dog daily. It's good exercise, both mentally and physically for both of you! Teach your dog a few commands or tricks. Try to hold a lesson every day for five to 10 minutes. Take an obedience class with your dog and practice what you've learned every day. Rotate your dog's toys to make them seem new and interesting. Keep your dog inside when you're unable to supervise them. This will also keep them safe and prevent any possibility of their being stolen from your yard. If you must be away from home for extended periods of time, take your dog to work with you or to a "doggie day care center," or ask a friend or neighbor to walk your dog. Busy Toys on Amazon. Intact male dogs have a strong drive to seek out females, and it can be difficult to prevent an intact dog from escaping when their motivation to do so is very high. Recommendations: Have your male dog neutered. If intact males have established a pattern of escaping, they may continue to do so even after they are neutered; this is even more reason to have males neutered as soon as possible. Have your female dog spayed. If intact female dogs escape while they are in heat, they have a high likelihood of getting pregnant and they could be impregnated even if they stay confined in your yard. Don't accidentally contribute to the pet overpopulation problem by allowing your female dog to breed indiscriminately. Millions of unwanted pets are euthanized every year. Fears and phobias Your dog may be escaping out of fear, especially if they are exposed to loud noises, such as thunderstorms, firecrackers or construction sounds. Recommendations: Identify what is frightening your dog and desensitize them to it. You may need to seek out the help of a professional trainer, or talk to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications that might help your dog while you work on behavior modification. Keep your dog indoors if there's any chance they may encounter the fear stimulus outside. You can even mute thunder and other outside noises by creating a comfortable spot in a basement or windowless bathroom and turning on a television, radio or loud fan. Provide a "safe place" for your dog. Observe where they like to go when they feel anxious, then allow access to that space, or create a similar space for them to use when the fear stimulus is present. Separation anxiety Your dog may be trying to escape due to separation anxiety if: They escape as soon as, or shortly after, you leave. They display other behaviors that reflect a strong attachment to you, such as following you around, greeting you wildly, or reacting anxiously to your preparations to leave. They remain near your home after they have escaped. Factors that can precipitate a separation anxiety problem: Your family's schedule has changed, and that has resulted in your dog being left alone more often. Your family has recently moved to a new house. Your family has experienced the death or loss of a family member or another pet. Your dog has recently spent time at an animal shelter or boarding kennel. Recommendations: If your dog has been correctly diagnosed as suffering from separation anxiety, you can solve the problem using counter-conditioning and desensitization techniques. Learn About Separation Anxiety Top 10 pet tips Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about caring for your pet, including training techniques and answers to frequently asked questions. Get Your Copy How dogs escape Some dogs jump fences, but most actually climb them, using some part of the fence to push off from. A dog may also dig under the fence, chew through the fence, learn to open a gate or use any combination of these methods to get out of the yard. Knowing how your dog gets out will help you to modify your yard. But until you know why your dog wants to escape, and you can decrease their motivation for doing so, the recommendations below won't be nearly as effective. It's not so important that the extension make the fence much higher, as long as it tilts inward at about a degree angle. Be certain there are no structures placed near the fence, such as a table or chair or dog house, that your dog could use as a springboard to jump over the fence. For digging dogs: Bury chicken wire at the base of your fence with the sharp edges rolled inward , place large rocks at the base or lay chain-link fencing on the ground. Never chain or otherwise tether your dog to a stationary object as a means of keeping them confined. Tethering is not only cruel, but it leads to aggressive behavior in dogs. Training Basics Never correct your dog after they are already left the yard. Dogs associate punishment with what they're doing at the time they're punished. Punishing your dog after the fact won't eliminate the escaping behavior, but will probably make them afraid to come to you. Never correct your dog if the escaping is related to fear or is due to separation anxiety. Punishing a fearful response will only make your dog more afraid, and make the problem worse. In addition, avoid inadvertently reinforcing a fearful behavior—such as petting a frightened dog and saying, "It's okay. If you can squirt them with a hose or make a loud noise as they are going over, under or through the fence, it might be unpleasant enough that they won't want to do it again. If they realize that you made the noise or squirted the water, however, he'll simply refrain from escaping when you're around. This type of correction is difficult to administer effectively, and won't resolve the problem if used by itself. You must also give your dog less reason to escape and make it more difficult for them to do so. Ultimately, that is how you'll put a permanent stop to the "hairy Houdini" act. Also of interest:. However, you may have noticed that dogs have preferences for certain toys. Toys that have begun to rip or break need to be taken away from pets because they can become a choking hazard. The Toy Gives Them Comfort Similar to kids and their stuffed toys, some dogs like toys that feel comfortable to touch and are plush enough to snuggle with. To help your pup better cope with your leaving, make sure to give them plenty of exercise every day. The activity will keep them happy and tire them out, so they feel less stressed. Typically, this happens because your pup is teething, so chew toys are particularly appealing to them. Soft plastic and rubber toys that easily show teeth marks can also pose a health risk to your dog as the material can fray and be accidentally ingested. Do they seem particularly excited when asked to chase a ball or fetch a toy? If your pup seems to love running after whatever you throw, they may have strong hunting instincts. This trait can be found in all kinds of dogs, but may be particularly common among hunting dog breeds. For example, terriers and shepherds love retrieval games involving frisbees and tennis balls due to their having an ancestry of hunting and herding dogs. On the other hand, English and French bulldogs are usually more than happy to engage in a good game of tug of war. In both instances, getting a durable frisbee toss toy is a great idea. For example, your dog may remember getting rewarded or receiving a lot of attention when they first played with the toy. For example, you can make loud noises to distract your dog whenever they see the item. Then, introduce them to an appropriate pet toy. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases — at no cost to you. This could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours, depending on age. Check out this article on how to crate train your puppy for guidelines on how long your puppy should be in their crate. Puppies need regular potty breaks and can't handle being crated for a long time. This is where setting up a long-term containment area or puppy playpen comes in. Think of this area as the designated "puppy zone. This kind of confinement helps to potty train your puppy , prevents destructive chewing, keeps them safe from household hazards, and helps them learn that being alone is nothing to worry about. Notice how I put potty pads over the entire floor surface? I only did this because I was not using pee pads in his house training plan at all — so they are only there to protect my floors in case of a potty accident. It was easy to clean up because I could just toss the soiled pad and replace it by taping down a new one. My goal was for Fozzie Bear to not go potty on anything indoors, so this did not affect his house training; it was just a convenience for me. In fact, during his potty training, he only had one accident in his playpen because I missed the signs he needed to go outside. If you do not plan on using potty pads long-term, this might be the right setup choice for you and your puppy. However, if your puppy will be in their pen for long periods without a potty break, loves to chew on or shred potty pads, or you're unable to keep an eye on them while they're in their pen, I would recommend sticking with an appropriate and clearly defined potty spot within their playpen. If you use an exercise pen, make sure it's either securely attached to your dog's crate here's a crate and ex-pen system that is designed perfectly for this purpose or set up securely against a wall and other anchor points so your puppy can't knock it over and escape. Watch this video to see a great example of using ex-pens attached to a crate to create a puppy zone: Using a Portable Pop-Up Puppy Playpen If space allows, having two puppy playpens is ideal. The first is a more permanent location, attached to your puppy's crate. The second can be a portable playpen, allowing you to easily move it around with you during the day or even use it outdoors while working on socialization before your puppy has been fully vaccinated. I use and recommend "pop-up" pens, like this Jespet pen. It has a removable mesh cover to prevent bouncy puppies from leaping over and out, and is lightweight but sturdy. I do not recommend leaving a puppy completely unsupervised in a portable playpen, as if they are determined enough, they could chew through the mesh paneling. Here's a photo of my dog Fozzie as a puppy, sleeping after his midday snack in his pop-up playpen: This second portable pen does not need to be as fully "stocked" as the