german shepherd puppies for sale - craigslist pa

All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. Labrador Retriever Stages of Development Labrador Retriever Stages of Development If you are new to the Labrador Retriever world and you have a new puppy, you may be wondering when Lab puppies finally calm down. First, for those that do not know, the Labrador Retriever breed is not for those that want to lay back on the couch and toss back a few beers. Labs are people dogs meaning that they are very sociable and do not like to be left on their own all the time. They have a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. That is why it is important for this breed to get plenty of exercise and social interaction. We did a lot of research about the breed and found that many people have their own ideas on the age of maturation. In all honesty, there are differing levels of energy that the Lab will go through during its life and from the age of about 10 weeks old to 5 years old, the energy level can remain quite high. Stage 2: Toddler — This stage starts around weeks old and goes until about 5 months old. The energy level is quite high at this time as the puppy is learning all it can about the world and go through many biological changes. It tests its environment with its mouth and as it gets towards the end of this stage, it begins to chew on everything it can to try and get relief from teething. It is usually to have some terry cloth towels that have been soaked in water and sitting in your freezer, waiting to be gnawed on! Stage 3: Adolescent — This is a tough stage and starts around 5 months old and go anywhere up to a year, depending on the dog. Some would call it the terrible twos because all of a sudden, your sweet Lab baby has forgotten everything you have taught it and has the manners of any human teenager out there! Sure, they know not to go on the couch but they will test you again and make sure you meant it. This is when you need to reinforce all your training because if you let them get away with it now, it is harder to break them of it later! Stage 4: Maturing — Usually this starts around a year old and goes until the 5-year old stage. The level of energy is still high and is equal to a college student or young twenty-something adult. They get more comfortable with their surroundings and take a little more time to enjoy life and the company of their owner and family. This is more of an enjoyable time with your family Lab! Stage 5: Senior — Around 5 years and up, the little puppy you once knew with all the energy level of an energizer bunny is there in spirit but the body is slowing down more. They still have a good amount of energy but nothing compared o stages 2 and 3! Life is good and comfortable. So, when does a Lab puppy start to calm down? Well, generally it is around stage 4 but can happen before that stage. The one thing people with Labrador Retrievers, or any dog for that matter, need to understand is that each dog is different. Yes, there are certain traits in the Lab breed for which we eagerly welcomed them into our home, but just as human identical twins can have opposite personalities, so can your Labrador Retriever. For example, if you are in stage 2, there is housebreaking and teething to deal with. Your puppy also needs help with getting rid of some of that pent up energy it has and it is your responsibility to give it safe and structured ways to expel that energy. Short walks work well on soft surfaces for young pups as well as schedule play times. Whatever you choose to do, high energy levels in Labs are normal during certain stages — just remember to enjoy them while you can because your Lab will only be a puppy once. Post navigation. But those first weeks of puppy development are very similar whatever the breed, and these landmarks are good general rules for any dog. Puppy development week by week, changes quickly. Newborn Puppies Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Newborn puppies may cry if cold. But they do not have the strength to cry for long. Newborn Labrador puppies snuggle together to keep warm when their mother is away How Helpless are Newborn Pups? Although they rely on mom for a lot at this stage, newborn puppies are not completely helpless. They can use their front feet to drag themselves towards a heat source or their milk supply. This means their mom, not milk alternatives like cow or goat milk. Newborn pups have no teeth yet. But they can move their heads about to search for a nipple, and they can latch on and suck strongly. Their mother leaves them only to eat, drink and for bathroom purposes. While she is away, the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat, as you can see in the photo above. They may also crawl under a heat lamp source to keep warm. In every other respect newborn puppies are completely dependent on the care of their mother. Newborn pups have little control over the rear end of their bodies. The mother dog washes them and licks their bottoms to encourage elimination, licking up and swallowing anything they produce to keep her babies and their nest scrupulously clean. In fact, he may even double his birth weight! One week later and the puppies have doubled their birth weight. Changes are taking place under his eyelids to prepare them for opening. And usually begins during the second week of life. Ears open at this point too, so your puppy will begin to hear. The Labrador puppies in this picture are two weeks olds. Two weeks old and the puppies eyes are now open! You can see that their eyes are now open and the puppies are beginning to look a little more dog-like. The breeder will be handling the puppies more now. And most puppies are wormed for the first time at two weeks old. Most 3 week old puppies can stand and sit, and are beginning to totter about. They are also starting to develop their individuality. No longer are they just a row of identical little fat furry sausages! This little three week old puppy :- Can easily be distinguished from his brother: Teething and Further Development At 3 weeks old, this is also the point at which puppies start teething — cutting their first deciduous baby teeth. Obviously the teeth are appearing for a reason! Some breeders will start to offer the first tastes of solid food at this point. Especially if the litter is a large one and putting a strain on the mother dog. It is lovely to watch a litter of 3 week old puppies beginning to interact with their brothers and sisters. They are running, playing enthusiastically, and have started to wag their little tails. The puppies will start to show bowel control as they move away from the other puppies to defecate. And solid food is becoming a major part of their diet. These little pups are tucking into some puppy food. Four week old puppies having their dinner in the fresh air If the weather is warm enough, puppies will be spending some time outdoors now. Mealtimes are a messy process, so feeding puppies out in the yard can be a good idea. Breeder Involvement Some mother dogs will lose interest in cleaning up after their pups at this point or soon afterwards. And many puppies will be wormed again this week. Vocalizations are becoming stronger at this puppy development stage. The litter will greet their mother noisily when she returns to them, and try hard to follow her out of the whelping box whenever she leaves. The puppies themselves are now eating solid food several times a day and gradually being weaned of their dependency on her milk. Puppies will still suckle ravenously when their mother returns and she will now often feed them standing up and only for a short time. She will also be teaching the puppies not to bite too hard. So, they should be increasingly spending time with humans and learning to be familiar with the sounds and sights of a human family environment. Puppies being raised in kennels must be brought into a home environment regularly from now on to ensure they develop into confident, friendly dogs. Six weeks old and full of mischief Puppies Still Have a Lot to Learn at 6 Weeks In some countries, puppies are taken to their new homes at this age. But this is not a good idea, and can result in a puppy that has poor bite inhibition and is challenging to manage. The puppies are learning not to bite too hard from the reactions of their mother and siblings. Growth is not quite so fast now. But the puppies will still grow strongly for the next few months. Many puppies will be wormed again this week. All that remains is for plenty of great socialization experiences to be packed into this week, with final checks on health. Many breeders will arrange for each seven week old puppy to have a vet check this week. And though some vets advise against it, some puppies are also given their first vaccinations before they leave for their new homes. Some breeders will now have the puppies trained to pee and poop on puppy pads or newspaper. And some will have been whistling to the puppies at meal times to get them used to coming to a human signal. Potty training is now underway and puppy socialization plans are being made. At this point, many of you will be thinking about training your puppy too. The next four weeks are vital in puppy development stages. Your main job is socializing your puppy. This means taking him to lots of new places and exposing him to lots of new experiences. So, life will be starting to get back to normal. Most puppies in the U. In the U. So, not all puppies will get their vaccinations at the exact same age. Socializing your puppy is still the most important job for you at this age. But, you cannot put your puppy on the ground outside until they have received their final vaccination. So, make sure you know exactly when their final jab is. And carry on introducing them to as many new people, things, and experiences as possible throughout this puppy development stage. Some people can suffer from the puppy blues at this stage too, as your life has completely changed! But, that does not mean socialization can stop. Puppies who are isolated at this point will soon lose that friendly fearlessness. You have an important job now, building on what has been achieved so far, and introducing your puppy to the world at ground level. This part of his education can begin once his vaccination cover is complete. He should be fully immunised at around this point. But check with your vet for confirmation of the actual date. Three months also marks the point at which many puppies will drop down from four daily meals, to three. This can cause problems for some puppies because the portions are larger If your puppy gets an upset tummy when you make this change, just go back up to four meals again for a few days, and give smaller portions for a few days when you try again. But, many will need another month before they can cope without frequent bathroom breaks and the occasional accident. Your puppy will begin to lose his baby teeth. This can also be a time at which biting can be most challenging. And try not to worry, this stage will soon be over! A few will need another month or two to complete the process. Remember, no two puppies are the same. That puppy fluffiness will have gone. For many puppies, five months is an awkward, gangly time. A five month old puppy may have shed the last of his soft puppy lines and be looking quite skinny. By the end of this month most puppies will have finished teething but an urge to chew may continue for another few months in some breeds, Labradors included. Some female dogs will have their first season during this month. But, for many, it will be another three or four months before this happens. This is a major milestone for your puppy. He is now looking very much like an adult Labrador. Still a Puppy Because he looks quite grown up, people expect a lot of their 6 month old puppy. But inside, he is still very much a puppy. The beginnings of adolescence and with it an increasing independence of spirit can bring its challenges, but also a whole lot of fun. Image from Pixabay Labrador Puppy Behavior and Growth Stages Labrador retriever puppies do plenty of growing, learning, and maturing in a short amount of time, especially when compared to humans. Labs also change quite a bit, both mentally and physically from even birth to 8 weeks, which would be around the time you would bring your new puppy home. They are dependent on their mother for most things and although they have fur at birth, their mother keeps them warm because their internal thermostats have not begun to work yet. Their mother only lets them alone for bathroom trips and to eat and drink while the puppies huddle together for warmth. Two Weeks Newborn puppies cannot see or hear but by 2 weeks their ears and eyes should begin to open, allowing for hearing and sight. Handling should begin with the breeder for their first introduction to socialization. Puppies will receive their first worming. Three Weeks Puppies will begin teething as teeth come in and some solid food will be introduced gradually. Puppies can sit, stand, and trot about, a little unsteadily, at this time and even play with littermates, each developing their own personalities. Four Weeks Labrador puppies are becoming a lot more vocal and they are looking and acting more like dogs, wagging tails and playing with enthusiasm. Their mother who has kept everything clean until now is beginning to grow weary, so clean-up will now fall to the breeder. Puppies will receive their second worming. Mothers also teach pups not to bite so hard when feeding and playing. Six Weeks Worming will take place for the third time. Puppies are eating all solid food about six times a day and are totally weaned. Their mother still works with them in regards to biting and gives them a sharp bark, or reprimand, when they play too roughly with littermates. Seven Weeks Puppies will be socialized more, often with breeders beginning initial housebreaking. Usually, puppies will be checked out by a veterinarian before leaving their mother, brothers, and sisters for their new home at 8 weeks. Potty training and socialization should continue. Even though your pup was checked out by a veterinarian, you will need to make an appointment to begin the necessary vaccinations. Before bringing your new puppy home, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies for the pup such as bed, blanket, crate, toys, dishes, food, treats, collar, and leash. Keep in mind that this is the first time puppy has been away from their mother, littermates, and their familiar home. Have patience and give them reassurance and love. They may cry or be shy or fearful until they feel comfortable in their new home. Nine Weeks Your Labrador puppy should feel more familiar with its surroundings. Keep on top of housebreaking, taking them out every 20 to 30 minutes, especially after meals. Work on some basic training but keep sessions short. Socialization will be your biggest task now. Take them to as many places as you can so they can see situations as an adventure, not something to be feared. Ten Weeks Your puppy will need more vaccinations and their veterinarian will check them out and their weight to ensure that they are growing properly. Keep working on socialization. By this time your pup should be properly socialized, but continue to take them to as many places as you can. They may act independently and test you by ignoring certain commands that they are very familiar with. Be firm. Five Months Your puppy may be totally housebroken by this time and able to be left alone a little longer without accidents. Some pups take a little longer just as children may for potty training. They are beginning to be stronger and when they become too weighty, pulling on the leash will be a chore if not properly trained. Six Months Between 4 and 6 months your pup may try to challenge you or other family members. You and others must be the dominant forces in the family. Your pup is also looking more like a dog, but keep in mind, they are still a puppy at heart. Meals can now be reduced to two times a day. You will need to continue with training and obedience classes can be a huge benefit. Your pup will be quite a lot of fun at this time with lots of energy, stamina, and exuberance but will also show some characteristics of a rebellious teenager which may be frustrating. Be patient, yet firm. They may have the appearance of an adult Labrador but are without the maturity of one. When is Do Labs Stop Growing? Keep in mind that just as humans are individuals, so too are dogs and some may be full-grown at a certain age, while others may add a few more pounds after this time. Their full height, however, will be reached by nine months of age. A full-grown Lab will range in weight from 55lbs — 75lbs for females and 64lbs — 85lbs for males. Your Labrador retriever may grow to be large or be a smaller version. This helps to ease your mind. Enjoy every moment with your Labrador puppy as they grow through the stages. Recent Posts. Labradors go through different stages of development, which are easy to identify with a trained eye. These growth stages — newborn, juvenile, adolescence, and adulthood — all come with marked periods of development. You may notice that your dog looks lanky or slimmer during the latter half of this period. During adolescence, they will complete skeletal growth. They will then begin to fill out until they reach their full adult weight and height. As your Labrador Retriever enters adulthood, you will notice a slow in physical growth and weight gain, as well as a calmer demeanor. Labs officially reach their final size around a year to 18 months considering all the different growth stages. Labs are a highly active breed that requires training, plenty of exercise, and a balanced diet. This helps prevent problems with weight gain, which can lead to more dangerous health conditions as your dog continues to age. As puppies pass adolescence and settle into adulthood around two years of age, Labs start to calm. Another sign that your dog has stopped growing. What Factors Contribute to a Labs Growth? An average male Lab will stand around inches and weigh roughly pounds. Female Labradors will grow to inches and pounds, respectively. Several factors can affect how large a Lab can be. Many of them are related to elements controlled by the owner rather than the dog. Food and Nutrition As with any pet, healthy food and nutrition are essential to ensure that your Lab grows appropriately. A balanced diet for a Labrador Retriever is a must. Ensure your pup gets the right amount of fats, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All these aids in a healthy growth curve for your dog. It may be tempting to feed a hungry dog, but overfeeding your Lab can cause problems in their early development. When you give your young Lab too much food, you may encourage excessive growth that can be taxing on their skeletal structure. When bones grow too fast, it leads to orthopedic issues in the breed further down the line. Related: Spaying and Neutering Spaying and neutering can have one of the largest impacts on the optimal growth of your Lab. The extended period of growth is due to the interference of estrogen and testosterone levels. This can result in a bigger dog and lead to health issues. Long bone growth and delayed joint development can cause many orthopedic issues in the breed. The main contributor to health problems is hip dysplasia. Just be aware of the timing and delay operations until crucial skeletal development is complete. General Health and Genes The final and most significant factor in determining the size of your fully-grown Labrador is a general health and genetic history of your dog. If you purchased your puppy from a lineage of larger Labs, you could assume your pup will be slightly larger than an average-sized adult dog. The same can be said for Labs will family lines that veer towards smaller percentiles. Overall, what is most important to consider in the growth of your Labrador Retriever is that they have a balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. A healthy, well-attended puppy will inevitably lead to a well-developed adult dog. Also See:. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining. Almost Home Campaign Puppy Developmental Stages and Behaviour To have a well-adjusted and social dog, you need to ensure his needs are met during each phase of development. Building the foundation for a great dog starts with appropriate training at each stage of development and establishing appropriate guidelines so that that your puppy is properly integrated into the family. You will see many behaviour changes during the life stages of your pup. Knowing how to handle your pup through each developmental stage will help to shape your puppy into a lifelong family member. Puppy Developmental Stages The puppy development process covers five distinct stages. However, puppies grow through these stages at their own pace and these timelines can vary. Stage 1: Neonatal Period 0 — 2 weeks This is the first stage of puppy development and begins at birth. At this age, puppies only have the sense of taste and touch and rely totally on their mother. Stage 2: Transitional Period 2 — 4 weeks Sensory development continues with hearing and sense of smell. Puppy teeth start coming through and their eyes will begin to open. Puppies will interact with their litter mates, wag their tails, stand, walk a little and bark. It is vital to understand this stage as most puppies go home to their new parents between 7 — 12 weeks. During this period, changes start to occur rapidly. Between 3- 5 weeks puppies start to become aware of their surroundings and have the ability to develop a relationship with people This is the period where puppies get familiar with the day-to-day noises of a regular household such as TVs, vacuum cleaners, telephones, etc. At this age puppies are just learning to interact with each other and beginning to play. They are also learning their doggie social skills and exploring their ranking status within their pack. Their curiosity is developing, as are their biting skills. Nipping behaviours begin as they practice biting behaviour with their mother and litter mates. At the weeks stage, they will have full use of all their senses and will be ready to go home to their new owners. Bringing your pup home usually between weeks is right in the middle of his socialization period. Therefore, it is vital that you introduce your puppy to as many new dogs, people, objects and surroundings as you can. BUT, make sure you do so in a controlled manner and never put your puppy in a dangerous situation where they can be injured, scared or contract disease. This is a great period to begin crate training, for a variety of reasons. Puppies are old enough to start getting used to being left alone to avoid separation anxiety from developing and are capable of being house-trained. Even though your home is likely puppy proofed, it also saves your possessions. During this phase of development, puppies are developing their reactions to things much more consistently. They are also likely to focus more on different types of people and should be friendly and approachable to strangers. During this time they are also going to continue to practice their biting skills a whole lot more! It is important to learn how to manage this behaviour early on. You may also notice that they are more curious and will probably look to explore their environment more. Be prepared for this and keep your puppy close to you and leashed. Stage 4: Testing Period 3 — 6 months This is the time your puppy starts to test their boundaries within their world. They will test the limits with their owners and other animals. At this age many adult dogs will start to enforce manners. Problematic behaviours can begin to arise in this period. At this age your puppy is going to go through teething and chewing is a common side effect. Make sure he has plenty of chew sticks and toys. Use commercial sprays or gels that dissuade your puppy from chewing your belongings. Try soaking a cloth toy in chicken stock and freezing it if your puppy is experiencing pain while teething. Once frozen, this can be given to your puppy as a chew toy and will help to relieve sore gums. Puppies are usually finished teething by the age of 6 months when the upper fangs canines come in. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour. Dogs go through adolescence much earlier than people; for small breeds, is can be as early as six months old while larger dogs starting at nine or 10 months of age. Adolescence in larger breed dogs continues until they are two or three years old with smaller dogs reaching maturity at about 18 months. Typically the larger the dog, the slower the development. Signs of Puberty in Canines Here are the typical signs to watch out for to tell you that your own puppy has hit puberty: Males.

