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Make sure you understand the implications of investing in a Lab that was bred via runt breeding or a Lab that is diagnosed with dwarfism. Avoid getting your Lab through breeders who have purposefully bred dwarfism into their Lab puppies or through breeders who have purposefully bred litters to be smaller than average. Try and ensure that your Mini Labrador maintains a quality diet and eats a dog food specified for his age, weight and activity level. Keep up with routine grooming practices, and ensure your dog sees a vet regularly for wellness exams and check ups. In spite of not being the healthiest dogs, Mini Labradors are just as friendly, affectionate and playful as their full-sized counterparts. Mini Labrador dogs are still Labradors, and as such they are some of the most highly sought after dogs in the world. These dogs are renowned for their family-friendly temperament and companionability when it comes to children. They also get along great with other pets including both dogs and cats. Labradors are very high energy , however, which can be exhausting for the more laid back owner. That said, in the right home and with an active family , Labrador dogs can thrive. They are incredibly intelligent as well, meaning training is a breeze. In fact, Labrador Retrievers are some of the top employed service dogs throughout the world, thanks to their keen sense of emotional intelligence and ability to pick up so quickly on what their people need of them. However, Labs can become very bonded with their family and do get bored easily when left alone for too long. This boredom can lead to destructive behaviors like digging, marking, barking and chewing. Mini Labrador Training and Socialization Requirements Like all dogs, the Mini Labrador should be trained and socialized at an early age to prevent behavioral issues. Like all dogs, Labrador Retrievers require plenty of socialization and training at an early age in order to grow up happy, healthy and well-rounded. Even though Labrador Retrievers are highly social and friendly, they can be prone to behavioral issues and even aggressive tendencies if they are not raised and socialized properly. Because they are so intelligent, Labrador Retrievers love to learn. They are also eager to please and highly food motivated. Instead, use positive reinforcement tactics like treats and praise. If you find your Mini Labrador is becoming distracted or bored during training sessions, try and offer several five minute sessions throughout the day and provide him with plenty of breaks and playtime in between. Tips on Socializing Your Mini Labrador Socializing your Mini Labrador is just as vital as training is to his overall health and happiness. A dog who is properly socialized is a confident, well-rounded dog that is less likely to exhibit aggressive tendencies and fear-based behavioral issues. Try and ensure your dog has positive first time experiences and as many new experiences as possible as he develops. Introduce him to different people, children, other dogs, sights, sounds, and so on. Encourage your Mini Labrador gently using treats and praise to help him associate the world around him with something positive. Most importantly, avoid forcing your Mini Labrador into a situation or experience he is clearly frightened of. Doing so could exasperate his fear and lead to future problems down the road. Labrador Retrievers are naturally energetic dogs. Bred water retrieving dogs, these guys love to be with their people and will enjoy being outside and having a job to do. A Mini Labrador will be no different, and will enjoy a variety of exercise routines including both mental and physical exercises designed to keep him healthy and happy. Mental Exercise Labs are considered some of the smartest dogs in the canine kingdom. As such, they are happiest when they have jobs to do or when they are given plenty of appropriate, dog-safe activities to keep them busy. We recommend investing in interactive puzzle toys and slow feeders to keep your Mini Lab engaged and challenged. You can also take time to set up fun little obstacle courses in and outside of your home with furniture or appliances and encourage your dog to complete these courses for treats. Not only will this help keep your dog mentally and physically sound, it will help build the bond between the two of you. Remember, Dwarf Labradors can suffer from a higher rate of bone and joint issues, spinal issues and chronic pain. They may also suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome due to their abnormal skull development. This can lead to respiratory issues, heat intolerance and exercise induced collapse. When dealing with a Dwarf Labrador or Mini Labrador, be sure not to over-exercise your dog and to monitor him in warmer weather. The appropriate exercise for a Mini Labrador will include about 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day as well as free playtime in a securely fenced backyard. Mini Labrador dogs are also highly social and get along with other canines, so dog parks are another great way for your Mini Labrador to have his exercise needs met. This is especially beneficial for dogs who might suffer from breathing difficulties. The harness is ideal for medium sized dogs like