regular playpen, just make sure to have water, a blanket or dog bed where your puppy can comfortably rest and a few puppy-safe toys or food puzzles. You may consider potty pads in the pop-up playpen, but only do this if you are regularly using pads in your puppy's housetraining. Video Monitoring for Your Puppy's Pen Setting up a pet camera makes it easy to always keep an eye on your puppy, whether from another room or while you're away from home. Having a treat-dispensing option is fun too, and makes it easy to reward your puppy for good behavior while you're gone. One of the most popular pet cameras is the Furbo — it has a treat dispenser and two-way audio. Make sure the crate has appropriate chew-proof bedding. If you have a power chewer puppy who is most likely to rip up their bed and the tape , a bed like this indestructible raised cot is a great chew-proof option. I highly recommend crate training your puppy, but if you choose to not use a crate, provide a comfortable sleeping area in one corner of their puppy zone. Pro Tip: Putting your puppy's crate inside the long-term confinement area has multiple benefits. It's not only the place they can go to sleep, but it builds positive associations with the crate. Having easy access into their crate and their comfy bed reinforces that it's a great place to be by choice, and that the door isn't always closed on them. Designated Potty Area: This area should be as far away from the crate and sleeping area as possible. Tape down puppy pee pads or use an indoor turf potty spot. Creating a potty spot with raised edges — like this dog litter box option — helps prevent toys from being pushed into the potty zone. You'll want to make sure that this area is set up in a place where your flooring is more durable or not as "precious" to you, like a laundry room or tiled kitchen floor. This could include interactive treat toys to help them pass their time and stimulate the brain. You can tether Kongs to the edge of the puppy zone to prevent them from rolling into the potty area. Simply thread a rope through the Kong and tie a knot on one side, pulling it tight inside the Kong before stuffing and tethering. If your dog loves to chew and you think they'll chew through the rope tether, try a different style of work-to-eat toy for your pup's safety. Check out some of our favorite interactive feeders to try with your puppy. You want them to love being in their puppy zone; your puppy will learn that their zone is where all the good stuff happens! Follow the steps below to slowly introduce your dog to their puppy playpen: Take your puppy out for a potty break or walk. Put your puppy in their playpen and give them a stuffed Kong or another high-value chew toy. Leave your puppy alone with their yummy treat for a few minutes. The more fuss you make about leaving, the more likely your puppy may develop problems with being away from you and that's no fun for anybody! This step is done while you stay home or leave for a very short period. See step 5 for more detail. Let your puppy out of their zone, preferably before they finish de-stuffing their kong. Keep your return low-key — you want your dog to learn that humans coming and going is no big deal. Repeat steps 1—4, gradually increasing the length of time your puppy is alone in their area. Practice this a few times throughout the day, every day. You can start leaving the house for a few minutes at a time as your puppy practices being alone. Go check the mail or take the trash out. Start small and gradually build up to running short errands or, if you have children, picking them up from school while your puppy hangs out in their zone. If your puppy struggles with being in their playpen or crate, sign up for our Puppy Essentials Crate Training Workshop. Be careful not to give them any attention, go back to them, or let them out when they do this. Plug in a calming pheromone diffuser in the same room as the puppy zone but not somewhere where your pup can reach or chew on it to encourage relaxation and calm behavior. Adaptil Diffuser Available at: Make sure that their zone has enticing chew and work-to-eat toys available so your puppy has something fun to do while alone. This can help prevent boredom barking and provides great mental enrichment. Give your puppy some exercise before putting them in their designated area. Tug is a great way to introduce the Drop It cue to your puppy — watch Finnegan the Portuguese Water Dog puppy demonstrate in this video: As your puppy matures, you can start to make the area larger to help transition to leaving them alone in the home unsupervised when they are an adult. When to Leave Your Puppy in Their Pen Use the puppy pen whenever you need to leave your pup unsupervised longer than they can be crated. Putting your puppy in their playpen is a great idea if you work from home, as it gives them a safe area to relax or play while you get some work done. This is especially important for preventing separation anxiety if you work primarily from home. Your puppy also needs to learn how to entertain themselves without constant interaction from you, so using their playpen even while you're home is a perfect opportunity. Sometimes puppies just need a break, especially if there's a lot of activity going on in your home. If they are getting too nippy or barking at playing children, give them a chance to settle a bit in their pen. We all need a break sometimes, and our puppies are no different. Eventually, their pen can become a more "adult-dog" safe space. You can also have them in their pen while you have guests coming and going from your home, or while you eat meals. This will prevent any door dashing , counter surfing , or other unwanted behaviors from developing. Once the door is closed or everyone is done eating, bring your puppy out to say hi to everyone and work on socialization. We'd love to hear how your Puppy Zone is working out in your home! Let us know in the comments what's worked best for your home set-up. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization. She has also completed the Aggression in Dogs Master Course. When she's not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding. Toys can even help prevent your dog from developing certain problem behaviors. Although cats can be pretty picky about toys, dogs are often more than willing to play with any object they can get their paws on. That means you'll need to be particularly careful when monitoring your dog's playtime to prevent any "unscheduled" activities. Ensure safety Many factors contribute to the safety or danger of a toy, and a number of them depend upon your dog's size, activity level and preferences. Another thing to consider is the environment where your dog spends their time. Although we can't guarantee the safety of any specific toy, we can offer the following guidelines. The things that are usually most attractive to dogs are often the very things that are the most dangerous. Dog-proof your home by removing string, ribbon, rubber bands, children's toys, pantyhose and other inedible items that could be swallowed. Be sure to buy toys of appropriate size for your dog. Toys that are too small can easily be swallowed or become lodged in your dog's throat. Supervise your dog's play with squeaky toys: your dog may feel that they must find and destroy the source of the squeaking, which means they could ingest it if left unwatched. Avoid or alter any toys that aren't "dog-proof" by removing ribbons, strings, eyes or other parts that could be chewed off and ingested. Discard toys when they start to break into pieces or are torn. Check labels on stuffed toys to see that they are labeled as safe for children under three years of age and that they don't contain any dangerous fillings. Problem fillings include nutshells and polystyrene beads, but even "safe" stuffings aren't truly digestible. Remember that soft toys are not indestructible, but some are sturdier than others. Soft toys should be machine washable. A note about rawhide If you're thinking about giving your dog rawhide chew toys, be sure to check with your veterinarian about which ones are safe and appropriate for your dog. These toys may pose choking hazards, so give them to your dog only when you can supervise them. Many rawhides are byproducts of the cruel international fur trade. For a humane alternative, consider toys made of very hard rubber, which are safer and last longer. For dogs that like tug-of-war and chewing on interesting textures, rope and woven toys are usually available in a "bone" shape with knotted ends. Discard any tennis balls that have been chewed through, as they can pose a choking hazard to your pet. If your veterinarian says your dog can eat peanut butter, make sure it is not sweetened with xylitol—which is toxic to dogs —and add some to the crushed-up treats for a tastier, and busier, snack! By moving the cube around with their nose, mouth and paws, your dog can get to the goodies. Many dogs who tend to eat their food too quickly benefit from being fed through a feeder-style toy. Comfort toys Soft stuffed toys are good for several purposes, but they aren't appropriate for all dogs. Here are a few tips for choosing the right stuffed toy: Some dogs like to carry around soft toys. If your dog sees their toy as a companion, pick one that's small enough to carry. Dirty laundry, such as an old t-shirt, pillowcase, towel or blanket, can be very comforting to a dog, especially if the item smells like you! Be forewarned that the item could be destroyed by industrious fluffing, carrying and nosing. Toys for teething puppies From 12 weeks to six months, as they lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth erupt through their gums, puppies get the urge to chew on everything. Supplying teething toys will make them more comfortable and save your hands, shoes and furniture. Durable nylon bones and rubber toys can take weeks of chewing without breaking into pieces that might be swallowed. You can buy specialized puppy teething toys designed to be frozen and imprinted with soothing textures. Toys for blind dogs Blind dogs still have their senses of smell, taste, hearing and touch. A study found that vision and smell are linked in dogs and together help them navigate through the world. Even