We are prepared to give these pups the BEST start in life. We are experienced, family-centered, ethical breeders. Our program is based in New England — but our gorgeous puppies have been placed with families from coast to coast. We are longtime breeders of purebred dogs with over 40 years experience. We are passionate about our dogs and puppies. Our elite breeding program strives to preserve, promote, and protect the natural strength and beauty of both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Poodle by carefully crossing select bloodlines to produce Bernedoodles that embody the very best traits of both foundation breeds. Our Bernedoodle dogs and puppies are home-raised, never kenneled, and puppies spend the first eight weeks of their lives living intimately with our family and learning how to be good family members. All our dogs receive the highest nutritional support and are fed a premium organic raw diet. We genetically test every single breeding male and female Bernese Mountain Dogs, Poodles, and Bernedoodles prior to breeding to screen for any hereditary health problems. This means we screen for both Poodle and Bernese Mountain Dog hereditary diseases. Every single puppy receives a full veterinary wellness exam, age-appropriate vaccinations, internal parasite control, and all recommended screenings before going to a new home. We are constantly monitoring the veterinary literature, both in the US and abroad, for continuing advances in canine genetics, health, wellness, nutrition, and disease prevention. Our breeding program is exceptional in its commitment to veterinary advances, and is constantly improving. Beautiful Fun-Loving Friends and Companions. Bernedoodles are an amazing cross between the giant Bernese Mountain Dog, and the multi-talented Poodle. Bernedoodles are very people-oriented, are great with children, and like nothing better than to be where their people are and to be involved with everything that that's going on around them. They are loyal, highly affectionate dogs, and have an intuitive intelligence that makes them superb companions and very easy to train. They will play all day if that's what you want to do, but just as happily snuggle with you on the couch or lay quietly at your feet while you are working. They are truly stellar companions, at ease with people of all ages. Photo Gallery Five week old red and white micro puppy My Blog. Welcome to New England Bernedoodles we are a family-owned breeder of exceptional Bernedoodles. We breed for temperament, trainability, and affectionate, lovable companions for any family. We started with this breed after having Australian Labradoodles for many years. However, the shedding and the largeness of the breed were off putting. We decided to put our understanding of genetics to work and combine quality, loving, gentle Bernese Mountain dogs with smart, affectionate poodles to produce Bernedoodles here at New England Bernedoodles. We are also producing the Australian Bernedoodle. Yes, they really are low to non-shedding. We here at New England Bernedoodles breed specifically for temperament so we know that our bernedoodles will excel in gentleness, trainability, love and sweet demeanor. Our bernedoodles have exceptional beautiful coats. There is nothing like snuggling up close to your New England Bernedoodle. New England Bernedoodles strive for excellence and we produce puppies that are extremely intelligent, abundantly affectionate and forever your best friend. Email: sterlingbrookdoodles yahoo. They are professionals in the area. They grow puppies in their homes. Spread across their 7-acre ranch, Teddy Bear Love Bernedoodles started off with a handful of Bernedoodles. Since then, they have produced a good number of purebred Bernedoodle puppies. Being a veteran in the area, the breeder offers a good 5-year health guarantee for their bred Bernedoodle puppies. Bernedoodle puppies bred here grow up to be well-socialized with other dogs, children and other pets in your family. They are raised to have a smoother integration in their new homes. So, here is a list of important factors to check while searching for breeders of Bernedoodle puppies in New England. Research: There will be innumerable Bernedoodle breeders in New England when you seek to get one. It is important that you gather information about the best ones before you purchase your Bernedoodle puppies. This will enable you to have a wide variety of choices for making an informed decision. Medical History Check-up: Not all breeders will provide you with health information. The best Bernedoodle breeders in New England will have a set of the medical history of their puppies filed accurately. Refer to all the documents before you make the purchase. Guarantee and Assurance: There are perks of getting your Bernedoodle puppies from the best Bernedoodle breeders in New England as well. Final Words Bernedoodles and their puppies are friendly and easy-going family or companion dogs. Having been bred by the best breeders, Bernedoodle puppies grow up to be service or therapy dogs as well. Dog lovers go through every kind of information on the internet before they get one. Their breeding requires the correct environment so that they are properly nurtured. You are now all set to go ahead and make your choice! 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. For the adoption application, please click here. Our Mission: 1. What better time than now to bring home a trained puppy? MBD University is now open to anyone who would like to enroll their new or older puppy in our Board and Train Programs! We are based out of Ashby, Massachusetts and welcome customers, by appointment. Here, we invite you to take a tour, learn about how amazing Bernedoodles and Goldendoodles are and what makes MBD so incredibly unique! A professional, is a breeder who breeds their own dogs and sells the puppies directly to the customer. We are not a commercial dog breeder and we will never compromise on our very high standards, ever. Two of our top initiatives include; 1. Setting the bar high for all dog breeders everywhere and 2. Educating ALL customers with regard to responsible dog breeding practices. That is our promise. After all, very few of us knew about puppy mills until fairly recently! Did you know that by having an overnight employee at MBD, your puppy receives an additional 2, hours of socialization vs. We offer Turnkey Puppy Training and everything in between. Watch the video demo below! Smiling yet? We have openings on the following all 2. We are also accepting reservations for Spring ! Here is the link to our upcoming availability Google Doc! When you fill out the application, I will respond with personal recommendations based on your preferences. JUST in time for the Holidays! Choose a Bernedoodle that is already trained and ready to go, if available, or choose your own puppy to enroll. Check out this link for more details! Featured in this video, Mocha! Mocha is practicing her training commands with lots of distractions around at Home Depot. She is also being socialized with places, loud noises and KIDS! Yes, you heard right, we will be bringing you Mini Goldendoodles due in October ! The waitlist has just opened for Millie the mellowest Golden Retriever everrrr! Calm, healthy parents make calm, healthy puppies! We have honeymooned for a Mini Goldendoodle litter due Oct. Now is the best time ever to get on this waitlist! Guardian Home Program: We currently have openings in our Guardian Home program for adult doodles! Click here to learn about becoming a MBD Guardian! Graham Memorial Fund! These funds will go towards your pups training and to one of our very own MBD employees starting or heading back to college in Congratulations to Thomas Bianco as the 1st recipient of this award! To California Delivery and more! Instead, we hand deliver each puppy with our very own MBD employees. This way, your puppy is safe for the whole journey and would not be exposed to other puppies that may have illness or parasites. Doodles in Pairs are the best! He traveled all the way to the United Kingdom! We never ship puppies, rather, we deliver our babies personally, with MBD employees, for their safety and your convenience. We will personally deliver your puppy to you! Click here for more information on how we deliver, personally, from MBD to you. We hand deliver these precious puppies from our door to yours and with our own employees! The Furnished puppies are non-shedding while the Unfurnished Bernedoodles may be low shedding. Nature AND Nurture, …. They are, by far, the calmest most loving doodle breed I have ever encountered. Just as every person is unique, so is each Bernedoodle! The variety of colors and patterns are endless BUT the temperament stays consistent and that comes back to choosing great parent dogs. We are the only completely transparent breeder nationwide to offer eight full weeks of live puppy action! Very few breeders offer this unlimited access because puppies poop a lot and they have bigger poops as they get bigger. They are also susceptible to more because, well, their still very young and therefore have immature immune systems. Similar to human babies. They even have poop parties! We are proud of our work here at MBD and we would love for you to be an active part of the journey to bringing your new fur baby home. Having a Guardian Home program is the gold standard for quality of care. We want our parent dogs to be happy and that means no kennels, lots of love, living in a regular home surrounded by amazing people and kids and going to watch them play at their games! They love their babies, like we do, and have a limited number of pregnancies. Five, at the most, if everything goes perfectly. We even have a Guardian club! Happy dogs, happy puppies! With this model, MBD will never become over crowded, dogs would never ever be over bred and they are ALL happy happy happy dogs. To learn more, please visit the guardian page and then e-mail us at Elisa MAbernedoodles. Entertaining, educational and transparent! Our puppies are cuddled and loved by people from the day they are born and you get to see it all! Therefore, I have made the decision to keep the environment for my parent dogs kennel-free in our exclusive MBD doggie daycare! All of our parent dogs either live with guardian families or at MBD! They play together in their groups by day, in one of our six doggie play arenas, and sleep together by night! Some sleep in crates at night in order to maintain their house training but usually my bed is quite full! At MBD, we maintain the highest standard of care for every dog and puppy. They are all very well socialized, much loved and very happy! Doodles in pairs pictured above! The Process: 1. Please take a few moments to explore the website! Learn about Bernedoodles and what makes us unique at MBD! Most of your questions will be answered on this website. Conversely, please also research what a puppy mill is and what it looks like so you can be sure not to buy from a puppy mill. Caution: Extreme cuteness overload may occur and could last several decades. Tendency to become addictive and you may want more than one. .Click here to learn about our puppy pricing and click here to find the 5 minute puppy adoption application. Filling this out will prompt Elisa to reach out to you via email with our upcoming availability. You can go ahead fill out the 5 minute adoption application and place a deposit via the PayPal button on the puppy deposit page. You will receive a confirmation email within business days. PayPal is our deposit method of choice because it offers YOU protection against the many scams out there currently. However, we do accept other payment methods for the balance when you come to choose your puppy! Additional questions? However, on occasion, there are last minute openings! Blue Merle Mini Bernedoodle at 9 weeks old Bernedoodles are by far, the most loving, loyal, loving, family friendly, non-shedding, most intelligent canine companions created. They come in many sizes depending on the sizes of the mother and father. Every Doodle from MBD is one-of-a-kind with the most wonderful, family-friendly temperaments. It is always so exciting to see what each litter will look like! A Mini Bernedoodle at 3 months old pictured above. However, doodles are widely accepted as the best dog for most people who have fur related allergies. View Our Available Puppies! You should not confuse Mini Bernedoodles with Standard Bernedoodles. Our adorable Mini Bernedoodle are of the F1 variety. All the doodle moms are purebred Genetic Tested Bernese Mountain dog females. Our mini Bernedoodle pups usually end up weighing pounds and around inches tall when full grown. Most Mini bernedoodles live to be around years old. Mini Bernedoodles have become really popular because they shed very little after they shed their puppy coat, they are very hypoallergenic. We have specialized in breeding Mini Bernedoodles as well as a few other breeds for many years. They are a big part of our family and farm. We have also partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini bernedoodle pups that meet our very strict criteria and genetic testing. We usually have a good selection of very high quality doodle puppies. So if you live near Milford New Hampshire and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Bernedoodle puppy then checkout our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are a few of our Mini Bernedoodle Pups!

Tail docking or cropping is usually done while the Boxer is still a puppy. Nowadays, Boxer tails are docked mainly in adherence to the breed standard and to prevent potential tail injury. In fact, this procedure has already become a part of the breed standard for some dogs, such as the Boxer dog. Unsurprisingly, many dog enthusiasts are against this practice and deem it unethical. They argue that tail docking negatively impacts the life of a dog, especially on how its body naturally functions. Meanwhile, Boxer owners historically administer tail docking procedures believing that such practices prevent rabies. However, this assumption has already been long refuted. Some dog breeds also have their tails docked because of the nature of their tasks as working dogs. The tails of herding dogs, for example, are docked to prevent them from getting stomped or stepped on by cattle when they herd. Originally, Boxer tails were docked because breeders and dog owners thought back then that such practice prevented their dogs from developing and spreading rabies. However, this baseless assumption has been long debunked. Going back to 18th century England, a tax law was imposed on all dogs except for working dogs with docked tails. To avoid paying taxes, owners opted to dock the tails of their dogs. The tails of working dogs like Boxers were also docked to prevent injuries while they were doing their tasks. As Boxer dogs were also historically bred to hunt and hold down large wild animals such as bears, deer, and wild boars, a few reasons why they have docked tails have something to do with hunting. Hence, a Boxer dog with an undocked tail will be severely penalized on a dog show. Are Boxers Born With Tails? Nowadays, it is rare to see a Boxer dog with an intact natural long tail. However, most Boxer dogs are actually born with tails. The tail of a Boxer puppy is intact at birth. The Boxers with short tails that you see nowadays have mostly undergone tail docking. However, with the recent introduction of the bobbed tail gene , some Boxers are born with naturally short tails or also known as bobbed tails. Typically, Boxer dogs that inherited the bobbed tail gene will have nearly absent tails or short tails that are about two inches long. Tail docking in Boxers and other breeds is considered to be a legal practice in most parts of the United States. There are only two states where this procedure is restricted: Maryland and Pennsylvania. Just for emphasis, tail docking is not banned in Maryland and Pennsylvania. It is only restricted, which means it is allowed so long as the requirements of the government are met. In Maryland, the law requires that dog tail docking and other similar procedures such as dog ear cropping and declawing should only be done by a licensed veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, owners are only allowed to dock the tails of their puppies while they are less than five days old. Puppies older than the stated age should only be docked by a licensed veterinarian. People who oppose tail docking deem the practice senseless and unnecessary because it no longer serves a purpose for companion-type Boxers other than for cosmetic reasons. Since most Boxer dogs today are bought as companion pets, there is no longer the need for their tails to be cut as means of preventing them from suffering injuries while they herd. In addition, the supposed health benefits of tail docking, such as protection from rabies and faster and more agile bodily function, are baseless and unscientific. This is why they encourage the American Kennel Club and other canine clubs to remove tail docking on dog breed standards. Tail docking is also considered to be unethical and cruel. Anti-tail docking advocates contend that cutting off the tail of Boxers is a painful process that brings no significant advantage or benefit to dogs. Canines use their tails to express emotions and communicate by moving their tails which is similar to body language. Some dogs also use their tails for balancing and stabilizing their body while running or swimming. Because of these reasons, many countries around the world have already banned tail docking and ear cropping on dogs, while other countries have put heavy restrictions on such practices. Just like with other dog breeds, Boxers are born with natural tails for various reasons. Boxers use their tails to counterbalance while they are moving and performing tasks. Working dogs like Boxers use their tails to navigate when they run or swim by swinging them to one side of their body. Boxer dogs also use their tails to communicate as a form of body language. Tails are like human eyebrows. They aid dogs in expressing emotions such as happiness, excitement, fear, and anger. If a Boxer dog approaches you while wagging its tail softly, it means that it is happy to see you. An excited Boxer will also swiftly swing its tail. Meanwhile, Boxer dogs with their tails between their legs express fear or submission. They do this to mask the scent coming from their anus. Dominant dogs will set their tails high to release more scents from their anal glands. Some argue that it is cruel and unnecessary, while others say it is advantageous and beneficial. Check them out and decide for yourself which side weighs more. Boxers with docked tails are less likely to suffer from tail injury since their tails are cut short. Working dogs with long tails are at high risk of suffering from a condition called happy tail syndrome or splitting tail. Dogs suffering from this tail injury have deep wounds that are difficult to heal. Breed conformation. A Boxer with tails docked is considered more desirable in the show ring since the Boxer breed standards of different kennel clubs specifically mention that Boxer dog tails should be docked. A Boxer with a long tail will surely get severely penalized on a dog show. Advantageous for working Boxer dogs. Tail docking is still deemed advantageous for Boxer dogs that are raised for herding. A Boxer with a docked tail may become less able to express its emotions. In general, Boxer dogs communicate emotions with their owners and other dogs through the use of their tails. Tail docking is a painful procedure. Contrary to popular belief, puppies actually feel pain when they undergo tail docking. This is according to a study. In addition, researchers also found out that tail docking can cause long-term pain to dogs. Tail docking can lead to complications if done improperly. Tail docking is a procedure that involves cutting off tendons, skin, muscles, and bones. Hence, if it is not administered correctly and safely, complications such as infection and excessive bleeding could arise. Tail docking is a permanent and irreversible procedure. For puppies older than five days old, anesthesia should be administered in cropping their tails. The tail can be docked by cutting it off using a sharp object or by cutting the supply of blood using a rubber. Most veterinarians and Boxer breeders prefer using scalpels, surgical knives, and scissors to cut off the muscle, tendon, and cartilage of the tail. Tails docked through this method usually have cleaner cuts once healed. A rubber is tied tightly to the part of the tail that should be removed to cut off the blood supply and promote necrosis. The tip of the tail will automatically fall off once the process is done. Nonetheless, there is a high risk of infection if this method is done improperly. More often than not, the tails of puppies docked through this method are also deformed. The length of the tail that should be cut off varies from breed to breed. A Boxer with a docked tail may develop a condition called amputation neuroma or a nerve tumor. This is common for dogs that had undergone tail amputation because of tail injuries or had their tails cut for cosmetic reasons. A Boxer with a docked tail suffering from this condition experiences hypersensitivity and pain on the docked area. Furthermore, puppies may also develop infections, tail deformity, and other health complications, especially if the docking procedure is done incorrectly. AVMA also mentioned in a literature review on their website that most dogs that had their tails docked have a higher incidence of incontinence and may have less developed muscles around the pelvis. Tail docking is a painful procedure since it involves cutting off muscles, cartilages, and nerves. Tail docking in Boxers and other dogs has left the canine community divided. Those who are against docking tails, especially cosmetic tail docking, argue that such a practice is cruel and unnecessary. Since docking tails offers no clear scientific and medical benefits, many pet enthusiasts want to put an end to tail docking procedures on dogs. Meanwhile, advocates emphasize the importance of tail docking in defining and preserving the characters of some dog breeds. The cost of tail docking may vary depending on your location and the docking method. However, the cost could greatly increase if the dog is older since anesthesia will be required for the tail docking procedure. Always remember that docking is a permanent and irreversible procedure. Hence, you should carefully weigh down the pros and cons of tail docking. Nonetheless, with or without tails, the Boxer dog proves to be a loyal and amazing guard dog and pet to have! How about you? What do you think about tail docking? Tell us what you think in the comment section! We would love to hear your side. My passion for animals started at a very young age as I grow up on a farm with several horses, cows, cats, chickens, and dogs on our property. Leave a Comment. Overview The debate regarding docking a Boxer's tail is side by side with ear cropping. Look to our Ears - To Crop or Not to see which countries allow this and which deem it illegal. Usually, if an owner decides to crop the ears, they will also have the Boxer's tail docked. Docking is the process of having a certain percentage of a Boxer puppy or dog's natural tail removed. This is done to produce a short tail that stands erect. Docking is done one of two ways. The first method is to cut off the blood flow in the tail with the use of a special rubber band, placed so tightly that the blood cannot reach the end of the tail; thus causing it to eventually fall off. The second method is via a procedure in which the tail is cut. Billy the Boxer Photo courtesy of James and Joanna Murphy It is believed that the puppy feels this amputation, since most puppies let out a very loud yelp, however they seem to recover quite quickly. Long ago, it was thought to prevent rabies and increase the dog's running speed; however this has been proven false. With this said, docking has also been done for centuries to prevent damage to the tail. There are no specific records that show why this train of thought was applied to some breeds and not to others. At this point, with docking being done for so many generations, those in favor of this argue that if docking were to suddenly stop, the Boxer breed would not carry 'good tails' tails would too heavy to sit correctly, the dog's balance would be off, etc. The deliberation between those who favor it and those who are against it goes on to say that within a short amount of time the only breeding pool available would be dogs with 'bad' tails that could not produce viable offspring. Of course, all of this is debatable and the Boxer breed is as strong as ever in countries where this is illegal. Putting health and breeding issues aside, some simply believe that a Boxer should have cropped ears and a docked tail to have the "Boxer look". Consensus among those who do choose docking, dictates that the dog looks stronger, more powerful and more intimidating with the cropped and docked appearance. Those who have a dog with a natural tail or those who have a litter of newborns and choose to forgo this procedure should feel just fine about that decision.In regard to dog show requirements, the debate is still on. Some clubs do not give an advantage to a docked dog and others state that docking is expected for a Boxer to conform to requirements. When is Docking Done? Many Boxer breeders will have a puppy docked very early, within a few days of being born. Since a dog is not sold or given to a new owner until the age of at least 8 weeks, many owners do not see the docking process or the healing process. Although this may make some cringe, if a Boxer puppy under 12 weeks old is to have their tail docked, it is usually done without anesthesia. In states where it is legal, an owner may have their Boxer's tail docked at any age ; however the older a dog is the longer amount of time is needed for recovery. In addition, a dog that is quite used to having their tail may have a difficult time adjusting to what may seem to them as an amputated part of their body. Three inches will look quite appropriate for most Boxers expected to be of average size and maybe a tad longer 3. Legality and Banning The laws of docking tails are a bit complicated with changes occurring often. Also, some countries view both ear cropping and tail docking the same; others will allow one but not the other. Though it is illegal in many countries, it is not uncommon for Boxer puppies to be docked at any rate. It should be noted that in many countries, it is the tail docking itself that is banned and it is not unlawful to purchase a puppy with a docked tail. You may be wondering about what the fine or punishment is for docking a Boxer's tail in countries in which it is illegal. Punishment ranges from fines to imprisonment. Though his spirited bearing, square jaw, and cleanly muscled body suggest the well-conditioned middleweight athlete of dogdom, the boxer is happiest when he is with people. He later became a utility dog for peasants and shop owners. His easy trainability even found him performing in the circus. In the s, descendants of this type of dog were bred to a taller, more elegant English import, and the era of the modern boxer had begun. Imported to America after the First World War, his popularity really began in the late s. Appearance The boxer is a medium-sized dog ranging from 21 inches high at the shoulder in a smaller female up to 25 inches sometimes even taller in a large male. Adult weight may reach pounds in the male, with females about 15 pounds less. There are no miniature or giant varieties. Boxers come in a range of colors from fawn which may vary from a tawny tan to an stag red to brindle which can be so dark as to appear reverse brindle to white. Today, cropping and docking serve no functional purpose. Once it was unusual to see a boxer with natural ears; now it less common to see one with cropped ears. Do Labradors, retrievers, shepherds, and the countless other breeds with naturally long tails cause chaos around them and injure loved ones with their tails? We think not. Other people argue that boxers with cropped ears look mean. We ask you not to discriminate against dogs whose ears or tails are not what you expect them to be when you think of a boxer. Fashion is fleeting, but an eternal truth is that a boxer is a boxer is a boxer — sweet, delightful, and, most of all, deserving of our love. And one thing we can assure you is that whatever your boxer looks like, it will be beautiful in your eyes from the moment you love it. Characteristics Boxers are clownish and playful, loyal and steadfast, courageous and protective, and goofy and stubborn, all rolled into one dog. This combination of temperament traits in conjunction with intelligence and a very expressive face, result in a one-of-a-kind type of dog. For more information on the boxer personality, visit our Boxer Temperament page. Care of a Boxer The boxer is a relatively low-maintenance dog, but ownership of any dog is a big responsibility. Regular veterinary visits and year-round heartworm preventative, general care, feeding and exercise are a must for your boxer. General care should include regular nail trimming, an occasional bath, periodic tartar removal from teeth and quality dog food. Exercise should include a daily walk or other stimulating and athletic activity. The boxer is sensitive to temperature extremes and does not enjoy drafts, summer heat, or cold. While some dog breeds can handle the temperature ranges and fluctuations of being outside for long periods, boxers are not so tolerant and should not be kept outdoors. Good nutrition is the hallmark of a healthy boxer. For a non-biased review of the quality of various dog foods, visit Reviews. For more information on potential pet hazards in your home and yard, and how to avoid them, visit Expertise.