Mini Labradors and will help you guide your Lab on walks easily and naturally. The material is comfortable for your Lab as well, and even includes reflective materials for safer evening walks. Still, they require routine grooming and upkeep to ensure they stay healthy. The Mini Labrador is a shedding dog, so he may not be the ideal companion for those who suffer from allergies. This is a breed who has a dense, double-coat that is weather resistant and self cleaning. The good news is that he only needs to be bathed once every six weeks or so with a quality dog shampoo and conditioner. Over-bathing your Mini Labrador can lead to skin and coat issues. Your Mini Labrador will not need hair cuts or trims, though he will need routine brushing. While he sheds year-round, the Mini Labrador sheds heaviest twice a year during the shedding season in Spring and Fall. During the shedding season, you may want to brush your lab a few times a week to collect and reduce loose hair from his undercoat and keep it from your clothing and furniture. Outside of shedding season, you can get by brushing your Mini Lab once a week. Along with bathing and brushing, the Mini Labrador should have his ears checked regularly to prevent chances of moisture and build up leading to an ear infection. His teeth should be brushed daily using a safe toothbrush and dog-friendly toothpaste , and his nails should be trimmed or ground down regularly. Gonicc Dog Nail Clippers. Coat: Are Mini Labs hypoallergenic? If you are after a hypoallergenic dog, you will have much better luck with Labradoodles , which are Labs crossed with Poodles. Unfortunately, the Mini Lab has the same tendency to shed as a standard Lab. Their thick double coats are waterproof on the top layer, soft and fluffy on the inner layer. Thanks to their double coats, they can withstand heat and cold much better than their owners can. That being said, every dog is different and their preferences should be taken into consideration. A house dog would not like being left out in the cold, whereas a dog used to winter would find your home too stuffy with the heating on. Do Miniature Labradors make better house pets? Purebred Labradors are known to be awesome family pets. They get along great with kids and are as loving as they are active. Your Teacup Lab Retriever will be no different. However, due to issues with their health, your Mini Labrador Retriever dog might be more time-consuming to take care of. According to Google, there are plenty of runts that live to lead healthy lives but they often have lower survivability in their puppyhood. On the other hand, Labradors born with dwarfism will need a lifetime of specialized care and attention. Exercising your Miniature Labrador Retriever Mini Labradors have the same energy levels as their standard counterparts. The only difference is that they are even more susceptible to joint disorders such as hip dysplasia. You also want to provide them with enough stimulation, lest they get bored and become destructive. How often should Mini Labs be groomed? Too much shampooing can also cause their coats to dry out, which will either cause itchiness or an increase in oil production. Neither of which will do your dog any favors. Check their eyes and ears frequently to ensure that there are no abnormalities. Nails need to be clipped every few weeks or when you can hear them clacking on the floor. As you can see, they are quite low maintenance and only require a brush every now and then. Any ole slicker brush you get off Amazon will do, although some pet parents like to use a furminator to get their annual shedding under control. How do you feed a Toy Labrador? They will need the same nutrients as a large-breed dog. Miniature Labrador Health Issues Depending on what caused your Labrador to be smaller than the breed standard, you might need to be prepared for a shorter than average lifespan. Dogs with dwarfism might only live 5 years, whereas the breed average is 10 — .They also suffer from certain physical disabilities such as short legs, bowed knees, swollen joints, turned-out feet, and a low slung back. Dwarf Labs also have proportionally large heads. There are two main kinds of dwarfism, SD1, and SD2. The SD1 gene is called osteochondrodysplasia and will manifest as malformed legs. These dogs will most likely develop dysplasia and cause pain and lameness, something that the Labrador breed is already susceptible to. The SD2 is the more common form of dwarfism and it causes skeletal dysplasia and inhibits their bones from fully developing. This means that while their legs will be shorter, they will not have any deformities. Another genetic mutation that might create a Miniature Labrador lies in their faulty pituitary gland. A malfunction that inhibits their growth hormones naturally stunts their growth and leaves them smaller than other Labs. All three mutations can increase the risk for retinal dysplasia which causes blindness. Smaller Labs bred with runts are often more sickly than regular-sized Labs. However, they can also be just as healthy. This popular breed of dog could also develop ear and eye problems, and hypothyroidism. The other health issues that Labbie owners should look out for are obesity and cancer. How Much is a Miniature Labrador Puppy? Most breeders do not