without added scent, blind dogs will likely be able to smell and find individual toys, but stores offer toys with food odors and toys that make noises. They may also like tug of war and can generally follow a toy dragged along the floor. Some blind dogs adapt so well with their other senses that they play much like sighted dogs. Top 10 pet tips Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of important information about caring for your pet, including training techniques and answers to frequently asked questions. Get Your Copy Making toys last Rotate your dog's toys weekly by making only a few toys available at a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible. If your dog has a favorite, like a soft comfort toy, you may want to leave it out all the time. Provide toys that serve a variety of purposes — give your dog at least one toy to carry, one to shake, one to roll and one for comfort. A game of finding toys or treats is a good rainy-day activity for your dog, using up energy without the need for a lot of space. Many of your dog's toys should be interactive. Interactive play is very important for your dog because they need active "people time," which enhances the bond between you and your pet. Try balls, flying disks and other toys that help foster the bond between person and pet. For young, high-energy and untrained dogs, interactive play also offers an opportunity for socialization and helps them learn about appropriate and inappropriate behavior, such as jumping up or being mouthy. Also of interest:. Toys that squeak, jingle, or make other noises can entertain your pup for hours. However, it is important to choose the safest type of toy for your pet. Certain toys, such as sharp objects, can be dangerous for a puppy. Some of the safest dog toys for a puppy are plush toys that can be filled with treats or small pieces of food. These types of toys will keep the pup entertained without putting them in danger. Many people believe the safest dog toys for a puppy are chew toys such as bones or hard rubber toys, but this can be dangerous for the puppy if the toy is too hard. Puppies are teething and need to chew on soft textures to help their development. Read on to learn more about the safest dog toys for a puppy. There are some general safety rules you should abide by, but the best way is to just ask your vet, who will be able to tell you all you need to know. When figuring out what toy is safe for your puppy, it can be hard to know where to start. There are many types of dog toys on the market, and it can be hard to know which ones are safe to play with. Medium sized toys more than three inches in diameter. Soft materials like natural rubber or fleece. If you have a new puppy, you must ensure that you have bought a toy that is appropriate for your dog. When looking for a toy for your new puppy, you should always go for the soft ones. Some toys are too hard for dogs to play with, and their teeth could get damaged. The best option is to look for soft toys made of natural rubber. There are many different dog toy sizes and shapes, but many of them have been proven dangerous for puppies. As a rule, dogs should not have toys larger than their mouths can open or toys too heavy for them to pick up. The safest size of dog toy for a puppy is a toy that is no bigger than the size of your palm. Additionally, you should not give a puppy any small toy to fit into its mouth because those can pose choking hazards. Chewing and Play Styles Over Size Sometimes it can be good to know how your puppy plays with their toys to find them the best one. Some smaller puppies can shred through their toys, while puppies of larger breeds might be more gentle with theirs. It is essential to consider these factors when selecting the right size and type of toy for your puppy. You may be wondering what dog toy is safe for puppies. You should know that many materials are safe for puppies, but some are more appropriate than others. Many materials are safe for your puppy, and some can be considerably more durable. These materials can last a long time, and they are less likely to break; for example: Natural Rubber. Toys made out of natural rubber are safe for your puppy. The natural rubber material is softer than regular rubber products, durable, and unlikely to break. This material is not recommended for larger puppies or power chewing pups but can be a safe material as a toy in the early stages. Another material that is safe for your puppy is a fleece. Fleece is a soft, synthetic, safe material for your puppy to chew on. It can also be machine-washed, and it is not toxic. The material is one of the most important things to consider when buying a toy for your new puppy. There are many dog toys, but the ones that are safe for your pup are those made of non-toxic materials. Some toys can contain toxic materials , and some dogs end up eating this material. Some common materials to avoid: Hard rubber. This material can be unsafe and harm the teeth of your puppy. Plastics also contain other chemicals that can be hazardous. This material can be ingested and may be harmful to your pup. Like other plastics, vinyl can be shredded and can become lodged in airways or other parts of the digestive system if ingested. Wood can shred and splinter with the potential to cause injury to the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, or digestive system. Final Thoughts Look for a toy that is made of a softer, durable material that is enticing to your puppy to keep them entertained as well as safe. Look for softer toys made of durable and safe materials like natural rubber, plush, or fleece, and make sure they are the appropriate size for your puppy. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment for your pet, call us at or make an appointment online! We look forward to hearing from you! Recent Posts. Toys offer mental and physical stimulation and enrichment. And devices for throwing the ball increase the distance the dog must run to get the toy. See note below on playing tug-of-war with your dog. Chew Toys: Hard rubber toys that are hollow with holes at both ends, such as Kongs, are good chew toys. To make these toys more attractive, they can be filled with kibble or treats. You can also encourage chewing by putting a small amount of peanut butter or cream cheese inside the toy. Dental chew toys are hard toys that the dog can gnaw on and safely ingest small particles. You should watch your dog to make sure he does not break off and ingest large pieces of these toys. Chew challenge toys are toys that make an edible chewy more challenging for the dog to consume. Puzzle Toys: Food puzzle toys require the dog to solve a puzzle in order to get treats. Toy puzzle toys require the dog to solve a puzzle to get to a toy. Comfort Toys: Soft stuffed toys are good for several purposes but are not appropriate for all dogs. For some dogs, the stuffed toy should be small enough to carry around. Dirty laundry, like an old T-shirt, pillowcase, towel or blanket, can be very comforting to a dog, especially if it smells like you! Be forewarned that the item could be destroyed by industrious fluffing, carrying and nosing. Keep a variety of types easily accessible. Making an interactive game out of finding toys or treats is a good rainy-day activity for your dog, using up energy without the need for a lot of space. For example, scattering a handful of kibble in the grass or on a patterned carpet will require your dog to use his nose to find the food. For young, high-energy and untrained dogs, interactive play also offers an opportunity for socialization and helps them learn about appropriate and inappropriate behavior, such as jumping up or being mouthy. However, by taking a few precautions and setting some basic rules it can be a fun game for you and your dog. Choose a toy that will be reserved exclusively for this particular activity. This will help prevent your dog from grabbing and tugging anything you have in your hand. Never allow the dog to initiate tug on his own and always use your starting phrase when you begin the game. Teach your dog to release the toy by offering a treat or better toy in exchange. Do not start playing tug with your dog until he is consistently releasing the toy on command. Safety There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy. Very hard rubber toys are safer and last longer. Your dog may feel that he must find and destroy the squeak source and could ingest it, in which case squeaking toys should be given only under supervision. For example, some dogs will carry a plush toy around for years. Still others will chew it apart and ingest the pieces, creating a safety hazard for that dog. Copyright Dumb Friends League. All rights reserved. Many behavior problems in dogs are the result of boredom or excess energy.