Are male and female German shepherds different? The Neonatal Period. Birth-2 Weeks. In the first two weeks of their life your puppy is mostly helpless and fully dependant on their mother. Their mother will be responsible for feeding, eliminating waste and keeping them warm. The puppies will be able to taste, touch and feel warmth but their eyes and ears are sealed shut. You should see the following milestones hit in the first two weeks. What you should expect to see: Puppies Starting to Crawl Eyes and ears starting to open Teeth starting to appear By the end of the first two weeks your puppies should be able to stand up, albeit a little shakily and have their eyes and ears fully open. The Transitional Period. They will start to be able to control their body and temperature much better. They will start to interact with their litter mates but will still be largely dependent on their mother. What you should expect to see: Puppies Walking Well Puppies Interacting with you and their littermates Puppy teeth almost complete. The Socialisation Period 4weeks — 3 months The puppies will now have complete control of their body and will start exploring the world around them. The latter half of this period is the ideal time to rehome the puppies as this is when they are most susceptible to learning new things and they can start to be taught basic commands. Between weeks your puppy may start to display signs of some fearfulness. This is perfectly normal and will need to be nurtured Not encouraged by you. What you should expect to see: Start showing adult behaviours Wagging tails, sniffing bums Start to be able to be taught basic commands Ears begin to sit upright. The Juvenile Period 3months-6months Your German Shepherd puppy will become much more independent during this period. They will start to understand dominance and will explore their home to understand where their position is in the household. What you should expect to see: Female puppies begin heat cycles Ears now fully upright Males reach sexual maturity The Adolescence Period 6monthsmonths Most of your puppies social understanding and behaviours will have developed by this point but a reinforcement of these is still important. Your puppy will be at their most energetic and will require a structured training routine to help them to continue to develop. Males are considered fully grown at 36months whereas females reach this mark around 24months. You will know have an excellent, loyal family pet and companion to spend many years together with. German Shepherds are a medium-large breed. Females will grow to around inches and weigh lbs whereas the males will grow to around inches and weigh lbs. How many puppies is there in the average German Shepherd litter? German Shepherd litters Usually consist of between 5 and 10 puppies. How long do German shepherds live? The average life span for a German Shepherd is somewhere between 9 and 14 years. Other than the size difference already discussed females tend to be more affectionate than males where is male dogs are usually more protective of their surroundings and their families. Related Posts. The long adolescent period that ends the puppy years is highly individual, but most dogs mature somewhere before 3 years of age. The Neonatal Stage This is the very earliest stage your German shepherd will pass through. Simply put, this is the helpless baby stage when your puppy's eyes will still be closed and he is completely dependent upon his mother. She will feed him, wash him and clean up after his accidents for the first two or three weeks. His eyes will open at around 10 days. At this time, your puppy is little more than an eating machine -- filling his belly to help his tiny body grow and develop. The Transitional Stage Though it is short and indistinct, the transitional stage from the neonatal to the socialization stage is important to your pup's development nevertheless. This brief phase -- lasting only about a week after his eyes open -- marks the period when your German shepherd begins to notice his environment. He will start to look at things curiously and be aware of sounds around him. Prior to this he has been in his own little world with no sights or sounds beyond his own body and that of his mother. When his eyes open, the immediate environment -- with other living beings -- is suddenly a part of life that he must face. The Socialization Stage At around 3 weeks, your puppy begins to learn how to interact with others -- both animals and the humans around him. He has already had some practice with dogs through the daily contact with his mother and litter mates, but now he begins to expand his circle of acquaintance to other dogs or cats in the household and to the family of humans around him. This is the most critically important phase in your German shepherd's development and helps decide his later suitability for work in rescue, service or as a family dog. At this time, he should have opportunities to meet as many new animals and faces under differing circumstances as possible, so he becomes comfortable with meeting people and other animals in a variety of situations when he grows up. This stage lasts to about 3 months of age and is the period when puppies are at their most impressionable and playful. The Juvenile Stage From 3 to 6 months old, your puppy will begin to look beyond the biological world of dogs, cats and people to the larger world around him. He will want to explore new places more than new faces at this point -- which may often get him into trouble. This is an active and trying age for puppy parents. Your puppy looks like a mostly grown-up dog but behaves entirely like a pup. His attention span is about as long as that of the average teenager, so this is not a particularly easy time for obedience classes. Your shepherd will have other things on his mind, but pet parents should continue to persevere because this is the best stage to resolve any obvious aggression or anxiety issues your pup may display. If those issues are not addressed early, they could become larger problems later on. To make things a tad more difficult, at around 5 months of age, your German shepherd starts to mature sexually. The Adolescent Stage The teenage angst that human children go through is roughly equivalent to what pet parents can expect from their adolescent German shepherd. Beginning with the onset of sexual maturity and lasting through the first two years of his life, your puppy's hormones will rage uncontrollably unless he is neutered early. This stage is usually marked by mounting -- anything and everything -- marking his territory and even fighting with other male dogs. Females will enter their first estrus period at this time and may try to escape the yard or otherwise pose problems. The pup's body has become adult, and his brain is fully alert and capable, but his emotions are still in the turbulent transitional phase from teenager to full adult. If he were human, this would be the stage at which you would hide the car keys. As an adult, your German shepherd is finally the calm, dignified, courageous and respectful dog you always knew he would grow up to be. If you were patient and dedicated through those early, sometimes difficult, years, you now have a well-trained and disciplined companion for life. More Articles. Puppyhood The first growth phase — puppyhood — has six development stages. During each of these stages, a puppy learns a lot of things. Neonatal Stage This period lasts from birth to 13 days. The puppy needs a lot of nursing from its mom because it is rather helpless. Its ears and eyes are closed, so it does not have any senses. The little pups should completely rely on their mothers for nourishment and care. By 2 weeks, they double their birth weight. They start crawling, and then their eyes and ears begin to open. The first milk teeth appear. The puppy can even stand up, but too unstably and shakily. This makes it possible for little ones to hear, smell, and taste. They even try to walk. Their baby teeth continue growing. The period between weeks is also called a transitional one. At the end of the third week, the motor skills start developing fast. The puppy can already control its temperature and body, namely, bowel movements. It begins to interact with its littermates. Nevertheless, the pup is still largely dependent on its mother. Though, you can interact with it. At the end of this period, the little cub is ready to explore the world. Its baby teeth are almost complete, and it can stand up more stably. It starts barking and growling a bit. The puppy grows quickly now. It actively interacts with its littermates. The baby dog can walk, and its baby teeth are complete. You can also consider the German Shepherd behavior stages from now. Its mental development starts because it discovers the world actively with its senses. Its walking improves, and it can make attempts to run, so it can even sometimes get in trouble. The puppy can start eating dog food. That is why it is important to begin weaning. The little one can recognize and greet its littermates and people, get interested in new things, and continue to explore the world. However, at this age, the first fear period can be experienced. Read our detailed guide about 6 week old German Shepherd puppy. It is the best period for taking your pet home. This period can be psychologically traumatic, so be careful not to expose the pet to direct sunlight because it may be afraid of it for its entire life. All the fears need your special attention. You need to nurture, but not encourage them. Read our detailed guide about 2 month old German Shepherd puppy. So, your puppy is three months old now. It is playful and active. Its teeth are complete. It is weaned and eats dog food. The feeding recommendation here is the overall one and a half cups, three times a day. It is also time to get your pet vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus. At the end of the third month, your little GSD can simulate its behavior after other dogs and humans. Training can start. Read our detailed guide about 3 month old German Shepherd puppy. Your puppy already has all its baby teeth, and adult canines and incisors begin to push through. It can even try to bite or nip you. The puppy coat begins to disappear and gets ready for replacement by the adult double-layer coat. You can see a racing stripe on its spine where the adult hair will grow. The puppy displays quick growth at this time, and it becomes stronger to withstand the possible fierce competition with its siblings if it is still staying with its family. It needs a lot of biting and chewing now for the correct growth of its adult teeth. Your pet needs consistent socialization and potty training now. After three months old, you should think about such vaccination as DHPP — distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. The juvenile phase lasts from 3 to 6 months, and it can be divided into three stages by month. Continue socializing and start more substantial training. You can consult the German Shepherd weight chart here to see whether your pup develops properly. So, be attentive to the games you play with your pet. Some of them can be dangerous and traumatic because your puppy may not know how to manage its body during them. You can give it two cups of kibble totally three times per day because it needs a lot of nutrition to grow. DHPP and rabies vaccines are recommended at this age. Your little pup is ready to explore the world. However, as a true teenager, it can become more stubborn and try not to listen to your commands. It starts to understand dominance and tries to persuade you in its leadership. Read our detailed guide about 4 month old German Shepherd puppy. During this month, it can gain about 10 pounds 4. Its ears have stably perked up by this time. It looks more like an adult dog but, as a true teenager, it is very playful and is always ready to go around. The adult teeth continue to appear. Sexual maturity starts emerging. You should feed your pet around two cups three times per day. A lot of training is also needed. Read our detailed guide about 5 month old German Shepherd puppy. It needs a lot of training and positive reinforcement. Now, your pet is fully house-trained, and it needs a lot of new experiences. The sixth month is a transition period to the Adolescent Phase. The ears are completely upright. Males achieve sexual maturity, while female puppies can experience heat cycles. Hormones start working, and male puppies can start marking the territory and looking for females to mate. The adult coat grows longer and gets its normal double layers. Adult teething is about to finish, and all 42 teeth appear. You should feed your dog with the overall two or three cups two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 6 month old German Shepherd puppy. Adolescence Phase Months German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years 36 months old. Females become adults when they are 2 years 24 months old. However, these criteria differ for every puppy. That is why the adolescence phase lasts from the end of the 6th month to the end of the second year of age 24 months on average. By the end of this phase, the puppy reaches its full size though it will continue slightly growing. Your dog can display testing boundaries, so disobedience is widely encountered if the dog is not properly trained. German Shepherds do not look like puppies anymore. Within this period, some dogs can display their second fear period at approximately months old , though to avoid long-lasting psychological trauma, you should ignore the fears. Some dogs may occasionally forget their skills that they have already acquired, so you may need to repeat training again. Here, the reinforced training is useful because some puppies can become entirely rambunctious. Your pet will also need more socialization since it reaches its sexual maturity, and some of its reactions can be pretty unexpected. Its sexual maturity continues, which may cause some aggression because of increases and decreases in hormones. The puppy does not gain weight so fast. Teething is finished. The German Shepherd starts looking more similar to an adult dog, with its standing up ears and well-developed muscles. The food your dog needs involves two or three cups total, given two times per day. Read our detailed guide about 7 month old German Shepherd puppy. It displays a lot of aggression. It can bark or lunge at other animals, kids, and unfamiliar people. A lot of training and reinforcement is needed. You can teach the youngster new tricks to deal with their aggression. The dog has strong adult teeth, and its ears are well-formed and perky. The transition to adulthood continues. As for food, your dog needs two-three cups in total two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 8 month old German Shepherd puppy. It does not grow fast, gaining about a couple of pounds per month. The dog needs two-three cups of food two times a day. Read our detailed guide about 9 month old German Shepherd puppy. They are very active and need a lot of attention and training. Sometimes, they can be really goofy or clumsy because they are still learning and do not know how to behave in many events. Your pup is very smart and clever but tends to display a lot of aggression if not supported and reinforced properly. The dogs should eat two-three cups in total per day. Read our detailed guide about 10 month old German Shepherd pupp y. It starts to challenge you as an owner and likes to demonstrate its leadership. You should teach it to be responsible and obey your commands. A lot of training and reinforcement is crucial. Still, give it two or three cups in total per day. It becomes a bit destructive, but be sure not to get angry or upset with it. It needs your patience and positive attitude. Such vaccines as DHPP and rabies are recommended at this age. It should also transit to adult food. Give it three or three and a half cups total twice a day. Read our detailed guide about 1 year old German Shepherd puppy. Years 1. This time is considered a transition period. The dog may have problems with fears and memory breakdowns. It may even forget how to do familiar things and should be trained again. However, its attention span is longer at this age, so it can have a more thorough obedience training. The dog should eat three or three and a half cups two times a day. Year 2 months — The Second Transition Phase This is one more transition period known as young adulthood. Your dog still displays some aggression. That is why they continue to need reinforcement, training, and socialization. It has already gained its athletic frame and strong muscle, and only several pounds are lacking for reaching its adult weight. In fact, you get a German Shepherd full-grown pet now. The DHPP vaccination is recommended at this age. Continue to feed your dog with three to three and a half cups in total twice per day. It has become a loyal and protective family pet or an obedient and enduring working dog. The young adulthood stage lasts from the second to the third year after the puppy was born. Its size is typical now for an adult dog. However, it may continue to grow slightly, but the changes are not noticeable at all. At this phase, you can also notice that your pet becomes more and more active. It needs a lot of exercise and training. A lot of physical activity is essential for the dog to stay in high spirits. The period between the second and third years of life is also called the adult growth stage. This is the time when your friend gets its excellent breed characteristics. It loves attention very much and continues to learn new things eagerly. The dog enjoys training sessions and strives for new experiences. It becomes calmer and more confident. Its hyperactivity slightly decreases. It displays a lot of self-control and discipline. Continue feeding your dog with three to three and a half cups twice per day. It will be its constant adult diet. Vaccination against rabies is recommended and required by authorities at this age. Seniority Phase This is the last phase of German Shepherd development. It may seem wonderful, but your dog can continue to slightly grow. The phase is divided into two periods — early senior years old and late senior years old. Unfortunately, you need to focus on its health rather than on training. Such health issues as hip dysplasia, joint pain, and decreased stamina can appear at this age. You need to have consultations with your vet more often. During this period, your dog does not change its weight and height considerably. Though, you can observe slight changes in weight. On average, these dogs live years. You need to attend to their health and comfort. The dog may remain energetic and playful, but it slightly slows down. It wants to rest more and gets much calmer. The animal may suffer from some pains, so it may need pain relievers for spine and joint problems and arthritis. It may also need nutritional supplements and changes to its diet. Special senior and sensitive stomach food may become the best choice. Avoid jumping and hard playing. Continuous veterinary monitoring is needed if some symptoms are worsening. The accepted proportion that is considered ideal is .The weight is usually not taken into consideration. If your pet does not correspond to this proportion, there may be a health issue you do not know about yet. That is why you need to monitor the parameters carefully. To be sure that everything is OK, multiply the length of your dog by 0. You will get the perfect height. However, there can be some divergences. If they are minor, you have nothing to worry about. The German Shepherd is rather thin, or even skinny. This results in bad proportions. The ideal weight of your German Shepherd is lbs kg for males and lbs kg for females. You can get either a heavy or obese dog, and it can be a result of overfeeding or certain health issues. How to Check the Weight of Your German Shepherd The simplest method to see whether your dog is underweight is to check whether the ribs are visible on the sides. If you can see that the shape of your dog reminds you of a barrel on the ribs, it means that it is overweight. If you cannot feel the ribs, but there is too much skin on the sides, your dog is overweight. However, if you feel the ribs and only a thin layer of skin, it is underweight. It does not matter whether your dog is underweight or overweight. In any case, it can cause health problems if you do not repair the situation. The best way to succeed is to make changes to the diet. If your German Shepherd is underweight, you should enrich the content of its food. However, do not make it eat if the dog does not want to. That can lead to more severe problems. Make a slow transition to food with higher fat content. Or you may even give your dog puppy food because it is rich in nutrients. If your pet is obviously overweight, the best thing is to cut off the food. However, you also need to do it step by step so that the dog finally can eat just half of the amount you have recently fed it. The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder and an average weight of pounds kg. Nevertheless, some German Shepherds can grow bigger and even reach pounds kg. You need to be sure about its proportions though to understand if your pet meets the standards. If you see some deficiencies, meet your vet for a more thorough evaluation. When does a German Shepherd stop growing? German Shepherd males are thought to be grown-up when they are 3 years old. Females become adults when they are 2 years old. How tall is a German Shepherd? The adult dog has a height of inches cm at the shoulder. An average male reaches inches cm in height, while an average female should be inches cm tall. The body of both males and females should be longer than their height. How big do German Shepherds get? How much does a German Shepherd weight? In general, an average male reaches pounds kg in weight, while an average female should be pounds kg heavy. This is a very strong and brave dog that can become a perfect guardian and protector. If you decide to take a GS puppy, you need to follow its growth stages accurately to be sure that it develops properly. You should follow a high-quality diet, provide your dog with a lot of exercise, and ensure its proper training and socialization. Your German Shepherd cannot stay healthy and active if it gets some health problems related to its weight or height. Sometimes, these issues are not obvious and understandable to the owner. That is why it is important to know the main development parameters of your German Shepherd growth stages to cope with possible challenges. We hope that this article, together with the weight and height chart, will become your effective and helpful guide. 