advertise their stunted puppies as bigger Labradors are often more desirable. First of all, they should be breeding healthy Labradors who do not carry the gene for dwarfism. Just be aware of the risks involved as they are unregulated. With a background in animal science, dog training, and behavior consulting, her hands-on experience and extensive knowledge make her a trusted source for dog owners. When not writing or leading the K9 Web content team, Cess can be found volunteering at local shelters and participating in dog-related events. Leave a Comment. Do smaller Labs live longer? These are dwarf Labradors that have been bred to be smaller in size than the regular breed. They are three inches shorter than full-sized labs, making them the smallest labrador type. Despite their size, they possess characteristics of a standard Labrador — loyal, friendly, and intelligent. Their compact size makes them an attractive option for those living in apartments or smaller homes. Always be cautious when buying a miniature labrador. Some breeders crossbreed runts or introduce dwarfism, resulting in serious health issues. A reputable breeder maintains quality standards. Their double coat helps regulates their body temperature in cold water and harsh weather conditions. Regular brushing minimizes shedding and keeps the coat healthy. Labs shed excessively during seasonal changes, so be prepared for extra grooming. Owners worried about allergies may consider getting miniature labs because of their smaller size. However, even small dogs can produce allergens through skin flakes and saliva. If allergies are of particular concern, try Bichon Frise or Poodles. They are regular Labrador Retrievers selectively bred for a smaller size. Unscrupulous breeders market them as high-priced designer dogs to buyers. Purchase only from those who follow ethical breeding practices. Despite not being purebred, these miniature dogs exhibit many full-sized Labrador traits. They have a friendly disposition, are easily trainable, and love water. Variation in temperament among Mini Labs is seen due to mixed breeding. Some breeders selectively breed them with other small dogs to reduce their size. It results in limb malformation, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease. Genetic testing is an essential component for healthy offspring, per AKC. Enquire about it from the breeders. This method produces a smaller dog than the standard Labrador Retriever. Dwarfism Introduction Dwarfism is the final method of breeding mini labs. Dwarf labradors often suffer from health problems like skin and coat abnormalities. Dwarfism results in shorter lifespans. Breeding methods that intentionally create miniature versions of purebred dogs have faced criticism. These hybrid dogs look adorable and make excellent lapdogs. Appearance Of the labrador teacup Mini Labs come in various coat colors and textures with distinct physical features. Miniature Labradors have short or longhaired coats that are dense, thick, and water-resistant coats. Besides standard coat colors, some breeders offer rare colors like silver , charcoal , and champagne. Be cautious when searching for a specific color. They also feature droopy ears, almond-shaped eyes, and a sleek short or medium-length coat. Mini Labs are slightly smaller than regular Labs but retain their muscular physique. Regarding height and weight, they range from 11 to 16 inches and weigh between 25 to 60 pounds. Despite their small size, they possess great strength thanks to their stout legs and stocky body frame. These features make Miniature Labradors easy pets that adapt well to any environment. They are a few inches shorter and lighter than other Labs. Size Comparison A teacup labrador retriever is meant to be even smaller than a miniature labrador. Mini labs are already the smallest version of the standard labrador retriever. Hence, size is the most significant difference between a teacup and a mini labrador. Differences In Temperament of labrador with dwarfism Teacups and miniature Labs may be smaller but have the same gentle temperament as regular Labrador retrievers. They are loyal companions. They have a higher tendency towards anxiety and fear. It makes them a bit skittish around strangers. Proper training and early socialization develop well-rounded personalities. Limb Malformation Limb malformation is a serious concern for Teacups. Miniature versions of this breed are bred to be smaller, but irresponsible breeding practices cause genetic disorders. Always inquire about the genetic history of both parents before getting a Teacup home. The hip joint does not develop properly and becomes loose and unstable. This leads to arthritis and chronic pain later in life. Get your dog from those who screen their breeding dogs. Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise reduce the risk of developing hip problems. Medication or surgery can come into play. When the cushion-like discs between vertebrae in the spine deteriorate or rupture, it leads to nerve damage and pain. Symptoms include difficulty walking, dragging limbs or paralysis, and losing bladder or bowel control. It is common among smaller dog breeds like Teacups due to their long backs and short legs. Regular exercise and a healthy diet benefit the prevention of IVDD. Obesity Since they are smaller, many often assume they require less food and exercise than regular-sized Labs. But, Teacup Labs have a faster metabolism rate and require more energy-dense diets. Obesity in Teacup Labs leads to joint pain and arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. A well-balanced diet with high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats is needed. Daily walks or swimming help keep their muscles strong and agile. These smaller dogs are more prone to limb malformation. Besides, hip dysplasia is a common issue among all Labradors. Educate yourself on these issues before making a final decision. Ensure your pup gets regular check-ups from your veterinarian. Proper nutrition and interactive puzzle toys keep them stimulated. According to the AKC, female Labradors should be between .Teacups or miniature Labradors do not conform to these standards. Few dog breeders purposefully breed smaller Labs for those who live in apartments. Miniature Poodles , Cocker Spaniels , and Beagles are good alternatives. Miniature Poodles A small dog breed that is smart, easy to train, and hypoallergenic , Miniature Poodles are perfect. These adorable dogs usually weigh pounds and stand around inches tall. They are good for apartments or cities. They have a long history of being successful show dogs. One advantage of owning a Miniature Poodle over a Teacup Lab is their health. Poodles have fewer serious health problems. Miniature poodles have an average lifespan of years which is higher than most other small breeds or toy-sized mixes. Cocker Spaniels Cocker Spaniels are another excellent alternative for those who want a smaller dog breed. They weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, about half the size of a regular Labrador. They are ideal for apartment living or families who prefer dogs that can be easily carried around. Cocker Spaniels have long hair that requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling. Their coats come in many colors, including black, buff, red, and chocolate. They make great family pets , are loyal, and are gentle with children. Like all breeds, they are prone to ear infections and hip dysplasia. These small hound dogs are friendly, energetic, and great for families with kids. They weigh pounds and stand around inches at the shoulder. It makes them smaller than a full-sized Labrador. Their size makes it easier to manage in urban areas or small apartments. They often shed and need regular grooming. Beagles are prone to hip dysplasia and obesity. Is The pocket lab dog Right For You? Considerations Before Adopting Consider your lifestyle and whether you can accommodate the needs of a mini labrador breed. Labs require plenty of exercise and attention. Another consideration is the cost associated. Miniature Labs may come at a higher price due to their breeding methods and reputability. They require regular check-ups with vets, quality food, and toys to improve their cognitive functions. Labradors get along well with cats or other dogs. Introduce them slowly, so they accept each other faster. Always take these factors into account before speaking with labrador breeders. These dogs thrive in active households where they can get plenty of exercise and playtime. They are social animals who need regular interaction with their owners and other pets. Finding miniature labrador breeders is the first step. Search online for breeders specializing in miniature labradors or with experience breeding smaller-sized Labs. The initial cost of buying a dog is just the beginning. Caring for your Teacup Lab includes expenses like food , vet visits, and toys. Teacup labradors weigh fewer than 5 pounds as adults. They grow a maximum of 17 inches tall. The exact sizes vary based on the breeding approach. Breeders aim to create a dog the same size as a puppy throughout their life. Is there such a thing as a mini Labrador? A mini labrador does exist. Also known as dwarf labradors, they are produced from two labrador parents carrying genes for dwarfism. Dwarf labradors usually have bent legs. What is the smallest Labrador in the world? A miniature labrador is considered the smallest labrador retriever. They are about 19 to .In extreme cases, they can be as short as 17 inches. How long do mini Labradors live? Factors like genetics and environment significantly contribute to it. The same is true for a mini labrador. How big does a runt Lab get? As per AKC, male labrador retrievers can weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and get 22 to 25 inches tall. While females are 55 to 70 pounds and 21 to 24 inches tall. Why is my 6-month miniature small? Mini labradors are smaller than average but do not remain small to a miniature extent. Small lab puppies mean they are undernourished or are suffering from an illness. Generally, smaller dog lives longer than their larger counterparts. Besides, mongrels live about 1. With extensive research and personal experiences, Aritra has become a Labrador expert, offering a rich resource on the breed. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering a wealth of up-to-date information for Labrador owners and enthusiasts alike. March 7, Miniature breeds are the new trend in the dog world. Not only are they super-cute, but their smaller size makes them a choice for prospective owners who may not have room for their full-size counterparts. Miniaturizing any breed comes with health consequences, especially when it involves a large breed dog such as the Labrador. Do miniature labrador dogs exist, and if so, how small are they, and do they have any specific health issues? Do Miniature Labradors Exist? The answer is both Yes and No. However, miniature labradorsresult fromquestionable breeding practices that can create a host of problems for both the pups and their owners. So if these miniature labs do exist, what are they like? Overview of Miniature Labradors Besides being smaller in size, miniature labradors are the same as any normal labrador in all aspects. Mini labs are extremely devoted to their owners and love to please them in all sorts of ways. They love accompanying their owners in any activity they do, especially if it involves physical exercise. Due to their smaller size, miniature labrador dogs are lighter in weight than your average lab. Mini Labrador puppies tend to make excellent pets for families with lots of children and activity. Despite that, there is a bit of controversy surrounding the overall health of these dogs. Dwarfism Like humans, dwarfism is a condition that is known to exist in many breeds, including Labradors. It affects dogs just like it affects humans, causing a slowed growth of bones, which causes the dog to develop a shorter-than-normal stature. Dwarf labs are conceived by breeding two labradors that carry the genes responsible for dwarfism. When both dwarf parents contribute a copy of the dwarf genes, the litter is born with predisposed dwarfism. There are two types of genes responsible for dwarfism in labradors known as the SD1 and SD2 gene. SD2 Gene: Known as skeletal dysplasia. It hinders bone growth and prevents them from reaching full size, giving the lab a smaller appearance. Thus, the Labrador cannot grow as much as a typical lab, causing them to develop a smaller stature. Crossbreeding Another way most breeders create miniature labradors is by crossbreeding them with another small breed of dogs. And to sell them at a premium is unethical and can land the breeder in trouble. Another problem with hybrid miniature labs is that they might not always turn out to be perfectly healthy. Breeding Runts This one is perhaps the most popular technique for creating a miniature breed. With some breeds, this technique can be quite successful and can yield puppies that are significantly smaller in size than the average puppy of that same breed. However, there are some issues with this technique as well. Runt parents can produce standard-sized puppies. Because the small-size of these runts is usually due to some health condition, or worse dwarfism, the same genetic flaws would probably pass on to the litter they conceive. Also, some breeders inbreed these runts, which can lead to difficulties of their own. And even though they are predisposed to specific health issues, breeders have evolved labs so that these defects are slowly decreasing in pedigreed dogs. However, methods used to produce miniature labradors can re-introduce those defects back into the population of miniatures. So what are those health defects? And which mini labs have them? Defects In Miniature Labs The method of producing miniature labs, which leads to the highest amount of defects, is dwarfism. Both SD1 and SD2 genes can cause abnormal growth, which can worsen or create entirely new defects within a miniature lab. Some of the most prevalent defects associated with dwarfism in mini labs are: Bowed Legs and Knees: Labs with dwarfism appear shorter because their legs are malformed. Swollen Joints: Because dwarfism causes a malformation of the bones in labs, it can put uneven pressure on the joints, causing swelling and inflammation. Swollen joints are usually helped through regular medication but could need surgery in some cases. Worsened Joint Dysplasia: Joint dysplasia is a predisposed defect that many labradors suffer from naturally. Not only is joint dysplasia extremely painful, but it can also lead to arthritis, which might even lead to the dog getting euthanized in severe cases. Larger Skull and Breathing Problems: Dwarfism is also associated with abnormal growth of the skull, including the muzzle, which creates breathing problems for the Labrador and deteriorate their quality of life. Should You Get a Miniature Labrador? Now for the most important question, should you buy a miniature labrador? Most breeders and advertisers of miniature labs are untrustworthy. Let us explain a bit more: 1. And considering that a miniature labrador dog suffers from way more than the average dog, caring for them is more involved. For a labrador to officially register with the AKC, they must be between .If a labrador does not meet these requirements, they can still get registered with the organization. However, the owners must provide the pedigree documents to prove that the dog is purebred. A miniature lab is only about 2 to 2. FAQs What is the lifespan of a dwarf labrador? Unlike a standard labrador, a mini lab might only live up to 5 years, even if they receive full medical care and attention. What can you buy instead of miniature labradors? What is the difference in height between a standard