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brindle puppy french bulldog - An 8 week old German Shepherd puppy is a bundle of antics and endless energy! Your 8 Week Old German Shepherd Puppy An 8 week old your puppy requires a daily routine and training to help them become the dog of your dreams. This article will not only help you understand your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy but will also explain to you why your little puppy has certain behaviors. Raising a German Shepherd puppy can feel like an overwhelming task at first! Just remember, your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy is also adjusting to its new life with you. You should expect your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy to feel stressed and uncertain. They may seem timid and unsure of their surroundings. They might cry, whine, and not want your attention. Having structure and consistency will help create a bond and help you both in getting along more peacefully and calmly. Introducing A Puppy Crate Many dog owners choose to use a crate when it comes to caring for their 8-week-old puppy. While some people consider crates unnecessary, or even cruel, crate training is a useful skill to offer your dog. With the right training your pup will see its crate as their private safe space and will even go there to relax. Leaving your puppy at home unsupervised can get them and you into a heap of trouble. Crate training helps prevent your home from being a destruction zone. This useful guide to crate training a German Shepherd puppy gets you on the right track to success! Crate training your puppy can: help speed up housetraining teach your dog to settle calm down offer your dog privacy But you must introduce the crate slowly and positively so your puppy builds a strong connection to the benefits of the crate. Never just shove or push your young German Shepherd into the crate without using positive training. Your new dog also needs a routine and schedule to help them through the early days with you and set the expectations you have for them. Having a schedule helps your puppy to know what to expect in their daily routines. It keeps you from losing your mind and helps ease a worried puppy. While you might work from home or have other obligations, try to follow a schedule that looks similar to this: Early morning: Take your puppy out for the first potty break of the day! So, they may need to go outside even before the sun rises. Breakfast time: Your puppy may want to go back to sleep after going outside and this is perfectly normal. On the other hand, some puppies are wide awake and ready for their breakfast. Either way, always take your puppy back outside shortly after their breakfast so they can sniff and have another potty break. Mid-morning: Puppies should eat 3 — 4 small meals a day. Mid-morning is a good time for another small meal. Afternoon: This is a good time for their lunch followed by a potty break and plenty of sniffing time to work off some of their energy. Late afternoon: Puppies need another potty break in the afternoon, and some puppies need more breaks outside. Evening: Their dinner meal and their evening potty time. Remember to let them explore outdoors in a safe area to help build their confidence. Scheduling exercise, potty breaks, and play at the same times every day helps ensure that your puppy learns their daily routine more quickly and settles in nicely. And, even young puppies can learn basic training in their first weeks with you. Try training your German Shepherd puppy at home to start with. In the beginning, you may find a few accidents in the house. But, stick with your potty training and remember to always watch your puppy to keep them from having messes in the house. When you stick to a regular potty schedule, the likelihood of potty training mishaps decreases, and you and your puppy are less stressed. Always, always, always… Supervise your puppy indoors when you are potty training. Your toughest time together with your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy might be the first few nights. Your puppy has only known the comfort of his mother and siblings before. Having your puppy sleep away from you will only scare them more. And, although they are little, their cry is loud! Having a place for them near your bed is the best way to avoid a night full of tearful cries and howling. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep in bed with me? Plus, when your puppy is an adult and tries to sleep in bed with you there will be no room for you! A full-grown German Shepherd can weigh up to pounds and will push you right out of your own sheets. Your puppy sleeps most of the day. A new puppy sleeps more often than they are awake. An 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy may sleep as many as 18 hours a day! Sleeping this much allows your puppy to have the energy they need to grow and keeps them ready to explore their new world. Feeding An 8 Week Old German Shepherd Your puppy should stay on the same food they were eating before you brought them home to keep them less stressed. This helps keeps your 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy from having an upset stomach and becoming ill. Sometimes, you might want to switch them over to a different food. If you choose this route, do it slowly and in stages over a few weeks. At 8 weeks old, German Shepherd puppies should eat 3 to 4 small meals per day. Although their stomachs are small if you overfeed them they could get sick and have stomach problems. Spreading their meals out throughout the day in regular intervals is best to avoid any upsets. Look for a balanced, complete puppy food for large breed dogs. As a large breed dog, your German Shepherd you should only feed your puppy food that is specially formulated for large breed puppies. Large breed puppies have different nutritional needs that are not found in ordinary puppy food. Feeding a commercially available food that is formulated for large breed puppies helps them to grow at a sustained rate. Steady growth in a large breed puppy helps to avoid stress on their bones and gives them a strong skeletal foundation for their athletic muscles. Limiting food intake in growing German Shepherd puppies has also been associated with fewer signs of hip dysplasia. This is of extreme importance in this breed due to the high incidence of hip problems and the pain associated with this joint disorder. A growing puppy is best fed a proprietary pet food that has been specifically formulated to meet its nutritional needs. Foods that are available as dry kibble are especially suitable to rear even the youngest of puppies. Opt for this specially formulated food for large breed puppies to keep your dog growing at a healthy rate that helps them stay strong. It is a complete balanced diet so nothing is missing. Within the first few days of arriving to their new home with you is a stressful time. Your puppy has just made a drastic life change and left everything they knew to be with you. Diarrhea and other stomach issues are sometimes stress induced. You can help your puppy by keeping to a regular feeding schedule and feeding them the same food they were on before coming to you. Sometimes diarrhea is also a sign of an underlying health issue and, if left untreated, can become life-threatening. If your puppy vomits blood, has bloody stools and diarrhea, becomes lethargic, or refuses to drink, call your vet immediately! To an 8-week-old German Shepherd puppy biting and nipping are all part of playing with their siblings. And, your puppy will most likely bite and nip you at some point too. They may even growl at you and tug at your hands or nip your ankles. This is all part of puppy play. But… It can really hurt you or make you bleed! Understanding bite inhibition means they know how to control the power of their play bites and how hard or soft they nip you. Preventing Nips and Bites If you know the right way to prevent and stop German Shepherd puppy biting, you can train your puppy to understand how to keep their razor-sharp tiny teeth from sinking into you. Instead… Offer them plenty of puppy-safe chew toys appropriate for their size. When they bite or nip you, calmly show them the toy to chew instead. Get their attention by moving the toy in a playful way around them so they begin to chase and bite the toy, instead of you or your furniture. Use these links to help you stay on the right track throughout their life. This article covers everything you need to know as a german shepherd owner about GSD puppies and their sleep schedule. German Shepherd puppies sleep 15 — 20 hours a day. Yes, they sleep a lot. The bodies of GSD puppies go through a cycle of development in the first 12 months of being born, and hence the long nap time. Of course, understanding your puppies sleep schedule is crucial to taking good care of it. So that your puppy can grow healthy, and happy. In the beginning, the schedule is absolutely random. Once you have the schedule figured out, you can work around it to make things easier for yourself. When you first bring your puppy home, it might confuse you with the odd sleeping hours. Your pup might wake you up during the middle of the night, for bathroom breaks. A lot of german shepherd dog owners even get woken up 2 or 3 times. But, after a few weeks, your german shepherd puppy will get used to the schedule and not wake you up at night at all. Here are the causes behind the lengthy nap schedule of GSD puppies. Some are natural, while others can stir up concern for the owner. And a lot of this growth occurs during nap time. Most sources recommend 5 minutes of exercise for every month of age. So a 20 minute exercise session should be good for your 4 month old gsd puppy. However, the problem might be solved just by doing these. While others may prefer feeding them a home made diet. Raw diets are also becoming popular. It can cause problems later on. Your best bet is to check in with your vet, and ask for diet recommendations. So how much exercise should they do regularly? According to most of the sources, a 5 minute long walk at a time for every month of age should suffice. This means that if the puppy is 2 months old, then the exercise routine should be a 10 minute walk at a time. Here are the pointers that indicate when to stop exercising. Your puppy slows down. Your puppy starts panting. Your puppy starts laying on the ground. Age also plays a role in the intensity of workouts. Do not make it run excessively. Do not make it exercise on hard surfaces like sidewalks. Grass is the best area for your GSD puppy to exercise. Do not let it jump from the couch, furniture, or obstacles. Light fetch is also fine, after a few weeks. So you have to make sure that their brain stays engaged in their waking hours. Get your puppy their favourite toys. Take time training your puppy. Play a variety of games with your puppy. Get your puppy contraption toys that make the puppy do something with their paws, or sense of smell, instead of static toys. Give your puppy small healthy treats once they complete a task. Take Your Pup to the Vet This is the first option you should be considering if your puppy is sleeping too much or too less. Lack of sleep may cause your German Shepherd puppy to become aggressive , or even worse, not grow healthy. Give it a quiet and comfortable room to sleep. Let the puppy sleep whenever it wants or as much as it wants. No interruptions, just let it have its much deserved peace and quiet. Make Sure Your Puppy Has Comfortable Environment To Sleep You may not want your puppy to sleep on the bed, or the couch, due to various reasons like danger of falling or maybe hair fall. Buying a small dog bed or crate for your puppy is ideal. Make sure the crate or bed has soft material for your puppy to sleep. German shepherds are hardy animals. Just make sure their bed is soft and comfortable. Neither too hot nor too cold. Refrain your puppy from going into direct sunlight. Keep it in cool or shady areas. Make sure it has access to cool to cold water. Similarly, anything below 40 degree Fahrenheit or even 50 degree Fahrenheit is too cold for the puppy. If winter in your location hits hard, install heaters or a central heating system. Prepare cozy blankets for your puppy. Make sure your puppy is sleeping comfortably 15 — 20 hours a day. Have fun with your cute little puppy! 