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. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. Height: 26 inches Ratio: .This should give you their height. For example, 26 inches times 0. Using the other example, .Since each dog is going to be different, you need to look at their overall body condition rather than a weight range. Fortunately, there are body conditioning charts that you can use to figure out if your German Shepherd is at their ideal weight. Just look at them from the side and from above, feeling for ribs and pelvic bones when necessary. Younger dogs will also typically be on the thin side before they fully fill out as adults. Years of line breeding has produced several distinct types of Shepherds. Show dogs are known for a sloped back in which the back legs are shorter than the front. This unnatural formation can cause back and hip problems along with an abnormal gait. German Shepherds bred for show will also be thinner than their hardworking cousins. As you can see in this picture, this is a show-bred German Shepherd with an obvious curved back and short back legs. Working dogs, on the other hand, are bred for a sturdy, straight back so they can work long hours without getting sore. They tend to be thicker than show dogs and will, therefore, weigh more, even at the same height. As you can see in this picture, this dog has a straighter back and longer back legs, so it has been bred for working. Something else I wanted to mention here is that, according to some sources, Black German Shepherds are larger than their bi-colored cousins, despite being otherwise the same. So, if you have one of these rare and beautiful creatures, you can follow the same charts that were listed above. If your German Shepherd is diagnosed by a veterinarian as underweight or overweight for their age, then the first thing you should do is ask him or her to help you figure out the underlying cause of the problem. This will determine what should be done next. Do you have a giant German Shepherd? What about a tiny one? Comment below to tell us more about it! About Alexandra Animalso I was raised to be a dog person. My first Shepherd grew up as I did and wanted to be where I was at all times. I got my second dog as a 16th birthday present, and her loyalty for me was just as strong as my first. I hope that my contribution to Animalso will help others find dogs who give them that same unconditional love. American German shepherds have straighter backs then German shepherds. If you have a german shepherd and their lineages are close to their German roots they will have that arch in their back. Though they typically only average nine to thirteen years, those years can be very memorable and special to dog and owner. Along the way, there are several German Shepherd growth stages that they will encounter including several fun and exciting breakthroughs. They will go through many different levels of development stacking up in inches and packing on the pounds. German Shepherd Growth Stages: This article will cover in detail, all of the month-to-month growth stages including their size from 1 month old to 3-year-old. It will also include important milestones along the way. This is the puppy portion of the German Shepherd growth stages and these cute little fur balls are beginning their journey into the new world. They are independent, spry and ready to explore! They are starting to grow but stand no taller than half a foot. Cuteness Factor: Through the roof! Height: Male: 4 — 6 in 11 — 16 cm Female: 3 — 6 in 8 — 14 cm Weight: Male: 5. They stand up for the first time. They start exploring independently and playing. Bowel movements are partially controlled. Light barking and growling begin. Puppy teeth should be filling in. This is a good time to introduce them to some kibble. They may or may not be interested. Month 2: Socialization Growth Stage Once the fuzz balls reach month 2, they start socializing more with other animals and people. This is also the time that their little chompers should be complete. They have grown up a little but still remain under a foot tall. Cuteness Factor: Just look at my ears! Height: Male: 7 — 9 in 17 — 22 cm Female: 6 — 9 in 14 — 22 cm Weight: Male: 16 — 20 lbs 6 — 9 kg Female: 11 — 17 lbs 5 — 7. They start to bond with animals and people. Their mental development starts to speed up. Fear reaction begins. They are typically ready to find their forever home. Food: Weaning should be wrapping up at this age. They should transition to a diet of puppy kibble. One and a half cups total three times a day is recommended but stick to a solid schedule. Vaccines: Puppy should have distemper and parvovirus by this time. Teething will be in full force at month 3 and their adult canines and incisors will start to push through. Those cute little fluffy ears may start to go up and down. They will start to lose their puppy coat and you may notice a racing stripe on the spine where the adult hair is starting to grow in. At this point they have almost made it to the height of a standard ruler. Cuteness Factor: Equal to fluffy pillows! Height: Male: 9 — 11 in 23 — 27 cm Female: 8 — 10 in 20 — 25 cm Weight: Male: 22 — 30 lbs 10 — 14 kg Female: 17 — 26 lbs 8 — 12 kg Milestones: Ears begin to stand up. Teething stage begins and continues for several months. Lots of biting and chewing ensures. Potty training and socialization should be consistent. Puppy fuzz begins to be replaced with adult double coat of fur. Food: Two cups of puppy kibble total three times a day is recommended. Vaccines: DHPP which includes distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus are recommended. Month 4: At this point GSDs will be very playful and getting into some trouble. They have left puppy hood and become adolescents. Multiple skills will be developing as they learn, socialize and train. Height: Male: 11 — 14 in 29 — 35 cm Female: 10 — 12 in 26 — 31 cm Weight: Male: 35 — 40 lbs 16 — 18 kg Female: 31 — 35 lbs 14 — 16 kg Milestones: Ears continue to perk up. Teething continues as adult teeth come in. They continue to play and explore everything around them. Training continues as they constantly learn. Food: Puppy should continue to eat two cups of kibble total three times per day. Vaccines: DHPP and rabies are recommended. Month 5: At 5 months of age, they are still growing fast and should have gained close to 10 pounds. They are still in the juvenile stage and have plenty of energy to go around. They are looking much more like an adult but still have that puppy spirit. Ears may have perked up at this point. Cuteness Factor: Cute as pumpkin pie! Height: Male: 14 — 16 in 35 — 40 cm Female: 12 — 14 in 31 — 36 cm Weight: Male: 40 — 49 lbs 18 — 22 kg Female: 35 — 44 lbs 16 — 20 kg Milestones: Ears may be standing up. Adult features are filling out. They are at least half of their adult size. They are still teething. Sexual maturity begins to emerge. Food: Juvenile should still be eating around two cups total three times a day. Month 6: Adolescent Growth Stage At 6 months old, they are making their way into the adolescent part of the German Shepherd growth stages. They will be starting to get into their sexual maturity stage which will last until they are around two years old. Hormones will kick in and males will begin to mark their territory and look for females to mate with. Females may go into heat for the first time. Their adult coat should be completely grown in but it could take a bit longer. Cuteness Factor: Equivalent to a teddy bear! Height: Male: 16 — 18 in 41 — 46 cm Female: 15 — 17 in 37 — 42 cm Weight: Male: 49 — 57 lbs 22 — 26 kg Female: 44 — 49 lbs 20 — 22 kg Milestones: Ears should be standing up. Adult features are more filled out. They are sexually active and will begin marking their territory and roaming for mates. Teething should be close to finished and all 42 of their adult teeth should be almost grown. Full adult double coat of fur should be present. Food: Adolescent should be eating around two to three cups total two times a day. Month 7: At 7 months old , a German Shepherd should be well developed cognitively. Their sexual maturity continues, and your leg may just become their next mate. Some aggression may be present as their hormones go up and down. Their weight gain begins to slow down for the first time only adding around 5 pounds from the previous month. They are looking much more like an adult dog. Aggression and sexual maturity continue. Teething should be close to finished. Food: Adolescent should be eating two to three cups total two times a day. They are still maturing and could still be aggressive and bark or lunge at other dogs, kids or people. This behavior must be reined in with the proper training. Teaching them new tricks is a great way to curb their aggression. Cuteness Factor: Still able to melt your heart! Height: Male: 20 — 22 in 51 — 56 cm Female: 18 — 20 in 45 — 50 cm Weight: Male: 62 — 66 lbs 28 — 30 kg Female: 53 — 57 lbs 24 — 26 kg Milestones: Ears should be well formed and perky. They continue to transition into adulthood. They are still maturing, and aggressive behavior may be present. Teething should be finished, and all of their adult teeth should be grown. Month 9: At 9 months old, German Shepherds have reached most of their milestones. They should be sporting a full set of 42 adult chompers and some nice big perky ears. They are still maturing sexually and could be exhibiting aggressive behaviors, but training should be in full force. Cuteness Factor: Not puppy cute but still irresistible! Height: Male: 21 — 23 in 54 — 59 cm Female: 19 — 21 in 48 — 53 cm Weight: Male: 64 — 71 lbs 29 — 32 kg Female: 55 — 60 lbs 25 — 27 kg Milestones: They are still growing but only gaining a few pounds a month now. Month By 10 months of age, GSDs are still trucking along in the adolescent stage. They will still be acting like teenagers and may be getting into some trouble. Although clever and smart they will sometimes act clumsy and goofy. They are still learning and should be in training. Cuteness Factor: Cute and nutty like peanut butter! Height: Male: 22 — 24 in 55 — 60 cm Female: 19 — 21 in 48 — 53 cm Weight: Male: 66 — 73 lbs 30 — 33 kg Female: 57 — 62 lbs 26 — 28 kg Milestones: They are still growing but slowly. Month Moving into month 11, German Shepherds are becoming more and more adult but may be stubborn. They may start to challenge their owner with respect to leadership. They need to know that you are in charge and that they must respect your commands. Training and reinforcement is crucial during this time period. Cuteness Factor: Cute enough to get out of trouble! Height: Male: 22 — 24 in 57 — 62 cm Female: 20 — 22 in 51 — 56 cm Weight: Male: 66 — 75 lbs 30 — 34 kg Female: 60 — 64 lbs 27 — 29 kg Milestones: They are still growing slowly. Month 1 year old German Shepherds are moving out of the puppy phase of the German Shepherd growth stages and into adulthood. By now they have most likely formed a strong bond with their owner. They may still misbehave occasionally but proper training should be paying off. Food: Adolescent should transition to adult food and be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Vaccines: DHPP, rabies are recommended. Year 1. They are getting closer to sexual maturity. Cuteness Factor: Furry and plushness overload! Height: Male: 23 — 25 in 59 — 64 cm Female: 21 — 22 in 53 — 55 cm Weight: Male: 71 — 79 lbs 32 — 36 kg Female: 60 — 66 lbs 27 — 30 kg Milestones: They are still growing but slowly. Food: Adolescent should be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Year 2: At 2 years old, they should be well along in their journey to adulthood. With the proper training and socialization, they should be transforming into the alert, confident, courageous, loving and loyal German Shepherd companion that makes them so popular among dog owners. They are pretty much full grown at this point with only a few more pounds to pack onto their athletic frame. Cuteness Factor: Perfectly precious! Height: Male: 23 — 25 in 59 — 64 cm Female: 21 — 22 in 53 — 57 cm Weight: Male: 71 — 84 lbs 32 — 38 kg Female: 62 — 66 lbs 28 — 30 kg Milestones: They are still growing but almost full grown. Vaccines: DHPP is recommended. Year 3: Adult Growth Stage Your German Shepherd is finally an adult with all of the beautiful characteristics and traits that people admire. They have reached physical and sexual maturity and are ready to brave the new world. Consistent training should have payed off. They should be calm and well disciplined. Height: Male: 24 — 26 in 60 — 65 cm Female: 22 — 24 in 55 — 60 cm Weight: Male: 79 — 88 lbs 36 — 40 kg Female: 66 — 70 lbs 28 — 32 kg Milestones: They are done growing. They have matured physically and sexually. Food: Full grown adult should be eating three to three and a half cups total two times a day. Vaccines: Rabies is recommended and can be required by law depending on your state. A full grown adult German Shepherd will stand approximately 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 70 and 88 pounds on average. However, some German Shepherds will get bigger even getting over a pounds. Hopefully your GSD is in the correct range. Keep an eye out for any deficiencies during their growth. These German Shepherd growth stages should help you determine all of the proper measurements to make sure they are right on track in their development. Each stage in their maturation is important. Remember to give them a high-quality healthy diet, plenty of exercise and sufficient training and socialization. These will all help lead to a stable and well-adjusted German Shepherd. Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think! Do you have any experience with a growing German Shepherd? Let us know! We would love to hear about your personal story! Share this:. German Shepherd Development: From Puppies To Adults Posted on Last updated: Categories German Shepherds From early puppyhood to adulthood, German Shepherds undergo significant development that shapes their temperament, behavior, and physical abilities. As a dog owner, understanding the developmental stages of your German Shepherd is crucial to providing the right care and training. German Shepherd development consists of several stages. Hey there! As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site. Contents Final Thoughts German Shepherd Development and Growth Stages German Shepherd development refers to the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur in German Shepherd puppies as they grow and mature into adulthood. These changes include the physical development of their muscles, bones, and organs, as well as their ability to learn and process information. Social development involves their ability to interact with other dogs and humans and to understand and follow social rules and norms. As a dog owner, it is important to understand the growth stages of your German Shepherd. Knowing what to expect during each stage can help you provide the best care for your furry friend. In the latter case, you need to know that the German Shepherd puppy depends on his mother for everything in these initial weeks. This includes food, warmth, and physical security. Here, your only responsibility is to make sure the dam is equipped with what she needs to fulfill her duties. As long as you feed the adult GSD right, she will be able to feed her babies and give them the warmth and company they need. You might notice that the puppies may seem asocial. Do not measure how the puppy interacts with other dogs for at least three to four weeks, which brings us to what you can expect within the next two weeks. This is where the puppy can wean off and not need a diet made up of milk exclusively. The puppy can consume solid food but is not too fond of it, especially if it is strange in texture. Your priority at this stage should be to get him to accept solid food without regressing to a diet of milk. There will be a social incentive in weaning off as the puppy will observe the litter he belongs to and notice a simultaneous change in feeding preferences. This brings us to a very important change: social interaction. I mentioned above that you should not worry about social disinterest up until the third week. However, by the fourth week, you should look for some interaction. If the puppy fails to acknowledge others in the litter or is getting shunned collectively, consulting an expert trainer or a vet can be helpful. Otherwise, the journey from being 4 weeks old to being adoption-ready is a long one, and it starts by accepting a human guardian. From weeks 4 to 5, the puppy is learning to accept a human usually the breeder as his guardian. Both dominant guardian and guiding guardian archetypes work in establishing yourself as the leader, but the dominant frame might box you into less palatable training tactics. German Shepherd puppies are quite intelligent, but a bulk of this cognitive ability is unlocked in two stages. The first is around the five-week mark. This could be the fourth or sixth week, depending on the individual puppy, but it is noticeable when the dog starts getting excited about other dogs. Of course, you need to be on schedule with socialization and carry-walks to notice this. Again, this explains why breeders usually keep the GSD puppies at this stage. Aggression issues can stem from excitement signaling menace. The opposite is true as well. Fortunately, professional breeders expose the dog to other dogs his age at this stage, and he learns to adjust how he shows and perceives excitement, making your life as a new German Shepherd parent much easier. But socializing your German Shepherd happens in stages as well. And of different ages. The wider the variety of people he gets to see and interact with at this stage, the more receptive he will be to people growing up. If your German Shepherd has seen only young people all his life, he might react differently to older ones and vice versa. This also applies to experiences. Exposing your puppy to experiences like car rides and ringing doorbells ensures that he will be calm in normal situations as he grows up. And in addition to getting your German Shepherd acquainted with normal stimuli like bells and travel, you must get him crate trained at this stage. Introducing the crate as a refuge and a secure spot as opposed to jail is a great way to get your GSD puppy to accept the crate. The more you delay this, the harder it becomes to crate-train a German Shepherd. If you want to check how his growth compares to the guidelines, head over to this article, When Do German Shepherds Stop Growing? This also includes a handy growth chart. This is a critical stage because if unchecked, your German Shepherd might end up hurting other dogs or be hurt by them. The watchful dog-parent in you that you were holding back has his chance to shine here. Make sure you keep a close eye on your German Shepherd and how he interacts with any other dogs in the house. The status-measuring step is one even adult dogs take when first interacting with each other. But at this age, dogs engage in prolonged status-measuring inquiry and either establish dominance or accept their subservient spot. You cannot force your German Shepherd to be the alpha in a relationship with another dog. GSDs are very physical, which is fine when two dogs play within the same breed. But if one of your doggos belongs to a relatively fragile lineage, you might want to consider some separation. If you are worried your German Shepherd playing too rough , click the link for some cool tips on how to limit rough play. The easier to walk your GSD is, the more enjoyable it will be for you both. This is better elaborated in my dedicated post on the fun exercises you can do with your German Shepherd puppy. At the same time, his physical energy levels are rising every day, which can be counterproductive as your German Shepherd can get uber-excited about physical activity. Make sure you have him on a no-pull harness instead of a collar-and-leash, so you can get him properly under control without hurting him. You can also see my other recommendations here. Are you looking to buy something for your dog? Make sure to check out my favorite dog gear below. Discover the online program that more than 57, dog owners have used to rapidly transform their dog into a well-behaved, obedient furry friend. While looking through the different stages of growth you can see the rough size of German Shepherd puppies at different stages of their life by comparing the ages to a German Shepherd growth chart. Important Note: Once a puppy has been weened off milk it is essential that the puppy is given a high quality puppy food to ensure proper development. A lack of proper nutrients can result in ears not rising, smaller than normal dogs and health complications in later life. In my opinion Blue Buffalo Puppy Food is the best available on the market. German Shepherd puppies, as with all other dog breeds, are born with their eyes and ears closed. At this stage the GSD puppies are completely dependent on their mothers for care, food and the like and the newborn puppies are relatively immobile. A small section of the umbilical cord will still be attached to the German Shepherd puppy - this will dry up and fall off on its own within a few days. The first 3 days are the most critical in a GSD puppies life. Birth is the beginning of the neonatal period in GSD development and it lasts roughly 2 weeks. Typically the puppies will curve into a comma type shape when picked up. This is because their nervous system at this time is still very immature. Additionally, they