funny golden retriever puppy pictures

Nothing will make your poodle happier than to play you in a friendly and stimulating game of tug-of-war. The SnakeBiter is an excellent variation on rope toys for dogs that are aggressive chewers , which most poodles are. This rope is thick and solid, allowing your dog to go to town without destroying a favorite toy. Instead, our Invincible Snakes come with multiple squeakers for multiple rounds of toss and tug fun even when.Do not leave toys with unsupervised pets. Remove and replace toy if damaged. We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. The Outward Hound brand is especially good for poodles because of the durability of their squeaky toys. Although this plush squeaky toy is small and light, the construction is extremely tough and will withstand extensive chewing and tearing. Apparently, in some cases, the squeaking device will remain functional even when the fabric has been punctured. Ultra Ball ChuckIt! Ultra Ball, Medium 2. Check out a variety of our pet toy products such as frisbees, perches and mirrors for birds, prey wand toys for cats, plush toys, Checkout Chuckit for ball launchers, bouncy balls, frisbees, indoor dog.Ultra Ball is one of our favorite designs on the market for ball toys for poodles. In addition, these balls come in bright and contrasting colors that will be easy for your poodle to see. Does your dog get bored quickly? Included with our dog puzzle toys are helpful tips and tricks to assist in optimal training; also, never leave toys with unsupervised pets - no toy is indestructible We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. In this interactive game, treats are hidden in various compartments as a challenge for your dog. Different shapes like cones and circles cover the chambers, and dogs must lift the covers off instead of pushing them aside to access the treats. The rubber grip keeps the activity tray in place, and the toy is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Flying Squirrel ChuckIt! PET TOYS: Get ready for bonding fun with your dogs cats Check out a variety of our pet toy products such as frisbees, perches mirrors for birds, prey wand toys for cats, plush toys, light-up.For additional usability, this toy can float—be sure to bring this with you if you ever bring your poodle out to a pool or lake. For extensive games of fetch, this tough and aerodynamic toy will keep your energetic dog happy. Goughnuts tough dog toys are long lasting and will keep your dog busy.Our super durable dog toys are nearly indestructible, but if your dog manages to damage them, Poodles can be downright obsessive with their chewing, and this ring-shaped chew toy can be a great solution for protecting your shoes and furniture. The thick rubber will last for a long time, and a convenient red safety indicator inside the toy will alert you when it has become too worn down to be safe for your dog. Both Cockapoos and Poodle are active dogs that enjoy outdoor play What to Look for in Poodle Toys While these are our top picks for great toys for poodles, there are plenty of dog toys out there that work well for poodles. Key elements to look for include durability, interactivity, and opportunities for social play. No matter what toys you buy, poodles are fun-loving and curious animals who, above all, just want to spend time with you. Happy playing! My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. This personalized art print is a unique and thoughtful gift for any Toy Poodle lover. The print highlights the breed history, traits, and characteristics that make the Toy Poodle stand out. The print is perfect for dog lovers of all ages and genders. It makes a sentimental and heartwarming gift for a fur birthday or to welcome a new puppy. Plus, the stylish print is made to work well with all existing home decor, making it a great housewarming gift to match any home. Buying Guide When it comes to finding the best toys for poodles, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that you are choosing the right product for your furry friend. Here are some key features to consider when your are buying best toys for poodles Size One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a toy for your poodle is the size. You want to make sure that the toy is appropriately sized for your dog. If the toy is too small, it could pose a choking hazard, while a toy that is too large may be difficult for your poodle to play with. Look for toys that are specifically designed for small or medium-sized dogs. Material The material of the toy is also an important consideration. Look for toys made from high-quality materials, such as rubber or nylon. Avoid toys that are made from cheap, flimsy materials that can easily break or tear. Functionality Consider what your poodle likes to do when choosing a toy. Some poodles love to play fetch, while others prefer toys that they can chew on. Look for toys that are designed for the specific activities that your poodle enjoys. Interactive Features Toys with interactive features can provide great mental stimulation for your poodle. Look for toys that have hidden treats, puzzles, or other interactive elements that will keep your poodle entertained and engaged. Safety Finally, safety should always be a top priority when choosing a toy for your poodle. Avoid toys with small parts that could be swallowed or toys with sharp edges that could cause injury. Always supervise your poodle when playing with toys to ensure that they are playing safely. By considering these factors, you can choose the best toys for your poodle that will provide hours of fun and entertainment while keeping them safe and healthy. I have a miniature Poodle named Olive. Pets are my passion and I love to share knowledge through writing blogs. About Us I'm Emma Olson, and love dogs so much, especially poodles. Pets are my passion and I work in the world of corporate pets. I worked at three different pet stores for about six years total and now volunteer at my local animal rescue. I love animals very much! While waiting for their forever homes, I like to volunteer to provide them with care in my spare time. The 6 Best Types of Toys for a Poodle Overview If you think of dog toys as needing to serve as tools to meet a Poodle's needs, you may be surprised at how amazingly helpful they can be. The right toys can help a great deal with everything from teething woes, to negative behavior associated with boredom.In addition, toys can serve as a method of creating a closer bond with your Poodle, encourage activity in an otherwise sedentary dog, and even boost a Poodle's brain power. Here we will take a look at the 6 types of toys every Poodle should have to meet a wide variety of canine needs. Teething begins by 3 to 4 months old and lasts until the 7 to 8 month mark. During this time, there are incredible amounts of itching and most puppies feel some level of discomfort. This causes an overwhelming need to chew to soothe those teething woes. For these reasons, one of the best things that you can do is find the right toys for your teething Poodle puppy. Qualities of effective teething toys: The oral sensations that a puppy feels can move from moment to moment. Discomfort waxes and wanes. And itching can come in waves. So, toys need to be very versatile. The best toys will have: A variety of surface textures. Cloth, rope, and hard rubber should be available to meet chewing urges at any one particular time. Rope toys are especially helpful, as the twisted strands are good 'scratchers'. Small nubs. This is of particular importance; tiny nubs work to massage gums which helps the pup feel better. A puppy needs to be able to manipulate the toy into different parts of his mouth. Proper sizing. This is most relevant to toy Poodles, since many dog teething toys are sized too big for a tiny toy's mouth. If a Poodle puppy cannot instantly find relief, he may move onto something else.Recommended teething toys: Below are our 1 most recommended toys for Poodle pups that are in the throes of teething. The first 3 are for toy Poodles, though larger options can be found for miniatures and standards. The Nylabone is just one example of great teething chews that are flavored to entice a puppy to mouth them and come in a wide range of sizes, to accommodate all Poodle varieties. If you do not see the images, try a refresh. On mobile, you may need to turn the screen horizontal to see all 4. And if this describes your Poodle, no doubt you have had a hard time finding the right toys that will stand up to aggressive chewing. A dog's urge to chew is not limited to toys; with this type of drive, nothing is off limits. If a Poodle is not happy with his toys, one of two things will happen: 1 the dog will move on to other objects in the house, which is not only destructive but also unsafe or 2 the dog will become irritable and stressed as he's unable to satisfy his urges. Qualities of the best toys for strong chewers: To meet your Poodle's needs, the goal will be to provide fun chew toys that are specifically designed to handle aggressive chewers. While no toy is literally indestructible, some come very close. The toy will need to: Be able to stand up to high bite force. Be safe - A great feature to look for is a color indicator that the toy has been chewed down too far. Some toys are guaranteed, meaning that if a color starts to show, you'll get a free replacement. Fun - If it does not have the right texture and pliability to feel good in a Poodle's mouth, it'll be of no use. Recommended toys for Poodles that are super aggressive chewers: For this, both Kongs and Doughnuts are the two best options, with Kongs being the best for toy Poodles images are below. Kongs are great because they come in a wide range of sizes that will be appropriate for toys, minis, and standards. These are color coded, with pink and blue for puppies, red for 'normal' adult chewers, and black is reserved for the strongest chewers. In other words, a puppy would never be able to bite down on a black Kong dog toy and an aggressive chewer could tear up a pink one. The 'classic' Kong is designed to be filled with treats or kibble, which draws a dog to it and encourages him to stay focused. If your Poodle likes to chew, but has not shown a history of shredding toys to bits, you may find that the Kong 'minimally stuffed' chew toys are well received. These are also great because they come in all sizes from small to large. Goughnuts are colored coded as well, with yellow, orange, and green for strong chewers PSI and black reserved for professional grinders at a whopping PSI. What is great about these is that they are guaranteed. Each has red in the middle. If you see even a tiny spot of red, you may return the toy for just the cost of shipping out a new one. There are 3 sizes as well; but these will be a bit too large for most toy Poodles. Toys are shown below. And in this sense, thinking of toys as 'stay busy' tools can make a huge difference in your Poodle's happiness level. When a puppy or dog is just sitting around without anything to do, he will reach a limit where boredom turns into frustration. And where monotony turns into depression. If your Poodle has been too bored, you may not even realize it until you hand over a super-fun, interactive toy and see him perk up. Alternatively, some Poodles are very expressive about how they feel. It must be noted that regular exercise plays a role in this as well. If your Poodle is not taken out twice per day for at least minute sessions, even the best of toys may not fix his woes. So, a good balance of getting outside for walks and offering the right toys during down-time is the best fix. Qualities of the best toys to fix boredom and keep a Poodle occupied: You'll want toys that will be perfect for both when a Poodle is home alone and also when you are home but cannot interact with your Poodle at the moment. These toys should: Allow a Poodle to play fully independently; you will not need to do anything else other than point out the toy if you are there. Call out to the puppy or dog. A huge aspect is that the toy interacts with the dog. In this way, playing is a two-way street. The dog noses the toy, the toy responds. The dog chews the toy, the toy reacts. This type of element can keep a dog busy for a long time, basically until he's completely tuckered out. Recommended 'stay busy' toys for Poodles: There ares some incredibly fun options. The Babble Balls toys are out of this world; these are super interactive toys that can keep a puppy or dog amused and busy for hours. There are 3 sizes small for toys, medium for minis, and large for standard Poodles. Also, there are two fun types. One lets out animal noises. So, as a Poodle touches the toy, engaging sounds like pigs, frogs, bears, birds, even other dogs speak to him. There are 20 different animal sounds in all. The other is just as wonderful. It lets out funny phrases such as 'Come here, puppy! There are 20 amusing, encouraging phrases in all. For both of these, the toys automatically shut off when not in use, so the batteries do not run out. The Look Who's Taking line of toys is super fun as well. There are over 15 different types of stuffed animals, and each one makes a corresponding animal noise. These are good sized quality toys that stand up to daily playing. The size of these toys range from 5" the baby chick to 7" the cow and a bunch in between. There is a parrot, frog, rooster, monkey, goat, lobster, and more. These toys are shown below. These serve two purposes in one swoop. As an added benefit, if you place your Poodle's food in this sort of toy on days that you are not home, it helps prevent bloat, a dangerous health condition fast eating is a common trigger , which is a top concern for standard Poodles and is always something to be aware of no matter what type or size dog you have. Qualities of great treat-release toys: There are a few aspects to keep in mind. For this type of toy to do its job, it should: Hold in treats enough that they are not released too easily, but at the same time allow a Poodle to smell them in order to trigger a response. Be designed to work with a variety of different dog treats so that you are not forced to purchase additional treats. Be made with safe materials. Be durable to stand up to daily use. Be easy to clean since you'll want to be able to rinse away food particles. Be sized correctly. It's not uncommon for owners of toy Poodles to have trouble finding treat dispensing toys for their tiny dogs, so for these Poodles, it must fit the needs of dogs 10 lbs. Recommended treat dispensing toys for toy, mini and standard Poodles: There are some great options for all Poodles images below. Busy Buddy makes two treat release toys. The barnacle toy is perfect for toy Poodles, even puppies. It is composed of 3 tiny separate spheres, so toy Poodle can easily mouth onto one of them at a time. If you like the looks of this one, but don't have a toy Poodle, no worries.The other type is the twist sphere, which is adjustable, so you can control how easy or hard it is for your Poodle to get to the treats. This comes in small for dogs 8 to 20 lbs. The IQ Treat Ball is a great toy for toy Poodles on the larger end, minis and standards; this is available in both 3 and 4 inch diameters. It's a neat little sphere that is adjustable and releases food as it's nudged which encourages a dog to move. The Bob-A-Lot is a good-sized toy that is best suited for mini and standard Poodles. This has a large chamber that holds a full meal, and its bright color and wobbly movements make eating fun. Distress and even panicking when owners are away is referred to as separation anxiety, and this is not uncommon with dogs. In fact, it may be even more so with breeds like the Poodle due to their instinctive sensitivity and close human bonding. So, while all toys are important in their own way, perhaps the one type that can make the most dramatic impact on a Poodle is a companion toy. These will mimic a living creature to become an instant friend. With this, a dog is no longer alone. In addition, it would be remiss to not mention webcam devices that allow you to interact with your Poodle when you're not there. These are quite amazing, though are not fitting for those on a tight budget. Qualities of best companion toys: There's no competition here and there's no comparing. The very best ones are Smart Pets; these are good-sized quality stuffed animals that emit a rhythmic, soothing heartbeat. This alone instantly swoops away heavy feelings of isolation. In addition, is an option to send out a comforting warmth. This is as close as you can get to giving your Poodle a companion without obtaining another dog, and these are just marvelous. Qualities of the best pet webcams: Not very long ago, there were some sparse choices for this; however, the features where quite limited. Now, there's some truly amazing devices. While these can be a bit pricey, if you really want to go all out and come the absolute closest you can to being with your Poodle when you're not with him, the webcam will: Have two-way audio so that you can both speak to your Poodle and hear any barking in response. Have a wide-angle view and night vision, so that you can clearly see your puppy or dog at all times and under any sort of lighting though it is always recommended to keep lights on for a dog that's home alone. Easily sync to your smartphone Hold a good number of treats, so that the interaction can be frequent and extended. Toss treats out with a tap on your phone, and at a good distance to make it clear that you're playing with your Poodle. Our 1 recommend companion toys and a super-neat interactive webcam are below. If you don't see the images, try a refresh. On mobile, you may need to turn your screen horizontal to see all 4. It's what they live for. So, no matter how busy the day may get, the best thing you can do for your Poodle is to make time each day to play. It can be as little as 15 minutes, and it will mean the world. And do not discount older adults and even seniors. The need to hold onto bonds is stronger than ever. However, it's not uncommon for a Poodle to need something colorful and interesting to get really involved with a game of fetch. You'll want it to be durable and importantly the right size so that your Poodle can easily mouth it. Another option that is great to play on rainy days are puzzle games. With this, you work together as a teacher and student. You'll teach your Poodle how to nose levers and paw buttons to find hidden treats. There is something to be said about the Poodle ranking 2 in intelligence ; this is indeed a super smart breed. However, dogs are as smart as opportunity allows.For these, you'll want to pay attention to the level typically 1,2 and 3 or beginner, intermediate, and advanced so that the puzzle is doable. Recommended super-fun fetch toys and a fun puzzle game are below this one is level 2, but there are lots of options. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. Pros Puppyspot Poodle Adoption 5. They have placed over , puppies into homes in the US! The ridges and nubs on the toy help clean teeth and prevent plaque and tartar buildup, promoting dental health from an early age. The toy is gentle enough to ease pain during the teething stage, and the savory chicken flavor encourages puppies to chew on the toy instead of destructive items around the house. However, the toy is not suitable for dogs over 15 pounds, and some reviewers reported small pieces coming off the toy. Overall, this is a great option for small puppies who need a gentle chew toy to help with teething. Size for puppies and small dogs,a dog that weighs less than 22 lbs,such as.Some toys have the bells,please pay more attention when they are playing toys and do not let your dog swallow these toys,just be sure to throw away.We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Overall, this set of toys is a great investment for any poodle puppy owner. The toys are made of high-quality TPR and soft cotton, making them sturdy and bite-resistant. They are also easy to clean, making them a convenient option for busy pet owners. The toys come in a variety of shapes and sizes, providing your puppy with a range of textures to chew on. One thing to keep in mind is that the colors of the toys may vary and are randomly delivered. Some of the toys also have bells, so be sure to supervise your puppy to prevent them from swallowing the toys. Additionally, the set is not recommended for dogs with sharp teeth or for dogs that like to fight over toys. It's great for Chihuahua.Unique Design Shape Toy for Boredom - Unique fruit shape with hollow seductive pineapple flavor and real texture surface, can attract the dog to chew and play. You can fill the teething toy with food.Improve Intelligence Training - This pineapple interactive dog toy can training dogs jumping, reaction ability. You can also use this pet toy to interact with dogs and play throw and fetch game, enjoy.To Esteemed Customers - Recently our pineapple dog toy by the malicious reviwe of others, these people deliberately bought our dog toy and destoryed it,then leave us one-star with images, please do.This toy is made from extremely durable bite-resistant natural rubber and is designed to withstand even the most aggressive chewers, making it great for Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Corgis, and Poodles. Pros The unique fruit shape with a hollow seductive pineapple flavor and real texture surface can attract the dog to chew and play, making it a great small dog toy for boredom. The toothbrush-like design is helpful in freshening breath, stimulating gums, and reducing tartar and plaque buildup as your dog plays and chews away. The toy may be difficult to clean because of its unique shape and texture. The manufacturer provides a lifetime replacement guarantee or refund for their dear customers. Recently, the pineapple dog toy received some malicious reviews from others who deliberately bought the dog toy and destroyed it, then left one-star with images. However, the manufacturer has provided their own video, showing their own dog playing very happily. If you have any issues with the pineapple tough dog toy, please contact the manufacturer in time. This is far from the truth. Poodles are athletic, friendly, and smart dogs. Poodles can be easily trained and are an eager breed. Poodles love to stay active and challenged. The right toy can be an effective and fun way to interact with your poodle. Without a doubt, my dog Angus enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I purchase for him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month for any size dog. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds are donated to local animal shelters. Check out the Barkbox website here to discover why Barkbox will make your dog as happy as mine. Toys are a great way to stimulate and encourage your poodle. It is essential to find the best toy for their stage of life. Ideally, one that they will enjoy and will help keep them active. Even though Poodles are associated with France, poodles were originally a duck hunter dog in Germany. Hunters wanted a dog that could swim and move well in the water. That is why poodles have their famous haircuts. They wanted them to keep their fur around their midsection for warmth but shave parts of the neck, legs, and tail to allow them to move better in the water. Poodles are known to be late bloomers, though, when it comes to teething. Teething could last longer than the eight-month mark. It is important to be patient with your teething poodle, and chew toys are a great help in this stage. Some qualities to look for in a teething toy for a poodle puppy include: Several types of surfaces for the teeth to experience. Knobs, grooves, ropes, and different materials can help get just the right stop when it comes to teething. A temperature element can be soothing. Freeze toys can be wet or cold can help your teething puppy find relief. Make sure the Teething Toy is the correct size. You want the toy to be big enough that it will be safe to chew on but not too big where your puppy will struggle to use it. The following two puppy teething toys are great options for your poodle puppy to have fun and find some comfort for their sore gums. Nylabone Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys This pack of chew toys is great for a poodle puppy because it has a toy for different teething stages and comes with a healthy treat. The toys are durable and have a great flavor your dog will love. The different ribbons and elements can also entertain your poodle as they play. However, it can be impossible to be engaging with your pet at all times. Sometimes you have to leave for work or errands, and your poodle is left to entertain themselves. If poodles are left too often on their own without any motivation to be active, they can become bored. Boredom can lead to depression in dogs. Toys can be a great help to keep your poodle entertained when you are not home or able to play with them. Make sure these toys are simple enough that they can be figured out by the dog on its own. The Babble Ball can provide hours of play for your dog to keep them entertained. It will also turn itself off when your dog has left it alone. It comes with over 20 sounds so that your poodle will not get bored. The more they interact with the toy, the more it will talk back to them. If you see that your poodle is destroying things while you are away, they might be suffering from separation anxiety. A more interactive approach with the dog owners while they are left alone might be helpful to stop some more destructive behaviors. This pet camera has 2-way audio so you can talk with and comfort your poodle while you are not there. It will alert you when your dog is barking. Separation Anxiety in Poodles Poodles can experience anxiety if they are left alone for just one hour or all day. There are some signs to look for in your poodle to determine if they have separation anxiety. This can happen in any age of your poodle, sometimes puppies will outgrow this phase, but it can also be a problem among older poodles. Signs of separation anxiety include: Barking continually Destroying things around the house Depression Acting out or out of control when you are leaving the house Extreme excitement when you return Increased number of bathroom accidents Along with making sure your poodles have plenty of toys to keep them active while you are gone, here are other ways to help them with their separation anxiety. Leaving the television or radio on to something calming is a good idea. Poodles also like to watch the things that are going on around them, setting up an area for them by a large window or screen door can be helpful. Always make sure to leave a light on or allow or lots of natural light. A dark house can make your poodle feel lonelier. As mentioned earlier, many times, when dogs are bored, they often tend to chew more. Some tips to encourage approved chewing include. Redirect their chewing to a new toy. Poodles love new and exciting things, have two groups of toys, and only keep one group out at a time. Once you notice your dog getting bored with those toys, swap them for the other group. Keep things exciting. If your poodle is not interested in playing, try making a game. Poodles love social interaction. Making it a contest to find their chew toy might get them more excited about their chew toys. Let them not what things are not acceptable to be chewed. If your poodle continues to chew on non-chew toys like furniture, you can spray those things with a chew-deterrent spray. Here are some great durable chew toys to help your poodle redirect their chewing: 1. With three different toys, you can give your poodle a variety and switch things up to combat boredom. The different textures, shapes, and flavors will help keep your poodle entertained and chewing on these for hours. It has different textures, the rope, knobs, and tube center to keep your poodle engaged. It is durable and safe to chew. It can also be used as a training or fetch toy. Having plenty of durable chew toys can also help to combat other negative behavior your poodle might be displaying. Poodles are known to be friendly, well-tempered dogs, but like any breed, they can begin to develop some more negative behaviors. It is important to recognize these behaviors and redirect them into positive behaviors. Most Common Behavioral Problems Among Poodles Hyperactivity— It is normal for poodle puppies to be hyper, and they usually grow out of this in the first year or two. If this behavior in your poodle continues, make sure you are providing them plenty of exercise. If they feel like you are angry or frustrated, they might act out in a more hyper mood. Try to remain calm around your poodle to help them emulate your calm spirit. Too clingy- Make sure your poodle is allowed to explore all approved areas of your house, this way, they know where they can most comfortable. Introducing your poodle to new environments and situations will help them feel more comfortable in different circumstances. Always make sure you are giving your poodle the attention they need. Quality time throughout the day with their owner will allow your poodle to feel safe and secure when they are left alone. Nipping- Poodles are not naturally aggressive, and all dogs nip a little in the puppy phase as they learn to play. If this action continues into adulthood, it is vital to train and teach your poodle that this behavior is not okay. Poodles respond best to positive encouragement. Marking territory If your poodle is marking their territory, they might be trying to assert their dominance in the household, leave a mating signal, be having a response to visitors, or it might even be a response to a new family member. It is crucial in this situation to establish yourself as the head of the family with your poodle. Let them know that you are the leader. You can do this by having them sit first before you give them their food or treats. Having them sit before you enter or leave a room is also helpful in letting them know you are in charge. Another way to help them stop marking is to get them spayed or neutered. It would help if you also cleaned your home with an enzyme cleaner. Soap and water will not get rid of the smell entirely and your poodle will continue to mark when they smell it. Growling- growling is different from barking and is something an owner needs to be aware of right away. Finding the reason for the growling is important—is your poodle in pain, scared, marking their territory, or being aggressive? It is important to identify the trigger so you can help change the situation. If your poodle has begun to grow aggressively, proper training right away is vital to stop the behavior before your poodle thinks that it is acceptable to behave like that. Jumping- It is common for poodles to jump up when they are saying hello or excited to see someone. If you have a bigger poodle, this could potentially cause a problem or even frighten your guests. It is also important to make sure you are helping your poodle release their extra energy in other ways, like walks throughout the day. Disobedience- Poodles are a highly intelligent breed. They are great problem solvers and good at learning commands. Poodle owners must train their poodles with commands and rules. If you find that your poodle is continually disobeying you, it is important to understand what might be triggering them. Poodles are emotional dogs, they might be frightened or lonely, and that could be causing some of their disobedience. Understanding why they might be disobeying will help you find the right steps to take to get them back on track. Poodle Play Together Toys Dogs, especially poodles, love human interaction and contact. Poodles are athletic and smart dogs and can be easily trained. Finding a good toy that will help you interact with your poodle is a great way to show them your love and affection. It is best to find a durable toy that is easy for them to fit in their mouth when looking for a toy to play with your poodle. Hartz Dura Play Ball Size: Small Pack of 2 If you have a toy, small, or puppy poodle, these balls are the perfect size to play fetch with. They are durable and waterproof, so you can throw them in the water and let your poodle show off their swimming skills to retrieve it. They are also bacon-scented, which all dogs love! Tug a war is always a favorite game among poodles. These toys are strong and durable, and your poodle will love playing a game of fetch or tug of war with one of these many shapes. Poodles and Exercise I mentioned many times how much energy poodles have and the importance they stay active. There are many other reasons for proper exercise other than just behavioral benefits. Exercise can help lengthen your poodles life-span and combat many other health problems they might experience. Making sure your poodle exercises for the correct amount of time, on a daily bases, and at the right level can have the following benefits. Digestion help- prevents constipation and helps with regular bowel movements Increase of muscle tone which can prevent injuries Increase of blood circulation which helps combat cardiovascular disease Decrease the occurrence of UTI because it promotes healthy urination Slows down the development of arthritis Playing fetch is an excellent exercise to release quick amounts of energy, but regular walks with your poodle are the most beneficial type of activity for this bread of dog. Here is why: Walking is low impact and easy on their joints and muscles. All you need is a leash and harness. Puppy Poodles-The The duration of your walks or the amount of time you exercise your poodle depends on its size and type. For toy and miniature poodles, it is important not to over-exercise them as puppies. This can affect bone growth. Keeping walks shorter and at a slower pace for these small puppies is important Adults Poodles-As your poodle reaches adulthood, you can increase your walk time and pace. Most adult poodles need about 60 minutes of walk time a day, and it is best if this is done in two 30 minute sessions or three 20 minute ones. Senior Poodles-Even as your poodle reaches his or her senior years, it is vital to keep up their walking routine. Fresh air is known to help their moods. Just make sure to decrease the duration and pace of your walks. Walking Poodles in Different Weather Conditions Whether it is hot or cold outside, weather can affect your desire or ability to walk your poodle. Try morning and cooler evening walks. Always bring water and take a water break in the shade. Protect their nose with sunscreen. In the summer, swimming is another excellent exercise for your poodle. They are great swimmers, and it is an excellent low-impact activity. Make sure you wash their coat off with shampoo afterward, and if you are in an area with deeper water, a doggie life vest is always a safe option. Cold Weather Again, protect those paws. Paw wax or no-slip paw show to keep those paws warm Dress you and your poodle appropriately. A vest or sweater can help keep your poodle warm during those colder winter walks. Protect their noses from getting chapped with a nose butter. If it is just too cold to go outside, make sure to play and give your poodle plenty of playtime in the house. Playing fetch and letting them run a little more in the house will help them get out their energy. Best Treat Toys for Poodles Poodles love treats, and treats can be a useful training tool. They can also be a motivator to play and help keep your poodle active. Some qualities of a good treat toy include: Capacity-It can hold a good amount of treats. You do not want to have to refill it after only a few minutes of play. Variety-It can hold many different sizes of treats. Difficulty— It is not too easy for your poodle to get the treat out of it. Strong-You definitely want it to be durable. Size-make sure the size fits the size of your poodle. Poodles come in many sizes, so making sure the toy is appropriate for their size is important. These are some great options for treat toys for poodles: 1. Depending on the size of your poodle, you can pick the size that will fit them best. It is durable and machine washable. The unique shape of this toy will provide your poodle with extra entertainment because they will not know which way the toy will bounce. This toy is great for stuffing all different kinds of treats inside, and it can even be frozen before play to add an extra level of excitement. Outward Hound Ottosson Puzzle Brick Dog Toy Not only will this toy dispense a treat to your poodle, but it will also exercise their mind. Poodles are highly intelligent, and it is important to also stimulate their minds and keep them thinking. Puzzle games that dispense treats are a great way to accomplish this. This puzzle game can help reduce boredom and destructive behaviors. It will make treat giving stimulating and interactive. This game is a level 2 puzzle game, so it will not be too easy for your smart poodle. It is hand washable and easy to clean. Keeping Your Poodle Happy and Healthy. The bond between you and your poodle can be very special. Poodles love affection and the attention of their owners. Through proper training, play, and exercise, you can establish a routine and lifestyle that will bring happiness and longevity to your poodle. Toys are a great way to interact with your poodle and provide them with fun. They can be used to help train and discipline your poodle. They can also help give your poodle comfort when you are not physically there. The most important thing is to find something that your poodle loves and will help increase their quality of living. I hope you found it helpful. Here are some products that I personally believe every owner should employ to help ensure the best quality of life for their dogs. But in all honesty, these are the exact products that I use and recommend to everyone, even my own family. Lemonade Pet Insurance : Lemonade Pet Insurance has enabled me to afford a very high level of veterinary care for my dog, Angus. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. This program actually works, and at a small fraction of the cost of hiring a dog trainer! Pet Plate is the dog food subscription service I use to provide extremely healthy, pre-portioned meals for my dog. Pet Plate gives my dog Angus the highest quality nutrition at a very affordable price. BarkBox : Without a doubt, my dog enjoys Barkbox more than anything else I buy him. BarkBox delivers a customized box of themed toys, treats, and other products to your door each month. In addition, I like that a percentage of proceeds is donated to local animal shelters. I Purchase this service for my dog Angus and have saved hundreds of dollars over visiting his local vet with questions or more minor health concerns. Brent Hartman I'm Brent Hartman. I've been a dog lover my entire life and have owned many animals over the years. When my black lab Angus passed away, I was looking for another friend to share my life with. As a result of my research, I've come to love poodles and wanted to share some of what I've learned with you. Whether you're looking to adopt a poodle, or already own one, I created Poodle report to be the ultimate guide to help you find the answers you need. Recent Posts. Side note: I do not recommend getting rope toys to play tug-o-war with your dog. In my opinion, they are quite dangerous for two reasons. First, they tend to fray easily, leaving behind strands of string that might cause digestive obstruction in your dog if swallowed. Bottom line? Ready now? Endorsed by veterinarians globally, serving as a secure plaything for active dogs. Its ability to keep their dog busy and anxiety-free, without any choking hazards, makes it a must-have. Another reviewer, owning a mini Aussie doodle, praised its endless chewing appeal. Although there are a few concerns about its long-term durability, most owners agree on its value for money. Includes various obstacles and steps to keep dogs mentally stimulated. Promotes positive play habits, reduces anxiety, and redirects destructive behavior. This interactive dog toy made by Outward Hound has garnered over , positive reviews among dog owners, myself included. It makes for a super enjoyable and stimulating play time for intelligent and playful dogs! Small breed owners appreciate its suitability for their pups, and its versatile design with rounded plastic corners ensures safety during play. Many users also appreciate the option to freeze treats inside the toy and its easy-to-open lids. However, it may not be the best choice for heavy chewers. Overall, this toy presents a fun and mentally engaging option for dogs, especially those of smaller breeds. Classic Dog Ball Launcher Upgrade the game of fetch with an interactive dog toy that enhances throwing speed and distance effortlessly. Designed to extend reach and keep hands slobber-free while reducing bending over to pick up muddy balls. Compatible with 2. This toy by ChuckIt has received lots of positive reviews from users on the internet. One user, initially skeptical, discovered the value of the product for their ball-obsessed lab. They invested in multiple ChuckIts and found it helped maintain their arm strength during playtime. While some experienced minor issues with slobbery balls sticking inside the cup, it was easily avoidable by removing and replacing the ball. The Chuckit itself remained durable, and users found cost-effective alternatives by using standard tennis balls. Play fetch and interact with your canine companion during pet exercise with this lightweight dog play toy that features a unique S-shape design. This recyclable puppy chew toy also includes a manufacturer Love It Guarantee against damage. Easily clean this dog tug toy for chase and fetch games by adding it to the top rack of your dishwasher. The Zogoflex from West Paws has garnered positive reviews from more than 5, satisfied dog owners on the internet and I personally own one too. For high-energy pups keen on chewing, fetching, and tug-o-war, this toy comes highly recommended. Even for tough chewers like Labradors, the toy impressively withstands their play, making it a worthwhile investment. Though not the cheapest option but still very reasonable! Each unstuffed toy has 3 independent squeaker zones for enhanced entertainment for small and medium dogs. Soft and durable puppy toys, machine washable for easy cleaning, ensuring longevity and fluffiness. In this pack, you will find a set of three squeaky animals. For less squeak-focused dogs, it provides enjoyment, and the lack of internal fluff prevents mess. However, some users found the squeakers not durable enough, losing their sound after moderate usage. Aggressive chewers, quickly destroyed the toy, ripping open the head and potentially posing a risk if the squeaker is swallowed. While some dogs may enjoy these toys, they are not suitable for aggressive chewers or those who prioritize squeaking ability. Lightweight, durable, weather, and water-resistant for long-lasting performance. Ideal for medium and large breeds, measuring 12 inches long. Ensured safety with rigorous testing for endless family fun. In my experience, this toy has a number of uses, for example as a tug-o-war toy or for a game of fetch. However, I find that it is most useful when used in the pool. Boxer owners found it to be one of the best toys, standing the test of time even during tugging and chewing sessions. However, for other dogs like a large retriever, it remains durable, perfect for fetch and retrieve games with excellent flotation. Overall, this toy showcases durability and versatility, catering to different playstyles and breeds. Made from durable nylon and heavy-duty rubber to withstand strong chewers. Interactive toy to cure boredom, promoting long-lasting play and calming anxiety for dogs over 6 months old. This particular toy features rotating soft brushes and treat rings, and has garnered mixed but generally positive reviews from internet users. While some dogs tend to destroy it quickly, its effectiveness when new keeps users repurchasing it. Take note though, it requires supervision, as dogs may dismantle it, and there are concerns about choking hazards and cracked plastic pieces. For some dogs, the toy provides extended playtime, with treats keeping them occupied for at least half an hour. I think this will be super beneficial for poodle owners whose dogs finish treats too quickly. Perfect for beginners, helping dogs learn tricks, commands, and strengthening the bond. Includes 1 square collapsible tunnel, 4 weave poles, and an adjustable jump, offering multiple ways to play. Convenient and portable with a lightweight set and a storage bag for easy home use. I love this kit! Be aware though, that the kit is made up of a few different parts which you have to purchase separately. The puppy gets particularly obsessed and even whines if she seesit being kept away. The toy has proven to be durable and has a good length, allowing an owner to use it even while standing on the couch. Soft material designed for teething puppies. Textured chew toy with bristles for teeth cleaning and plaque prevention. Features delicious bacon flavor loved by dogs. A few of the stories that really struck me was a week-old puppy that took a liking to these chew toys, keeping him engaged and relieved teething discomfort. The toys prevented destructive behavior and proved effective for the teething phase. One owner liked it so much that he repurchased it multiple times for their now 2-year-old pup, who still loves the toy. While it eventually breaks down with heavy use, the toy has been durable for a few months with occasional chewing. Putting it in the freezer also worked well for some dogs, soothing their gums during teething. One of the top additions if you are a puppy owner, in my opinion. Eases anxiety during transitions and stressful events like fireworks and thunderstorms. Easy to use, made from certified safe and durable fabric, and machine washable heartbeat and heat pad removable. This has got to be one of the most highly-rated cuddling toys for dogs, whether they are adults or puppies. Just go read the reviews online! And I love it for many reasons. For new puppy owners, it proved beneficial in comforting their pups during crate training, helping them sleep through the night. It is also super durable. Why are Play and Toys Important to Poodles? Provide physical exercise Play and toys are important to poodles since they serve as the gateway for these dogs to engage in physical exercise. The time your dog spends playing with its toys keeps them moving which exercises and stretches their muscles. The exercise also helps them maintain a healthy weight, and it could even boost their cardiovascular health! Help stimulate the mind We all know that Poodles are smart dogs, constantly out and about thinking of what better to do during their free time. Letting your poodle play with toys will surely keep their intelligent minds busy. If you can see your poodle behaving bothered and looking bored, try giving him an interactive puzzle toy for dogs. Boost social skills Play and toys let poodles interact with their dog owners. Often, poodles will bring toys to their owners as a way of engaging in play. This simple act also makes poodles friendlier and more playful, which makes them even more adorable! There are teething toys out there that are even recommended by vets, especially if the poodle is still a teething puppy. Playing with chew toys and teething toys will also let your poodle remove plaque and tartar in his mouth on his own. No more constant messy toothbrushing! Hence when they get bored or anxious, they typically resort to destructive behavior. But with toys available for poodles to play with their boredom, anxiety, or stress can easily be handled. Yes, Poodles do need a wide variety of toys. You see, there are some poodles, especially the young ones, who need teething toys to alleviate their teething throes. Factors in Choosing Poodle Toys Size appropriate Poodles come in three sizes; standard, miniature, and toy poodle. Chew resistant Poodles are quite the chewers, I should say. Chew-resistant toys are widely available in pet stores and even in vet clinics. They are safer since no parts will be chewed off and swallowed by your dog. Many reputable manufacturers will indicate the material they use, especially pet-safe ones. Interactive and mental stimulation It pays to consider if a toy can provide mental challenges and games that are interactive yet fun to play. When you do so, you give them the opportunity to stimulate their minds and keep them busy for hours. Products that are proven to be durable can save you more than just a few dollars, but also the potential for loose parts to come off and pose a swallowing threat. No small parts This is really important to me — making sure that the toys for poodles have no small parts. Small parts can be torn off by your poodle, which it might accidentally swallow and choke on. Budget Having a dog can surely add a huge expense to your budget, and buying toys that are way too expensive is unwise especially if your dog will only play with them a few times. That said, I would prioritize safety and quality over anything else, and if money is indeed an issue, I rather wait to get a better one. However, some toys are durable enough to last a long time before getting destroyed. How many toys should I provide for my poodle? As a general guideline, I recommend having a variety of toys to keep your poodle mentally and physically stimulated. Start with toys and observe which types of toys your poodle enjoys the most. Rotate them regularly to keep them interesting and prevent boredom. Are some materials dangerous for my poodle? Yes, there are materials that are dangerous for your poodle, such as PVC and lead, both of which are toxic to dogs when exposed too often. Choose a reputable retailer and exercise extreme caution if you DIY your own dog toy. Why do poodles destroy their toys? Standard poodles typically destroy their toys because of their natural prey drive. But miniature and toy poodles usually destroy their dogs just out of boredom or anxiety. Regular brushing and visits to the vet are still needed. In Conclusion: Best Toys for Poodles I hope that this article has helped you in finding the right poodle dog toy and add a touch of spice to your life! Know someone who might benefit from this information? Please share this article with them. And do consider joining our community of responsible pet parents too! Share this post! Right now, I am still heavily involved in dog parenting duties, and it is my desire to share all our knowledge with fellow dog owners out there! Popular Posts.