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. Final Thoughts When your German Shepherd is a young puppy, it needs a lot of sleep to get enough energy for physical and mental growth. When it is awake, it will be more active, exploring new things and experiencing new sensations after a good, comfortable, and secure sleep. The time of German Shepherd sleep routines varies depending on the age. When it is a puppy, it needs hours, but as an adult, your doggy may sleep for hours per day and feel great. The Shepherd deprived of good sleep can develop behavioral disorders and get sick easier. The most commonly asked questions about the German Shepherd puppy sleep schedule relate to its early age. Your puppy needs about 18 hours of sleep per day, and some young doggies may even need a bit more. So, hours per hour period is considered a norm. As your furry friend gets older, the sleeping time reduces. Your 4-month-old puppy may even sleep 11 hours per day and feel perfect. Meanwhile, adult dogs sleep for hours per hour period. You need to keep in mind that your pup will not sleep the whole night before its 6-month mark soundly. The reasons are missing the littermates and mother and feeling insecure surrounded by new smells and noises. However, the most important reason is the small size of its bladder that does not allow it to retain from potty for such a long time. So, it may start whining and crying if it wants to go potty. The latter issue is vital for potty training — you need to go out to potty times per night before your doggy reaches months old to avoid accidents. You may even need to wake up your puppy at night to do without unexpected occasions. Your little pup may also start crying at night for other reasons, for example, if it is scared or feels lonely or hungry. You can try to help it sleep better in several ways. First of all, ensure that your pet is tired enough before going to bed. Take it out for 5 minutes to walk during its first month and add the next 5 minutes for every month of its life. For example, your 4-month-old puppy can walk for 20 minutes. If your puppy is very young, let it sleep in your room when you first get it home. Put the crate beside your bed to comfort it easily during the night. You also need to offer your new pet familiar objects, for example, clothes or toys with the scent of its previous home. Arrange a comfortable sleeping place equipped with blankets, stuffed toys, and snacks. You may even play soothing music during bedtime, eliminating anxiety and preventing whining. Classical music is a good choice for this purpose. Comfortable bedding is essential. The space should not be large because they may attempt to do their business right where they are sleeping if they find a vacant spot. However, move the crate out of your bed when it gets older. Do it gradually, moving it farther and farther every night. Then, the time will come to take it away from your bedroom, and your puppy will feel comfortable with it. The difference between human and dog sleep cycles is dramatic. They are much shorter in dogs. Dogs have only two REM cycles at a time. They last 6 minutes. Dogs are polyphasic sleepers because they can also go to bed in the daytime. People are monophasic, sleeping hours at night. That is why while people spend their daytime working and alert, dogs need about 5 hours of rest per day. They do not necessarily sleep fast during this time. There has been a discussion on whether dogs can dream. Yes, dreaming can occur during the REM phase. Puppies may dream even more than adult dogs because they sleep more and their nervous system is not stable at all. So, they may dream about their daily activities, food, playing with you, and other things that are processed in their brain. When you notice that your pup moves its limbs as if running or murmurs something while sleeping, it is evidence of its dreaming. What do they mean? The most widely observed position is sleeping on the back. The reasons for this position are the following: Your pet feels entirely comfortable. This position provides complete relaxation. The pup feels safe and protected. Your dog trusts you if it exposes its vulnerable stomach to the outer world. It does not expect attacks from any enemies or predators. That is why canines rarely sleep on their backs in the wild. Your doggy wants to express submission. It does not mean challenging your authority or confronting other animals in the house. The German Shepherd may just want to feel colder. Its thick plush coat, especially if it is long-haired, does not allow it to cool down easily, so it lays on its back to let the air circulate around its body, over the belly, and paws. In this case, you may notice your dog lying on its back on the cold tile or even near the open window. German Shepherds also sleep in many other positions. The most popular of them include the following: Close to their owner. It is pretty pleasing when your doggy sleeps by your bed or is somehow close to you. Shepherds like to feel a part of a pack, so if they sleep like that, they feel more secure. Tightly curled up. This position allows a German Shepherd to maintain the heat efficiently. These dogs usually sleep like that in cold weather or if they feel something threatening to protect their neck and stomach against unexpected attacks. With the tail on their nose. A German Shepherd has a very sensitive nose, and it wants to protect it from rain, snow, or wind. It happens when your dog sleeps outdoors, especially in winter. On the side. This position allows the doggy to extend its muscles and joint as much as possible. It also means that the Shepherd feels comfortable and confident in this environment and does not expect any enemies or unwanted encounters. This position can also be observed if they sleep next to another animal — a cat or a dog — they consider their friends. On the belly. If your doggy feels comfortable, this position is uncommon. Moreover, it is neither comfortable nor relaxing. However, it can easily and quickly stand up and jump or run from it if it is needed. They mostly depend on their personality. The question of sleeping with your German Shepherd puppy is essential for many dog owners. The common advice is not to do that during the first months of your pup in your home. Instead, you can put its dog bed or crate next to your bed to soothe it quickly if it feels uncomfortable or scared. Moreover, your young doggy may have accidents at night, and you need to potty train it first. However, when your dog is an adult, you can do it, and it will bring a lot of positive moments to both of you. When your doggy is well-behaved and trained properly, you may get a lot of benefits from sleeping with it. They are the following: you will increase your comfort and security; your overall health condition can improve; the risk of sudden death will decrease; the cholesterol and triglyceride levels will go down; the blood pressure will become lower; this kind of sleeping can promote creativity; it will regulate your heartbeat rates; your memory will improve; you will wake up in a great mood due to the flow of oxytocin; you will feel absolutely protected and safe; the furry and cuddly friend will make you feel cozy and comfortable; the immunity will boost. Of course, close and continuous contact with animals can provoke allergic reactions. However, recent research shows that children who sleep with their pets are less likely to develop any allergies when they grow up. You may wonder why your doggy sleeps so much or has just changed its sleeping habits dramatically. Generally, an adult German Shepherd sleeps hours per day, but puppies and senior dogs sleep longer, which is normal. You can consider different causes if your pup sleeps too much and decide what you can do after talking to your vet. Your doggy needs this time to develop or restore its brain, central nervous system, immune system, and muscles. It uses so much energy during the day that it needs to compensate for it while sleeping. However, if your grown-up German Shepherd sleeps more than 14 hours and is apathetic all the other time, you may start to be concerned and take your pup to the vet. Excess heat. German Shepherds are bred to feel comfortable in colder environments. That is why they have double-layered coats. When the weather is very hot, they become sleepy to cool down. Just give it access to shade and cool areas and provide it with good amounts of water during the day. Never let it stay in direct sunlight. Your pup does not feel well. If your German Shepherd started sleeping more for no reason, it might be a sign of some health issues. So, you need to have it checked by the vet immediately. Your doggy is bored. German Shepherds are working dogs with a lot of energy and drive. You should exercise your pet a lot. At least one hour of intense exercise per day is vital. However, be careful not to overexercise your pup when it is little. Add 5 minutes of walking and training per every month of its age, or you can damage its bones and joints. Pick out an appropriate diet. Poor diet may be a cause of extensive sleeping. Talk to your vet to choose the diet your Shepherd needs, or opt for one meant specifically for German Shepherds. Age is a crucial factor. You know now that little puppies need a lot of sleep, and it is normal when your fluffy cub sleeps hours per day. The same is applicable to senior dogs. Older animals need more sleep to restore their muscles and brain activity. Moreover, they get tired easily and need a lot of rest. To make your pup sleep according to