can't eliminate unless the mother, or caregiver, stimulates their anus or urethra by licking or gently rubbing the area. Gentle, frequent handling by humans is very helpful from this age onward. As their nervous system development continues they will now also now arch their backs when they are picked up and held rather than curving into a more comma shaped position as before. Around Day 7 German Shepherd puppies now begin to crawl more readily and more often during this phase of GSD development. Short periods of daily handling and exposure to some stimuli can also be very beneficial to stimulate weight gain in the puppy, earlier eye opening, hair growth and motor development in all members of the GSD litter. The German Shepherd puppies eyes will appear to be blue in color at first even though they can't focus right now. They will be able to see shapes after about 2 weeks of age during continued GSD development. Around Day 14 The German Shepherd pups eyes and ears should be fully open by now and many may have their first incisor teeth beginning to erupt. The puppies should also be crawling quite well by this time. This is the beginning of the transitional period of GSD development which typically lasts about a week or so. This is also a period of profound changes in the German Shepherd puppies growth and development. The German Shepherd puppy will begin to be more independent from it's mom during this time. During this time the German Shepherd puppies will begin to eliminate on their own and should start walking within 2- to 3 days by about day 16 or so - very shaky at first, but with practice growing legs will soon become less wobbly. You can observe tail wagging as well as the beginning of play fighting. German Shepherd puppies will also be eliminating on their own by this time. Around Day 21 Around this date the German Shepherd puppy will move from the transitional phase into the socialization period of GSD development. By this time GSD puppies should be able to walk pretty well, with a more adult-like gait. They will also begin a more active exploration of their environments and that of their GSD litter mates. This period is thought to last from about 2. This is an extremely important time for the emotional and social development of the German Shepherd puppy. This is also a period of dramatic changes in your German Shepherd puppies life. This is the period in GSD development when puppies can form bonds with species outside of its own such as human beings. This is also the time when the puppy can identify their own species as well as being able to identify future social partners. Oftentimes, the peak of sensitivity to the formation of social bonds is described to be between 6 to 8 weeks of age. This is also called the fear period in GSD development! Around Week 4 By now social play becomes an important factor in GSD development and German Shepherd puppies learn how to interact with litter mates and adult animals of their species as well. They can also play with toys, play fight, play with humans and other animals and are beginning to eat other soft foods to supplement their mother's milk. Many times the GSD puppies are fearless during this time - exploring their environment and all that is about them. This is also a good time for continued exposure to new and novel things, to various people and other kinds of animals, all while the German Shepherd puppy continues to develop. The socialization stage is very important in the growth of GSD development, however it should be looked at within the context of the developing emotional system of the puppy. At around 3 - 5 weeks of age attraction responses in German Shepherd puppies are very strong. These kinds of responses begin to diminish between 5 - 7 weeks of age as fear responses begin to emerge. It is important to note that early socialization is tremendously important in the development of well-adjusted GSD puppies. During these few weeks, your German Shepherd puppy will also learn how to play and communicate with it's littermates, respond to humans it comes in contact with and how to get along safely in the adult dog world. Around Week 6 German Shepherd puppies begin exhibiting more adult like behaviors such as mounting of other litter mates and demonstrating dominance roles. Sniffing of tails and noses also becomes an important part of the greeting process among their canine peers. Between about 7 - 9 weeks of age the fear response may become so strong as to begin to overwhelm the attraction response. For other puppies the social motivation to make contact may very well overcome any wariness during this phase of GSD development. Around weeks 7 - 12 Among other things, this is an ideal age of socializing your German Shepherd puppy to humans, other animals and new surroundings and objects. It also a great time to learn such important skills as: leash training, housebreaking, crate training, accepting gentle handling and grooming and to accept human domination and control. The socialization period is absolutely critical in GSD development and acceptance of other animal species. If a GSD puppy is not exposed to horses, sheep, goats, other dogs, cats or small children before it reaches 12 weeks, it is likely it will never accept them. You may also observe that your German Shepherd pups ears are beginning to come up in some form or fashion. Don't be surprised by the wild and interesting shapes that they may take on as they mature. As the puppy goes through the teething process the ears will go up and down and will do all sorts of weird things - one up one down; one flopping to the left, the other to the right; both in the center, etc. This period is thought to occur from the end of the primary socialization period through sexual maturity. Motor skills are increasing for the GSD puppy. During this time the puppy is still refining both learning and social skills as well. While puppies in this phase can learn quite well, they are easily distracted and very hard to keep on task. This is an excellent time to start puppy kindergarten. This is also a good time to start being very aware of your GSD puppies ear carriage. Around 4 Months German Shepherd puppies will begin to lose their puppy teeth and will soon replace them with their adult teeth, generally starting with the incisors. Young German Shepherds will continue to learn about their environment and all the individuals in it throughout their social maturization process. This is often the time when older puppies are learning about their social relationships within the environment they live. Social maturity takes more time to achieve than sexual maturity. In the beginning of social maturity dogs will begin to display more mature, adult social behaviors. This time is thought to vary between breeds and from dog to dog and to occur anywhere from 12 - 36 months of age, especially in the larger breeds such as German Shepherds. Again, this varies from German Shepherd to German Shepherd but this is a good place to start. If your German Shepherd puppies ears are not standing up by this time on their own it is a good time to consider taping them. Detailed directions for this process can be found here. Overall, most of the puppies internal body systems are nearly "adult" even though the skeleton is still growing and will for some time to come. In many respects your German Shepherd puppy is now a "small adult". The heart rate has decreased again to about 70 BPM and by the end of this month the GSD puppy should have a full set of adult teeth. Also an important milestone: German Shepherd females reach sexual maturity and have their first estrus heat period. If the GSD's ears are not up by this time you need to take action quickly to get them up before it is too late. Read the article on ear taping. Around 7 - 12 Months German Shepherd males reach sexual maturity and begin to hike their leg when urinating. It is important to be especially firm and consistent about setting limits and enforcing commands during this time since your older GSD puppy may challenge dominance of other dogs or humans during this stage. If the German Shepherd puppies ears are not standing on their own by this point, there is a good chance that they will never stand on their own. This is an ideal age in GSD development to start "Beginning" level classes of obedience training. Bonding to humans is now very firmly established and your German Shepherds vocal and body communications are now that of a more mature individual dog - and more easily understood, and well on their way to many years of happy companionship with you. Sign up for promotions, news, discounts, and the chance to win prizes for you and your German Shepherd E-mail Address. Almost Home Campaign Puppy Developmental Stages and Behaviour To have a well-adjusted and social dog, you need to ensure his needs are met during each phase of development. Building the foundation for a great dog starts with appropriate training at each stage of development and establishing appropriate guidelines so that that your puppy is properly integrated into the family. You will see many behaviour changes during the life stages of your pup. Knowing how to handle your pup through each developmental stage will help to shape your puppy into a lifelong family member. Puppy Developmental Stages The puppy development process covers five distinct stages. However, puppies grow through these stages at their own pace and these timelines can vary. Stage 1: Neonatal Period 0 — 2 weeks This is the first stage of puppy development and begins at birth. At this age, puppies only have the sense of taste and touch and rely totally on their mother. Stage 2: Transitional Period 2 — 4 weeks Sensory development continues with hearing and sense of smell. Puppy teeth start coming through and their eyes will begin to open. Puppies will interact with their litter mates, wag their tails, stand, walk a little and bark. It is vital to understand this stage as most puppies go home to their new parents between 7 — 12 weeks. During this period, changes start to occur rapidly. Between 3- 5 weeks puppies start to become aware of their surroundings and have the ability to develop a relationship with people This is the period where puppies get familiar with the day-to-day noises of a regular household such as TVs, vacuum cleaners, telephones, etc. At this age puppies are just learning to interact with each other and beginning to play. They are also learning their doggie social skills and exploring their ranking status within their pack. Their curiosity is developing, as are their biting skills. Nipping behaviours begin as they practice biting behaviour with their mother and litter mates. At the weeks stage, they will have full use of all their senses and will be ready to go home to their new owners. Bringing your pup home usually between weeks is right in the middle of his socialization period. Therefore, it is vital that you introduce your puppy to as many new dogs, people, objects and surroundings as you can. BUT, make sure you do so in a controlled manner and never put your puppy in a dangerous situation where they can be injured, scared or contract disease. This is a great period to begin crate training, for a variety of reasons. Puppies are old enough to start getting used to being left alone to avoid separation anxiety from developing and are capable of being house-trained. Even though your home is likely puppy proofed, it also saves your possessions. During this phase of development, puppies are developing their reactions to things much more consistently. They are also likely to focus more on different types of people and should be friendly and approachable to strangers. During this time they are also going to continue to practice their biting skills a whole lot more! It is important to learn how to manage this behaviour early on. You may also notice that they are more curious and will probably look to explore their environment more. Be prepared for this and keep your puppy close to you and leashed. Stage 4: Testing Period 3 — 6 months This is the time your puppy starts to test their boundaries within their world. They will test the limits with their owners and other animals. At this age many adult dogs will start to enforce manners. Problematic behaviours can begin to arise in this period. At this age your puppy is going to go through teething and chewing is a common side effect. Make sure he has plenty of chew sticks and toys. Use commercial sprays or gels that dissuade your puppy from chewing your belongings. Try soaking a cloth toy in chicken stock and freezing it if your puppy is experiencing pain while teething. Once frozen, this can be given to your puppy as a chew toy and will help to relieve sore gums. Puppies are usually finished teething by the age of 6 months when the upper fangs canines come in. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour. Dogs go through adolescence much earlier than people; for small breeds, is can be as early as six months old while larger dogs starting at nine or 10 months of age. Adolescence in larger breed dogs continues until they are two or three years old with smaller dogs reaching maturity at about 18 months. Typically the larger the dog, the slower the development. Signs of Puberty in Canines Here are the typical signs to watch out for to tell you that your own puppy has hit puberty: Males.

He is beautiful, loving, funny, and smart, and comes from a strong and healthy lineage. Marcellus was wonderful and supportive throughout the whole process. We love Buckeye Golden Retrievers so much! Marcellus is very responsive and professional! The facility is very clean and cozy. I would recommend Buckeye a million times over! Our Charlie girl is smart, cute, and such a joy in our lives! He is a spirited, loving, and playful boy who has brought so much joy to us all. I knew we were going to get a great puppy from the first time I spoke with them. Thank you so much! The 1 year health guarantee covers any major genetic defects such as a heart murmur. It does not cover treatable health issues. The remaining balance is due at pickup. We find great satisfaction in raising healthy, happy Goldens and placing them in your loving home! One of the most popular breeds in the United States, Golden Retrievers are eager to please and are great with children and other dogs. Additionally, Goldens are intelligent and skilled in whatever they do, whether serving as a therapy dog, aiding search-and-rescue, or being a devoted companion. Max Max is our handsome boy, an imported Jr Champion from Ukraine. Top of the line genetics and champion bloodlines make him an incredible addition to our breeding program. Max is intelligent and friendly, complementing his incredible physique and beautiful white coat! Max is available for stud service to qualified females. Skye comes from a long line of champions and is genetic tested clear. Skye has a happy go lucky personality and is a wonderful mother to her beautiful little snow white babies! She is truly a stunning European Golden Retriever! This mama is really great with children and other dogs and has been a wonderful asset to our breeding program. We kept two of her girls Maple and Bella to continue her incredible bloodline. Zoey loves nothing more than exercising and getting belly scratches! Use tab to navigate through the menu items. To urge members and breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by the American Kennel Club as the only standard of excellence by which the Golden Retriever should be judged. To do all in its power to protect and advance the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, obedience and agility trials, field trials, and hunting tests. To conduct sanctioned matches, dog shows, obedience and agility trials, field trials, and hunting tests under the Rules and Regulations of the American Kennel Club. For over twenty-five years, the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Toledo has been at work to promote the furtherance and advancement of the Golden Retriever breed. Monthly meetings and various functions are held where members and their dogs work on promoting the natural qualities of the Golden. Meetings offer information on the breed, fun and activity, service functions, education, and help in many areas. All persons interested in Golden Retrievers are invited to attend. To view the official breed standard of the Golden Retriever, click here. Please note that presence on this list does not imply any endorsement, recommendation, evaluation, or approval by the Club, or any statement of quality or potential of any puppies that are now available or may become available in the future. For information: contact Barb Gardner, 4goldendogs bex. Home: Testimonials. Purebred Golden Retriever Puppies Buying a puppy is a big decision. We made that decision easy. Not knowing where your puppy has come from could lead to genetic health and socialization issues, and ultimately disappointment. There are even tons of puppy scams on the internet, some of which even try to imitate us! We believe dogs are not like family — they ARE family! Unlike other puppy adoption agencies in Ohio, we allow and actually encourage you to meet our Golden Retriever puppies for sale before you agree to take one home. Remember, too, that when it comes to getting a puppy, ultimately, you get what you pay for. You get a Golden Retriever you love, vetted for good health, from a breeder you trust. He has a very fun loving spirit and has made our family complete. Marcus and his family are very gracious and great to work with. We would highly recommend them for anyone looking for a Golden! She will be turning 9 months in a few weeks. I had a wonderful experience getting her through your company! So glad I got her. All Rights Reserved. Everyday is an adventure seeing horses, cats, dogs, and the occasional farm animals. I love my job almost as much as I love my dogs. As a young veterinary student I had always loved Golden Retrievers. I went to visit a veterinary mentor in Pennsylvania one summer who bred Golden Retrievers and fell in love with her dogs. It was a 2 year wait, but finally I brought home my first Golden Retriever from her lines of healthy and wonderful dogs. About Me and the Puppies "As a Veterinarian my goal is to breed healthy and happy Golden Retriever pups that have a wonderful temperament and place them in great homes for life. In my daily practice I see dogs that struggle with health and behavior issues that take an emotional and financial toll on their owners. I am passionate about placing healthy puppies with a great temperament in wonderful homes. My care for these pups does not stop when they leave my home. I provide support to owners for the life of the pup. My goal is always to produce healthy and happy puppies with wonderful temperaments and for that reason I use the Puppy Culture Program and put a huge emphasis on socialization. All litters are raised in my home with me where they can be exposed to daily life from day one. I work with each and every puppy from birth providing neurological stimulation daily. Below is a schedule of puppy life from birth to 8 weeks while they are here with me.Weeks Pups are safe in my home in the whelping box with their mother. Bedding is changed times as needed so it is always clean. They are provided supplemental heat with a Lovett's Whelping Nest to ensure that all pups stay warm and comfortable while making sure that the environment is not too hot for mom. I perform early neurologic stimulation twice a day on all pups which has been proven to increase a dog's ability to tolerate stress and decrease anxiety later in life. All pups are weighed daily to ensure that they are gaining weight appropriately. I do litter train pups on alfalfa pellets. These are low in dust and safe should a pup accidentally consume them. As pups start to acclimate to potty training toys are introduced into their environment as well as crates and boxes. A variety of surfaces are placed in the play area to get pups used to walking on different things. Crates and boxes allow pups to get comfortable sleeping in smaller spaces life the crate they will likely sleep in in their new homes. At this time pups also start to eat mash which is the beginning of their transition to real food. These are people I trust to not bring in any diseases that could potentially harm pups. Pups are also going outside daily weather dependent and exploring the world. At 6 weeks old I start individual crate training in short segments with each pup and we also start going on short car rides to introduce the car to the pups. By this time pups are starting to eat softened kibble and canned puppy food. Puppies receive their first vaccine at 6 weeks old. At 7 weeks old we allow families to visit their puppies if they are able and at weeks old pups begin to leave for their new homes. In addition pups also have numerous fecal samples checked to ensure that there are no parasites present before they go to their new home. Evaluating our puppies' temperaments allows us to ensure that the pup's personality if a great fit for their future family and the goals that family has for their companion. All pups are up to date on vaccines and deworming when they go to their new homes and go with health certificates and health guarantees. That is the promise I make to every pup that I breed. All of our pups go from us to their permanent homes. Our prices are based on quality of pups in addition to the records of the parents, not sex. Prices do NOT include shipping although shipping can be arranged if pick up by the owner is not possible. If a pup is returned to us as required by our contract, any refund that might be due is handled on a strictly case by case basis. No refund is guaranteed. All pups are sent to their new homes with a health guarantee, veterinary health certificate, health record, toys that they have been playing with, a towel or blanket with the scent of their siblings on it, treats, microchip and prepaid registration, appropriate vaccinations and deworming, 2 negative fecal exams, prepaid AKC registration, and a bag of starter puppy food that the puppies have been eating. Proudly created with Wix.