Black and Red German Shepherds: Characteristics Black and Red German Shepherds: Characteristics 1 Red and Black Fur They have a dense, double-layered fur coat that can either be smooth or fluffy; they have a thick undercoat and a longer, coarser overcoat, and their coloration ranges from deep mahogany to golden-yellow, with black markings along their legs and backs. The lighter hues of red might often appear as cream or tan, whereas the darker shades are generally more vibrant red. Moreover, their saddle and mask are deep black, and typically they have a black nose and dark brown eyes, as well as whitish markings on their chest. No two specimens of this breed are the same and different from each other in having different amounts, different intensities, and different sites of coloration and texture. Because the color distribution is patchy and no two blotches are on the same site, even in very closely related dogs, they differ greatly. Occasionally, fresh fruits and vegetables can be given as treats, which will provide the dog with essential vitamins, minerals, and fibers along with their rich general dog food. These German shepherds can make great watchdogs and excellent working dogs. We can see these dogs being used in a variety of roles, ranging from rescue and service work to official police and military work. They do, however, require a variety of exercises and mental stimulation to thrive because they are an active dog breed. They also need a lot of space to run and play. As a matter of fact, they need owners who can offer firm yet gentle leadership and have much patience to handle their tantrums when needed. These dogs are devoted companions who are very protective of their families and homes and thrive in an environment where they feel like they are a part of the family and are treated as equally as other members of the family. As we know that they are an energetic dog breed, they love working, playing fetch with their owners, and going on daily walks, romps, and jogs in a securely fenced backyard, in addition to swimming and playing with interactive toys. These habits can keep them happy and healthy and even help train them. Also, most importantly, they need to be properly socialized because they may have aggression issues or fear, and socializing will help them from becoming overly aggressive and will help reduce the risks of behavioral issues. Above all, a lack of proper training may result in these dogs herding the pets and children of other families pets and children. They should be introduced to new people and other animals when they are puppies to prevent this. Certainly, these training and exercises will make the dog well-behaved, responsive to commands, as well as attentive. Their strong inclination to please their owners is the main reason why they are popularly bred and are used as service dogs, and because of this nature and their intelligence, loyalty, and trainability, they are perfectly suitable for various tasks. They may get affected by eye diseases, hip and elbow dysplasia, and various skin issues. So, it becomes more necessary to feed them a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet and take them to regular veterinary check-ups. Note- We are not breeders; these prices are based on online sales shown on Google. Prices may differ depending on region to region. Here, we have taken the reference of dogbreedslist , marketplace , outdoordogfun and other dog websites. Also, this post is only for educational purposes. You should make sure that the puppy has a good appetite and is well-socialized. You can opt for a reputed breeder to buy the dog or look for a canine rescue or animal shelter where you may find a red and black German shepherd in need of a home. Before purchasing or bringing a red and black German shepherd into your home, you should be aware of how to properly care for them, provide them with a variety of physical and mental stimulation exercises and training, and ensure they are well socialized. You should provide your dog with regular grooming sessions and regular veterinary care; proper hygiene should also be maintained through nail trimming and teeth cleaning. You should also give them interactive toys to play with and take them for regular walks and runs; you should also set aside some time each day to teach them the necessary commands. Black and Red German shepherds are not recognized as a unique breed by standard breeders or major kennel clubs. Tina Barber developed the Red Shiloh Shepherd, also known as the Shiloh Shepherd, in the mids as a hybrid of various existing German Shepherd lines. Red and black German Shepherds come in a range of colors; they may have a lighter, reddish-tan color or a darker mahogany color. Red and black German Shepherds are one of the most popular and rare colors of the breed. They are usually intelligent and loyal, and they even make great companions. The black and red coloration is seen due to the combination of two recessive genes that must be passed down from both parents in order to appear in the puppy. Red and black German Shepherds have a higher IQ and are, therefore, easily trainable. They also have double-coated fur to protect them from intense wind, snow, or rain and also help them regulate their body temperatures. Nonetheless, this double-coated fur provides them with an impressive, luxurious, and fluffy look, which is why so many of us adore them as pets. They make great family pets because of their highly sociable and loving nature, as well as great working dogs because of their courageous instincts. They have a strong protective instinct, and many cases and videos resurface from time to time of these dogs protecting children and their owners, even at the cost of their own lives. Undoubtedly, they are very loyal to their owners. Red and black German Shepherds are used as service dogs by police and military forces all around the world, and they make excellent guard dogs. We will be back with many interesting posts. Till then stay tuned with us and read the articles mentioned below. Adults have hips and elbows certified and are health tested. All are AKC registered and many have dual country registration. .All Vom Westerman German Shepherds are bred for excellent temperament, strong bones and healthy bodies. While they make excellent protection and competition candidates, they bond well and are very loyal and loving family dogs. Through our partnership with various well qualified trainers throughout the United States we can make Custom Training of your new German Shepherd puppy a reality. Every German Shepherd has natural instincts for work and protection. Our beautiful Red and Black German Shepherd Puppies are well socialized and can be delivered directly to your door by our excellent canine transporter. Ask us about our Special Discount! Our purebred puppies are whelped and raised in our home. They interact with and become a part of our family to prepare them to be a part of your family. He brings classic red and black beauty to all of his puppies. Peik is still very viable for breeding purposes and socially ready for rehoming. Enjoy more education with our articles on German shepherd puppy health, training your German shepherd import adult, buying from a German shepherd breeder etc. Please enjoy these blog posts. More to come. Join our RSS Feed. Testimonials: What others say about us Hello Dr. He is growing incredibly fast, the red is really starting to show and his ears are making their first attempts at coming up. Your method definitely has produced a solid, stable pup that was incredibly well socialized from day one. Having seen the kennels when I picked up Solo and seen the sweet, lovable temperament of both Parla and Kati it is no wonder the pups are so nice. Anyway, thanks again. In an age when the internet can make anyone look good, you guys are the real deal. Thanks again for putting this deal together. Our pup is such a delight. She seems to be housebroken as we have had zero accidents! Very playful pup indeed. Your service and assistance has truly been world class. With appreciation Ohio Dear Peter: As I indicated to you on the telephone I have spent a considerable amount of time researching breeders of quality German Shepherd Dogs with a hour drive. Having done so I have concluded that you offer exactly what we have been looking for. Your ethics, quality of dogs you breed, concern for the proper placement and a willingness to help educate us so that we can become the best possible owners that this puppy deserves is invaluable. Also, the fact that you do this for the love of the breed as opposed to earning a living means a lot not to mention the pricing structure. Pricing them so that they are affordable to the average family is another indicator of your character. West Virginia Dr. He has been nothing but wonderful. It has only been two days and he is already learning our routine. He is a very intelligent and beautiful pup. We could not be any more pleased. Thank you for everything. He is truly everything I was looking for. He looks forward to being worked and has the desire to please me no matter what we are doing. His personality is not only exactly what I was looking for but he has an incredible nose and great play drive! His obedience is going great and we have also started his tracking. I have also finished the first phase of the obstacle course my parents have at their business, which he loves as well! I attached a picture of him on the obstacle course at my parents business. Thanks again for everything! He is such an amazing puppy! We plan on teaching him something new every week. Thanks again for this amazing addition to our lives! Texas I had to write you again. Smartest dog ever! He already knows how to sit and lie down after only 4 days! US As you said, a super specimen…… He has a sister named Quenda, I started to show her, conformation and they are very sociable with others in the events. People ask me where Argos comes from. .I give the your name. Your honesty and care through the entire process helped ease our anxiety and we now know that there is no other dog for us…Jeck is wonderful, more than anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for taking the time to hear us out, learn what we wanted in a new family member, and most importantly your honestly though the process. We will keep you up to date on Jeck. We are importers and breeders of German Shepherds located in Florida. Our goal is to place fine pedigreed German Shepherds with families to become their next legend, protector and companion. This website has a wealth of information in our K-9 college as well as over 50 articles we have written on everything from breeding to training, for you to use. It has been our pleasure to share our experience with you so that your experience will be a great one with these incredible animals. We only work with a couple of top kennel partners in Europe, one which we have worked with for years, are trusted and respected within the field and are personal friends of ours for many years. Many come back to us after 10, 15 years for their next dog. Young dogs we consider to import for a client will have the following characteristics or requirements: Started in obedience, many also in protection. Started means all the foundation is set. They know how to learn and have already learned the basics of obedience. We can provide even further training prior to ship if you so desire. We consider this a more accurate predictor of joint health than the OFA requirement of 2 years. So every young German Shepherd we import must be at least 1 year old. Also by this time most of the congenital problems have surfaced and we have a much better probability of knowing if a German Shepherd has any physiological problems by that time which lowers your risk substantially of buying a German Shepherd with issues. This is a requirement for every dog we place. Videos and pictures: We will give you as many pictures and a couple of videos for you to see the dog moving and interacting as well as see the size and pigmentation and conformation. Full Pedigree analysis telling you about bloodlines and the highpoints of the dog in question Temperament analysis: We and our partners do a thorough analysis of young dogs in terms of how well they interact with other animals, with humans, energy level, drive, courage, etc. We will ask you questions about your living situation, experience, family, etc in order to aid us in matching a dog to you situation. At years old, these imported German Shepherds are still fairly adolescent and easy to matriculate into a home. Please refer to our philosophy and the Banffy Method for a description of our approach to puppies. I think you will be impressed. We stand with you through the entire process and try to make it an effortless and pleasant process. We use professional freight forwarders who will ensure your dog is taken care of. We have never had a dog arrive sick or injured in 20 years. The price of the dog includes it all. The black and red German Shepherd is less familiar. Show line red and black German Shepherds are a special and loveable breed for a reason. Working Line Vs. Over time, the dogs were bred to be kept as pets and show dogs because of how friendly they were and how easily they could be trained. There are two common lines of German Shepherds today, the work line and the show line. The working line German Shepherd has a straight back and a more powerful and compact body and is hardworking with high energy. The show line German Shepherd has a sloped back, and a broader body and is generally friendlier and less intense. The show line is usually calmer and makes a great family pet. Black and red German Shepherds are intelligent, confident, brave, and friendly. They are very susceptible to training and are some of the most devoted, loyal, and loving dogs. Here are some of the things about the black and red German Shepherd that makes it so special: Black and red German Shepherds are the most common shepherd dogs used as show dogs. They are obedient, easy to train, and enjoy training, games, obstacle courses, and more. The red color can vary quite a bit. Some dogs have tan and black coloring; you also see mahogany German Shepherds and those with darker red and black coloring. The red-colored fur comes from a recessive gene. However, the red recessive gene is one of the least recessive genes for different fur colors, which is why black and red coloring is quite common. Over time, as the dog gets older, its red color can fade to lighter mahogany or a tan color. This is because some dogs have the liver gene, which causes a brownish color to develop. Because of the presence of this gene, many dog breeders keep black and red German Shepherds separate from the brown or tan ones. The dogs can have different coat lengths. The black and red long-haired German Shepherd is a sight to behold. Their coats can also be medium-length or short. Vom Royalhaus is a world-renowned German Shepherd puppy breeder. Visit our website for more information and to learn more about our dogs. I have written before on this issue but would like to address it once more. Although pigment is important, this obsession with deep reds and black, and the economic pressure of demand risks forcing pigment to the top of the list of German shepherd characteristics in the breeding programs of German shepherd breeders. This is not in itself bad unless it leads to a demotion of other critical characteristics such as phenotype, gender specific traits, temperament, working drive, or other breed standard requirements. This is what happened with the American lines in which the gene pool was markedly damaged by over-emphasis of show characteristics even to the disintegration of the health of the breed with increased exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, degenerative spine issues, joint dysplasia etc. What are we doing? We had better beware if this overemphasis causes damage even to our breeding inventory of West German lines. Are we so vain that we choose our dogs based largely on color? The German shepherd is a working dog, a marvel of intelligence and ability, one of the top three most intelligent dogs in the world. They are a marvel to see jumping gracefully over the jumps and rounding the blinds at blinding speed. I have witnessed what happens with overemphasis on outward appearances with the over-angulation. I remember watching with horror as a shepherd attempted to jump, only to be constrained by their distorted rear quarters and clumsily tripped and fell, rolling over in ignominy. How sad. Our Blog.

There can also be a lot of unknowns about them due to the variations in appearance and temperament. Look at what your mama gave you: And your papa, for that matter. What sort of appearance and temperament do their mom and dad have? A responsible breeder will be able to tell you what to expect. Great for families and new owners: This mix creates a perfect dog for new owners, families! They are small, loyal, and affectionate dogs, and basic obedience training goes a long way to preventing any behavioral issues. And while the Dachshund tends to be a vocal watchdog, the Pug is more laid back and balances that out. The class clown: These guys are total goofballs and love to please their people! They are quirky and clever, so they are bound to keep you entertained with their antics. History and Original Purpose of Pug Dachshund Mix The Pug Dachshund mix is a very new designer breed of dog that was created sometime in the 20th century — most likely in the s or s. The Pug was around prior to the 16th century as a lap dog to Chinese emperors. They were considered to be rare treasured pets to the imperial court along with the Pekingese and Shih Tzu. The rest, as they say, is history. Dachshunds , on the other hand, originated in Germany as hunting dogs to repel pests, like badgers, by getting into their burrows and forcing them out — hence their unique body shape. Their bravery, stubbornness, and intelligence have persisted through the centuries. They make excellent companions that will have you laughing over their goofy antics. Pugsunds are incredibly devoted to their owners and love to people, please. You get the best of both worlds with Pug Dachshund mix because of the relaxed lap dog Pug side plus the tenacious and feisty Dachshund side. This leads to a creature who enjoys all the comforts of life and will happily chill out at home with you, and also one who will also happily join you on your adventures. Their people-pleasing nature can be channeled into productive training if you use the proper positive reinforcement. While they may not be suited to obedience competitions anytime soon, they are certainly capable of mastering some basic obedience. Veterinarian professionals across the globe have condemned the propagation of short-faced breeds, including mixes, because of this. Be aware that if you are getting a dog with a flat face also known as brachycephaly , you should be prepared to manage health risks and complications. As a relatively new breed, there can still be a lot of unknowns when it comes to temperament, appearance, and living requirements. A large part of this variability will depend on the parents of the specific dog you end up getting. This mix is a combination of two breeds that can have stubborn personalities. Pug Dachshund Mix Temperament The temperament of the Pug Dachshund mix can vary depending on the dominant traits of their parents. A good breeder will be able to tell you what to expect based on the parents of the litter. In general, Pug Dachshund mixes are loyal and devoted companions who love nothing more than to be by your side. The Pug side makes them a great lap dog that will lounge around with you and watch Netflix. They can be prone to separation anxiety and obsessive behaviors like chewing, licking, and barking if not properly trained. This can also mean that they will not recall when off-leash if they find something of interest to chase or sniff. All in all, Daugs have the potential to be good and friendly companions. Appropriate obedience training is necessary to channel any stubborn or aggressive energy. How long does a Pug Dachshund Mix live? The Pug Dachshund can live for 13 to 15 years! That being said, they can be prone to health problems. Size and Appearance of Pug Dachshund Mix Size and appearance can vary quite a lot with this mix because it will all depend on their lineage. Pugsund are generally around 8 to 11 inches tall and 15 to 25 lbs. Most of them also have the longer Dachshund body and the flat face of a Pug. That being said, it is possible to find Daugs with the longer Dachshund snout, which is also beneficial for the health of the animal — more on that below. Full-grown Pug Dachshund mixes can be small to medium-sized dogs. This will largely depend on how big their parents are. Pug Dachshund Mix Coat Color Coat color and texture can also be found in many different forms due to the variety of color options seen in Dachshunds. Dachshund coats can be smooth, long, or wirey and the color combinations are extensive: black, chocolate, blue, cream, red, black and tan, brindle, wild boar, chocolate and tan, piebald, black and cream, dapple, brindle piebald, double dapple, tri merle, chocolate, and cream, or piebald dapple Pugs, however, have pretty standard and recognizable coloring patterns. Most often they are apricot, fawn, or silver fawn with darker facial features. There are also black, brindle, and white pugs. Depending on the coloring and coat type of the parents, your Pug Dachshund mix could be any variety of these! However, they are most commonly smooth-coated apricot with darker facial features. The caveat here is if they have longer fluffier fur from a long-hair Dachshund parent, then they may need more regular brushing and grooming to prevent matting. Brushing once a week is sufficient for these guys with shorter coats. Bathing is another important part of their care. Dogs with skin folds can be prone to skin infections when dirt and bacteria get trapped. Wipe the ears periodically with a warm damp washcloth or special veterinary wipes to keep them clean, but never put anything inside them. With dogs that are less active, nail trimming becomes even more important. Prevent them from growing too long by trimming their nails every 4 to 6 weeks. A Dremmel tool makes an excellent nail trimming device. There are lots of videos on Youtube that demonstrate how to do this and how to avoid the quick. How much exercise does a Pug Dachshund mix need? Pug Dachshund mixes fall right in the middle of the spectrum when it comes to exercise and training needs. The Dachshund is clever and requires a moderate amount of physical activity and mental stimulation to prevent bad behaviors. Meanwhile, the Pug is a comfy lap dog who is quite happy to lounge around. Both breeds are also prone to weight gain, so getting enough physical activity is important to maintain good health. The Pug Dachshund mix needs about minutes of exercise each day. This should be broken up into a few walks throughout the day. For example, 2 to 4 walks that are 15 minutes each should do the trick! However, be mindful of the difficulty level with a brachycephalic dog because they cannot breathe very well, so the pace must be easy for them. Their small size also makes it easy to incorporate physical activity indoors. Throw around their favorite plush toy for a game of fetch, or grab a rope toy for a game of tug of war. This is especially important on hot days because flat-faced breeds will struggle in the heat. How easy is it to train a Pug Dachshund mix? The combination of the stubborn Dachshund with the people-pleaser pug creates a mix that can be moderately easy to train. Start early with socializing your Pug Dachshund mix puppy and definitely get into some puppy obedience classes to get the basics down pat. Lots of positive reinforcement in the form of praise will teach them how pleased you are and will go a long way. Pug Dachshund Mix Health Problems Pugs are prone to a number of health problems due to their flat faces. As cute as they are, they often struggle to breathe and get enough air. This flat-faced or short-faced condition is known as brachycephaly and is an inherited trait in the Pug Dachshund mix. It is known to cause breathing problems because the nasal cavity is compressed in these breeds. This in turn makes dogs with brachycephaly intolerant to heat or exercise. It can also lead to a collapse of the larynx, which is a life-threatening emergency. Brachycephalic breeds such as the Pug and the Pugsunds are also prone to spine problems, eye injuries from bulging eyes, and infections in a skin fold. Dachshunds have their own health issues. Emergencies and illnesses are virtually inevitable with a pet dog. This is where pet insurance can help! For a relatively low monthly premium, you can be protected in the event of a large vet bill. Pick a high-quality dry dog kibble and follow the instructions on the side of the bag. Those instructions will tell you how much kibble your pup needs each day based on its size and the nutritional value of the kibble. Each kibble is formulated differently, so some foods may fit in more calories into a smaller serving size i. Sort of like if we were to eat a cup of grapes vs a cup of raisins, or comparing a cup of cheese to a cup of milk. Avoid giving them table scraps or calorie-dense treats. The freeze-dried liver is a great treatment option! Is the Pugsund good with children? The short answer is: yes! The Pug Dachshund is an affectionate and playful breed. Monitor them closely with young children and be sure to provide proper introductions. Both should know to be gentle and kind to each other. No snatching treats out of little hands and no little hands grabbing onto ears or skin folds. Otherwise, they are goofy and fun-loving animals that love to bond with the whole family! Does a Pugsund get along with other pets? As with children, Pug Dachshund mixes simply require proper introductions to other pets. They are unlikely to go chasing after the resident house cat or guinea pig, as long as they have been properly introduced. This also provides the opportunity to provide gentle correction in the event that someone does behave inappropriately. How much does a Pug Dachshund Mix Cost? A reputable breeder will be registered with their local breed club and national kennel club. Puppies that come from mills or farms are often riddled with genetic health issues, which will get expensive for you in the long run. They will often be taken away from their mothers too soon, leading to behavior problems too. You can also likely find a Pug Dachshund mix for adoption through various shelters and rescue organizations! These fees are often to recoup the cost of veterinary care and fostering the animal in their care. Final Thoughts Pug Dachshund mixes can make great family dogs that are great for new owners and apartment dwellers. There is one major caveat though, and that is all of the health complications that this mix can be riddled with. The biggest one being flat-faced brachycephalic