its age and environment, you may need to make some changes and deal with different factors. Consider the weather conditions too. If your pup sleeps more when it is cold or hot outside, it is also a normal reaction to temperature changes. If it gets to sleep immediately after feeding , you may need to adjust the diet a bit. If not, make some changes. Always check whether it has constant access to fresh water. Underhydration can be one of the reasons for a long sleep. Of course, when you notice abrupt changes, you must take your pet to the veterinarian. Long sleeping time may be the first sign of some unpleasant health disorders. Little puppies can sleep hours per day, while adult dogs usually need hours of sleep round-the-clock. If your German Shepherd starts sleeping too much, it may be a sign of a minor illness. The excess sleeping may also be a result of heat, boredom, or a poor diet. Older German Shepherds can also start sleeping a lot. Why does my German Shepherd sleep on its back? When your dog sleeps on its back, it always looks cute. The reasons for it can be different, but the main one is that it feels comfortable and absolutely trusts you. It can also show submission in this way, or it is too hot, and your doggy wants to cool down. Why is my German Shepherd breathing so fast while sleeping? Breathing faster means that your doggy is in its REM phase of sleep, which is accompanied by a high amount of brain activity. So, your pup needs more energy and starts breathing faster to get an additional amount of oxygen for the brain. Breathing fast helps it transfer this oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream, converting it into energy. How many hours does a German Shepherd sleep? The number of hours your German Shepherd pup can sleep is pretty individual. There are no strict standards. Little puppies sleep hours daily, while adult dogs reduce this number to .Senior dogs can sleep more — hours is normal. Ill doggies can sleep most time because sleeping helps them recover. Final Thoughts Remember that comfortable and safe German Shepherd sleeping is key to its healthy and happy life. All sleeping habits are pretty individual. If your German Shepherd sleeps well, you will enjoy long years together. 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. Feed your GSD puppy a nice healthy dinner along with some fresh water to drink. Make him comfortable with a nice warm blanket and a chew toy. I know it seems like a lot and you may not have time every day to follow this type of sleep schedule. This is best case scenario. Adjust accordingly based on your lifestyle. Encourage him to rest if he seems tired. If you notice him waking up from a nap, take him outside immediately to go potty. Make sure he has a quiet place to sleep undisturbed and away from the action, especially if you have children. Teach him to sleep in his crate when you can. You can also put a little dog bed in another room for peace and refuge. Routine is key for creating sleep patterns. Your puppy will learn to go to bed when you do. Crate your puppy preferably using an adjustable partition leaving him just enough room to stand up and turn around. This will help him sleep and lessen the chance of him going potty at night. Keep him crated in your room if need be. Being close to you may help him sleep at night. Make his crate nice and cozy with a warm blanket or two on the bottom. Forget the bed as he will probably destroy it. Instead give him a couple of his favorite chew toys. Prepare for your puppy to wake up sometimes throughout the night. There is a reason puppies sleep most of the day away. The body and brain use this downtime to develop and grow. This includes their central nervous system and immune system which they need to fight off sickness and disease. Similar to humans, a lack of sleep can lead to a weakened immune system which means they are more prone to sickness or disease. German Shepherds grow at a rapid pace for the first year of their life. This means that sleep is even more crucial during this time period. Fun Fact: Dogs dream just like humans. In Closing: Sleep is vital for your German Shepherd puppy so make sure they are getting enough. There may be some sleepless nights ahead of you, especially if the crate is in your bedroom. But things will get easier the more they mature. Remember as they grow and get older, the amount of sleep they require will decline. Once they are a full-grown adult, they will sleep for about 12 to 14 hours. Stick to a consistent schedule and make sure they have a quiet place to retreat. Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think! Do you own a German Shepherd puppy? If so, what is their sleep schedule? Do you have any tips for potential owners that may help? Let us know! We would love to hear about your personal story! Share this:. They need to go to the toilet How to stop a german shepherd puppy crying at night? There are many different reasons that your pup may be crying at night. Fortunately, there are also lots of ways to help him sleep better at night. Here are a few of the ways you can stop your german shepherd puppy from crying at night: Exercise to tire your German Shepherd puppy out: Your puppy should be taken out for 5 minutes for however many months old they are. For example, a 3-month-old puppy would be taken out for 15 minutes. Make sure you tire them out enough to help them sleep better at night. Let your German Shepherd puppy outside before bed: Make sure you let your puppy outside to relieve himself before putting him to bed. Surround your German Shepherd puppy with familiar objects: Bring clothing with the scent of the home or the breeder next to him while he sleeps. This will help give him something familiar and help him ease into the transition to his new home. Play soothing music: Playing classical music before and during bedtime can help alleviate whining and anxiety as well as drown out other noise or unfamiliar sounds that may upset or rouse your puppy. The average dog sleeps for only 45 minutes at a time, while human sleep cycles are much longer, lasting 70 to minutes. Dogs can only experience two sleep cycles during that time period. Dogs also differ from humans in that they are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep on and off throughout the day. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic sleepers. Most humans receive their 7 to 9 hours of sleep all at once. While humans spend most of their waking hours awake and alert, dogs dedicate up to 5 hours of their day to simply resting. Dogs who rest more during the day tend to seem happier and more relaxed. Do dogs dream and what about? Dreaming occurs mainly during this REM phase of sleep. And dogs do cycle through REM during their sleep. So its make sense to believe that dog do dream. A puppy will spend more time in dream sleep than an adult dog as they fall asleep more often. So just what are our furry friends dreaming about? Anything your dog does during the day is being processed while they sleep and relived in their dream. This can be observed by their twitching whiskers, the whimpering, and the running paws while they are sleeping. Chances are that your dog may also be dreaming about you if you spend enough quality time interacting with them. They will be dreaming about your play session, walks, and cuddle time together. Where should my German Shepherd puppy sleep? German Shepherd puppies should sleep inside with comfortable beddings. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. You can place the crate beside your bed or in an area close to you. In this way, your new furry friend can smell you. And it gives him a sense of security. Should I sleep with my German Shepherd puppy? You should not sleep with your German Shepherd puppy during the first few months home. Yet you can let your pup sleep beside you in a crate or a dog bed. Your puppy needs to get used to a regular schedule, work on their independence, and see you as the dominant figure. Once your GSD has become an adult months-old to 2-year-old , it will be fine for you to sleep with him. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep with me? A new dog may need some time to adjust before they are ready to sleep in your bed. If they show interest in sleeping with you and are well-behaved , you can always let them on the bed later on down the road. What are the benefits of sleeping with dogs? If you are still reading, chances are you might like to sleep with your dog at night. Pets offer comfort and security, but they may affect sleep quality or trigger allergies for some people. Petting dogs in particular has proved to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If touching your pet is part of the key to gaining health benefits, cuddling up together at night is only to make it better. Sleeping with dogs promotes creativity Studies have shown that when dogs are with their owners their heartbeats sync up. This experience promotes theta brainwaves which can be seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. Sleeping with dogs boost your mood Studies have found that people who spend time with dogs reported fewer depressive symptoms. Not only is it fun to be with your furry friends, it also helps us relax and increases our flow of oxytocin, the love chemical. Sleeping with dogs makes you feel safe Think about it — your GSD is hard-wired to protect. Many people and having the dog protecting them helps them feel more secure and sleep more soundly. Sleeping with dogs is comfortable That furry, cuddly animal is likely to love lying with you just as much as you enjoy laying with them. The level of comfort a dog brings to the bed helps put you at ease and makes you feel cozy. Sleeping with dogs promote immunity Many people have hygienic concerns when it comes to sleeping with their dogs. However, one study found that infants who slept with their pets were less likely to develop allergies later on in life. After all, your new furry friend will sleep for at least 15 hours per day during their short lives. And the better they sleep, the healthier and happier they are. Further reading. As mentioned, German Shepherd puppies have short bursts of energy followed by long, restful naps. When playing or on a walk, it may seem