Listed below are answers to the most common questions I receive as you are preparing to take your puppy home: 1. What is my puppy eating? We are feeding your puppy PawTree. They have a multitude of other flavors you can try out after your puppy comes home too. You can buy this food by clicking the PawTree picture at the bottom of any page on our website. You can find out more information at www. We also encourage you to set your order to their EZship so you never run out. They also offer personalized food by filling out a pet profile so we encourage all families to head over to fill out their pet profile for personalized food plan as well as personalized bags of dog food when they arrive. How many times per day should my puppy be fed? We feed puppies, weeks old 3 x per day. We try to keep them on a schedule such as: a. Once the puppy reaches 12 weeks, we cut them back to eating 2 x per day, eliminating the noon feeding. Increase the amount you feed based on the recommendations you will find on the dog food bag as suggested by weight of the puppy. We do not recommend free feeding — give your puppy about 20 minutes to eat, then pick it up and put it away. Water should be provided at all times, except during the night. Wet the food for about 30 minutes prior to giving it to the puppy so it softens to aid in digestion. However, if you see loose stools it is almost assuredly overfeeding so back it off until the stool is firm and then slowly add back in. When can I start training my puppy? We like to see training start as soon as you pick up your puppy from my home, or your puppy arrives via car or airplane. We recommend transporting your puppy home in a crate that is lined with a bath towel. Feeding time is a fantastic opportunity to train as you can spend a few minutes several times per day with teaching the basic commands of sit, stay and come. We provide a helpful training booklet with detailed information on training on our Puppy Tips page. What size crate should I buy for my puppy? Most puppies that will mature to a medium size will need a large crate once they have reached maturity. Plastic crates are an option as well. If you have any questions please ask us. What type of collar and leash do I need and what size is best for my puppy? We like to buy the less expensive, adjustable-type of collars and a nylon leash. We do not care for the expandable leashes that allow the puppy to walk way out in front or way off to the side of you. The smallest setting for the collar would be about 8 inches and expanding out from there. We use small carabiners to attach the stretched chain between the collar and the leash. This will prevent your puppy from chewing your new leash. If you are reserving a small size pup then I would suggest an XS collar. Another option while they are very young is a slip leash style. Some families like to train in harnesses. This is also a tool you can use. Sizes will vary from company to company, but most go off of weight. Ask us the estimated weight of your future puppy at the time they will go home so you will have a rough idea of what to purchase. It is never a bad idea to weight to buy until you can size your puppy in person though as each harness will fit differently. You can play the radio softly if your puppy is in a different room from you as this is how they were raised with us. You have to find a system that works for you. However, keeping consistent for the first few nights will build a sleep pattern in your dog you will enjoy for its entire life. How many times per night will my puppy need to go out to go potty? We suggest you feed your puppy dinner no later than p. Make sure that you see puppy go potty and poop before putting him to bed for the night. If your bedtime is p. Then only if puppy is whining, let him out very methodically to potty no playing and put him right back to bed. How many times per day should my puppy need to go potty? Puppies will always go potty right away after they wake up and after they eat. If you take puppy out right after eating, see him go potty, then allow about 30 minutes of some free time in your home before making his world small using a temporary fence or leash. On average they can typically hold their bladders for 2-hours, but every puppy will react differently to stimuli in your home. Should my puppy have contact with other vaccinated dogs? We like to make sure other dogs have not only been vaccinated, but are also free of parasites. Worms of all sorts can live in feces and it just take a quick second for your puppy to ingest enough to get a parasite. This product should be alternated every 6 months. There are countless natural remedies as well as chemical based options you can find at your vet. We always prefer natural options first, but in some cases the chemical based products are needed. Check with your vet or trainer for their recommendations in your area. We strongly suggest topical or collar options only. How often should I give my puppy a bath and what should I use? We do not bathe our puppies unless they are dirty and we use baby shampoo or something gentle. We usually suggest people decide what they like in the look of their Labradoodle. Do you like the longer, shaggy look, or do you like the shorter, more manicured coat? If you leave the coat longer, you will need to keep it combed out and mat free. Do you have recommendations for where to stay when we pick up our puppy? We are located only 20 mins from Lebanon, Oregon. There are numerous hotel options in Albany, Springfield, or Eugene that you can explore. The difficult part is deciding which one will have the greatest positive impact on their well-being. The following are some of the top options for dog foods for your Labradoodle: Dry Food: Due to its affordability and accessibility, dry dog food is a preferred option for Labradoodles. The nutrients in high-quality dry food are appropriate for a different life stage of your Labradoodle. Dry food has the greatest shelf life when compared to other types of dog foods. Wet Food: Wet food or canned food is another option for owners. Labradoodles enjoy the variety of flavors in canned food that come in interesting shapes like other meaty foods. Owners may combine wet food with dried food because wet food alone is typically more expensive than dry food. While it can be costly, doing so guarantees that their pups receive high-quality food. If you only give the same food to your Labradoodles, they could develop picky eating habits. Hence, it makes sense to follow the advice of the majority of veterinarians to combine kibble and wet food with a ratio of 20 to .Make sure the food you choose is sustainable and highly recommended by experts. Ensure that it will suit your needs, those of your dog, your financial situation, and your way of life. The average price of a Labradoodle is already costly. Hence, it is important to choose the kind of diet that will also suit your budget. Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Labradoodle Dog owners must be aware of the foods that can be harmful, poisonous, or trigger an allergic reaction in their Labradoodles. The following is a list of some harmful or poisonous foods that you must never give your pet Labradoodle: Alcohol: There is no enzyme that can digest alcohol in Labradoodles. Hypoglycemia , metabolic acidosis , respiratory difficulties, or central nervous system CNS impairment could result from ingestion. Avocado: Avocados contain the fungicidal toxin persin , which has been linked to the death of many dog breeds, including Labradoodles. It can cause vomiting, loose stool, and heart damage when taken in large doses. Chocolate: The major alkaloid in cocoa and chocolates, theobromine , cannot be broken down by an enzyme found in the stomachs of Labradoodles. As a result, even small quantities of chocolate can cause toxicity. Additionally, they could become uncontrollable, have convulsions, throw up, and have diarrhea. Grapes and raisins: As a result of the tartaric acid found in grapes and raisins, Labradoodles experience diarrhea , vomiting, dehydration , and kidney failure. Unfortunately, even one full grape can cause fatal injuries and irreversible harm to Labradoodles. Onion, garlic, leeks, and chives: All of these vegetables contain N-propyl disulfide , which robs red blood cells of their ability to carry oxygen. Consuming these veggies over time may cause hemolytic anemia. It is frequently present in toothpaste, gum, candies, and syrups. Listed below are foods that may seem harmless but are actually hazardous for Labradoodles: Cooked bones: Cooked bones are prone to shatter into shards. They can hurt your Labradoodle as well as obstruct its mouth, throat, and stomach. High-sugar foods: Your Labradoodle is more likely to develop health issues, including diabetes, obesity, and teeth damage, if it consumes too much sugar from other dog foods. Avoid cheap dog food, which usually contains too much salt. Consuming too much salt can result in seizures, renal failure, diarrhea, and vomiting. If ignored, this results in gastrointestinal blockage and death. Bring your Labradoodle to the nearest veterinary clinic immediately if you think they have accidentally ingested any of the aforementioned foods. A smart technique to make sure that their nutritional demands are being satisfied is to switch to a new food. If you want to gradually introduce a new food to your Labradoodle pup, make sure to introduce it in little amounts every day. The timeline provided below will help you introduce a new food to your Labradoodle: Days. From left to right here are some examples of faucet lixits, an adapter to allow for a Lixit to always be on a faucet without need for removal, and then indoor or traveling Lixits. Over the years, with many conversations with Vets, that I respect, I've learned that puppy food is essentially a marketing ploy. In fact, when we first found Life's Abundance they didn't even have puppy food. It was redundant for them to carry puppy food. However, after pressure from so many customers that had decades of "Puppy Chow" commercials engrained in their heads, Life's Abundance decided to include a puppy food. If you prefer to feed the puppy food for the first couple of months we understand and feel is your decision to make and we do support you. We just ask that you stay with Life's Abundance as it's the best dog food and it's what your puppy has been consuming it's entire life, as well as, it's mother's entire pregnancy and life. This video is a great video to explain how to compare dog foods. First, I have strong opinions about most things, it's just my personality. I'm a Momma Bear type with my doodles. Some of my insanity I was just born with and the other sixty percent was gained by enduring some tragedies I don't ever want any of my families, including you, going through. In case you don't know, Life's Abundance, the company that makes all our food, supplements, treats, grooming products, and cleaning products are all delivered right to your front door for a very affordable amount. Life's Abundance food is very affordable and I will include a video at the bottom for you to watch. The dog food is made fresh every two to four weeks then immediately shipped out so your doodle's food isn't sitting on some shelf, on some semi-truck, in some warehouse, who knows where , and for who knows how long. Instead, we know where the food is being made and it's then on our front door step. Why does this matter? Well, your doodle can't say to you, "Hey, my food tastes moldy and I think it's why my liver and kidneys are hurting me but you won't know until I have bloody urine or I'm really sick. Do you think you could get me some fresh food? Many years ago I had a lab mix that was getting really sick and after being diagnosed with terminal liver problems did we realize the food was moldy. Next, one of our doodles many years ago got into a bag of China made chicken treats and ate more than the recommended serving and within four days she was dead. It was the worst tragedy that even writing about it now makes my stomach ache and my eyes tear up. My doodle was a normal, happy, fun loving doodle then suddenly the next morning she was so severely ill we had to go straight to the vet. Our doodle had no appetite, didn't want to move, was non-stop vomiting, with increased diarrhea with blood in it, she kept drinking water despite her belly looking so full, and she was constantly peeing and it was text book for poisoning from these treats. Telling this story has done me in for the night and I'm going to continue with my site later. I only explained this to help you from experiencing the heartbreak our family endured. From our experiences we searched long and far for a USA made dog food that never had a recall. When we did this search we found Life's Abundance. I checked and double checked this company. We learned it was started by a Vetrinarian which really impressed me from the beginning. Our doodles tested the food and loved it. We tried all the products and loved them. I searched all the dog food review websites and found rave reviews with an average of 4. I love that it was made fresh and never sat in a warehouse or on a store shelf for months, in most cases. I've heard of some big box companies buying tons of food from different companies to get discounts and most of the food sits and waits, in some random warehouse that isn't temperature controlled, for the food to sell so it to can make in onto a shelf at your local store to then be purchased by you. The question remains, how long has that food sat from when it was first made? With Life's Abundance, I know the answer, it was made fresh then shipped to you and I. Without a doubt, I will continue to find good products for our doodles and I will passionately share them with you, our doodle families. If for some reason Life's Abundance changes their quality or their product goes downhill or there is a better product then I will change our website and I will tell you why. I take being a "Full Service Breeder" seriously. I believe that my job begins once you adopt one of our doodles. When you adopt your doodle and take it home you are also gaining a doodle friend and confidant that you can call and get support from for life. I'm here to help you so you can just enjoy your doodle and come to one place for sound, honest advice. As my mother used to say, sometimes I'm too honest so be careful what you ask : lol. Is kibble, cans, raw or homemade food better? Swapping Puppy Food Brands Moving into his or her new home is a challenging and exciting time for your Labradoodle puppy. Keep feeding what your pup is used to for at least two weeks. Then, slowly start mixing in the new food you have chosen for your pup. Labradoodle Puppy Diets Puppies have lots of growing to do. This means that they need more of certain minerals and nutrients for example calcium and phosphorus for bone growth. Your labradoodle pup will also need a higher amount of good quality protein. This is definitely not the case, though. This—among other things—can cause joint problems, such as hip dysplasia. Labradoodles are a cross between two breeds that are both already at high risk of developing hip dysplasia. The most important thing of all is to avoid overfeeding a Labradoodle puppy, as we will see later in this article. This is called hypoglycemia. Generally, a feeding schedule for your Labradoodle pup can look like this: 2 — 4 months: 4 meals daily 4 — 6 months: 3 meals daily 6 — 8 months: 2 — 3 meals daily Older than 8 months: 2 meals daily. Just make sure to divide the total daily amount onto multiple feedings. You can make slight adjustments to these amounts if your pup is looking a little slim or chunky. The number of calories your pup needs will also change as he or she gets older and heavier. There are a couple of different options out there. Commercial dog foods offer complete and balanced nutrition for your growing pup — this means that they have all the right nutrients in all the right amounts and ratios. If a puppy is fed an inappropriate diet, this could lead to long-lasting growth defects or other malnutrition diseases. Feeding a Labradoodle Puppy Kibble Kibble is the most popular type of dog food out there. There are only two things you need to pay attention to when choosing kibble: It should be designed specifically for puppies, and it should be high-quality. Research shows that higher-priced dog foods tend to have higher nutrient digestibility than lower-priced kibble — so it might be worth spending a bit more. Choose a kibble that contains a meat protein source as the first ingredient, and steer clear of ingredients like corn, soy, and cereals. Due to its high water content, the aromas and taste of the meat unfold better, making wet food the most palatable food there is. This comes at a bit of a cost, though: Wet food tends to be more expensive than kibble, and of course it spoils more easily. To get the best of both worlds of commercial dog foods, you can combine or alternate between kibble and wet food. The BARF diet consists of lots of raw meat and bones, as well as some veg and fruit. Supporters of raw feeding think that it will make your dog healthier, although there is no solid evidence for this yet. Raw meats are often contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter. These bacteria could potentially cause diseases in your pup. However, this is extremely rare, as the digestive tract most dogs can handle these bugs just fine. This means that there is a lot less danger of bacterial infections from raw meats. Keep in mind that cooking for a dog is not the same as cooking for yourself. Avoid spices, onions, garlic, cooking oils, and too much salt. These are dogs that will always want more food and are prone to obesity. It can help to space out meals or add one or two feedings a day if your dog is constantly hungry. Another option is to make your dog work for small amounts of food throughout the day — be it with puppy training, food balls, or puzzles. The possibilities are endless. As they grow you will move from four meals per day at 8 weeks old, to just one or two in adulthood. And you will want to use as much of their daily kibble as you can in training. Helping to strengthen the bond between you, as well as to teaching them which behaviors you want to see in your home. Feeding a Labradoodle Puppy When it comes to feeding your new Labradoodle puppy there are plenty of options to choose between and a number of things to consider. Puppies grow up fast. The first thing to keep in mind is that puppies have different dietary needs to adult dogs. Getting too much of some nutrients, and not enough of others can lead to developmental problems. Growing pups digest food and absorb nutrients differently than adult dogs too. Their gastrointestinal system also works much faster than that of an adult dog. Puppy Nutrient Requirements Puppies need more calories than adult dogs, relative to their size. In fact, they need about twice as many calories in relation to their body weight compared to that of a full grown Labradoodle. Compared to mature dogs, puppies also need: more protein to support growing muscle more fat to fuel growth and a different mineral balance to aid in the rapid development of their bones. For example, one study showed that puppies fed a low phosphorus diet suffer from impaired appetite and growth, diminished skin and fur quality, and a disturbed musculoskeletal system. Too much calcium can also negatively affect bone development, by accelerating it. This is a serious joint condition that leads to painful arthritis and lameness. The smaller and younger your puppy is, the more often they need to eat, since their stomachs are too small for big portions. Labradoodle puppies that are 4 months or younger should have their food split into 4 meals a day. When they reach 4 and 6 months old this can be reduced to 3 meals. Knowing how much to feed your Labradoodle puppy can be tricky. So the feeding charts on the packaging are a good place to start. This basic pet calorie calculator can help determine how many calories a puppy needs. Overfeeding Labradoodle Puppies Canine obesity is a big problem for many dogs and the Labradoodle is no exception. Some Labrador Retrievers are known to have a genetic mutation that causes them to have an insatiable appetite. But there are plenty of genetically normal dogs who will always want more food. If your puppy is constantly hungry you can try giving him smaller, more frequent meals. In fact, for training purposes we recommend using as much of each of the meals rations as you can as training treats between meals. These days there are a lot of brands vying for space in the dog food market. So deciding what to feed your Labradoodle puppy might be the most difficult question of them all. Puppies that are 8 to 12 weeks old should continue eating the same food they were eating at the breeders. If you want to change their food, wait until they are fully settled at home. Then transition gradually to a different diet to avoid causing an upset tummy. You can do it over the course of a week, like this: Feed 1 part new food to 3 parts old food on the first two days. Equal parts old food and new food on days three and four. And three parts new food to one part old food for two more days after that. Feeding a Labradoodle Puppy Dry Food Most puppy parents choose one of the many commercial dry puppy foods available. There are many reasons why these diets also known as kibbles are so popular. They are. Dog owners often get bombarded with endless choices as well as countless adverts from the dog food companies, who all claim that theirs is the best. When it comes to dog food, the simple answer is no one food is best for all dogs. But the question is: which diet is the best for your Labradoodle? Luckily, there are many different options when it comes to dog food. The most popular manufactured foods include a complete diet dry , with or without a biscuit mixer and semi-moist. Some dog foods contain only natural ingredients. Then there is the option of feeding your dog a home-made diet. Some owners swear by a raw diet while others feed their Labradoodles vegetarian food. Within the manufactured options, there are many different qualities of food. Usually, you get what you pay for. Expensive ones are more likely to provide better nutrition for your doodle in terms of minerals, nutrients, and high-quality meat, whereas the cheap ones will most likely contain a lot of grain. Dried food also called kibble in the USA tend to be less expensive than other dog foods. They have improved a lot over the last few years, and some of the more expensive ones are now an excellent choice for a healthy, complete diet. Dried foods also contain the least fat and the most preservatives. Often semi-moist foods contain a lot of sugar and artificial substances, which is why some dogs seem to love them. Choosing the right food for your Labradoodle is very important. The diet influences his health, coat, and even temperament. It can have an effect on his health, coat , skin, energy levels, and temperament. There are several different types of food that you can feed your labradoodle — dry, semi-moist, canned, frozen, or freeze-dried are just some of the options. You can also feed him a home-made or raw diet. Many owners of labradoodle with allergies or skin conditions are now considering this option. Dry Dog Food for Labradoodles Dry food is a popular choice for Labradoodles, especially for large dogs who get through a lot of food. It is also less expensive than other dog foods. It is worth paying for a high-quality dry food as cheaper ones may contain a lot of cereal. It also means that you have to feed larger quantities to ensure your dog gets sufficient nutrients. Canned Dog Food for Labradoodles Canned food is another popular choice. Dogs also love them. They love the taste, and it generally comes in a variety of flavors. Canned food is often great mixed with dry kibble. If your labradoodle has lost interest in food and on a dry food diet, then you can add a small amount of canned food. Canned food tends to be more expensive than dried food. Many owners do not like the mess that it makes. If you store a part-opened tin in the fridge, then it can have an overpowering smell when you open the fridge door. Semi-Moist Dog Food for Labradoodles These are the commercial dog foods shaped like pork chops, salamis, burgers, or other meaty foods. They are the least nutritional of all dog foods. They are full of sugars, artificial flavorings, and coloring. You may give your doodle one as an occasional treat, but they do not provide the nutrition that your labradoodle needs. Freeze-Dried Dog Food for Labradoodles The frozen food manufacturers often make this for dog owners who like the convenience of it. You can store them for six months to a year. They do it to make sure that their pets are getting the right nutrition they need. Feeding your doodle a home-cooked diet can be time consuming and expensive. The tricky part is sticking to it once you have started with the best intentions. Raw food for Labradoodles If your doodle is not doing well on commercially prepared dog food then you might need to consider a raw diet. There is evidence that they are becoming increasingly popular among the Labradoodle owners. Raw food diets emulate the way dogs ate before the existence of commercial dog foods. After all, dry, canned, or other styles of cooked food for dogs were mainly created as a means of convenience. However, raw diets are not without controversy. Supporters of the raw food diet argue that a carefully planned raw diet gives the dog numerous health benefits, including a healthier coat, more energy, cleaner teeth, and get rid of bad breath and doggy odor. But the critics say that the risks of nutritional imbalance, intestinal problems, and food-borne illness caused by handling and feeding raw meat outweigh any benefits. Scientifically, the jury is still out. This is one of the most frequent questions that all the Labradoodle owners ask. But there is no easy answer. The correct amount of food for your labradoodle depends on several factors such as: Breed. Within a few weeks you should be able to tell if they would be content with changing to 2 meals per day. Some dogs will be happy with 1 meal per day from about the age of one year onwards. However this is a decision that should be made on a pup-to-pup basis. Your puppy will need to have access to plenty of fresh water. Our Labradoodles enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables. These include blueberries, apples, bananas, strawberries, pumpkin, beans, peas, and carrots. They also thoroughly enjoy eggs cooked or raw , tuna, sardines, and the occasional dollop of yoghurt. Our dogs enjoy a balanced and grain-free dog food, coupled with good quality fresh meats. If choosing to feed dry food, there are fantastic quality brands available. It is very easy to make food yourself for your dog when feeding your Labradoodle puppy. This enables you to give your dog a good variety of nutrients. You can search for recipes on the internet that would suit your dog, or ask your vet. Be aware of the additives that some pet foods may have in them. These can often have a negative effect on their long-term health. Raw bones are also fantastic for Labradoodles, including ribs and chicken necks. Ask your local butcher for a nicely cut dog bone suitable for the size of your pup. Your puppy will love a good bone to chew on, they are often obsessed with chewing anything and everything at this age! Bones are a great source of calcium, as well as acting as a fantastic tooth brush for dogs! We avoid feeding our dogs high-lactose forms of dairy, such as milk and cream, as these can cause gastrointestinal issues of varying severity. We also abstain from giving our pups lactose-free puppy milk. This is nutritionally redundant in the presence of a balanced diet. Our dogs do, however, thoroughly enjoy a treat of cheese or the occasional splash of yoghurt. Hypro Premium Australian made, ensuring freshness is a great option for your puppy. It is nutritionally balanced and high quality. Your puppy will be used to this already, having eaten it at our home. Another firm favourite is Vets All Natural, a rehydratable and biologically appropriate option that is mixed through raw meat. Labradoodles by nature are not greedy or voracious eaters, and will only eat if they are hungry. You can weigh your puppy regularly to keep a track of their growth. These include chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, onion, garlic, and all cooked bones this list is not exhaustive. Never feed your dog cooked bones as this can be fatal due to the bones splintering within the dogs intestinal system. For further questions, or for ongoing support after taking a Bluefields pup home, please contact us.