genetics. Brachycephalic breeds are largely unethical due to the health problems and breathing difficulties that accompany the face shape. They will struggle to breathe in hot climates and during most forms of activity. While they are adorable, the vast majority of vet professionals condemn the breeding of brachycephalic breeds. Other Dachshund Mixes. Most of them are deeply attached to their master and would be content in staying in their laps just like the Pug. The Dachshund Pug mix always craves for a company and would resort to destructive activities when left alone for prolonged periods. They are extremely cautious and wary when strangers are around the domain of their home, while a few might even be aggressive enough the moment they spot an unknown face like the Dachshund, a trait that makes them excel as good watchdogs. However, once they get to understand that the unfamiliar person is of no harm to their family, the Daug would display friendliness towards them. They are frequent barkers, a trait inherited from its Dachshund parent and may be quite vocal about the intrusion of an unknown person into its territory. They get along well with children also sharing a comfortable rapport with other dogs and non-canine pets, provided they have been brought up or socialized to interact with them. However, they might display a territorial nature and even an urge to chase smaller pets, thus needing supervision during their interaction. Care Exercise Though an energetic breed, they have low exercise needs and would suffice with one long walk or two short ones on a daily basis. Since they thrive well in apartments, giving them balls, soft toys and other interactive playthings would help in providing mental stimulation. Grooming Since the Pugsund is a low to moderate shedder, it has low grooming requirements, being perfect for busy owners. Combing it on a bi-weekly basis using a brush with soft bristles would be fine, though during the shedding seasons regular brushing is recommended. Clean between the areas of its wrinkles and folds to prevent bacterial built up, if your Daug has too much of it like its Pug parent. Other hygiene requirements include cleaning its eyes and ears, trimming its nails as well as brushing its teeth on a regular basis. Since most of them are not as flat-faced as the Pug, they might not suffer from severe breathing problems as the latter. Training Though they are intelligent and eager-to-please their masters, the Daug might be stubborn and obstinate at times, thus needing a firm hand to deal with it tactfully. Socializing the Daug puppies are of utmost importance so that they get to mix with different people and get acquainted with various kinds of environments from a young age, which would eventually help them to identify the good from the bad. To help them overcome their territorial nature and chasing instinct, take them to dog parks quite often, though with a leash so that they get to meet several dogs and gradually come to know them. To help it get over its urge to bark unnecessarily, teach him to bark only on command. His exposure to varied situations would gradually help him understand when to be vocal and when not to. Feeding Feed you Dachshund Pug mix a good quality dog food in combination with nutritious homemade diet to keep it healthy. A Daug will be satisfied with a little playtime inside and a short walk each day. Daugs are very distrusting of strangers and newcomers. When you have guests over, it will take a while for your Daug to warm up to them. Daugs can have Brachycephalic Syndrome. Pugs are known for their flat, wrinkly faces with protruding eyes. While not all Daugs get this characteristic look, some of them do inherit the altered bone structure. For these Daugs, brachycephalic syndrome is a possibility. This is a genetic condition that all Pugs have and might pass on to some Daugs. You can tell which ones are prone to it by looking at their face. The ones that have a look more similar to a pug with a short snout and bulging eyes are the ones that are susceptible to this syndrome. Daugs are very loyal and they bond closely with one person. If you leave a Daug alone for too long, it might start to bark and fuss. Commonly, this leads to separation anxiety in Daugs. Crate training from an early stage can help to remedy this problem. Because Daugs are very vocal to begin with, one that has separation anxiety can become a real nuisance to neighbors, barking continuously until you return home. Be sure to instill proper training early enough to avoid this potential issue with Daugs. They can be aggressive towards others if not socialized young. Daugs are not overly fond of strangers. They tend to be very wary of anyone new, person or animal. This can be mitigated if a Daug is socialized often and with many people and animals from an early age. It can lead to full-on aggression if not trained out of a Daug. They love to please their owners and are willing to work hard to do so, but they can also be very stubborn at times. Overall, these are very low-maintenance dogs that require little more than your attention. These dogs can adapt well to many different situations, making them great for a range of situations — from apartment living in the city to staying in a large home with more space. Are These Dogs Good for Families? If socialized properly from a young age, Daugs can be good with kids as well. Some of that prey drive is leftover in the Daug, so they have an instinct to chase smaller animals. This hybrid has a coat that sheds a low to a moderate amount. During the regular season, brushing them with a soft bristle brush twice a week is usually enough and increase it to daily brushing once their shedding season comes in. This helps scatter natural oils in their skin which gives them a healthier coat. When it comes to bathing, the full bath should only be given when needed to preserve their natural oil and to prevent them from developing dry skin or dandruff issues. Should your mixed breed inherits more genes from its Pug lineage, owners should be wary of wrinkles and folds and should clean them thoroughly to avoid bacterial buildup. Nail trimming must be done by someone who knows how to do nail clipping. Their ears should be regularly inspected for infection and cleaned once a week. Their teeth should be brushed at least two to three times a week especially that they are vulnerable to dental problems and gum issues. Pug crossed with Dachshund Health Problems The Pug crossed with Dachshund, on average, can live at least 12 and up to 15 years. This means that it will live as far as normal dogs do. However, their shortened legs make them more prone to injuries in the joints and back. Constant wear and tear can also result in major structural problems. To keep them safe, it is better not to allow them to run up on steep terrains or climb up and down the stairs. It would also be great to refrain them from jumping on and off different objects or furniture. Usually, hybrid dog breeds are much healthier compared to their purebred parents. Though, it can still develop the specific genetic health problems both of its parents breed experience. This condition alters the normal function of the body and too much of these steroids for prolonged periods may lead to severe complications and eventually, death. The most common symptoms are excessive appetite, increased thirst and urination, loss of hair, and a pot-bellied appearance. Cataract: This condition refers to the cloudiness in the crystalline lens of the eye which may vary from partial to total opacity. When the eye lens becomes clouded, it prevents light from passing to the retina, which can result in vision loss. Cataract is usually an inherited disease but can also be caused by injuries to the eye or diseases like diabetes mellitus. IVDD intervertebral disc disease : This is a degenerative disease that affects the spinal cord and happens when the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column start to harden. This condition is usually not evident but may be worsened by a trigger such as a wrong jump or fall. The discs that have already been weakened can bring on the acute phase of the disease. Bloat: This condition, also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus GDV , happens when the stomach twists and then gets filled with air. This is an emergency condition as the bloated stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm that causes breathing problems. The force also limits or cuts off the blood flow to the heart or can rupture organs which can both lead to death. Other health issues that mostly come from a Dachshund parent and can affect this mixed breed are seizures , deafness, epilepsy, vaccination sensitivity, skin problems, allergies and yeast infections. Dachshund mixes are susceptible to these problems so remember that a visit to the vet every months is essential to rule out any condition and will ensure sound health of your hybrid. Dachshund Pug Mix Food Requirements All dogs, regardless of breed, have mostly the same nutritional requirements. They need a well-balanced diet consisting of healthy fats, carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein, vitamins, and minerals. If that balance is disturbed, a product like Nutra Thrive dog food supplement can fix it. The Dachshund Pug Mix can also thrive on high-quality dry food as long as it is specially made for their needs, like these best dry dog food for small dogs. Opting for best large breed dry dog food might not be the right choice due to different nutritional needs of petite and grande doggos. You can also give your hybrid cooked meat or approved veggies and canned food once in a while to pamper them. Make sure not to overfeed them as they may gain weight and become obese which may cause different health issues. It is free of grains to ensure that your pup can digest the kibble with no problems at all. It has a collection of nutritious ingredients that will surely benefit this mixed breed. Thirty-six percent of the recipe is comprised by the protein which sources include turkey meal, deboned turkey, and chicken meal. To provide the complex carbohydrates requirements, the pet food also added with peas and potatoes. Plus, an ample amount of healthy fat from salmon oil. Its right blend of ingredients is formulated for overall sound health. Its primary sources of protein are a chicken meal, salmon meal and lamb meal. Other ingredients include brewers rice and brown rice. Dog For Dog Food : This kibble is instead a simple pet food that will provide the essentials. To aid with digestion, the recipe is also brimmed with a healthy amount of fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics. One edge of this kibble is that use two key ingredients — beef and avocados. Beef provides the protein needs while avocados take care of giving the healthy fats your dog needs. Actually, they have low exercise requirements. A long stretch of walk or two short ones daily is sufficient enough to meet their daily exercise needs. You can also bring them to the dog park instead where they can meet other furry friends. At home, you can provide him toys, gifts, or any equipment that can get their mind engages and stimulated. Given their clingy personality, this hybrid would surely love to play with you and your family! This plaything in non-toxic, safe and has three layers of soft yet still durable gauze. Small dogs will have an easy time gripping or carrying it, and it is designed to endure daily chewing. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop: This is a toy that will surely be loved by this mixed breed as it dispenses goodies. It has a compartment where you can hide the treat. The hybrid will be mentally stimulated and will have prolonged hours of fun getting the goodies out. It is a floatable toy so you can use it either on land or in the water. It is S-shaped but stretches out to its total length as your dog pulls it. Playing this with your dog can consume or channels its hidden aggression in a good way. Dachshund Pug Mixed-breed Training Although this mixed breed is smart and would mostly be eager to please their owners, there are times when they can act stubborn and willfully. This makes them moderately easy but slightly slower to train and may require some of your patience. Here are some useful tips to help you train this mixed breed: Early Socialization. Socialization at their young age is critical. You need to introduce them to different people and get them familiarized with other pets, animals, and various types of environment. This will help them identify what is right and what is not. Stay consistent. You may need to be firm with your training schedule. Get a specific time of the day when you would train them. Use Positive Training Techniques. Since their progress may be gradual, you can use positive reinforcement to speed it somehow up. See it to provide them with a neck scratch, pat on the head, or give him some treats when he completed a task. Remember, when you always reward good behavior, it will be faster for your dog to learn things. It is loving, intelligent, sweet, and clingy which makes them an excellent family pet. The hybrid will also be a great playmate for your kids. But, can also act like the cute watchdog that will alert you of any intrusion of a stranger. Just make sure to provide them the same love and attention that will devote to you, you can look forward to having a great companion dog. If you want to see more Doxie mixes, though, take a look at our tables of some fabulous cross-breeds to consider. While they are prone to some health problems, many of these are not related to diet. Like all dogs, it is important to keep them at a healthy weight. Obesity can be particularly troublesome for this breed, as they are more prone to breathing difficulties. The extra weight can seriously cause problems. Measure the amount of food you want to feed your dog and be sure to watch their weight. These dogs are known for not being super active, so the lack of exercise can put them at an even higher risk for obesity. Some of these dogs are prone to food allergies. Therefore, you may need to be a bit careful about what you feed them. They develop after the dog eats the same protein for an extended period. Switch up their main source of protein. In fact, they may be prone to exercise-induced health problems. Many have shortened faces, which can cause breathing problems. Still, these dogs do need exercise. A short walk or two each day is required. These can be replaced by short play sessions. The key here is short. You should not force these dogs to exercise for extended periods. They should be allowed to rest often. You should go out of your way to encourage play, though. These dogs are prone to being quite lazy, which can lead to obesity. Obesity should be avoided at all costs, as these dogs are already prone to enough health problems. The addition of obesity can make them extremely unhealthy. Therefore, they are usually more difficult to train. With that said, they do need quite a bit of socialization. They need to be introduced to many different dogs, people, and situations at a young age. This will help them be friendly and accepting when they are introduced to new people as adults. Puppy classes are very good for this. They provide the opportunity for this dog to meet others in a safe and controlled environment. Often, puppy obedience classes are really about getting the dog socialized, with some extra training thrown in. They do shed quite a bit, though their shedding may be particularly bad during certain times of the year. We do recommend brushing them twice a week to reduce this fur loss. Otherwise, they can quickly cover your house with hair. These brushing sessions will also remove dirt from their coat, elongating the time they can wait between baths. This also spreads around the natural oils in their fur, which can keep their coat and skin healthier. These dogs do not need baths very much as all. We only recommend bathing them if they get physically dirty. Otherwise, they may need a bath every few months at the most. If they have wrinkles on their face, you will need to clean them regularly to prevent bacteria and moisture from building up. Dog wipes are often the best option for this. Both of their parents are prone to a variety of health problems, which this mixed breed can inherit as well. Of course, they do tend to be healthier than either of their parents. Many are still prone to a variety of health conditions, though. In particular, these dogs are prone to brachycephalic syndrome. This can make it difficult for them to breathe, as all the bones and facial muscles are shoved together. These dogs usually cannot breathe properly and have difficulty cooling themselves. This leaves them open to heat exhaustion and exercise-induced collapse. This condition is exactly why these canines are prone to snorting and coughing. Due to their bone structure, these dogs often have eye problems as well. Their eyes tend to pop out of their heads, which causes all sorts of eye problems. The Daug may be affected by extreme brachycephalic syndrome, or they could hardly have it at all. It depends on the shape and size of their muzzle. Dogs with more of a snout will typically be affected less. This condition is extremely common among Dachshunds and affects how their adrenal gland works. It makes it produce far too many hormones, which can make it seem like your dog is growing and aging too quickly. If it is caught early, this condition is treatable. Intervertebral disk disease can occur in dogs with long backs. This condition occurs when the area within the spinal column becomes swollen, cutting off the nerves going to the lower body. Typically, dogs with long backs are more likely to develop this condition. It is usually caused by an injury, jumping, or some similar physical activity. Dogs with IVD will typically experience pain in their lower legs, followed by muscle weakness. Eventually, they will become paralyzed in their lower body, including their legs and bladder. Treatment for this condition includes crate rest and the occasional surgery. Surgery can be helpful for some canines, but it is expensive and does not always work. Minor Conditions.

We strive to match every family to the perfect puppy. With 18 years of experience with Goldendoodles we hope to provide you with a healthy and fun-loving puppy. Our puppies are perfect for anything from family pets to therapy dogs. If you already are a part of the doodle family, or are looking to join it, we will do our best to provide you with the perfect companion! To see the puppies, go to our Puppies for Sale Page! If you are interested in reserving a puppy, please fill out an application on our Apply Here page. Feel free to reach out with any questions. We are always happy to answer any puppy related questions that you might have. Our main cell is and we also check our email regularly. Our email is f1bgoldendoodle. Why Get a F1b Irish Goldendoodle? F1b Irish Goldendoodles stand out from the world of dogs with their great personalities and their love for people. Most likely you have already seen a neighbor or stranger on the street with one. They make poor guard dogs and great family dogs due to their trademark friendliness. If you see one on the street, you always feel safe scratching their ears. The Golden retriever in them makes them focus on you. The poodle part is extremely intelligent and trainable which makes the learning process easier. Combine the two breeds and they are super easy to train and are very lovable. Every single puppy also has some Irish Setter in them which helps make some of their coats a beautiful dark red. Another positive benefit about our f1bs is they are more healthy due to being crossbred. With our f1bs you can get the highly popular Goldendoodle with a more curly coat which makes them more hypoallergenic which helps families with allergies to finally be able to have a puppy. Feel free to look at our Doodle Family Wallpaper to see what our past puppies look like! Larry Lives in Wisconsin We bought your Liam puppy just over a year ago. He was easily trained, super friendly to people and other pets and is absolutely adorable. Everyone who meets him loves him- he definitely steals the show wherever he goes- with his good looks and fun demeanor. He loves to play fetch and run but is also very much a snuggler! Thank you so very much for breeding such amazing dogs. We are so grateful we found you and our very loved Larry. I have attached a picture for you when he was just under a year. He is now currently 48 pounds. Human socialization and interaction are crucial for the well-rounded development of our puppies. At our facility, we prioritize creating a loving and interactive environment for our furry friends. Our family, including adults and children, actively participates in puppy playtime and early behavior training sessions. This hands-on approach fosters strong bonds with our puppies and helps them become well-adjusted, affectionate, and sociable companions. We believe in nurturing their emotional and mental growth from the start, ensuring they are ready to bring joy and love to their forever homes. Our commitment to providing a loving and interactive atmosphere is at the core of our puppy-raising philosophy. What's a "Microchip"? We implant a small chip under their skin that will stay there for their whole life. Most lost dogs go to shelters and veterinarian offices. Where they are immediately scanned. This has helped more than one of our F1B Goldendoodle puppies from being permanently lost to being reunited with their family in short order! What does "Fully Vaccinated and Dewormed mean"? Fully vaccinated and dewormed mean that your puppy has received all the necessary vaccinations to protect against common diseases and has undergone deworming treatment to eliminate intestinal parasites. What does "Vet Checked" mean? Vet Checked means that our puppies undergo a thorough examination by a licensed veterinarian to ensure they are in good health. Our veterinary professionals assess their overall well-being, look for any signs of illness or congenital issues, and verify that they meet the necessary health standards. This process provides peace of mind to our customers, knowing that their chosen puppy has received professional care and attention before joining their new forever home. We prioritize the health and happiness of our puppies, and the Vet Checked certification is a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible start in life for each furry friend we raise! If my puppy flies to me, how do I know he is healthy? It assures you that your furry friend has received a thorough health evaluation, ensuring they are in excellent condition before travel. You can trust that your new companion is in good hands, making the journey to your home a smoother and more reassuring experience for both of you. I get cash back??? This helps your puppy become a better pet! It covers the main points in obedience training that will help nurture a well-behaved and happy canine companion. What am I guaranteed from my puppy's Health Warranty? Genetic Health Assurance: We guarantee that your puppy is free from any genetic health issues for a period of three years from the date of purchase. Quality Breeding: Our puppies come from carefully selected parents with no known genetic health concerns, ensuring the best possible start in life for your furry friend. Health Certificate: Each puppy flown is accompanied by a comprehensive health certificate, certifying their good health at the time of sale. Vet Checked: Our puppies undergo a thorough veterinary examination before leaving for their new homes, providing an added layer of assurance. Our puppy health warranty is a testament to our dedication to providing you with a healthy and happy companion. About half of our puppies fly to their new homes. If you live too far away, we take care of setting up flights and get your new best friend to the nearest airport to you we can. Because we are able to do this for our customers, we have puppies anywhere from California over to Maine, down to Florida and many states in between! To go more into what this process looks like, we work with Runway Pets who is a Pet Taxi service. We have been working with them for many years on getting puppies all over the USA and even Internationally. We work through what flights and times work for you and let Runway Pets our preferences. Then they do all of the bookwork with the airlines to have your puppy fly through the PPS system with an Airline. The puppy is on the plane in less than 2 hours and is on the way to the Airport you selected. As soon as the flight lands, your puppy is one of the first to be off of the plane. In less than an hour after the plane lands, your puppy is at the PPS desk ready to meet you! We want to make sure every puppy is healthy before we would fly them home so, we make sure they are in tip-top shape by having them get a Certified Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian. This helps us to sleep better at night and it also should help alleviate any concerns a family may have when they are getting a puppy they have only seen via facetime or zoom. Our phone number is .Our Email is f1bgoldendoodle. We sell on a first-come first-served basis. The first family to make a deposit will receive first pick and so on. Wolcott is about half-way between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana. We are five miles off of I in the middle of a sprawling corn fields. About half of our puppies are picked up at our home. The families get to meet the parents of their puppy which people always enjoy! Take Your first step to meeting with your Future puppy here. Goldendoodle Puppies: F1b vs. Both of these strains of the Goldendoodle breed come with slightly different sizes and appearances, but all will be some of the sweetest dogs you could ever meet! What is an F1b Goldendoodle? What is an F1bb Goldendoodle? This makes them .F1bb Goldendoodles are especially popular among families with moderate to severe pet allergies, as they are even less likely to shed or cause allergic irritation. They also have an even curlier, poodle-like coat and smaller body size than an F1b Goldendoodle. How big is a Medium Goldendoodle? Our F1b Goldendoodle puppies typically fall within the medium size category since they have slightly more Golden Retriever blood. Medium Goldendoodles can vary in size depending on which of the parent breed's genes are more prominent, but their size averages between: Weight: pounds These are the perfect size for families interested in a medium-sized but manageable dog! How big is a Mini Goldendoodle? Our F1bb Goldendoodle puppies typically fall within the small, or mini, size category since they have more Poodle blood. Mini Goldendoodles can vary even more in size because of the complicated mix of parent genes, but their size averages between: Weight: pounds Height: inches at the shoulder These are the perfect size for families interested in a smaller-sized dog! Goldendoodle Litters For Sale.