like your puppy has a limitless store of excitement. Once they wear out, however, they tend to fall into a deep sleep—and may even snore! On average, a German Shepherd puppy will sleep between 15 and 20 hours each day. During growth periods, they may only get up to eat or go for a walk. Once fully grown, a German Shepherd will sleep around 12 or 14 hours a day. German Shepherds will take naps throughout the day, then sleep while their human sleeps for 6 or 8 hours. You can ensure your German Shepherd gets adequate exercise by taking it for long walks or hikes, playing fetch, or engaging it with agility workouts and puzzle toys. German Shepherds are intelligent dogs and need mental and physical stimulation for health and happiness. German Shepherds are naturally alert and protective , making them ideal for farm, police, military, and guard work. If you live in a busy area, you may want to provide your German Shepherd with a dark, quiet room to sleep in. If you use a crate or kennel, you can drape a blanket over it to shut out some light and sound for restful sleep. This is especially helpful with young puppies that may experience separation anxiety. Cars, buzzing insects, appliances, televisions, and cell phones can all make noises that put your dog on alert. German Shepherds usually live between 9 and 13 years. During this stage, your German Shepherd may sleep a bit more than the expected 12 or 14 hours a day, just like an older human. Along with the change in sleep patterns, your senior German Shepherd may show some graying around the eyes and muzzle, less interest in playing, and less energy for walks and hikes. If your German Shepherd is sleeping more than 14 hours as an adult, should you be worried? In some cases, longer sleep or more frequent sleep could indicate that your dog is experiencing a minor illness. If your German Shepherd is sleeping excessively for several weeks, however, you may want to take it to the vet for a checkup. Conditions like diabetes , hypothyroidism , Lyme disease , and arthritis can lead to increased sleep and may require treatment. Related Reads:. Human beings require hours of sleep per day, but do German shepherds need more or fewer hours? You might notice that your German shepherd is sleeping most of the time or he is ever alert and awake. So, how much sleep is healthy for your GSD? A German shepherd should sleep for around hours per day. Different lifestyles will greatly affect the number of hours a German shepherd will sleep. An Active GSD will sleep less compared to puppies, and senior dogs. Contents How much sleep is normal for a German shepherd? An adult German shepherd can sleep for hours. He will not sleep for 14 consecutive hours but they will be small naps in the day and some continuous hours at night. How long should I expect my German shepherd puppy to sleep? German shepherd puppies sleep for around hours per day. They spend most of their time discovering their environments and they easily get exhausted. Their bodies are in the growing process and need a lot of rest and food. The more a German shepherd ages, the more sleep he will need. An old GSD can sleep for hours. Effects of different lifestyles on the sleeping time A dog that works as a sniffing dog, in rescue missions, or the military services tend to work tirelessly. They do not have a fixed sleeping schedule. German shepherds are loyal and easy to train, they will readily work without ceasing to please the owner. A German shepherd that lives in the house will tend to sleep more than a working dog. He will have lots of time on his own except the training hours. German shepherds can learn to adapt to any sleeping schedule that the owner will introduce. If your adult dog is sleeping for more than 16 hours, it can be termed excessive sleeping. If your GSD is almost heading to his prime years it can be the cause. Your German shepherd can sleep excessively because of an underlying health condition. Setting a fixed sleeping schedule can help in regulating his sleep. You should exercise him and give him chew toys to engage his mind. If your dog continues to sleep excessively, consult a vet. Your German shepherd might be sleeping less because he has so much energy in him that needs to be released. This can be solved by exercising him for not less than two hours a day. If your GSD does not sleep as he should after exercises, you should take him to a vet. The vet might prescribe some medicines like melatonin. Melatonin assists dogs to sleep better, the dose to be prescribed will be determined by the size of your dog. It is not recommendable to give your dog drugs before consulting your vet. It is not advisable to let your German shepherd sleep with you until he is potty trained. Once your dog can wake up on his own for potty breaks, you can sleep with him. It is not conditional to sleep with your GSD but a matter of choice. Providing your German Shepherd with good sleep conditions When you first take your German shepherd puppy home from a breeder or adoption center, he will have difficulties sleeping. The scent makes the puppy think that the mother is around he sleeps comfortably. If the above methods are not applicable, you can buy a spray bottle of Dog Appeasing Hormone. This helps them to relax their feet and it shows that they feel safe in the environment. Sleeping On Its Front This position helps them to be alert while sleeping. Curled up tightly This position is common in German shepherds in the cold seasons. It helps them to decrease the amount of heat getting lost to the environment. It also helps them to protect the belly and neck from any attack. Tail covering its nose This is another common sleeping style in winter. It protects their noses from cold, wind, and rain. Close to the owner Dogs love companionship, by sleeping next to you they feel safe and comfortable. Conclusion Sleep is a fundamental need for a GSD. The amount of sleep your German shepherd gets affects his well-being. You should know the required sleeping hours for German shepherds as per their ages so that you can know when your GSD is oversleeping or not getting enough sleep. Carol is a paw parent, and her love for dogs started when she was just 5. She adores her two German Shepherds and a Bengal cat, who she says, "life would be incomplete without" Recent Posts. Puppies are similar to babies, they eat, poop, play and sleep. This article will answer those questions and give you some insight into German Shepherd puppy sleeping habits. Yes, German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot. A GSD pup will normally sleep upwards of 18 to 20 hours a day. They are usually asleep unless you are engaging with them in some way. It is normal for German Shepherd puppies to sleep up to 20 hours a day. GSD puppies sleep so much because their bodies are still developing and growing fast so they need to sleep to fuel that process. As they get older, they will sleep a little less. German Shepherd puppies should sleep in a crate when really young and not yet trained. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. Some of the best crates for German Shepherd puppies are ones that can grow with your pup and come with a divider. This is not to say your pup has be crated forever, think of this as a tool to help them get house-trained faster and to keep them safe. As mentioned above, it is too easy for them to find a spot to do their business if they have free access to the whole room at night. However, once your puppy knows how to wake you up for their bathroom break, it is really a personal decision as to whether you want your pup to sleep in your bed. German Shepherd Puppy Sleeping Habits As mentioned above, German Shepherd puppies will usually sleep between 18 and 20 hours a day, which is totally normal. It is also normal for a puppy to not be able to sleep through the night. Just like newborn babies need to get on a schedule so does your new puppy. When my GSD puppy first came home, she usually woke me up two or three times each night for potty breaks. Final Thoughts German Shepherd puppies sleep a lot because their bodies are developing and going through a lot of growth when they are really young. It is normal for a puppy to only be awake for 6 hours a day when you first bring them home. Unless they are playing with toys , eating, drinking, or going outside, they will probably be sleeping. If you feel like your GSD puppy is sleeping too much you can check with your vet to make sure all is ok just for peace of mind. They are the second most popular breed in America. German Shepherds are an active breed that requires extensive physical and mental training to stay engaged. Their bites have lbs of force, which is close to 3 times the force of a human bite. Make sure train to your pup not to bite unless the person is an intruder. A German Shepherd puppy can adopt the same routine as a human baby. Incorporate enough time throughout the day for a rotating schedule of eating, potty breaks, playing, and sleeping. Providing a balanced and engaging schedule for your puppy will get him or her more able to become accustomed to sleep training. Your new puppy will be getting used to their new home with you and adjusting to your sleep schedule as well. When the pup is not playing, eating, or taking potty breaks, he or she may squeeze in a day time nap. Their bladders are not fully developed yet, so they are always in need of a potty break. Be prepared for your puppy to wake you up in the middle of the night the first few weeks of bringing him or her home for midnight potty breaks. If you have multiple adults in the house, create a rotating schedule of who will take out the dog for a midnight potty break based on the day of the week. If you have yourself and two others in your home, try a schedule like this: You: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday Significant other, roommate, or another family member: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Your older child or teenager: Saturday nights only What Are Other Reasons for Sleeping a Lot? There are other contributing factors as to why your German Shepherd puppy is sleeping a lot. When they are just months old, their normal sleep schedule will be for normal growth and development of their brain, immune