They make excellent pets and formidable guard dogs. General Discipline Step 1 Observe your German shepherd's behavior. From the day you bring home your dog, keep a log of how he behaves in various situations. This will help you understand his likely future behavior. A typical German shepherd will be confident, alert and protective. His confidence should never become aggression, and he should be calm and watchful when encountering new stimuli. Pay special attention to how your pet responds to visitors arriving at the home, to other dogs coming to say hello, and to being taken for walks. Step 2 Note his naughty habits. Encouraging good behavior means introducing a reward; discouraging behavior means taking away rewards. Some love toys while others see physical contact as the ultimate prize. Many will do anything for a treat. Step 4 Leash your German shepherd and expose him to stimuli likely to resort in bad behavior. For example, have a friend ring the doorbell. Just before your friend rings the bell, begin to verbally praise your dog. This is a positive stimulus. If he remains passive and calm, increase the praise and let him off leash. If he barks, stop the praise and gently tug the leash to get his attention. This distracts him from barking. Step 2 Move the treat so he moves his head backward to follow it. As you do this, issue the sit command. Step 3 Release the treat as soon as he sits and then give lots of fuss and praise. Step 4 Use what you learned from observing your dog and monitoring his bad habits to anticipate bad behavior. For example, if he slopes off into the living room, discreetly follow him. Step 5 Issue the sit command before he has chance to be naughty. Then issue the down command. These commands will distract the dog from the naughty behavior he was contemplating. More Articles. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that your bond with your dog grew instead of fell short! Learn how to communicate with your pup and get the behaviors you want using these simple and easy methods for training a German Shepherd puppy. They may become frightened of you or fear your presence, depending on how severe your discipline is. Anxiety may even develop with too much punishment or useless corrections. Training a German Shepherd puppy at 8 to 12 weeks old? Yes, you can! A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be? You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter… Not harder! Start early and remain consistent with your expectations. Training a German Shepherd means knowing what to do when your puppy acts up. Shepherd pups are one of the smartest dogs on the plant and learn quickly what you expect of them. But the best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to work on your own behavior first. You should show them what behavior is unacceptable in your house. This means that you must stay consistent when responding to their behavior. For example: If your pup jumps on you and you redirect their attention to a toy to chew on instead. But, then your pup jumps on your friend and your friend lets them and you say nothing. This makes it likely that your dog will jump on whoever they feel like in the future. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based German Shepherd training techniques to get the quickest results. Reward-based training helps your puppy recognize when something is a bad choice source. When your pup performs what you ask, offer a tasty treat and words of praise. For example: Have your pup sit when you are by the front door getting ready to go for a walk. This teaches them that when they behave, they are more likely to get what they want. The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too. Sound difficult? It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors. You can also have fun right at home with these games for German Shepherd puppies. Offer your puppy another option when they begin jumping on you for attention. Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them. When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval source. Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive. After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again! Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly. Here are some great commands for a German Shepherd that you can work on training. Redirect bad German Shepherd puppy behavior. Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline? The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior source. Showing them a favorite toy. Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive. You want to remember to watch out for: If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item. If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms. If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these easy German Shepherd brain games to distract them and funnel their energy. Use time-outs appropriately when training a German Shepherd puppy. When your dog engages in bad behavior, remove them from what is causing the unwanted behavior. Put them in a different environment that is more calming and quiet instead. Respond immediately to the bad behavior and use the same routine every time to maintain correct discipline. Time out should: Not be done with force or yelling. Not be in a closet or other dark, scary area. Work to calm your puppy down, not frighten or stress them. Give your puppy a break from over-excitement. Not be a long punishment. Timeouts are generally recommended for only 1 to 2 minutes for puppies. Also, remember that closed doors can cause anxiety in dogs, so use a reliable pet-safe baby gate so that your puppy knows that you are still nearby. Remember, when training a German Shepherd puppy: Time out should not last over minutes. Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period seconds long of calm. Then let them out quietly, without scolding them. This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gate to separate them from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped. Ignore the unnecessary barking. German Shepherd puppies bark, but there are positive ways to help train them to bark and whine less. When they finally quiet down, even if only for a few seconds, reward them with a treat or praise. To have success, wait until they are quiet and stop barking, even if only for a few seconds in the beginning source. For example: If your puppy barks at joggers out the window every morning pull the blinds or curtains. If the behavior continues, place your dog in another room for a couple of minutes and repeat the previous time-out procedure every time they bark at the joggers remember to use the pet safe baby gate and to not shut a puppy behind a solid door because it can give them anxiety. If they are whining and crying at night, this could be a warning they need to potty. Make sure you read this post to know how to potty train a German Shepherd before you ignore all whining, barking, and crying. If your puppy barks during play they might be too excited and you can offer them a chew toy instead or cut your playtime short to allow them to calm down. Puppies bark for a number of reasons. But it does get easier to train your GSD over time as they learn what you expect. Keeping your pup from nipping and chewing. Puppies have sharp teeth, especially German Shepherd puppies! Puppies are energetic and must learn their limits for playing too rough source. Puppies view you jerking your hand back quickly as part of a game and could also tear your skin. And physical punishment should never be given! Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy. Have plenty of safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you. Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with — pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure. Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from aggressively biting and nipping you. Catch your dog being good and reward them out of the blue. See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue! Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup or in your pocket or a treat bag on your waist and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them. If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them! Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit. Food-based rewards are very motivating when training and disciplining a puppy. Avoid physical punishment and harm. Your German Shepherd is your companion for life. Research shows that physically punishing your dog for example hitting, kicking, growling, or staring them down increases aggression in your dog study source. Never use physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior. Not only can this punishment injure your puppy, but it also ruins your relationship and causes anxiety. It means setting expectations that they understand and staying consistent. Physically hurting your German shepherd will ruin your relationship with them. They will lose their trust in you and begin to avoid you. In the worst case, your dog could develop anxiety disorders, health issues, or even more problem behaviors. You could even accidentally injure your dog and they need vet care! Use the right tone and body language to communicate. Different commands and body language conveys information for training to your German Shepherd. The different tones of your voice and body movements are better understood by your dog. The actual command words are of less importance to your puppy. Use a direct tone and body language that matches what you want to say to your dog. Even pointing to a missed treat on the ground is body language your dog learns to understand. Still not convinced? Try out your training with this extensive list of helpful German Shepherd commands and watch how much your dog is capable of understanding. Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. To do this, stick with your training. Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Persevere with your training and discipline. Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them. If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs. If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs in the world, so training them generally takes a short time. Never discipline a German Shepherd puppy for having accidents during potty training. Whether your German Shepherd is potty trained or not, never push their faces into their potty accidents. Your dog is counting on your leadership to show them the rules in a positive manner. Work on setting a consistent schedule with feeding and walks to avoid potty accidents indoors. German Shepherds are easy to train given the right attention. And they need to understand their schedule by having you teach them using consistent patterns, rather than receiving punishment or discipline. Keep a potty schedule posted nearby so all your family can see it and help prevent your puppy from having an accident. Use your bond with your puppy to your advantage during recall training. Use your positive bond with your German Shepherd puppy to work on early recall training. Especially when there are so many natural pleasures to see and explore outside. When you call your German Shepherd, its obedience simply depends on whether the motivation to obey your commands outweighs what your dog is focused on at the moment. Use this to your advantage! Tips for great German Shepherd puppy recall training: Begin calling your puppy in as many locations inside as you can. Give them a tasty reward or play a game with their favorite toy when they come. Work your way up to a perfect recall by having others try to distract your puppy while indoors. Next, move to your back or front yard with your dog on a long leash like this so they stay safe nearby and do the same. You can disciple them by showing them your tasty treat and walking backward a few steps to encourage them to move toward you. Train the come command in all situations, including the home and outdoors, from the time your puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old to avoid discipline problems later on. Need to train your German Shepherd on their recall? While puppies are adorable, German Shepherds are notoriously difficult due to their high energy and large size. While they can be a challenge, consistent and effective discipline a german shepherd puppy can help them settle down quickly. Start From a Positive Place To Discipline A German Shepherd Puppy The first thing to keep in mind when you bring home a new puppy of any breed is that your puppy is learning a brand new set of rules. The things they did with their litter mates and their mother may not be okay in this new household. In addition, the world is suddenly a very lonely and scary place for a puppy who used to always be protected by his or her mother and siblings. This is especially true for German Shepherds. It takes a little while for a puppy to form that bond with a new owner. Sometimes puppies also simply are not developed enough to control themselves. Much like human children, too-tired puppies are prone to getting wild and misbehaving. They also experience teething pain, which may make them chew on many different surfaces in an attempt to soothe it. Timing is Critical Another thing to remember about puppies is that they have very short attention spans. Whatever discipline you choose must be given immediately for it to be effective. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that any praise or punishment is given within three seconds of the puppy performing the behavior. Instead, look at ways you can prevent it from happening, such as planning for more frequent bathroom breaks or restricting your puppy to a smaller area. Keep It Consistent Consistency is key in training and disciplining any puppy. If you allow a certain behavior sometimes but ignore it or reward it at other times, your puppy will end up confused and frustrated. If you live with other people, make sure everyone is on the same page with your training methods and rules. Utilize Time-Outs One of the best tools for disciplining a puppy is simply taking away the thing that is exciting them. Turning your back on a jumping puppy can have a similar effect. If the puppy is persistent, a small break in a safe spot can also help them calm down and settle enough to behave. A gated-off laundry room or a bathroom can be good choices for this. Just be calm and matter-of-fact about it. You want to make everything as boring as possible so that the puppy learns that being rude means that the fun ends for a little while. Instead of scolding your puppy, simply redirecting to a more appropriate toy is usually the best option. Trade a fun chew toy for the shoe, then put the shoes away somewhere else. One of the big benefits of this approach is that it also lays the foundation for teaching your dog to willingly drop things on command, which is particularly important in German Shepherds since they tend to be a fairly possessive breed. Redirection can also be used for other behaviors. If your puppy tends to jump on people when greeting them, try teaching him to sit or lay down instead. You can even have a little fun with it and teach him to shake hands on cue. Make sure your puppy always has plenty of appropriate toys around, since puppies need to chew. Try to keep a good variety of textures and materials, and offer occasional treats like bully sticks or antlers. Talk to your vet about the best chews for your puppy. Many puppies also thrive when kept on a regular schedule, including frequent nap time. Young German Shepherds may sleep up to 18 hours a day, so make sure your pup has plenty of rest. Over-tired puppies often have trouble settling down and may bite more than usual. German Shepherds are also very clever, high-energy dogs, so your puppy needs plenty of stimulation. Young puppies cannot go for long runs or do other serious physical exercises since it can damage their growing bones and joints, but they still need to be kept occupied. Training, play dates with other puppies, and games such as nose work are all great choices for tiring out your German Shepherd puppy without overdoing things. Although raising a smart, energetic German Shepherd puppy is never exactly easy, it can be very rewarding. Sticking to positive, reward-based methods and working with your puppy can help ensure you form a strong bond and raise a happy, well-adjusted dog. 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. Knowing what to do to help your dog with misbehavior is half the battle. Are you making any of these disciplining mistakes? Do not use negative reinforcement Negative reinforcement is causing discomfort or worse, pain, to your dog to get them to perform a behavior. Other common negative reinforcers include a choke chain and prong collar. Negative reinforcement is about turning off something negative, or uncomfortable, at the least, and painful at the worst. But take note… Negative reinforcement has been scientifically shown to lead to an increased risk of aggression of 2. Instead, use lure and reward GSD puppy training Do not use physical correction Just as when using negative reinforcement, physical corrections cause your dog anxiety and fear and lead to aggression. When you got your dog you wanted him for life as your best friend and companion. If you find yourself about to engage in physical force for punishment with your German Shepherd, step away from your dog immediately. Ask someone for help. Call a friend or family member and tell them you need help with your dog. Even withholding food, water, or shelter is cruel and must be avoided. And demeaning them by calling them names and speaking to them in a critical tone can cause fear and aggression in German Shepherds. Not to mention, your continued shouting could stress your dog to the point they shut down and withdraw from you. They will no longer be the sweet, lively dog you dreamed about. Instead, learn how to use your voice to communicate effectively with your German Shepherd. Keep your voice calm, clear, and confident. Unfortunately, this type of training only makes his house training take longer since he begins to fear going potty anywhere. So, instead, he begins to sneak off and hide to potty indoors to avoid punishment. Preferably, always have your puppy tethered to you when potty training, never letting them out of your sight. When not tethered to you, place them in a puppy-proof area to prevent potty accidents. Reward your German Shepherd when they potty outdoors in the area you want with praise and treats. Learn more about how to quickly potty train a German Shepherd to start off on the right steps to house training. Or, what about when your tiny puppy sinks his little teeth into your hand in play and you laugh out loud? Why does your German Shepherd misbehave? Take a look. There are a few common factors in dogs that cause them to misbehave. Even if you think your dog is trained and should know better, these are the top reasons they might have bad behaviors. Separation anxiety If you spend a lot of time with your puppy, then begin to leave him alone for long hours he may start to misbehave. This is especially true if you are busy and tend to leave him in a crate for far too many hours. This could mean chewing inappropriate things, digging, or even excessive barking and howling. Under exercised An under-exercised dog is not getting his basic needs met. German Shepherds must have at least 2 hours of physical exercise per day. See — Fun Jobs for German Shepherds at Home for more ideas Before you leave the house give your dog a long walk with plenty of time to sniff. Inconsistent Discipline Another leading cause of needing to discipline a German Shepherd is a lack of consistent training and discipline techniques. Do you make sure your puppy always has 4 paws on the floor to greet guests? While many owners remember to obedience train their dog they overlook the importance of mentally stimulating games to reduce boredom. Decreasing boredom is shown to give your dog a more enjoyable day, which lessens their desire to participate in unwanted behaviors, such as chewing and digging. Start with a few minutes a day using mind games to help keep their mental health in check. Need more help disciplining your German Shepherd the right way? Do you wish there was a German Shepherd monthly guidebook? There is! Disciplining your German Shepherd puppy is most effective when you focus on teaching your German Shepherd what to do, rather than punishing him for unwanted behaviors. The wrong type of punishment can cause irreparable harm to your companion, but discipline when used properly actually reinforces positive behavior. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. So, how do you discipline your German Shepherd without punishment? Find the answer to that in the next section. Give your GSD something interesting instead, such as a toy. Use positive reinforcement training. Ignore demanding behavior, such as barking, pawing, or jumping. Use short effective timeouts. As already indicated, the most efficient way of disciplining your German Shepherd is through positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement implies adding some reward to increase the frequency of response. How positive reinforcement happens In positive reinforcement, rewards include: A treat: Should be healthy and given in moderation to avoid health issues. It could be a single kibble from their food or a tiny piece of meat, or you can try healthy fruits or vegetables. Expression of physical attention: A hug, a gentle pat, or a caress on the head or behind the ears. You can find out more about petting a German Shepherd here. Negative reinforcement means taking something away or removing a reward to increase the frequency of the response. A typical example of negative reinforcement is when getting your dog to sit, you gently push his bottom down towards the floor, easing him into the sit position. Once the sit is accomplished, you reward him by releasing the pressure. By repeatedly doing this, the behavior is reinforced. Instead, it means reinforcing good behavior and deterring unbecoming conduct. In other words, you should not punish your German Shepherd when disciplining him. That means you love your dog and want the best for him. Consequently, you do not wish to hurt your dog, and you want your German Shepherd to trust you. If all that is true, it is easy to indicate that you should never apply physical punishment to your pet. Whether that means spanking, kicking, leaving him without food, caging or tying him for days, or other forms of punishment that could bring the dog some form of physical harm. Do you want to learn how to show dominance over your German Shepherd the right way? These forms of punishment do not achieve any good results. First, dogs do not have the reasoning capacity to associate punishment with their action and are, thus, unlikely to change. Instead, they will develop fear and aggression towards you, which could strain the relationship with your GSD. Second, from an animal rights perspective, physical punishment is a form of pet abuse that could make you count among the thousands of people who are perpetrators of animal cruelty in the US, inflicting physical pain. That also means that they can tell the difference in your voice pitch, and they know shouting indicates anger and displeasure. Yelling can cause fear and aggression in German Shepherds, which could make them turn against you with a bite, or they could just run away. With time, dogs may also adopt a form of indifference to your shouting and learn to ignore your yelling. From a well-being approach, continuous shouting as a form of punishment can cause poor quality of life for your German Shepherd. This study found that dogs trained with aversive methods shouting is an aversive method had poorer welfare than those trained with reward-based techniques positive reinforcement. Rather than shout, therefore, you will be more efficient if you use a calm voice and make clear and confident commands. Your dog might change position next time, and that is because your punishment did not teach him that doing it in the house is bad. Dogs like their space clean, especially from their dirt. Instead, if your German Shepherd puppy soils your carpet, clean the mess with a detergent that removes the stain and odor, and then redirect your dog outside. Also, reward him when he relieves himself during a walk and withdraw the reward when the same is done in the house. This will teach your German Shepherd to associate doing his thing outside with a good treat and avoid that which takes it away. Letting it go once creates the expectation that you can let it go another time. Instead, insist on chew toys for play or dog teething toys if your pup is still at the teething stage. Most pet stores have you spoilt for choice when it comes to chewing and teething toys. As a dog owner with lots of love for your German Shepherd, you might be remorseful that you denied your pet a treat for not following your command and decided to give him three in compensation. If, as a dog owner, you realize that you cannot be firm with disciplining your German Shepherd, seek the help of a professional trainer immediately. And even though they learn what they should do through training, they might sometimes make mistakes and need understanding from the loving owner they look up to. Final Thoughts Disciplining your German Shepherd is an essential aspect of training. But it is important to differentiate discipline from punishment. While punishing may cause harm to your dog, disciplining is intended to reinforce positive behavior. Rewarding good behavior through positive reinforcement and rekindling it when your dog faults through negative reinforcement are the two most effective ways of using discipline to train your German Shepherd in good behavior. There are several reasons why your German Shepherd may be involved in unbecoming behavior. Some of them are loneliness, lack of exercise, or poor training as a puppy. If you have to discipline your GSD, avoid rewarding negative behavior, shouting, and physical punishment. Related Posts You May Like:. By replacing the shoe with a toy he will understand that they are not meant for chewing but toys are. Get the Right Timing You should not discipline your puppy three minutes after the act. If you discipline your dog long after any act, he will not understand the reason as to why you disciplined him. This is because dogs have a two-minute memory, they will not remember anything that happened fifteen minutes ago. When you give him a treat for pooping in the potty area, he will be associating the potty area