We want you to get a friend to go on walks with, go boating, hiking, hunting, to ball games or picnics or other family outings and to just be there for you and be part of your family. You will get a puppy that will love you with their whole puppy heart for their whole life and hope you do the same for them! We offer the Working Golden Retriever that makes the best family friend and know that this is a lifelong relationship. Your new puppy will go any direction you want with proper training and lots of consistent time and love. Our puppies come from AKC field bred golden retrievers. We take care to breed a healthy pup that is well socialized and has good temperament and intelligence and trainability and of course they love to retrieve. Our dogs love their people and goldens are known for their loyalty and obedience and as one of the best family dogs out there. We have found this to be very true and want to offer great Goldens to great Families so you can have great Experiences like we have. The best compliment you can give us is to share your satisfaction with others, and if you have time, to send us a picure and review, like our Facebook page and share our page and website with others. Please feel free to contact us anytime with any questions you may have. Field-bred Golden Retrievers. Hunting Golden Retrievers. Working Golden Retrievers. Waterfowl Golden Retrievers. Upland Golden Retrievers. Family Golden Retrievers. Therapy Golden Retrievers. Service Golden Retrievers. Best Friend Golden Retrievers. With our best friends by our side we get to run, swim, hunt and explore this beautiful countryside. They are a part of our family and our lifestyle. They are along for the ride and happy to be there, work or play! Golden Retrievers are such wonderful dogs. We enjoy being a part of something that brings a lot of happiness to our family. They will love the things you love. If you love running, hiking, swimming, or hunting then these will probably be your Golden's favorite things as well. They are fun, sweet, trainable, and easy to be around. These attributes make them a wonderful family pet and more! Teton River Golden Retrievers are bred with the intent that your new pup can go any direction you'd like to train them. By having our Goldens health testing done, we know your new companion has the potential to be there by your side for the adventures ahead. They have gorgeous red coats that are a breeze to keep groomed and clean even when they are hunting and swimming. We wanted healthy, beautiful, smart and loyal females with sweet temperaments. The parents to our pups are well matched in every way. They win people over with their great manners, calm temperaments and extreme desire to please. Our mommas are producing quality golden retrievers. Your pup will come with AKC papers with limited breeding rights. We send home each puppy with a puppy starter kit to help with the transition period. We first started breeding goldens in .We found a wonderful mama dog and had her bred to a handsome, healthy sire. Our first litter of puppies was born, and we realized we had fallen into something that we loved. Alisa and the girls knew that our lives would never be complete again without puppies in it. Poor Zach, who loves to build things, realized that if he wanted his garage back and to keep puppies out of his bathtub on cold nights he had better get started on a really nice dog house. Ha ha. Everyone was happy. Breeding can be an interesting field to navigate. There are many different breeding philosophies and many types of breeders but deciding what our program would look like was as simple as laying out our core values. Eight years later our program has grown. We now have four of our own beautiful dogs and several more in wonderful guardian homes. Breeding still brings us joy. We anxiously await every litter and love our time with your pup. We are excited to meet you and be a part of your journey. We carefully select our Dam and Sire for good health and wonderful personalities. We believe that nutrition is key to healthy happy dogs, so we offer good, high quality foods to mother and pups and carefully supplement with meat scraps. We live outside of Buhl, Idaho with lots of room for puppies to roam and play. We don't kennel our pups except at night for safety reasons. The puppies are a part of our lives from day one, and they will be well socialized to inside and outside environments, children, cars rides, and other pets. We believe in doing preliminary potty training as well as simple obedience training - even in the first 8 weeks. We allow the mother and pups to be together from day 1 to day 56, as they learn best from each other. We feel confident that these puppies will be happy, healthy, and well socialized. We would love to hear from you! Lily and Fisher's He is the perfect dog for our family. He is mellow indoors with us and adventurous outside. He came to us so sweet and content and well cared-for. His crate training and potty training have gone well too! It was a bit miraculous that we found each other, in a different state and pretty quickly, but Alisa was so responsive and informative. We are so grateful for the addition to our family! Winnie's Family I've had a great experience from the very beginning. Alisa is very communicative and answered all of my questions. She was kind, friendly, knowledgeable and easy to work with. It's clear that she's an experienced breeder. I also love knowing my golden girl has a health guarantee. Getting to meet my puppies mother and litter mate was a wonderful experience for us. Not only are her dogs healthy, but they are happy and well loved too. I have nothing but great things to say! Wrenly's Family I met the Atkinsons this past December after I had been talking to Alisa about how I was interested in getting a puppy. Since then they have all become family. With every step and question Alisa was there with an answer and let me see my pup multiple times before I even brought her home. They have given me the best experience and truly care and love their dogs like family! A lot of that is because of the breed of course, but also from the socialization and love and attention the Atkinsons give their dogs from the very beginning. Highly, highly, highly, recommend Atkinsons goldens to anyone interested in a puppy. We live a couple hours away and they were so good about sending us pictures, updating us with how our little guy was doing every few days and even a FaceTime date on Christmas Day to surprise our girls. Truly an incredible breeder. Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Idaho Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Idaho? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Idaho? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Once Upon A Dream Kennels! From Our Dreams To Yours! Welcome to our Golden Retriever Program! Once Upon A Dream Kennels We are a small, family run program located in Idaho focusing on quality, healthy Golden Retrievers that have wonderful temperaments, good nerves, great drives, a balanced conformation and great lines to top the whole thing off. I have always dreamed of raising amazing puppies, and this program is my dream come true! I fell head over heels with Golden Retrievers when I brought home my first little girl at 10 weeks old. Chloe was fantastic and made me fall in love with field line Golden Retrievers. We feel that these are the ultimate dogs. Golden retrievers are such amazing dogs. We want to be able to put a golden in every home. We feel that Golden Retrievers are such amazing versatile dogs and we want our program to reflect that. We are striving to have an couple different programs all rolled into this one amazing breed! Our first program is field line or hunting line Golden Retrievers. These dogs will be bred to have high drives, high nerve strength, great energy and be up for anything. Our other program is for those looking for the perfect family companion. These dogs will be bred to have the very best of temperaments. We are looking for those sweet, loving, loyal companion dogs. These dogs will be ready to be spoiled by sweet kids, service work, therapy work and so much more! The focus of our entire program is to produce healthy, well rounded dogs for many different purposes. We health test our breeding dogs so that we know we are breeding the best dogs we can. We look for that perfect balance of pedigree, health, and temperament for these great dogs. Our puppies are raised right in our home as part of our family! We believe in early socialization and exposure. We try to introduce them to as many new things as we can. We work closely with our veterinarians to make sure they are as happy and healthy as they possibly can. We hope that we can make your dreams come true as well! Also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! When can I pick up my puppy? That will be posted on the specific litter page. We try to have our puppy families come get them as close to 8 weeks of age as possible. Pick up day is scheduled out a week or two in advance in order of deposit received. For example, first male would come at AM, second male at AM, and so on. The schedule will also be posted to the specific litter page. Do you deliver? Delivering puppies is not a service we regularly offer. On occasion, if the situation is right, we will do our best to accommodate. This would be at the cost of the buyer which would include, but not limited to: mileage, food, and lodging reimbursements. We do deliver puppies to the Boise, Idaho airport at no cost to the buyer. Do you offer full breeding rights? All puppies go home with AKC limited registration. If the time comes where a buyer has ran the proper health screenings on the dog that was purchased through our program hips, elbows, heart, genetics and agrees to the FULL AKC contract provided by SBG, then full breeding rights will be granted. Yes, we will ship to anywhere in the United States except Hawaii. Ground shipping or air shipping, completely at the expense of the buyer. Other options to highly consider: Flight nanny - We can give you recommendations for great flight nanny services they fly in cabin with pup. Meeting you personally at the Boise, ID airport to fly in cabin with pup. Yes, we offer stud services. We have studs in every color, in multiple places throughout the Treasure Valley. We will also highly consider pick of the litter instead of stud fees.

Tom Thorpe Blog Have you ever wondered how many puppies in a litter of golden retrievers? That said, if you have a female golden retriever and someday you want to let her have some litter, you are prepared and able to calculate some expenses beforehand. In this article, I will attempt to cover the question regarding how many puppies in a litter of golden retrievers. Average litter size of golden retrievers Time and again, we always say that golden retrievers are a one of a kind canine breed. The fact that they are the friendliest, affectionate, energetic, and stranger to none, these reasons are what makes the golden retrievers popular and it will become one for many years to come. Interestingly enough, the largest litter size was produced by a Neapolitan Mastiff back in .On the other hand, the largest litter ever produced by a golden retriever is 17 albeit there are no official records, only online sources that only appeared. With that, golden retrievers are capable of producing a litter between 1 to 17 young pups. We can safely assume that golden retriever breeds have an average litter size of 4 to 8 puppies. For most instances, the first litter size is somewhat smaller compared to succeeding litters. Also, this is true among golden retriever breeders. They know the ins and out of very golden retrievers. Another important fact you should keep in mind is the ratios of females and males differ. Other litter will have more females than males, while in some, males are more. In addition, there is a small chance that the puppies are of one gender only. This is because there are numerous factors that make the outcome of the litter different from any other golden retrievers and other canine breeds. Thereby the question of how many puppies in a litter of golden retriever will likely have come from these factors such as: Consider the genetic factor Every canine is different from the other, although they have some commonality if we are going to categorize them according to their breeds. But still, they have different genetic structures and they are all individual creatures. This also includes the litter size. The most common observation in regards to litter size, if the mother of your female golden retriever produces in large litter size, chances are, your female dog also will produce a large litter size. That is, of course, assuming some factors remain constant. In relation to the litter size, keep in mind that the majority of the traits largely came from a dam female dog and the small percentage came from the sire male dog. The sire has likely had an influence on the litter size. Among the sire can influence are health, age, size, breed, and genetic structures. Gene Pool Diversity At some point, the gene pool diversity will somehow affect the litter size. This again will vary from dog to dog. The fact that canine who are drawn from diverse backgrounds tend to have large litters. Diet Another factor to consider is the diet. Compared to dogs fed with substandard kibble food and supplement. Health Again, health plays a crucial role. This is because they can somehow affect and have a chance to have more puppies. That said, if the golden retriever is not healthy enough, it will inevitably affect the litter size. An ideal healthy weight for golden retrievers is usually slim, and those who are overweight are prone to health issues. Thus, giving a routine exercise and a well-balanced diet has a possibility to produce in larger litters. More particularly in the case of a male dog. Male dogs who are 5 years old and above have a smaller sperm count than those who are in ages 5 years and below. This means the litter size will also decrease. This is the reason why dog breeders who have dog show quality are often bred extremely and intensively in order to produce as many quality female dogs as possible. But, it has a more major point in influencing the size of the litter size than the male and this is actually quite true. That means, dogs over the age of 7 years will have a greater chance to produce large litters than those of young age under 5 years of age. Usually, the first litter regardless of age will likely be smaller than the succeeding production of litters to come. Also, a female golden retriever who was never been bred until the age of 5 will have a tendency to produce smaller litters that are permanent. On that note, the ideal age of female golden retrievers where there is a yield in litter size is between the age of 2 to 5 years. Generally, the larger the breed, the larger the litter size. In the case of golden retrievers, the average size of litter rangers from 4 to 8 and other dog breeds like Spaniels. The fact that genetics and other various factors in dogs alone have the possibility to increase the litter size, all these factors lead to a different outcome and are somewhat related. But can humans influence or somehow affect the size of a litter? Is there any correlation regarding this? The short answer is yes, but to a certain extent only. The long answer is, although yes, there are no guarantees as to how much can humans change the course of the litter size. Fortunately, there are things that humans may likely increase the odds. In fact, breeders who are using artificial intelligence are becoming even more rampant. Thanks to the ai, the chances of finding champion dogs both in the US alone and abroad are getting bigger. However, artificial insemination does not produce large litter sizes. Instead, it only produces a small litter size. Moreover, the kind of semen will largely affect the litter size regardless if it is frozen, chilled, or fresh. In addition, canine sperm will likely die because their semen does not freeze well. Post Breeding Management The best possible and simplest way to somewhat affect the litter size of your golden retriever is just to have the best possible care. Nothing more nothing less. Obviously, any dogs who lack proper nutrition and have an imbalanced diet will greatly decrease the chance of having a large litter size. If the golden retriever has improper housing and has nutrient deficiencies, they can absorb puppies due to lack of care. So, see to it that your female golden retriever has everything they need. Make sure to not miss any appointments in their scheduled checkups with your local vet. Give them proper nutritional needs and also groom them regularly. Care Tips for Golden Retrievers Proper Treatments The best way to secure a healthy pregnancy for your female golden retriever is to have her getting proper treatments. That means, getting treatments for fleas and worms should be consistent even while in pregnancy. Vaccinations Treatments and vaccinations are the most important and should be regularly maintained if necessary. This will guarantee that the antibodies are optimal while the female mother has a puppy bump. Consult your vet with the best possible vaccines in order to keep your dog healthy. There is some vaccination that can be administered while your dog is in pregnancy. The fact that pregnant golden retrievers or any dogs will feel become lethargic when the due is near. With having adequate exercise before their pregnancy, your dog will become fit and able to carry on while she has a puppy bump that is about to give birth. This can lead to stress and other health condition that may greatly affect their pregnancy. Final Thoughts All in all, I hope the question of how many puppies in a litter of golden retriever is completely answered. If you are still confused, the average litter size they can produce is about 4 to 8. Also, if you are a first-time pet owner who has a pregnant golden retriever, you should know what to expect and even know some basic tips regarding the proper care of your pregnant golden retriever. Keep in mind that they should stay fit and healthy plus groom them regularly. Jan 20, Share Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. They are known for their loyal and friendly personalities, and many people choose them as their first dogs. Such a popular breed is always in demand, and more Golden Retriever puppies are born every day. However, there is some uncertainty about how many puppies Golden Retrievers typically have. Due to their size, larger dogs tend to have larger litters, while smaller dogs tend to have smaller litters. As a bigger dog breed, Goldens can have anywhere from one to twelve puppies per litter, but six to eight puppies are about average. Some litters may have as few as four. Read on below to find out more. Why the Size of the Dog Breed Affects Litter Size The different sizes of litter between breeds are due to the fact that larger breeds have more room in their uterus to grow puppies, while smaller breeds have less room. This is likely due, in part, to the fact that smaller dogs have a shorter gestational period and thus less time to mature a large number of offspring at a more rapid rate than larger dogs. This difference in litter size can be important for breeders, as they need to consider the size of the breed when planning how many puppies to produce. However, it is also worth noting that different breeds of dogs will exhibit different average litter sizes, even within the same size class. For example, the German Shorthaired Pointer is around the same size as a Golden Retriever, but has an average of nine pups per litter. The first litter of puppies for a female Golden Retriever is typically smaller in size than later litters. Additionally, since the first litter is typically born earlier than later litters, the puppies may not have as much time to grow and develop before being born. She should, however, have regular checkups with a veterinarian to ensure everything is going well. Despite Golden Retriever mothers being able to deliver many puppies, not every pup will survive birth. A dam may give birth to four puppies, but only two or three will survive. Pregnant dogs require high-quality vitamins, minerals, and premium proteins in addition to a healthy and balanced diet. Additives and fillers in dog food can lead to poor nutrition and ultimately affect litter size. In addition, diet plays an important role in the health and survival rate of puppies after birth. The chances of a Golden Retriever producing a small litter are higher if they are unhealthy. It is also possible that the puppies are born weak and have a lower chance of surviving. Age of Parents Female Golden Retrievers should not be bred too young or too old. Ideally, a female should be between the ages of 2 and 5 when she is first bred. It is also important to consider the age of the male. Once a male reaches the age of 5, their sperm count will decrease. Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock Lineage Overly inbred dogs are less likely to have large litters than dogs with a diverse gene pool. Ask your breeder about their parents and whether they have been tested for defects if you are looking for a puppy. Conception Method and Timing It may surprise you to learn that the way your Golden becomes impregnated may determine how many puppies she will have. Having a larger litter is more likely for Golden Retrievers that become pregnant naturally while conceiving artificially is more likely to lead to a smaller litter. This is because the freezing process kills many sperm cells in preserved semen, resulting in fewer pups. Dogs that conceive within 48 hours of ovulation have a higher chance of having a larger litter. These larger litters usually occur in the third, fourth, and fifth pregnancy. Puppy Mills Puppy mills are commercial breeding facilities that mass-produce puppies for sale to the public. In a puppy mill, the mother dog is often bred repeatedly until she no longer can bear puppies. There are many reasons why one should avoid buying a dog from a puppy mill. First and foremost, puppy mills are notorious for breeding unhealthy dogs. Dogs from puppy mills typically have a variety of genetic health problems, ranging from joint problems to heart disease. In addition, puppy mills often keep dogs in horrible conditions, with little or no veterinary care. Dogs in puppy mills may also be malnourished and abused. Conclusion In conclusion, Golden Retrievers have an average of eight puppies. However, a breeder or owner can mate their Goldie at the right time, exercise them, keep them healthy, and feed them high-quality food all year long, but ultimately they cannot control the litter size. Thanks for reading! Its exterior coat is a little bit coarser than its fluffy, velvety undercoat and both of the layers are crucial for protecting the skin from moisture, heat, and cold. Despite their name, Goldens come in a variety of colors. While others are a much duller and muted yellow cream tone, some are a much darker, richer gold color that is almost orange. If you want a serious watchdog, Golden Retrievers are not the best option. In fact, a research that examined more than 30 dog breeds discovered that Goldies were among the six kinds least prone to display aggression. A Golden Retriever will have on average 8 puppies in a litter, and the range is usually between 6 and 10 puppies. Litter sizes do go outside of this range from time to time, but should be considered quite uncommon. That said, a Golden named Giselle gave birth to a record-breaking 17 puppies in one litter in ! The size of a litter can be influenced by the breeding lines; some lines tend to have larger litters than others. Golden owners who are considering breeding their dogs should talk to a veterinarian or breeder about the size of the anticipated litter. Many other variables, which I go into more detail about in the sections below, will also affect how many puppies there are in a litter. At birth, a Golden Retriever puppy weighs around 1 pound only, a far cry from the adults we always see! The breed standard for Golden Retrievers is between 65 to 75 pounds females tend to be smaller and the weight can vary slightly depending on genetics, diet, and activity level. All dogs, including Goldens, do not experience menopause and are capable of reproducing up until their death. Their heat cycle lasts between six and eight months on average, or roughly twice a year. Overbreeding will put a lot of strain on your dog, which may lead to a number of health problems like heart disease, arthritis, and infertility. Also, stopping early is necessary in order for it to be spayed and to enjoy a happy life even after retirement. Add to the fact that there are nations where it is illegal to breed a dog more than four to six times in its lifespan, and you should understand the importance of not overbreeding. In the US, the American Kennel Club AKC does not accept registrations for dams that are bred over the age of 12 and under 8 months, and sires that are over the age of 12 and under 7 months. Age of the dam Typically, as the dam ages, the size of the litter decreases. Oddly enough, the first 2 litters are often smaller than the following ones, so once your Golden breeds again after the first two litters, you should likely see your dam having one or two extra puppies. Have your dog spayed long before then to improve its overall health. Breeders often need to use artificial insemination to help with breeding older males, thus it is preferable to only breed when they are younger. In addition, the amount of puppies in a litter is significantly influenced by nutrition. All year long, a high-quality, protein-rich food should be fed to maximize the chance of having a larger litter. Smaller litters are more common in dams with bad diets, especially those who are overweight. Size of dog Bigger body sizes in terms of build, not weight are often associated with larger litter sizes within a particular breed. With Goldens, their size can vary quite a fair bit even though they are the same breeds, and this can have an effect on how many puppies it can give birth to. In general, dams that are bigger has a higher chance of having a larger litter. Litter in which mom was born The level of fertility of your Golden Retriever has a thing or two to do with the litter it was born in. If she was born into a large litter herself, she will likely have a larger first litter. On the other side, you may generally anticipate that your girl will have a small first litter if she was born in a small litter herself. Type of breeding Actually, considering how easily it could get complicated, it might be best to reserve this topic for a subsequent essay. Just be aware that the method of reproduction can have a big impact on both the quantity and quality of puppies for the time being. As the bonds between the dogs get closer, these issues are more likely to arise. Linebreeding , on the other hand, aims to maintain sufficient genetic diversity while preserving the best genes from a bloodline, making it frequently a safer method of dog breeding. Time of breeding It is said that a dam is more likely to have a larger litter size the closer she is to ovulation. This is defined as the period after the estrogen period when the Luteinizing hormone triggers ovulation. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any studies supporting this theory, so at this point, I would say this factor is probably not that significant. Although Golden Retrievers can begin reproducing once they reach their first heat cycle, it is not a good idea at all and must be avoided. Wait until your dog is at least in her second or third heat cycle to give her enough time to develop sexually and gain weight and size. Most ethical and responsible breeders will wait till a Golden Retriever is at least 2 years old before breeding them as they would have completed all the necessary medical checks by then. Most female Golden Retrievers go through their first heat cycle between the ages of 9 and 12 months. A useful rule of thumb is that it will go into heat at about the same age that its mother did. Numerous symptoms, including bloody discharge, receptivity to male dogs, restless behavior, and others, can indicate that a dog is in heat. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Golden Retriever puppies are fluffy balls of joy, and you must be thrilled to welcome them into your home. But how many puppies should you be expecting from this upcoming litter? On average, Golden Retrievers can have around eight puppies. Litter sizes can vary depending on the breed of dog, so there are a few factors that can determine the litter size of your Golden Retriever. This article goes over what kind of litter you could be expecting based on your Golden Retriever mother. Litter Size: First-Time vs. This is the national average for first-time mothers, so it is normal for your dog to give birth to a few less or a few more. However, it is always important for her to have check-ups with a vet to ensure everything is going well with her puppies. It is very rare that your Goldie will have a single puppy birth. Litter sizes of over a dozen puppies are also possible with Golden Retrievers, but not as common. If your Golden Retriever is pregnant, it is safe to assume that she will give birth to four to nine puppies. While it is always important to feed your dog a healthy and balanced diet, pregnant dogs need high-quality vitamins and minerals and premium protein. Dog food that is filled with additives and fillers can affect the litter size. Diet will also be a factor in how healthy the puppies will be after birth and what their survival rate will be. Health: If your Golden Retriever is obese or not given enough exercise, this can affect the litter. An unhealthy Goldie will more than likely produce a small litter. The puppies might also be born weak and have a smaller chance of survival. Age of both parents. You do not want to breed your female Golden Retriever too young or too old. The age range for the female to be bred is 2 to 5 years old. However, if you wait to breed your Goldie for the first time after they are five years old, their litters will always be smaller in number. The age of the male is also a factor. The sperm count in males will decrease once they reach 5 years old. Genetics: Dogs that have a more diverse gene pool are more likely to have larger litters than dogs that have been overly inbred. This is why if you go to a breeder, ask them about the parents and if they have been tested for defects. Image Credit: PorChonlawit, Shutterstock Final Considerations If you are a dog owner, you already know how important health, diet, and exercise are for raising a strong and happy dog. These factors must also be considered when deciding if you want to breed your Golden Retriever. Have her checked with the vet before she gets pregnant to make sure she is healthy and able to carry a litter safely. Ensure the potential mate is also healthy and the right age. However, no matter the litter size, each puppy will be a bundle of pure joy! A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.Read more Advertisement. Nov 29, Nov 5, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Busy taking care of puppies! A couple of weeks ago, Raven, our Golden Retriever had her first litter of puppies. Several weeks before she had her puppies we were all curious about how many puppies Raven would have in her first litter. And what did we learn? Bring your Calmeroos Puppy the day you pick up your puppy and rub it all over his litter mates and mama. Ten years later my memory of all those puppies is still vivid. Of course in the end we came home with our first puppy, Linus! Back then the smallest litter we saw was two six-week-old black Labrador Retriever pups. Our friends at Guide Dogs of America have experienced many, many more litters than I have or probably ever will in my lifetime. I would guess they have a litter of pups at the school nearly every week sometimes two litters a week! So what did I hear from my GDA friends? The largest litter I heard about was 16 Golden Retriever puppies! Let me say that again: 16 puppies!!! The smallest litter size was 1 lonely puppy…although only children get all the attention…right, Ali Ali is my wife…an only child :? After personal experience and talking to friends and family the consensus was Raven could have anywhere between 1 and 16 puppies. Our Golden Retriever puppies! Time for a little bit of internet research. Just ask Google the following questions and find the answers in the featured snippet: What is the average first litter size for a Golden Retriever? The average litter size for a golden retriever is eight puppies. Litter sizes vary from four to 12 puppies, and humans are not usually needed for help in the birthing process. Other sites in the top 10 search have similar numbers for average litter size. What is the largest litter size for a Golden Retriever? So we can probably expect less than 24 puppies…lol. The largest litter of Golden Retrievers we found on the internet were 17 Golden pups. The Golden Retriever Forum and other sites mention Golden litters as small as one puppy. After talking to friends, and family, and doing my internet research the consensus was Raven would probably have between puppies with the outside possibilities of only 1 pup or up to 17 remote possibility of 24! We took care of litters of puppies, but the youngest pups we had were already 3 weeks old. We got those little cuties when they were about weeks old and at that age, they were a handful. I specifically remember one of the rescue leaders saying that 5 or fewer puppies are much easier to handle. That number 5 has stuck in my head for over 10 years! My fingers were crossed… Puppies from our our Golden litter! However, the day we planned on bringing her in for an X-Ray her temperature dropped which was an indication she was close to giving birth. Rather than risk her giving birth in my car on the way to the vet we opted out of the X-Ray. Raven went into labor on Wednesday, November 9th, , and at… am — Female. There are a range of factors that contribute to the overall litter size. Often genetics play an important role in the size of the litter. The size of the breed as well as the overall health of parents also effect the total litter size. Golden retrievers are considered a large breed dog, resulting in larger litters. Many sites state various different ranges. Websites, with less authority, like Ask and PetPlanet have a range of puppies per litter. Their overall average is 8. The American Kennel Club used to state that the average litter size was in the range of .However, that information can no longer be found. With smaller litters it could quite possibly be that the bitch was not bred at the proper time. Some of the eggs may not have been fertilized. The stud may have tied too early, or too late. Or it could have been possible that the sire was too old and not producing an adequate sperm count. The overall health of both parents can also be considered. It could also be a problem with the mother, such as injury, or physical defects. With litters on the larger end, sometimes they may have to be delivered cesarean. If the time of delivery is too long, some puppies may be stillborn. Cases have occurred where a puppy may be retained in the uterus causing other problems. Litters this large are generally not in the best interest of the mother. From my experience, most litters are indeed around in number. That could just be coincidental. Further litters often will have less. This is just something I have seen, but is not scientific. It is also important to note that male and female ratios can go in either directions. It is also possible to have a litter with all one gender. Our recent litter from Tina came out all female. She had eight female puppies at once. I was told by another breeder that she had a litter of 10 that were all female. It is very unlikely, but it does happen. We derived that number from hundreds of litters from various breeders. As mentioned above, the range is between 1 to 15 puppies in a litter. A breeder can find out how many puppies a female may have while pregnant via x-ray or ultrasound. An x-ray can be taken after the bones have ossified. That occurs around days of gestation. Ultrasounds can be taken around days to confirm pregnancy, but confirming the litters size is less accurate. It is however less damaging on the mother and puppies.

If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Labradoodle Health Issues: Introduction If you know a little bit about Labradoodles , you know that this Doodle breed is pretty much the perfect dog anyone could ever wish for. Playful, affectionate, and intelligent, combined with the low-shedding coat from the Poodle parent — literally, the dream! Even though it may seem like the Labradoodle has it all, there are still certain Labradoodle health issues that this hybrid breed can develop. We truly believe that knowledge is power. Do Labradoodles Have Health Issues? When it comes to Labradoodles, health issues can be inherited from either of the parent pups. For instance, some health issues are more common in Poodles, others are more common in Labrador Retrievers, and some health problems overlap in both breeds. Nevertheless, Labradoodles do benefit from hybrid vigor, which gives them a great advantage in terms of health. Hybrid vigor means that a cross-breed has a smaller chance of inheriting the health problems most common in the parental breeds. To put it simply, cross-breeds often inherit the best qualities from both parents. However, hybrid vigor is most prevalent in first-generation Doodles and it may start to diminish with each consecutive generation. These are typically hip and elbow dysplasia, knee problems like patellar luxation, and cruciate ligament damage. All sizes of Labradoodles are at a risk of developing joint problems, but patellar luxation is one of the most common Toy and Mini Labradoodle health issues. To prevent joint problems, you should look for dog food formulas that contain ingredients like glucosamine or chondroitin. Additionally, for Toy and Miniature Labradoodles, you might want to look into dog foods that are specially formulated for small breeds. Both options take into account the specific needs of smaller and larger breeds, and help avoid improper development and skeletal disorders. Additionally, it can result in arthritis. Hip dysplasia is caused by various factors, such as genetic disorders, obesity, or unethical breeding. Luckily, ethical breeders always conduct extensive health testing on their parent dogs to minimize the risk of puppies developing hip dysplasia. The most common symptoms of hip and elbow dysplasia include: Pain, stiffness, or limping Decreased activity and range of motion Difficulty standing up, climbing stairs, jumping, or running Lameness Loss of muscle mass Labradoodle Cruciate Ligament Damage Cruciate ligament damage a. CCL is a very painful condition, where one or both cruciate ligaments tear or completely rupture. Cruciate ligaments hold the knee together and they typically become damaged over time due to excess bodyweight, injury, or inherited weakness of the ligaments. In severe cases of CCL, surgical intervention might be the only treatment option. Symptoms of cruciate ligament damage are: Limping. The trick to stopping Labradoodle scratching is to figure out the main driving force. The most common triggers for excessive Labradoodle itching or scratching are either parasites or allergies. To really track down the problem, a vet will most likely be your best option. Before your dog damages their skin and creates complications, it is advised that you seek out a professional opinion. Itchy and Scratchy Symptoms Does your Labradoodle sleep with you on the bed? If so, you have probably noticed if your dog is scratching itself all the time. One thing to notice for you as the owner is where the dog is scratching itself. Mentioning where will help the vet to find the root and cause of the problem. What Can You Look For? A Labradoodle scratching itself is not the only clue to itchiness. Some dogs might like scooting their faces across the carpet or crawl like a marine on their bellies across the concrete as a method to stop an itch. Then there are those that enjoy licking. A brown saliva-staining of the fur is typically a tell-tale sign of a secretive licker. The paws, butt, and belly are the classic places you should check for these signs. Unfortunately, excessive Labradoodle scratching can typically damage their coat but also their skin. This can result in hair loss or skin infections, which will most likely require some form of treatment. When to Seek Help Does this sound a bit too familiar? Something seemingly as simple as a Labradoodle scratching their face could be a clue to a few different issues, anything from something as simple as a grass awn stuck in the ear canal to sore teeth. A Labradoodle itching and losing their hair or turning their skin red is definitely something that you should have checked by a vet. Getting your furry friend checked at the earliest hint of any discomfort, and you can avoid a lot of unnecessary distress. What Can Cause Labradoodle Scratching? And just like a flea or mosquito bite will irritate the human skin, the same issue applies to a dog. Actually, some dogs are even allergic to flea bites, which will mean that the bites feel extremely itchy to a dog. Fleas are the number one offender when it comes to Labradoodle scratching. Demodex : These highly infectious scavenger mites are usually found on wildlife. Allergies and the Urge to Scratch Have you ever experienced the wonderful feeling of hay fever? With your nose running and your streaming eyes which are due to an allergic reaction to pollen. Which actually means that allergies make a dog itchy. And just like with humans, dogs can also be allergic to anything from pollens to grass sap, perfumes to air fresheners, and also from dust mites to mold spores. Itchy Complications So if you want your dog to be as well-defended against allergies as possible, healthy skin is the ultimate solution. And damaged skin can mean that additional problems, such as yeasts and bacteria can quickly occur. And these secondary infections are also itchy, so this situation will just exacerbate the issue. Why is My Labradoodle Scratching so Much? Finding a Diagnosis The first thing you should be by yourself is going on a hunt for fleas. Try to collect some on a piece of damp cotton wool. In this situation, the first thing you should do is treat your dog against fleas. If the Labradoodle scratching has not improved much within a month, the vet will most likely suggest some further investigation. Typical actions after this can consist of: Running a blood test to expose if Sarcoptes mites are the culprits Giving the dog a bath with special medicated shampoo to strengthen skin health If an infection is present, a dose of antibiotics will most likely be prescribed Still itchy? Skin or blood tests for specific allergies A skin biopsy How to Stop Labradoodle Scratching There are quite a few things you can do at home to make an itchy Labradoodle feel more comfortable. The vet will try to identify and find the correct treatment for the itch. These treatments can include using antibiotics, medicated shampoos, and special anti-inflammatory drugs. Options for Allergy Treatment If the vet diagnoses your dog with allergies, there are a few options for treatment. Normally this can involve using drugs that will suppress the itch but there are also some other non-drug options. These include: Immunotherapy vaccines: A bespoke vaccine is developed. The idea with this is that giving small, but increasing amounts of allergen. This will allow the immune system to get used to the allergen and in the end, it will result in the unwanted exaggerated response being turned off. Biological therapies: The new hot thing is called Cytopoint. The downside is that both of the above methods are quite expensive. Luckily, there is also a wide range of anti-inflammatory drugs which are also very beneficial and a lot cheaper: Steroids: Inexpensive and highly effective. Cyclosporine Atopica : Originally developed as a means to prevent organ rejection in transplant medicine, these will help switch off the unwanted immune response. They are very effective and without an extensive list of serious side-effects, but they are still quite expensive! Oclacitinib Apoquel : Another relatively new anti-itch medication, this has proved to work quite well for some dogs and is almost free of side-effects. But as it typically is, this is also quite expensive. Outlook and Prevention We have some good news but also some not as good news. If your dog is scratching because of parasites that is something can be cured, as getting rid of the bugs will typically bring a stop to the itching and scratching. This involves taking a lot of small steps a time. Making several minor changes adds up to a big increase in comfort. Some strategies to reduce the itch can include: Limiting exposure to allergens Washing allergens off the skin Controlling secondary infections, such as yeasts or bacteria Use of therapies like immunotherapy vaccines Different drugs to reduce the itch Why is My Labradoodle So Itchy? If it is just the occasional lazy scratch of the ear that is very common and nothing to worry about. But excessive scratching in a dog is something to act on immediately. The most common things are typically fleas as the obvious cause of itchiness. If you have even the smallest amount of doubt go and see the vet early, this will be a big help in avoiding unnecessary complications such as loss of hair and infections. It is also convenient to use and typically kills fleas within 10 minutes of application. This flea medicine stood out to us because it kills a wide variety of parasites through contact with no biting required. This means that your pet is protected from irritation and deadly diseases that can be transmitted by pest bites. Not only does it help with Labradoodle itching it also neutralizes the dog smell for days and makes the coat very shiny. This spray is a plant and botanical based oatmeal baking soda spray that provides instant, soothing, topical, relief to pets suffering from flea bites, hot spots, grass allergies, pollen allergies, food allergies, surgical stitches from surgery, scratches, and flea-bitten or raw and irritated skin. These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. It only takes a few lice to be passed on to start an annoying infestation. The best way to get rid of lice is to speak to your vet who can offer the best treatment options. But occasionally abnormal changes happen to the skin-shedding process, and they are accompanied by horrible itchiness. One example is if you wash your dog with a human shampoo. Another example is seborrhea — a disorder of the sebaceous glands, and commonly known as dandruff. The sebaceous glands produce oil called sebum, that lubricates the skin and hair. If they produce too much sebum it causes dandruff and greasy skin and hair. This is a common disorder that is usually not serious. But it can lead to itchy, irritating, skin infections, or be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition that needs to be checked out. Allergies are very common in dogs and it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. Typical culprits include: Something in their diet. Environmental allergens like pollen, dust, and mold. Or something which has made contact with their skin, such as insecticides, perfumes, laundry detergents and fabric conditioners. All of these — not just the contact allergens — can trigger an allergic reaction which affects the skin. Skin allergies typically present in the form of rashes, dry skin, redness, or inflammation. Unfortunately, allergies have a strong hereditary component. Labradoodles are particularly prone to skin allergies because they are already widely present in Labradors and Poodles. Drugs like Apoquel can help some dogs with allergies. There are also medical conditions that keep a dog from absorbing the nutrients in their diets. Some dogs are also stressed by specific situations or sounds. All dogs express anxiety slightly differently, but one way they might do so is by performing displacement behaviors. Displacement behaviors are basically a way of channelling their pent up nervous energy into something else. An underactive thyroid gland can make your dog susceptible to bacterial or fungal infections that cause skin itching. Whilst an overactive adrenal gland can produce too much cortisol. In normal circumstances, cortisol helps fight infections and controls blood sugar levels. Your vet can do a blood test to diagnose if your Labradoodle is dealing with hormonal problems. Labradoodle Itching and Scratching As you can see, dogs itch and scratch for a wide variety of reasons. Some can be easily remedied; whilst others require more complex treatment. You need to use the right remedy for cause of the itch! References and Further Reading.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I love it when my German Shepherd sleeps on its back because she looks so happy and relaxed. But, there are actually many reasons that my German Shepherd could be sleeping on her back. So, why does my German Shepherd sleep on its back? This is Rada, my German Shepherd, sleeping on her back while propped up against a wall. You might find your German Shepherd asleep on its back throughout the day or night. That said, there are actually many reasons that your German Shepherd might choose to sleep on its back. And some of these reasons are helpful to your dog and show a lot about their personality. Think of lying on the floor and stretching out. Especially if you have a double layer of fur to rest upon the GSD has a double coat of hair. Sleeping on its back gives your German Shepherd a feeling of relaxation, allowing them to rest more comfortably than lying on their stomach with their legs under their body in a tight position. German Shepherds sleep upside down because they feel safe and this allows them to doze off without fear about an attack from predators or enemies. When my German Shepherd sleeps on her back I know that she feels secure and protected in her home and around me. Lying on the back allows more air to circulate around the body, over the belly, and to move around the paws. They also sleep in many other positions that can tell you a little bit about their mindset. Here are some of the most popular sleeping positions for a German Shepherd Dog. Sleeping close to you I love it when my German Shepherd sleeps next to me. She tends to like to sleep on the floor by my bed, close to me, but still with enough space to keep her cool. German Shepherds love to be part of a pack and sleeping close to you lets them feel more secure and relaxed since they are with their group. Curled up tightly I rarely see my German Shepherd sleeping curled up since curling up tightly allows a dog to maintain their heat more efficiently and she loves the cold. Some dogs also find curling up in a ball comfortable. Tail covering its nose Another way a German Shepherds sleeps is with their tails lying across their dark nose. This sleeping style mainly serves to keep their nose protected from the elements — such as snow, wind, or rain. See, they are almost attached at the hips? From stretched out under the table to plopping themselves right in the middle of the floor with the legs becoming a trip hazard, this side position allows your German Shepherd the greatest amount of real estate to extend their bodies. They can focus on stretching and relaxing, as opposed to being ready to run or having to protect themselves. Here she is again sleeping on her side next to my other dog. Do you see him right above her head and neck blending in with the dark blanket? They may also enjoy sleeping in the side position to lie next to something they enjoy — like another dog or cat they are friends with. On their belly This is one of the least common positions for a German Shepherd who is comfortable around you and their home. It is, however, the most alert way for a dog to sleep since they can easily stand up or jump quickly. Sleep helps to keep your German Shepherd healthy and relaxed. As your dog gets older and becomes a senior, they might also sleep longer and more deeply to make up for their lack of energy. And puppies need to rest so their bodies can have the energy to grow. Take care to let them have their downtime. Sleeping also allows their body to heal and revive itself, much like sleeping for people does. If your dog has an especially long day of exercise and activity they need the extra sleep in order to recharge their energy and let their muscles rest and recover. Find all about the healthiest exercise routine for your German Shepherd now! Should I wake my German Shepherd up? Waking a dog up can scare them and cause them to bite or nip you out of fear. And, how would you like someone to wake you up if you were sleeping soundly and having a wonderful dream? Let your German Shepherd sleep and rest. If you simply MUST wake them up for any reason use a small bit of food treat and place this under their nose. Why does my German Shepherd walk in circles before lying down to sleep? Making circles is natural for a dog to place their bodies in a comfortable position before they lie down. It also allows them to feel the ground with their paws and see if the surface is to their liking for a nap or sleep. Dogs tend to make circles to flatten the ground before the dog sleeps on the grass or dirt. Why does my German Shepherd twitch its body when sleeping? Much like when people sleep German Shepherds experience different sleep cycles. One of the sleep cycles common to both German Shepherds and us is called REM sleep, or rapid eye movement. During this phase of sleep, you may notice your German Shepherd moving their eyes back and forth under their closed eyelids, twitching their paws sometimes wildly and even hear a soft bark. Perhaps they dream they really can catch that squirrel this time… finally! Conclusion So, why does my German Shepherd sleep on its back? Animal behaviorists believe dogs sleep this way to be more comfortable, relaxed, safe, and happy. You might cause them discomfort, fear, or interrupt their dream during deep sleep. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. 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. 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:. By Retriever Pets Ever wondered why your german shepherd sleeps a lot and is in weird positions? While asleep, your body can fix what has been injured or depleted, improving your mind, health, and general wellbeing. This is not only true for human beings but also for German Shepherds. But how much should a german shepherd puppy, adult, or senior sleep? A German Shepherd should have hours of sleep on average. This pattern may change with the kind of lifestyle the dogs end up living. For instance, older and younger German Shepherd tend to sleep more, while working or active German Shepherds tend to sleep less. You may have a German Shepherd that is quick to nap and you may have one that looks like it is a night owl. In this article, we talk about German Shepherds and their sleep patterns. We also discuss lifestyles that prevent German Shepherds from sleeping well and the dangers of such lifestyles. Read on and find out more about naptime and German Shepherds. Importance of Sleep to a German Shepherd German Shepherds are some of the most active and energetic dogs. They are highly intelligent maintaining a strong reputation as loyal and protective dog breeds. Initially bred as herding dogs, they portrayed strong guarding and protective instincts and have over the years become the preferred guard, guide, military, police, search and rescue dogs. What a resume!!!! But to have all these possible, German Shepherds have to be in tiptop shape. They have to be trained, fed, protected and constantly shown attention. Like all mammals, sleep is a very important element in the well-being of German Shepherds. Through sleep, German Shepherds can attain the following benefits: For better brain function — German Shepherds face many mental challenges on a typical day. For the dog to be highly effective in both mental and physical activities during the day, it has to have a certain period of mental and physical inactivity to rejuvenate brain function. This keeps the dog alert throughout the day. For Memory Retention — German Shepherds are intelligent and can often be taught a variety of lessons throughout their day. To ensure that these lessons stick, sleeping plays a key role. A well-rested German Shepherd can perform and remember certain tasks better than a fatigued German Shepherd. Strengthens the Immune System — Sleep-deprived German Shepherds are more prone to sickness and infections. For Physical Recovery — Sleep is a naturally rejuvenates. A German Shepherd is extremely active and, by the end of any day, could be extremely exhausted. By Sleeping, German Shepherds can rest and recover from physical exhaustion. German Shepherd puppies need to sleep for hours if they are to grow well. Sleep deprivation can suppress the release of this hormone, among others, that are critical for proper mental and physical development. Sleeping Habits of a German Shepherd Puppy Young German Shepherd puppies require more hours of sleep so that they may grow and develop. Typically, these puppies require hours of sleep per day. They require adequate food and rest as they easily get tired, especially during training and play-time. Due to its guarding and protective nature, you may find an adult German Shepherd sleeping lesser hours due to how active it is during the day. Additionally, the need to protect forces the German Shepherd to remain alert; hence, they end up becoming light sleepers. Their bodies are slowly deteriorating. Just like young German Shepherds, these senior citizens will sleep from hours. Do you own a German shepherd and want to get a cat and want to know if they get along? Why does my German Shepherd sleep so much? You may be wondering why your German Shepherd sleeps a lot. Several reasons could explain this behavior. German Shepherd puppies sleep for hours a day. This allows them to grow well, developing a healthy immune system, bones, and muscles. Adult German Shepherd sleep for hours a day. Depending on the kind of lifestyle they are living, adult German Shepherd needs to be alert and hence will sleep less. When they do sleep, they are extremely light sleepers keeping an ear out for danger. Senior German Shepherds sleep for hours. Their body organs are slowly deteriorating and they are becoming less and less energetic. At this age, German Shepherds tire out more quickly and end up sleeping more often. As the adult German shepherd grows older, it will certainly start sleeping more often. Nature Unlike human beings who require hours of sleep a day, a German Shepherd sleeps for hours a day Coile, .This is an important process as a German Shepherd is quite active and energetic. During the day, you will find the dog playing and roughhousing. Heat The current temperature can also greatly affect how much a German Shepherd sleeps. German Shepherds were initially bred to thrive in cold environments hence why they have double coats. However, in regions where the weather is hot, German Shepherds become sleepy sleeping for more than 14 hours a day. If you live in a warm or hot area, ensure your German Shepherd has access to shade, cool areas, and water throughout the day. Also, ensure that you take your German shepherd on walks when the sun is not directly overhead. Illness When a German shepherd is sick, it can also sleep longer than it is used to. If you notice that your German shepherd sleeping suddenly, more often and exhibiting certain behavioral changes, such as being lethargic, it is likely they are sick. Check-in with your vet if you suspect this. Boredom German Shepherds sleep because they are bored. With such an active and energetic personality, German Shepherds need a lot of physical and mental stimulation throughout their day. They also require a lot of attention from their owner. When German Shepherds are not mentally stimulated, they can easily get bored and sleep more often. You must consider increasing the number of activities that your German Shepherd is exposed to in a day. If it is a puppy, limiting the amount of exercise is critical for its growth as it can end up hurting its joints. Diet The diet you are feeding your German Shepherd also contributes to how long it will sleep in a day. Your German Shepherd requires a healthy and balanced diet to ensure it has a normal sleeping pattern. However, if you change its diet and it is not balanced, your German Shepherd may start sleeping more than usua Research on the best German Shepherd diets to follow to ensure you do not end up giving your pup an unbalanced diet. German Shepherds sleep problem Yes, German Shepherds can have sleeping problems if their state of mind is affected. Certain mental conditions or diseases could lead to the development of sleeping problems. They often act out the dreams they are experiencing with vocal sounds, sudden violet leg movements, twitching, and other bodily movements. In extreme cases, the German Shepherd can attack objects violently and run wild. When they wake up it is as if nothing happened and they continue with their life as normal. This is most common in obese German Shepherds whose airways have been narrowed by fat deposits. Such dogs will often snore loudly to the point of being startled by their own snores. They will wake up sluggish and tired. In extreme cases, Chronic Sleep Apnea can be fatal where the dog is unable to breathe properly when asleep. Insomnia — When German shepherds have certain health and mental issues, such as depression, stress, flea infestation, anxiety, chronic pain, and pent-up energy, they may experience insomnia. Narcolepsy Sleep Disorder — It is a sleeping disorder that causes a German Shepherd to suddenly collapse and sleep when it is excited or during physical activity. The German Shepherd does not experience any pain. Sleeping positions You may find your German Shepherd sleeping in a weird position, one that looks as though it is defying the laws of nature. This is typical of all German Shepherds. The sleeping position your German Shepherd chooses often spells out the kind of life they are living and the influence the surroundings may be having on them at that particular moment. Let us check out a few sleeping positions and understand what they mean. Sleeping upside down This is one of the weirdest and hilarious positions to find your German Shepherd taking a nap. The legs are usually suspended in the air, and the dog practically looks like it is playing dead. Finding your German Shepherd sleeping in this position could mean one of three things: The pup is relaxed and comfortable with its paws facing up. The dog is submitting to its owners The dog feels very safe and does not have to worry about being attacked by enemies The dog is trying to cool down Sleeping on the side A German Shepherd sleeping on its side normally has its paws outstretched before it. This is one of the most common sleeping positions for German Shepherds and is evident when the dog wants to stretch its legs so that they are more relaxed. Also, if you find them sleeping in this position, it signifies that the dog is feeling comfortable and safe in that environment. Sleeping while curled up like a ball This is also one of the weird positions you may find a German Shepherd sleeping, especially where the pup chooses to cuddle up in a small space, such as a basket or box. Typically, your German shepherd sleeps in this position to keep warm. You will often find the puppy curled up this way in colder months. Sleeping on its front This is one of the most natural sleeping positions for German shepherds. It is a position that allows them to stay alert and attack in case of anything. This position gives them an added advantage as they can quickly rise to their feet and charge. Tail wrapped over its nose This position is not as common. A sleeping German Shepherd will want to protect the most exposed part of its body, being the nose, from any injuries or flying elements. You will find a German Shepherd sleeping in this position during seasons where the weather is harsh, for instance when it raining, snowing, or windy. Sited but Upright Picture a Kangaroo sitting down. Yes, this is a legitimate sleeping position for a German Shepherd. It is hands-down, one of the weirdest and uncommon sleeping positions. The pup sits on its tail with its hind legs stretched before it, and the upper body rests either on a wall or back of a chair supported on either side. Such a position just shows how comfortable and safe your dog feels. Also, it allows the pup to cool off. These are some of the most common German Shepherd sleeping positions. They communicate a lot about their current situation and the influence the environment may be having on them. For instance, if you find your German Shepherd sleeps while curled up during extremely hot days, it may be an indication that the pup is coming down with something. Where should a German Shepherd Sleep? Now that we have covered the reason a German Shepherd sleeps and its sleeping habits, let us talk about where it should sleep. We all know that a good bed or sleeping structure highly contributes to how well we rest. Is this true for Germans Shepherds as well? Yes, providing a safe and comfortable environment where a German Shepherd sleeps is important. Most German Shepherd owners provide a doggie bed; however, this is not enough. Ensure that the bed is placed in a suitable location. Place the doggie bed in a location that not too hot. Also, ensure that the dog has access to clean water from where it sleeps. This will give the dog a comfortable sleeping environment. Since you are part of their flock, they will want to sleep next to you. Its Protective instincts German Shepherds have very strong protective instincts. At night especially, they would rather sleep next to you and protect you, than in the other room. Separation Anxiety Genetically, German shepherds were bred as herd animals. They will want to spend every waking moment with members of their flock. As a member of its flock, expect the German Shepherd to get quite anxious and angry when you leave it behind. This is why it is attached to you and may also want to sleep in your bed at night. They are trained to sleep next to people Your German Shepherd may have been trained to sleep next to people as a puppy. If you allowed your German Shepherd to sleep in your bed, or if its previous owners allowed the pup to sleep with them, then sleeping with you even in old age is normal. This is the most likely reason for their behavior. In summary: German Shepherd sleep Position, Habits and quantity An adult German Shepherd should have hours of sleep each day, while puppies and senior German Shepherds sleep for hours. Of course, the amount of sleep highly depends on the lifestyle and health of the German Shepherd. A Healthy German Shepherd will get its beauty sleep, and most times, the sleeping position will communicate how comfortable, safe, and rested the dog is. However, if the pup is battling any sort of health condition, whether mental or physical, sleep patterns may likely be affected. You may find that your German Shepherd sleeps less or more depending on the kind of illness it is battling. Therefore, if you want a healthy German Shepherd, be sure to check on its habits and conditions. Ensure you provide the most comfortable option for the pup, be it sleeping on its own bed or yours. 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. Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might sleep so much and the signs to look for. Nature It is natural for a German Shepherd to sleep for between 12 and 14 hours per day source. Since German Shepherds use up a lot of energy it is necessary for them to get a lot of sleep so that they are able to direct their energy towards growing and repairing the muscles. With that being said, if your German Shepherd sleeps for more than 14 hours per day and it is lethargic when it is awake then it may be cause for concern and it would help to take it to a vet. That is unless it is a puppy or it is old in which case it would be normal for them to sleep for more than 14 hours per day. Heat Heat can also contribute to a German Shepherd becoming sleepy. German Shepherds are designed to thrive in colder environments which is why they have double coats. As a result of this, when the weather starts to heat up, it can cause them to be more sleepy. Heat would be much more likely to be the reason that your GSD has been sleeping a lot if it suddenly started to sleep a lot more when the weather became hotter. If that is the case, it would help to make sure that it has access to shade, cool areas and water throughout the day. It would also help to avoid letting it out in direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. Illness Illness can also cause a German Shepherd to be more sleepy. This would be more likely to be the reason if your German Shepherd suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it used to. It would also be more likely if its behavior changed suddenly or if it became lethargic as well. If you think that it might be sleeping too much due to illness then the best option for you would be to have it checked up on by a vet. Boredom Boredom could also be the reason that your German Shepherd has been sleeping a lot. German Shepherds are meant to be working dogs which means that they are designed to be very active when they are awake. Generally, it is recommended that a German Shepherd should get an hour of exercise per day. If your German Shepherd is not currently getting that much exercise then it would help to make sure that it does. However, if it is a puppy then it is recommended that you limit the amount of exercise that it gets to 5 minutes per month of age each day. This is because too much exercise might damage their joints. Diet A poor diet could also be why your German Shepherd sleeps a lot. This would be especially likely if it started to sleep more at around the same time that you changed its diet. You can look at this website to see what you should and should not be feeding your German Shepherd. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. If it is young or old As mentioned above, the age of your German Shepherd will have an impact on how much it will naturally sleep. German Shepherd puppies need to sleep a lot since it is when they are sleeping that they grow and they grow fast. This is why it is normal for a German Shepherd puppy to sleep for between 15 and 20 hours per day source. On the other hand, when a German Shepherd gets older it will sleep a lot then as well. This is because they tire out more easily. Things to consider Before trying to get your German Shepherd to sleep less it would help to consider a number of things. If it suddenly started to sleep more If your German Shepherd has always slept a lot but it is lively when it is awake then it is likely that it sleeps a lot naturally. Whereas, if it has suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it usually does then it would be more likely that there is something wrong. The list mentioned above could all be reasons that your German Shepherd suddenly started sleeping a lot. It would help to consider what else changed at around the same time that it started to sleep more than usual. If it has also become lethargic when it is awake or its behavior has changed then it would likely be worthwhile for you to take it to the vet. When your German Shepherd sleeps a lot It would also help to consider when it seems to sleep a lot. For example, if you notice that it only seems to sleep a lot when it is hot outside then it would likely be because of the heat. Whereas, if you notice that it sleeps shortly after feeding it then its diet might have something to do with it. What to do about your German Shepherd sleeping so much Below, I will mention a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd sleeping so much. Allow it to As mentioned above, it is natural for a German Shepherd to be sleeping a lot. With that being the case, one of the best things that you will be able to do is to allow it to continue to sleep as much as it needs to. Make sure that it is able to sleep comfortably Seeing as they are meant to be sleeping a lot, it would help if you can make its sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. You can do this by ensuring that it is not too hot where it sleeps, it is comfortable for it and that it has access to water when it wants it. Make sure that its diet is right Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Keep it cool Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd is sleeping so much or you think that there might be something wrong then the best option for you would be to have a vet look at it. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. During sleep a German Shepherds brain, central nervous system, immune system and muscles develop. Since German Shepherd puppies grow quickly it is necessary for them to get a lot of sleep so that they are able to direct their energy towards growing. With that being said, if your German Shepherd puppy sleeps for more than 20 hours per day and it is lethargic when it is awake then it may be cause for concern and it would help to take it to a vet. Other things that can cause a German Shepherd puppy to sleep a lot While it is normal for a German Shepherd puppy to sleep a lot there are also a number of other factors that could be contributing to it sleeping so much. Additionally, if it is more than 16 weeks old, it should be starting to sleep much less than it used to. If it is sleeping for more than 14 hours per day then it could be that there is something else contributing to it. Below, I will mention a number of things that could be causing your German Shepherd puppy to be sleeping a lot. Heat Heat can also contribute to a German Shepherd puppy becoming sleepy. German Shepherds are designed to thrive in colder environments which is why they have double coats. As a result of this, when the weather starts to heat up, it can cause them to be more sleepy. Heat would be much more likely to be the reason why your GSD puppy has been sleeping a lot if it suddenly started to sleep a lot more when the weather became hotter. If that is the case, it would help to make sure that it has access to shade, cool areas and water throughout the day. It would also help to avoid letting it out in direct sunlight when the sun is directly overhead. Illness Illness can also cause a German Shepherd puppy to be more sleepy. This would be more likely to be the reason if your German Shepherd puppy suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it used to. It would also be more likely if its behavior changed suddenly or if it became lethargic as well. If you think that it might be sleeping too much due to illness then the best option for you would be to have it checked up on by a vet. Boredom It might be the case that it has been sleeping more than usual due to boredom. German Shepherds are highly active, while they are awake, when they are young. If they do not have things to stimulate them in their environment then it can cause them to become bored. German Shepherd adults require a lot of exercise. However, the amount that you should be exercising your German Shepherd puppy will be a lot less since their joints are not fully developed yet. Instead, you can keep it occupied, while it is young, by training it to behave the way that you want it to when it is older. It is important to take the time to train it while it is young since it will be easier to change its habits and you will be able to avoid behavioral issues when it gets older. Diet A poor diet could also be why your German Shepherd puppy sleeps a lot. This would be especially likely if it started to sleep more at around the same time that you changed its diet. You can look at this website to see what you should and should not be feeding your German Shepherd puppy. If you are unsure of what food to get for your German Shepherd, consider getting dog food designed specifically for German Shepherds. You can get dog food specifically designed for German Shepherd puppies on Chewy here. Too much exercise While it could be the case that your German Shepherd puppy gets bored, it could also be the case that it is getting too much exercise. Since German Shepherd puppies grow rapidly it is important not to exercise them too much otherwise it can damage their joints. According to the Kennel Club , a good rule of thumb is to give your German Shepherd puppy 5 minutes of exercise per day for every month of age. So, if it is 3 months old, it would be recommended to limit its exercise to 15 minutes. If your German Shepherd puppy is lethargic when it is awake then it would be a sign that you are giving it too much exercise. Related post: Ways to exercise your German Shepherd. Consider if it suddenly started sleeping a lot more If your German Shepherd puppy has slept a lot right from the start but it is lively when it is awake then it is likely that it sleeps a lot naturally. Whereas, if it has suddenly started to sleep a lot more than it usually does then it would be more likely that there is something wrong. The list mentioned above could all be reasons why your German Shepherd puppy suddenly started sleeping a lot. It would help to consider what else changed at around the same time that it started to sleep more than usual. If it has also become lethargic when it is awake or its behavior has changed then it would likely be worthwhile for you to take it to the vet. What to do about your German Shepherd puppy sleeping a lot There are a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd puppy sleeping a lot that I will mention below. Allow it to sleep as much as it needs to As mentioned above, it is natural for a German Shepherd puppy to be sleeping a lot. With that being the case, one of the best things that you will be able to do is to allow it to continue to sleep as much as it needs to. You should find that it will, gradually, begin to sleep less as it gets older. Make its sleeping environment comfortable Seeing as they are meant to be sleeping a lot, it would help if you can make its sleeping environment as comfortable as possible. You can do this by ensuring that it is not too hot where it sleeps, it is comfortable for it and that it has access to water when it wants it. Ensure that its diet is right Seeing as its diet could be contributing to it sleeping so much it would help to ensure that it is getting the right diet. Give it access to cool and shaded areas If you live in a warm area then it would likely be helpful if you can ensure that your GSD puppy has access to cool and shaded areas when it wants it. It would also help to avoid taking it outside when it is hot out and to do it in the morning or evening instead. Take it to a vet If you are unsure of why your German Shepherd puppy is sleeping so much or you think that there might be something wrong then the best option for you would be to have a vet look at it. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. 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. 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.