system, and joints. Keep an eye on the other factors that could be reasons as to why he or she is sleeping more and adjust their environment accordingly. Poor diet, excessive exercise, sickness, heat, and boredom could be other reasons for your puppy sleeping more than usual. If your pup is not eating the right nutritious food, he or she could become sleepier throughout the day. Your pup should eat protein-rich nutritious dog food specially formulated for German Shepherds. According to Pet Care Rx , the age, activity, and general health of your pup will decide how much calories it needs throughout the day which is anywhere from to per day. Pet Care Rx suggests giving your pup one of the following for a balanced diet. Young puppies are still in the process of developing their bones and joints. Excessive exercise will only tire your German Shepherd puppy out faster and repeated instances of too much exercise could mess up their sleep schedule. The German Shepherd Shop recommends the following exercises to help your pup stay healthy. Limit tug of war activities to only minutes at a time. Take your puppy on small walks around the block for optimal exercise. Play fetch for about 5 minutes at a time which could be a good throws. Encourage normal puppy free play with their toys at their leisure. German Shepherd Shop discourages doing the following high-impact exercises with your pup. Prolonged games of fetch or tug of war Long hikes or walks Agility training that is not aged appropriately for your pup Sickness If your German Shepherd puppy is sick, he or she may sleep more to fight off the bad bacteria and viruses. If your puppy is acting differently and not as active as usual, take note of this for repeated occurrences. A common German Shepherd sickness is hip dysplasia which could lead to arthritis because of the continuous inflammation in the hips. Degenerative myelopathy, bloating, blood disorders, and epilepsy are also common health issues in German Shepherds. If your German Shepherd puppy continues to act abnormally than how he or usually behaves, schedule a visit with the veterinarian to be on the safe side. This breed naturally thrives better in colder climates and a high amount of heat outside or inside the house can cause more sleepiness. In the summer, be sure the air conditioner is at a comfortable temperature so your puppy feels comfortable. Consider placing a waterproof dog mat or bed and a dog bowl of water at this area for your pup to stay properly cool and hydrated. If your puppy loves the snow during winter, only give him or her a few minutes of snowy playtime so they do not get hypothermia. Your Pup is Bored Naturally, boredom leads to sleeping more. Refer to German Shepherd Corner for some of the best toys for German Shepherds to get ideas of what toys to get for your curious pup. Purchase a few toys as a start and observe your pup. Does he or she like to chew, tug, or fetch more? Maybe get one toy each that encourages these activities and see which toy your German Shepherd puppy loves most. Once you have figured that out, you can stock up on their favorite toy for when the original one becomes worn out. Related Posts. The German Shepherd, as a working dog, tends to sleep a little less than that. The German Shepherd was bred to work for long periods of time and maintain activity both physically and mentally throughout the day and even throughout the night. This resulted in a healthy adult German Shepherd needing less sleep than other breeds of similar age and health. My German Shepherds have adapted their sleep and wake schedule to my own. They sleep thoroughly at night with the occasional alert barking if a wild animal strays too close to our house , and then they are up and awake for the course of the day. I do see them nap here and there, but they are very obviously still awake and alert enough that if I said something or they heard something they would be up and fully awake in a matter of seconds. As you can see below, they are quite happy to nap together! A dog in pain will likely sleep less as it is uncomfortable for them to relax, whereas a dog who is sick may sleep more while they are recovering. If your German Shepherd is on any medications to help with their illness or injury, this may also cause them to sleep more than they normally do, especially if the medications have a sedating effect. German Shepherds may also suffer from depression which can cause an increase in sleeping and disinterest in their normal activities. This increase in stress can cause a reduction in their sleep hours or lead to a more restless sleep as the dogs are not able to enter into that deep sleep cycle due to the level of stress and anxiety they may be experiencing. Certain foods may cause them to sleep more, whereas other foods may actually cause them to sleep less. Feeding your German Shepherd too early or too late in the day could also cause disturbances in their sleep. Making sure to choose a routine feeding time that allows them to fully digest and process their food is important to avoid any nighttime energy spikes or bathroom trips. Uncomfortable Sleeping Area The area in which your German Shepherd sleeps may also impact their sleep habits. Dogs prefer safe, comfortable sleeping areas where they can fully relax. If they are not able to get that, they may sleep less or their sleep may be more restless than it should be. Providing your German Shepherd with a comfortable bed and keeping the bed in an area that is away from the hustle and bustle of your household are two ways to ensure that your pup is getting the restful sleep that they need. While German Shepherds are considered a highly adaptable breed of dog and they can learn new routines fairly easily this also makes them a great choice for first time dog owners , it does take a bit of time for them to adjust. During that adjustment period when they are going from one routine to another, you may notice them sleeping less or sleeping at unusual times. As I discussed at the beginning of this article, the German Shepherd is a working breed and thus they will almost always sleep less than non-working breeds. The lineage of individual German Shepherds may further change how much or how little they sleep. German Shepherds that come from a long line of working dogs or who have been bred for herding, military, or police work may sleep even less than a German Shepherd who was bred for service dog work or just as a companion. If your pup is otherwise healthy, you may need to set up a more regular schedule for your dog and encourage them to engage in more activities throughout the day. Those activities can be more frequent play sessions, walks around the neighborhood, or providing them with enrichment through puzzle toys or obedience exercises to get their mind working. Making sure your pup is getting the physical and mental exercise they need each day will help them stick to a more regular sleep cycle. Similar to the section above, a vet visit is still suggested as the first thing you do if your German Shepherd is not sleeping enough. If your vet has determined that your pup has no underlying conditions that are causing the sleeplessness, then you can look at additional things you can do to help your dog sleep. Providing your German Shepherd with a more comfortable bed or sleeping location is the first step, as is looking at your own routine and if that may impact when and how long your dog sleeps. Relaxing music and calming pheromones or supplements may also help your German Shepherd relax a little more and sleep more deeply. If all else fails, you can also speak to your vet about providing your dog with prescription medications that can help them sleep. German Shepherds who do not get enough restful sleep can become easily agitated, and too many sleepless nights can lead to additional health and behavioral issues. German Shepherd puppies tend to need significantly more sleep than an adult German Shepherd, with many puppies sleeping almost 20 hours per day during their first few weeks of life. As they age and enter into the adolescent period , their sleeping periods shorten, and they begin to learn routines and habits. During this stage, as the puppies have not yet learned how to adapt their own cycles to that of their owners and are still learning impulse control, many owners often report their puppy waking in the middle of the night if they become bored, hungry, or need attention in some way just like human babies! As your German Shepherd puppy continues to age, these midnight adventures will lessen. You might also find your puppy napping in some odd places as they learn where they feel the most comfortable as Kenai did in the photo below, where she first discovered the recliner when she was a puppy! On the other side of things, a senior German Shepherd also generally requires more sleep than younger dogs, and you will probably find them sleeping quite deeply throughout the day. Underlying age-related health issues in a senior German Shepherd may also interrupt their normal sleep cycle , so they may need to rely on shorter and more frequent naps to get the rest their bodies and minds need. Many senior dogs can suffer from insomnia at night, or general lack of comfort with laying in the same position for long periods of time, so they may get up and wander during the night or move around frequently to find a better sleeping position , all of which can disrupt their normal sleep cycle. Orthopedic beds that provide your German Shepherd with more support can help with this restlessness, as can speaking with your vet about additional medications or supplements to make sure your four-legged friend is getting the rest they need. Closing Thoughts Most German Shepherds will sleep around 8 to 12 hours per day, though those with more active lifestyles may sleep less. Providing your pup with a safe and comfortable place to sleep will help encourage them to fully relax and get the rest their bodies require. My 2 German Shepherds and 1 Siberian Husky mix keep my busy, along with my 8 cats I am also a crazy cat lady and my axolotl Fin Diesel he's all about family. We go to great lengths to help users better understand their pets; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Additionally, NotABully.