with good memories and he will do it again expecting a treat. Ignore A German shepherd can be jumping on you as a way of greeting or trying to get your attention. You should show him that he will not get your attention by jumping on you. If you give him any attention either positive or negative, he will be encouraged to do it again. The same case applies to an excessively barking puppy, he should not get any attention even if he barks for long. Wait for him to keep quiet even if it is for seconds and give him a treat, this will make him relate keeping quiet with a reward. Use Positive By using positive reinforcement you reward your puppy with treats and praises when he does anything right, this will motivate him to repeat it. For example, if you command your puppy to come and he obeys, give him a treat. Positive reinforcement involves; Giving treats like liver, carrots, and packed treats. Expression of physical attention like a pat on the head or a hug. Chew toys. Any form of punishment like smacking, spanking, or leaving him a whole day without food is not a good disciplining method. Your puppy will not comprehend that all that punishment is meant to discipline him, he will in return become aggressive, fearful, and it will destroy the bond between you and him. Physical punishment is against US law and can lead you to trouble. Seek a behaviorist intervention if you cannot handle your puppy. No Yelling Dogs can hear even the faintest sound so you do not have to shout at them. They are also bright enough to tell apart between a low and a high-pitched voice. If you yell at him, he will be aggressive or get used to the yelling and will not obey you anymore. This is misleading and inhuman because by doing so, you have not trained him where to do his business, the next time he might do it in a different place. This act can make your dog stressed and anxious. It can also install fear and make him eat poop to hide the evidence before you see it, this will lead to health complications. The best thing to do is clean the spoiled floor or carpet with a strong detergent but not bleach or ammonia. Do not Encourage a Bad a Behavior As a parent of a German shepherd puppy, you might encourage bad behavior like nipping, biting, and jumping on you as it can be fun when he is young. When the puppy matures, it will be hard to control his biting which will be strong and painful or jumping on you with his strong paws which can hurt. Have Realistic Expectations. You will end up training your puppy for months without the exact results from YouTube making you frustrated. Conclusion When disciplining your German shepherd puppy, use the most humane method possible. Using force will not give you the desired results but a stubborn and aggressive dog. Make sure your puppy has fully understood their mistake with the least time possible or else he will repeat the same mistake. Carol is a paw parent, and her love for dogs started when she was just 5. She adores her two German Shepherds and a Bengal cat, who she says, "life would be incomplete without" Recent Posts. Rubbing face in dog pee or poop. The goal of negative or punishment-based discipline is to associate bad behavior with bad things. As Science Alert reports, according to a survey of expert canine trainers, the German Shepherd is ranked third out of 79 purebred dog breeds in terms of overall intelligence and trainability! This means your German Shepherd puppy is very, very intelligent. It also means your puppy is very trainable. Of course, just like there are different types of people intelligence, there are different types of dog intelligence. So your German Shepherd puppy is technically able to learn a new desirable behavior or unlearn an undesirable behavior in as little as five tries and remember what they have learned with 95 percent accuracy. These dogs are just smart, smart, smart! They are highly tuned into their people and eager to please. But this also means that your training method of choice will have a lasting impact on your dog right away. So you want to choose wisely. When a dog is particularly emotionally sensitive, as most people-centric dog breeds are — any kind of punishment or negativity will have a deep and lasting impact on them. You can see this in people as well. While some people just seem to let life roll off their back, more easily letting go of old hurts and mistakes, other people hold onto these memories and can even become traumatized by shame, embarrassment, or hurt. Your German Shepherd is sensitive like this as well. These dogs want to please and have been carefully bred to have a strong desire to please people. So any kind of negativity, whether in words or actions, is likely to leave a lasting impact. This is also why the only training method you want to use for disciplining a German Shepherd puppy is going to be positive reinforcement training. German Shepherds are very strong and powerful dogs. They are used extensively in military and police work, K-9 search and rescue and bomb-sniffing, the Secrete Service and private protection and guard dog work, and similar occupations. German Shepherds that are not trained with positive methods can sometimes become aggressive. This is especially the case if there is no underlying positive bond with a person. A German Shepherd that is subjected to harsh corrections can turn into a dangerous dog. And there is truly no need to use harsh punishments when you have a dog that is so smart and can easily learn the same desirable behaviors using positive reinforcement. How exactly can you use positive training methods to discipline a German Shepherd puppy? The answer to this question starts with establishing reasonable expectations for any puppy, no matter how smart and attuned to you. You want those first six months to be good ones! However, puppies will be puppies even if they are exceptionally smart, very bonded to you, and highly motivated to please you. Overall, there are always two goals when it comes to disciplining and training a German Shepherd puppy: 1. You are pleased with this response and show it with praise, pats, and even a small tasty treat. Your German Shepherd puppy learns that prompt obedience results in good things — praise, pats, and treats. This teaches your German Shepherd puppy that quiet behavior brings the food out more quickly. Because German Shepherds are bred for a specific type of work, these dogs have some innate tendencies that can be especially misunderstood in puppyhood. As the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Sacramento Valley charity explains, German Shepherds were bred to herd and track and guard and work alongside people. These dogs are high energy naturally. They are social and people-focused naturally. They are workers naturally. Combine this with the onset of puppyhood teething, when the puppy teeth are calling out and the adult teeth are growing in, and you now have an energetic, you-centric dog that is uncomfortable and irritable. At the same time, your German Shepherd puppy has a bladder and bowel system that is still developing and so you are trying to potty train your dog to go to the bathroom outside and only outside and in a specific place on cue. But your puppy may have accidents even when they do their best not to, because sometimes their incompletely developed bladder and brain may fail to understand if they need to go right away. So your German Shepherd puppy may have some initial anxiety, especially since they are also adjusting to life without their mom and littermates at the same time. Here are specific tips to minimize frustration for both you and your puppy during training and discipline: Establish easy verbal cues for every need If this is your first time training a German Shepherd puppy , you may want to talk to a more experienced dog owner for guidance here. Make sure the commands you choose are short and percussive and sound sufficiently different from each other so your German Shepherd puppy will not be likely to get confused. Similarly, right when your German Shepherd puppy is doing the behavior you want is the right time to reinforce it. Instead, simply clean up the mess and apply a pet odor neutralizer and begin again. Discourage problem chewing, for example, by offering your pup an icy teething ring to ease the gum pain. With patience, persistence, positivity, and pure kindness, you and your German Shepherd will get through the difficult puppyhood phase and build a closer bond as you do. Watch Expert Trainers With a German Shepherd Dogs In this amazing short video , you can see the results of using a positive dog training program with a smart and sensitive working dog breed like the German Shepherd dog. With the right type of consistent, positive training program, there is nothing a German Shepherd will not attempt for their people! Puppies German Shepherds can be the most well-mannered and obedient dogs. However, much of how they behave depends on how you train them and keep their manners in check. So how do you discipline a German Shepherd puppy? This article will dive into the best and most effective ways of disciplining a GSD puppy when needed. Best Ways to Discipline a German Shepherd Puppy Positive reinforcement training remains to be the best way to discipline any dog, especially a German Shepherd puppy. This method works not only for obedience but also for encouraging good behaviors. For GSDs, this is especially effective because their high level of intelligence enables them to quickly associate rewards with their actions. While some believe that the best training methods involve punishing bad behaviors, research suggests that reward-based training methods are actually the most effective. Additionally, behavioral issues can be addressed through redirection and behavior-specific training. Here are the most critical parts of fostering good manners in a young German Shepherd: Positive Reinforcement Training Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding your dog for good behaviors. This increases the likelihood of them performing the right behavior and can also discourage unwanted behaviors. Instead, they will greet you by sitting in front of you because that gets them the reward they want. On the surface, positive reinforcement training might seem simple enough. However, here are some things you need to get right for effective training: Step 1: Find The Right Reward First, you need to find the right reward. Different dogs have different motivations. Some are driven by food while others are mostly motivated by toys and play. Others find that the best reward is cheerful praise and a good ear scratch. Learning what motivates your dog will help you raise them more successfully. Dogs basically live in the moment, so you need to reward in the moment as well. When rewarding, catch them in the act of doing the right behavior. Step 3: Consistency Third, you need to be consistent. Redirection In most cases, the most difficult part of training dogs is to reverse unwanted behaviors. So, the most effective thing to do is to redirect them to more appropriate behaviors. For example, if your German Shepherd likes to dig holes in your backyard, you can redirect that behavior to something more desirable, like playing with a ball. As soon as you let them out into your yard, toss a ball and encourage them to play. This diverts their energy into something more positive. If you do this consistently, they will associate the yard with playtime rather than digging time. Excessive barking , for example, is very difficult to divert. In the barking example, it helps to teach your dog to bark on command. Make sure you reward them as soon as they stop barking. Practice this until you can make them speak and keep quiet on command. Additionally, certain types of punishment can instill fear in your pup. Not only would that severely hinder their ability to develop a good relationship with you, that might also lead to some fear-based aggression down the road. This might also lead to fear-based aggression where they will growl , lunge, or bite to defend themselves. In fact, most will still experience some frustration. No dog is inherently well-mannered all the time. Here are some things you can do to improve your success while also strengthening your relationship with your canine companion: Start early. Be consistent. Establish verbal cues. Use playtime as an opportunity to reinforce positive behaviors. Tire them out. Excess energy can often be the root cause of bad behaviors. Hone their abilities. GSDs are working dogs. If you give them opportunities to sharpen their mental abilities and also hone their other skills e.

It also signifies that this particular dog was born in Germany. Although the breed began in the early 20th century, it is still used for guide, search, and rescue dogs and for police and military work. It is one of the most popular dog breeds throughout the world. Although your instinct may be to coddle and spoil your canine companion, you must set boundaries and teach them acceptable behaviors. This philosophy is true no matter the dog's size but is even more critical for large breeds. Fortunately, there are facilities that offer dog boarding and training in Miami, FL, that can help mold your canine friend into the perfect companion. A Learning Experience An experienced trainer understands dog behavior and will use proven techniques to teach you and your best friend the skills required to live in harmony. Some people prefer to work collaboratively with their dog and a trainer to learn the commands. Other people would rather take their canine companions to a dog boarding facility for more in-depth schooling. No matter your preferred method, the result is a dog that is a pleasure to live with and who you can take just about anywhere that allows dogs. Talk to a Trainer Talk to a dog boarding and training facility today to discuss the results you'd like to see. No matter your dog's age or breed, they can all be trained to integrate seamlessly into your family. A trainer helps develop their minds, hones their abilities, and focuses their energy on the desired behaviors. Only someone skilled in German shepherd dog training offers Miami, FL, owners the best chance at building on the innate drive of the breed. A History of Intelligence German shepherd dogs have long been considered one of the premier working dogs in the world. The breed was developed in the late s, and its primary purpose was to herd and protect flocks of sheep. Over time, their versatility, intelligence, and natural guarding instincts made them desirable as protection and security dogs. Police and military organizations worldwide choose the German shepherd over many other breeds. They excel at competitive sports like Schutzhund, obedience, herding, and, of course, as family pets. Although they are wonderful as canine companions, consistent training for German shepherd dogs is vital to ensure they grow up as a great addition to a family. Read on to learn more about the history of German Shepherds as working dogs. Sheep Herding As you might guess from their name, German Shepherds were originally bred in Germany to herd and guard flocks of sheep. Their strength, agility, and intelligence make them highly suitable for keeping sheep in order and guiding them. Police, Military, and Search-and-Rescue Use While they are named for herding, most people associate German Shepherd with the police and military. Their sharp sense of smell and trainability makes them perfect for tracking criminals, sniffing out drugs, finding people trapped under debris, and much more. Disability Assistance Our champion-breed German Shepherd puppies also have ties to disability assistance, such as working as guide dogs for the visually impaired. When formal guide dog training first began in the s, German Shepherds were one of the most popular breeds. Today, Labradors and Golden Retrievers more commonly serve in disability assistance roles, but many German Shepherd service dogs are still around, helping blind people, deaf people, people who need mobility assistance, and much more. There will be total of 5 holes and distance between each 2 holes is 1 inch 25 mm. For example: your dogs neck size is 20 inches 50 cm. Collar will fit on central hole at 20 inches 50 cm. There will be 2 smaller size holes - 18 inch 45 cm and 19 inch .There will be 2 bigger size holes - 21 inch .There will also be tip of the collar after last hole about 2 inch long 5 cm. For 2 ply collars there will be tip of the collar after last hole about 4 inch long 10 cm. Padded leather collars are 1 inch bigger to make sure that it will fit your dog. Those are handcrafted collars and some sizes will differ a little not in significant way. The Collar is made of specially selected leather, it is secured with quality strong rustproof hardware for you not to worry about your dog's safety. Soft leather material has smooth edges, that means the Collar won't rub into your dog's skin, and your German Shepherd will feel no discomfort during walking or training. The distinctive feature of this Dog Collar is its bright pink color. Be sure the paint is non-toxic; also it is waterproof and doesn't fade. All the oval plates are made of brass, due to this material they are rust resistant and will keep their gold-like color for many years. Your beloved four-legged friend will look like a true icon of style wearing this Glamour Dog Collar! Use special water repellents and leather conditioners to prolong service time of this Collar. If proper used it will keep its shape for a long period of time. There will be 5 holes and the distance between them will be 1 inch 25 mm. For example: your dog's neck size is 20 inches 50 cm. Collar will fit on central hole at 20 inches 50 cm. There will be 2 smaller size holes - 18 inches 45 cm and 19 inches .The tip of the collar after last hole will be about 2 inches long 5 cm. Those are handcrafted collars and some sizes will differ a little but not significantly. Some people think that bright colored leather is usually toxic and harmful for a dog's health. But this Pink Leather Dog Collar is painted with natural paints that don't contain dangerous components. Moreover, the genuine leather is colored only on its surface, it means that inside it has its natural color. The decorative circles have an unbelievable look on such a bright collar strap. The blue stones add one more bright accent to this model. The circles are set to the leather with rivets. The decoration and the other hardware are produced of durable steel that is protected from rust with special nickel plating. The buckle allows to adjust this collar comfortable on a dog's neck, the D-ring helps to attach a leash, the handset rivets provide additional strength of this supply. Such extravagant collar suits dogs of stylish owners. They are perfect for daily walks and basic types of training. And for holidays or special moments this is an ideal choice! February 25, Home » Meet Pink! Pink is available. Update: Pink moved to Florida with her new, loving family about 24hrs after this post went up. We had Pinky set aside for someone quite a while ago Pink has been her collar color since birth. Then, someone in their family became ill. Would they be able to get Pink or not? Last week it became apparent that they would not be able to take Pink home. We quietly kept her here for a few days, wondering if we should keep her or not. This is our last litter. And, she is really, really, really cute. And, well, the list goes on. So, Pink is available. She gets back from them and passes out. She is all over the house! This should click in her head any moment now. She learned sit, lie down, and shake all in about 10 minutes- via hand gestures, when there is a treat present. Pink is also fully crate trained now, too- she whimpers for around 30 seconds when we close it up at night, and she sleeps quietly all night long hrs. On to the puppy pictures: Ear-resistable Pink getting some extra 1 on 1 time with mom Pink sleeping on the couch. Yep, she is spoiled. Our dogs use the couches around here. Well this is a bit blurry, but it is Pink meeting another dog for the first time. This is a 12 week old Pit Bull. She was so much bigger, I thought he was 6 weeks old or something. They touched noses and sniffed and sniffed. February 24, , NC got snow! She followed me all over the yard for 20 minutes: Categories.

Bone's Retrievers LLC. Steven Catrombone. All rights reserved. We also have a toddler who is an active little helper. I'm pretty sure his first word was "doggies". We fell in love with golden retrievers as soon as we found our beloved Dam Kola here in FL, and have been expanding our fur babies ever since! We've just recently made our hobby into a full time business so we can share these beautiful pets for generations to come! My goldens are OFA tested for hips, elbows, heart, and eyes prior to breeding. We want to make sure your baby has the best chance of avoiding any congenital diseases! Because this is a family business, every puppy is handled, monitored, played with, and loved since birth. We feed all our babies top quality food and vitamins, and make sure everyone has a clean healthy environment to thrive. We are known for our service dog candidates, and have tons of working dogs in the field now! Puppies are sheltered indoors, that's right, NO barns or outdoor kennels. Our puppies are pampered from the very start! Puppies love play time, and so do we! We have over an acre of land and a big pool for ALL our golden retrievers to enjoy, and you will often catch us out in the Wesley Chapel area with one of our big hunks! Donate Thank you for stopping by to see the dogs ready for adoption. There are typically between 35 and 45 dogs in our program at any given time — some will stay with us longer than others as they overcome their medical or behavioral challenges. Dogs Available for Foster-to-Adopt Curly Simon Curly is a retired breeder female looking to start her new, better life! She loves her humans and stays glued by your side, looking for chin scratches and snuggles. Meet Me Oprah Runfree Oprah is a young girl who is a bit shy and nervous about anything new! She is good with playful, non-reactive dogs, as long as the introductions are done slowly. He loves to spend his days roaming your backyard and watching critters go by! He is super sweet with humans, but needs to be an only dog and he is not good with cats. We are in great need of more foster homes for all the dogs coming into our program! There are many more dogs in need of foster homes than what is shown on this page. Fostering is a great way to find the perfect dog for your household. Foster volunteers get to select which dogs they are willing or able to foster, and then they get first choice as to whether to adopt once the dog is ready for adoption. Do you hand make unique gift items? Do you frequent a local dog loving spot? Maybe you have a beach or mountain house? If any of these apply to you, we need your help! We are seeking in-kind donations to make our upcoming events a huge success. Please click the button below share your information and a volunteer will contact you. In-Kind Donation Form International Rescue Want to learn more about our international efforts and how you can help golden retrievers in need? Click the button below. Here you can interact with our available dogs, complete foster training, and learn how you can become involved with supporting NRGRR. See the calendar below for details. Please click on the event to see the list of dogs attending. Event Calendar Make a donation. Our volunteers give their time, their homes and their hearts to every dog who comes to us for help. Unfortunately, warm homes and loving hearts alone do not pay for the medical care and supplies our dogs need. Sadly, the number of golden retrievers who have entered our program, and the costs related to their medical care, have dramatically increased over the past several years. When you make a tax-deductible gift to the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, you can be assured that your donation is directly supporting golden retrievers rescued through our program, and allowing us to continue to provide help to others in the years to come. Thank you for your support. Box , Raleigh, NC Phone: .History Where are Golden Retrievers from? One of the best documented and most fortuitous efforts to produce a breed resulted in the Golden Retriever. The man responsible for the breed was Lord Tweedmouth, who lived just north of the Scottish border along the Tweed River. How big do Golden Retrievers get? Goldens can reach a weight of 55 — 75 lbs, and a height between .A Golden Retriever has a dense, straight or wavy outer water-repellent coat, which sheds heavily twice annually and lightly throughout the year. Groom a Golden Retriever weekly to maintain the double coat and control shedding. What are the Golden Retriever colors? The breed was first considered to be a yellow variety of Flat-Coated Retrievers but was recognized as a separate breed, the Yellow or Golden Retriever, in .What makes the Golden Retriever dog so popular? The breed was valued for the hunting abilities so ably produced by the careful blending of foundation stock, and only later became popular as a pet. How long do Golden Retrievers live? Golden Retrievers have a lifespan of 10—13 years. What are some Golden Retriever facts and information? Facts Golden Retrievers are best known to: Push through heavy vegetation. Some exceptions may be made in special situations. While some of our dogs come from loving homes, all have been unexpectedly uprooted. Many come with training, confidence-building, or care needs that should be supported with positive reinforcement, patience, and ample time to bring out the best in your new companion. We generally require that you have a fenced yard exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. We ask that you are realistic about the right dog for your lifestyle and that you trust in our experience in making these matches. Click here for additional information. Dog Ratings The Level 1 dog is an easy dog with typically low energy level and has no behavioral issues. This level of dog would do well in virtually any home regardless of owner experience. Level 2 has energy that can range from low to high. This level may have other minor issues that are easy to address. Level 3 dogs typically have a challenging behavior, but are good dogs. These dogs might have an intense focus to work, be dog reactive or dog aggressive, may have to be an only animal in the home, or may require daily physical and mental stimulation, etc. This level of dog is not an average pet.