Why do German Shepherd puppies need the best dog food? German Shepherd puppies need dog food designed for large breed puppies to ensure controlled joint and bone growth. This is because large-breed puppies are prone to certain health risks like hip dysplasia and other Orthopedic conditions. The best dog food for German Shepherds will ensure your puppy grows healthy, strong, energetic, and with lovely skin and coats. Nutritional requirements for German Shepherds puppies German Shepherd puppies require a balanced diet that contains four types of nutrients below. These ingredients will ensure that your pup grows and develops optimally for a longer quality of life. Proteins Proteins help the puppies in building up their body tissues. Proteins can be found in chicken, salmon, beef, lamb, eggs, and dairy. Fats Fats are important for healthy skin, fur, brain, and vision. The recommended fat level per dry matter basis is 8. Fats can be found in fish oil, chicken fat, and beef fat. Digestible carbohydrates Because puppies are incredibly energetic, they need digestible carbs to provide them with energy. Digestible carbohydrates can be found in rice, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and whole oats. Micronutrients In addition to these key nutrients, German Shepherd puppies also need micronutrients like calcium, phosphorus, DHA, and omega-3, and vitamin A. They also need fiber to promote digestion and bowel movement and clean water to help with bodily functions. For large dog breed only: Foods specially formulated for German Shepherd puppies: Veterinarian and pet advisor Dr. Choose a dog food that is specially formulated for German Shepherds puppies or large breed puppies can ensure your pups are getting the nutritional requirements at every stage of their growth. The opposite side is giving your pup the wrong food that may lead to serious growth and digestive problems. Things to consider before choosing dog food for German Shepherds puppies 1. Their growth Puppies may need different nutrients at different stages depending on their growth rate. For instance, a puppy in the weaning stage between three to four weeks will need more antioxidants which are found in foods containing Vitamin C and E. In contrast, a teething puppy will need wet dog food which is easily digestible food on its tummy to minimize intestinal upset. For instance, a younger puppy may have difficulty eating larger food pieces than an older puppy. Teething If your dog is teething, which starts at around three weeks, you may want to consider food that contains calcium like dairy and bone broth for strong and healthy teeth. On the other hand, if the dog has teething problems, wet food may be a better option than dry food until they recover. Alternatively, you add wet canned food to their kibble to make it soft and palatable. The body weight An underweight puppy has different dietary requirements from an overweight puppy. You do not want to underfeed or overfeed your puppy. Activity Level Puppies that are extremely active require foods high in carbohydrates to keep up their energy levels. If your dog is not as active, you want to keep the carbs down to avoid obesity. With all the many dry foods out on the market, it can be hard to choose the healthiest for your pups. Step 1. The Association of American Feed Control Officials developed nutrient profiles to establish minimum and some maximum nutrient concentrations for dogs and cats. These profiles are updated when new findings from research in pet nutrition become available. They provide practical guidance for pet food manufacturers. Adult Maintenance: Dog foods formulated for adult maintenance have the nutrients adult dogs need. Dogs over the age of one are considered adults, except for some large and giant breeds who do not fully mature until age two. You may see variations of these nutrient profiles on dog food packaging. Step 2. Read the food label The label is the most important thing you should check when deciding which puppy food to pick. Here are the 3 things you would like to read on the packaging: a. List of ingredients The list of ingredients should have the main ingredient as the first ingredient then followed by the rest according to their percentage. For instance, in the label below the first five ingredients, are chicken as the main ingredient, ground whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain sorghum, corn gluten meal and dried plain beet pulp. Feeding guidelines This will show you how much food and how many times you should feed your puppy. Watch this video if you want to better understand the wording on a dog food packaging means: Step 3. Are there any claims of pups reacting to the food? Do the users recommend or warn against the food? Of course, you want to go with what the majority of the reviewers say. You can also check dogadvisor. Step 4. The vet is in a better place to advise on what type of food to go for or what ingredients to avoid. Best dry foods for German Shepherds Puppies There are hundreds of dog foods out there with fancy names and ingredients, which make it so hard for dog owners to find the right food for their pups. To help you narrow down your search, we asked a couple of vets to suggest the best dog food for German Shepherds puppies. Purina Pro Plan — For sensitive skin and allergies Why do we like it? This dog food is ideal for all large breed puppies weighing over 50 pounds, GSD included. It is specially formulated for puppies with sensitive skin and stomachs. It is made with real chicken, among other high-quality ingredients. This dry food has optimal calcium levels to promote proper joint and bone growth. It helps prevent forms of hip dysplasia. Ideal for German Shepherd puppies of all ages. Delicious dry food for large breed puppies like GSD. It is specially formulated for superior vision and healthy brain development. This is an all-natural dog food specially made for large-breed puppies of all ages. It is made with real, wholesome ingredients. Making the right food choice will ensure that your puppy grows healthier, stronger, and more energetic. Weaning for a GSD puppy should start at around 6 to 8 weeks while still maintaining nursing. Complete weaning should be from 8 weeks when the puppy is fed on puppy food only. How is puppy food different from adult dog food? Puppy food contains more protein and fats, and certain minerals than adult dog food to support their growing brain, vision, nervous system, immune system, bones, and joints. When should German Shepherd puppies transition to adult dog food? German Shepherd puppies should transition to adult dog food from 12 to 24 months. The transition should be gradual, and the puppy should be constantly monitored. More posts on feeding your German Shepherds Must read:. It also tends to be high in protein. Food that is high in protein and calories will provide your puppy with the energy that they need and help them gain the right amount of weight as they grow up. Most puppy food also includes vitamin and mineral supplements, such as calcium and phosphorus, for healthy and strong bones and teeth. You should speak to your vet to ensure that you have the right food and are feeding your puppy the proper amount. We hope that these reviews have helped you decide on the right food for your German Shepherd puppy. Remember to stick with large-breed food because it usually has the correct ratio of vitamins and minerals to give your GSD puppy all the suitable nutrition that they need so they can grow up strong, healthy, and happy. Featured Image Credit: Victoria Antonova, Shutterstock Written by Kathryn Copeland Author Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a child, she hoped to work in zoos or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her all-consuming love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future — maybe another cat and a dog.Read more Advertisement. This is a question that many German Shepherd owners ask, as they want to make sure their beloved furry friend is getting all the nutrients they need. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy dog food options out there for German Shepherds. You should eat foods that include high-quality animal-based protein sources like lamb, beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes. In addition, the meal should be plentiful in fats, vitamins, and minerals. Are eggs good for German Shepherds? Yes, eggs are a great source of protein for German Shepherds. In fact, they are one of the healthiest foods you can feed your dog. Eggs are packed with nutrients that are essential for a German Shepherd's diet, including vitamins A, D, and E. They also contain omega-three fatty acids, which are important for a dog's coat and skin health. What is the best food for German Shepherds with allergies? If your German Shepherd has allergies, it's important to find a hypoallergenic best dog food for German Shepherds that will not trigger their symptoms. There are many brands of hypoallergenic dog food on the market that use alternative protein sources, such as duck or venison. These foods are often grain-free as well, which is ideal for German Shepherds with allergies. What is the best food for German Shepherds with sensitive stomachs? If your German Shepherd has a sensitive stomach, you'll want to find a dog food that is easy on their digestive system. There are many brands of dog food that offer formulas specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs. These foods often have limited ingredient lists and use easily digestible ingredients, such as chicken or potato. What is the best food for German Shepherds with joint problems? If your German Shepherd has joint problems, you'll want to find a dog food that is rich in omega-three fatty acids. These essential nutrients help to reduce inflammation and pain in the joints. There are many brands of dog food that offer formulas specifically for dogs with joint problems. These foods often contain ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, which are known to help relieve joint pain. Now let's chat in more detail about the best dog foods for your furry friend. It is made with all natural ingredients and has no fillers or preservatives. The kibble is also enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for dogs' skin and coat health. The addition of zinc proteinate and other chelated minerals to the formula is a plus, as it leads to better absorption and nutrition. We also note the inclusion of various probiotics for better digestion and salmon oil, which is beneficial to both skin and coat. Highly suggested! All of their recipes are made with whole ingredients and cooked in small batches. The meals are portioned according to your dog's weight and activity level. Wilderness is a grain-free and protein-rich product with over a dozen options and recipes, which makes it ideal for people who want to rotate their diets. It's reasonably priced, and it gets high marks from consumers. Probiotics, high-quality fiber, and digestive enzymes are included in this formula to aid your dog's digestive health. These components create mouth-watering, healthy food that will sustain your canine companion throughout the day. The foods in this recipe include multiple probiotics for improved digestion, chelated minerals for maximized absorption, and nutrient-dense food. It's inexpensive to buy as well as simple to suggest. Eagle Pack Power Adult Dog Food Image courtesy Eagle Pack The majority of the animal protein in Adult takes the form of fresh chicken and pork meal, as confirmed by the nutritional label. The all-time classic, fully grain-inclusive design that is free of legume concentrates. Antioxidant preservatives are used in a safe and natural manner. There's no BHT or ethoxyquin. It has high animal protein levels, as well as vitamins and minerals that have been boosted through the use of freeze-dried raw pieces. It's designed to unleash your dog's potential to thrive and put the advantages of raw nutrition into every bowl, using cage-free duck as the first ingredient for powerful, lean muscles. It also contains a probiotic boost for digestive health, greater amounts of omegas for healthy skin and coat, and more antioxidants for immune health—all from the highest-quality ingredients from all over the world. This high-protein, low-carb diet is designed for sporting dogs and plush animals with rigorous exercise requirements. It's also perfect for growing pups and pregnant or nursing females. This formula has DHA to support cognitive development, as well as calcium for strong bones and teeth. Iams ProActive Health also has 22 essential vitamins and minerals to keep your puppy healthy and strong. It's nice to discover a Southwest Canyon recipe that includes natural preservatives, which implies the food does not contain any BHA, BHT, or other harmful chemicals. A major brand and a healthy all-age option for any German Shepherd. Champion Petfoods, the well-known maker of Orijen, has long promoted a meat-based "biologically appropriate" diet. This is a tried and true design that makes this particular dish an excellent choice for developing Shepherd pups. This natural dry food is developed to give complete-body nutritional support for puppies of all sizes. It's made with high-quality proteins and whole grains, all of which are complemented by omega fatty acids—such as DHA—necessary vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, and probiotics. This balanced, nutritious dry dog food is intended to promote teeth and bone strength, healthy brain growth, general health, energy and vitality, optimal nutrient absorption, and healthy muscle development. It's free of GMOs, by-products from processing animals into pet food ingredients meat meal , fillers, or artificial preservatives to ensure that your dog gets the healthiest food possible. This is a tried-and-true approach that has been developed and studied for decades. It includes controlled calcium and phosphorus ratios, making it ideal for German Shepherd puppies. This large-breed dry food is made with high-quality proteins and whole grains. It's free of chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives. This recipe is designed to support the health of large breed puppies with an optimal balance of calcium and phosphorus for bone growth. It also includes DHA from fish oil for healthy brain development. This recipe includes DHA for brain development, calcium and phosphorus for bone growth, and antioxidants to support the immune system. It's also free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. You can feed your dog either dry or wet food, and he may sample two distinct flavor profiles: rice and oatmeal for salmon. Because it contains no allergens like wheat, corn, or soy, there's less of a chance that your dog will suffer an upset stomach. It also includes omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which help to promote skin, coat, and joint health. Image courtesy Blue Buffalo If you're searching for high-quality, all-natural wet dog food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a wonderful alternative. This dog food is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for an entourage diet. It's made with real beef and chicken, can be served as a delicious treat, or blended into your dog's regular dry food. The Blue Buffalo puppy food contains no chicken by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives; making it a healthy choice for your dog. All dishes are prepared in collaboration with veterinarians and come in a variety of delicious flavors, including beef, lamb, and turkey. All of the meats are imported from the United States, although only lamb comes from Australia. It's also gluten-free, so if you're allergic to grains, you'll be safe. There is a large selection of carbohydrates, which are mostly in the form of potatoes, and there are numerous healthy vegetables and superfoods including lentils, peas, salmon oil, and flaxseed. It's made with real meat, vegetables, and fruit. This recipe is grain-free and free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It's also high in protein and low in carbohydrates. It's made with real beef, vegetables, and fruit. It also contains sweet potatoes, peas, potatoes, canola oil, and flaxseed. This formula provides your German Shepherd puppy with the high protein diet they need for proper development and growth. Taste of the Wild is one of the most popular brands among dog food reviewers. It's included as our last on this list but has ranked high among some of the best dog foods for German Shepherds because it's high in protein and free of grains. What foods are German Shepherds allergic to? German Shepherds are known to be allergic to a variety of things, including wheat, corn, soy, and even some meats. If you're not sure what your German Shepherd is allergic to, it's always best to consult with your veterinarian. They will be able to recommend the best food for your dog based on their specific allergies. If your German Shepherd is having any sort of adverse reaction to their food, such as scratching, biting, or licking themselves excessively, then they may be allergic to something in their food. Consult with your veterinarian if you're not sure what's causing the reaction. What is the best dog food for German Shephard puppies? Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, so it's important to find a food that's specifically designed for puppies. Look for a food that has high levels of protein and fat, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Puppies also need more calories than adult dogs, so make sure the food you choose has a high calorie content. As your puppy grows, they will need less calories and protein, so you'll need to switch to a food that's designed for adult dogs. Consult with your veterinarian to find the best food for your German Shepherd puppy. What is the best food for an adult German Shepherd? The best food for an adult German Shepherd is a diet that is high in protein and fat. This breed of dog is known for its high energy levels and need for exercise, so a food that can help them maintain their energy levels is important. A diet that is too low in calories can cause your German Shepherd to become overweight or obese, which can lead to health problems. When choosing a food for your German Shepherd, it is important to read the label carefully and choose a food that is right for their age, weight, and activity level. Can a German Shepherd drink milk? Yes, German Shepherds can drink milk. Milk is a good source of calcium and other nutrients that are important for this breed of dog. However, it is important to choose a low-fat or skim milk to avoid adding unnecessary calories to their diet. What is the best way to feed a German Shepherd puppy? The best way to feed a German Shepherd puppy is to start them on a diet that is high in protein and fat. Puppies need more calories than adult dogs, so it is important to choose a food that will give them the nutrition they need without making them overweight. As your German Shepherd puppy grows, you can slowly transition them to an adult dog food. It is important to make sure that they are getting the right amount of calories and nutrients for their age, weight, and activity level. What are some common health problems German Shepherds face? Some common health problems German Shepherds face include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and allergies. This breed of dog is also susceptible to obesity, so it is important to choose a food that will help them maintain a healthy weight. German Shepherds are also prone to joint problems, so a food that is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin is important for this breed of dog. What is the life expectancy of a German Shepherd? The life expectancy of a German Shepherd is between nine and thirteen years. This breed of dog is known for being a healthy and hardy breed, but there are some health problems that can shorten their lifespan. It is important to feed your German Shepherd a diet that will help them maintain their health and keep them at a healthy weight to help ensure a long and happy life. Is it OK to put a raw egg in dog food? The answer is complicated. While some experts believe that raw eggs are perfectly safe for dogs, others believe that they can be dangerous. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. If you decide to feed your dog raw eggs, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, make sure the eggs are fresh. Second, only feed your dog eggs that have been properly refrigerated. Finally, don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw eggs. If you're still not sure whether or not to feed your dog raw eggs, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you make the best decision for your pet. What are the benefits of raw eggs for dogs? There are a few potential benefits of feeding raw eggs to dogs. Some people believe that raw eggs can help increase a dog's energy levels, improve their coat, and even help with joint pain. While there is some anecdotal evidence to support these claims, there is no scientific evidence that raw eggs offer any health benefits for dogs. Our Criteria for Ranking the Best Dog Food Choosing the right dog food is essential for your pet's health and well-being. With the plethora of options available in the market, it can be challenging to determine which dog food is best for your furry friend. To simplify this process and help you make an informed decision, we have established a set of criteria for ranking the best dog food products. These criteria are based on scientific research, expert opinions, and the specific nutritional needs of dogs. Ingredients Quality: High-Quality Protein: The primary ingredient should be a high-quality animal protein source, such as chicken, beef, or fish, to support your dog's muscle development and overall health. Whole Grains and Vegetables: Whole grains and vegetables should be included to provide essential carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Absence of Fillers and Artificial Additives: No Fillers: The best dog food should not contain fillers like corn, soy, or wheat, which offer limited nutritional value and may cause allergies. No Artificial Additives: It should be free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, which can harm your dog's health over time. Meat Meal vs. Whole Meat: Preference for Whole Meat: Whole meat sources are preferred over meat meals or by-products, as they are less processed and retain more nutritional value. Digestibility and Allergen Consideration: Hypoallergenic Options: For dogs with allergies or sensitivities, hypoallergenic options that avoid common allergens like poultry or grains should be available. High Digestibility: The dog food should be highly digestible to ensure your pet absorbs the maximum nutrients from each meal. Life Stage Appropriateness: Age and Size-Specific Formulations: The best dog food should offer formulations tailored to your dog's life stage puppy, adult, senior and size small, medium, large. Transparency and Sourcing: Transparent Labeling: Brands should provide transparent information about ingredient sourcing and processing methods. Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing: A commitment to sustainable and ethical sourcing of ingredients reflects a brand's responsibility toward animal welfare and the environment. Health Benefits and Special Considerations: Support for Special Health Needs: The best dog food may offer formulations to address specific health concerns, such as joint health, dental care, or weight management. Customer Feedback and Reviews: Positive User Experiences: Customer feedback and reviews are valuable indicators of a product's performance, safety, and palatability. Price and Value: Affordability: The cost of the dog food should be reasonable and commensurate with its quality and ingredients, offering good value for pet owners. Recall History and Safety: Safety Record: Brands with a history of recalls or safety issues should be viewed with caution, as the safety of your pet is paramount. But with our list of the 25 best dog foods for German Shepherds in , you can rest assured that you're giving your furry friend the best possible chance at a long and healthy life. When choosing dog food, consider factors such as your dog's age, size, activity level, any allergies or sensitivities, and consult your veterinarian for specific dietary recommendations. What is the difference between dry and wet dog food? Dry dog food kibble is convenient, has a longer shelf life, and can help with dental health. Wet dog food contains more moisture and can be more palatable for picky eaters. Some owners choose to feed a combination for variety. Is homemade dog food a good option? Homemade dog food can be an option but requires careful research and balance to ensure your dog gets all the necessary nutrients. Consulting with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist is recommended. How can I tell if a dog food is of high quality? Look for high-quality protein sources, whole grains and vegetables, minimal fillers and additives, and adherence to AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition. Checking customer reviews and consulting experts can also help. Should I choose a dog food based on my dog's breed? While some breed-specific formulas exist, it's more important to consider your dog's individual needs, age, and size when selecting dog food. What should I do if my dog has food allergies or sensitivities? If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, consult your veterinarian for advice. They may recommend hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient dog foods. Is grain-free dog food a better choice? Grain-free dog food isn't necessarily better. While some dogs may benefit from grain-free options, it's essential to ensure the food still provides balanced nutrition, as some grain-free diets have been associated with certain health issues. How often should I feed my dog, and in what portion sizes? Feeding frequency and portion sizes depend on your dog's age, size, and activity level. Puppies typically require more frequent meals. Follow the feeding guidelines provided on the dog food packaging and adjust based on your dog's needs. Can I mix different brands or types of dog food? Mixing different brands or types of dog food can be done, but it should be done gradually to avoid digestive upset. Consult your veterinarian for guidance on the best way to transition your dog to a new diet. Should I be concerned about recalls when choosing dog food? Yes, it's important to stay informed about recalls. Check the FDA and manufacturer websites regularly for recall information. Brands with a history of recalls may be worth avoiding. What is the role of my veterinarian in selecting dog food? Your veterinarian can provide valuable guidance on selecting the right dog food based on your pet's specific needs, health conditions, and dietary requirements. How can I ensure my dog stays hydrated when feeding dry dog food? Always provide access to clean, fresh water. Wetting the dry food or incorporating wet food into the diet can also increase moisture intake. Can I give my dog human food as part of their diet? While some human foods are safe for dogs, it's essential to know which ones are and to avoid potentially toxic foods. Always consult with your veterinarian before adding human food to your dog's diet. Remember that each dog is unique, and their dietary needs may vary. Regular check-ups with your veterinarian and open communication about your dog's diet are key to ensuring their health and well-being. Related Content.