and miniature lab? Unlike other miniature breeds, a miniature lab might only be 2 to 3 inches shorter in height than a standard labrador. How much do miniature labradors shed? A miniature lab has the same double-coat as a standard labrador. They shed an adequate amount of fur, particularly during the spring and fall seasons. Do miniature labradors bite a lot? Miniature and standard labs are both more prone to biting during puppyhood. But once they become adults, the habit mostly subsides, provided they get proper training. Featured Posts:. Welcome to Miniature Labs! Labs have been on the top of the list when choosing a family pet therapy dogs and hunting companions. The Miniature Labradors are really no different when it comes to temperament, looks and being family friendly. They are a bit smaller so they take up less space! They still have all the great attributes as a standard lab like great coats, webbed feet for swimming and otter tails. There have been a couple of good breeders that have invested a lot of time into the Miniature Labrador Retriever. We hope that these dogs will continue to bless all of us with their GREAT personalities and their zest for life for a long time to come! We breed our miniature Labrador puppies using many of the breeds listed on our miniature lab breed origen page. However, we do try to keep "Lab" as our primary breed. By doing this, it helps to preserve what past miniature labrador retriever breeders have started as well as help build the future of the mini lab breed. Above is a 15 month old standard labrador Chocolate Left lbs next to one of our miniature labs 15 months right merle 34lbs www. Are teacup Labradors healthy? For many people, the teacup Lab seems like a perfect solution. The lovable Lab package in a tiny, puppy-sized body for life. But, the reality of the teacup Labrador is quite different to this ideal. What is a Teacup Lab? Teacup dogs are bred to have an extremely small size. They are often considered the smallest possible size for dogs, smaller than toy or miniature breeds. The name is inspired by their size — dogs small enough to fit in a teacup, even when fully grown. A teacup Lab is simply one bred, in some way, to have this extreme, tiny size. This is because, despite their cute appearance, these tiny dogs are actually quite unhealthy. With that extreme size comes a huge number of problems that can shorten their lifespan and significantly reduce their quality of life. How are Teacup Labs Bred? Teacup Labs will often be bred in the same ways as miniature Labs, but with the aim of creating an even smaller dog. The three main methods used are: Breeding together Lab runts over generations Mixing the Labrador with a toy breed Introducing the dwarfism gene The appearance, temperament, and health of a teacup Lab will vary depending on the method used. Breeding Runts As the smallest, and often weakest, dog in the litter, runts can be prone to health issues. Sometimes puppies become the runt of the litter because they already have a congenital disease which comprises their physical size, strength and wellbeing. Breeding them together to create a new generation of small dogs will pass those hereditary diseases on. Runts are also more likely to miss out on immunity-providing colostrum from their mom, which means they are more likely to have poor immune systems pick up bacterial and viral infections and suffer long term side effects from infectious diseases. Mixing Labs with a Toy Breed When you mix two dog breeds together, puppies could inherit any blend of their qualities, including temperament, appearance, and health. There is absolutely no way of knowing exactly what your puppy will be like until they arrive. For instance, a breeder may mix a Lab with a Chihuahua to try and get teacup sized puppies. But, their puppies may look more like Chihuahuas, and have a Chihuahua-like temperament. Introducing Dwarfism The final common method used is to introduce dwarfism. Dwarfism in dogs has been associated with health problems such as skin and coat abnormalities, including alopecia. Sadly, many dogs with dwarfism suffer from shortened lifespans. A Mix of Methods To achieve the tiny size required of teacup dogs, breeders may choose to use more than one of these methods over generations to get the smallest Labs possible. Of course, this does not come without risks to the puppies, who can suffer from serious health problems. How Big is a Teacup Lab? But, toy breeds are still much larger than teacup dogs. It is generally accepted that teacup dogs weigh fewer than 5 pounds as adults, and reach no more than 17 inches tall. Of course, the exact size of a teacup Lab would vary depending on the method used to breed one. But, in general, breeders attempt to create a Lab that is the same size as a puppy throughout its entire life. The exact appearance of a teacup Lab will depend entirely on the method used to breed them. Breeding runts over generations is the method most likely to give you a teacup Lab that looks like a Lab. But, of course, this relies on your dog avoiding any potential heritable health issues. And, it is a long-winded process. Even two small Labs bred together could birth puppies that grow into larger Labs. As we said earlier, a mixed breed dog could inherit traits from either parent. And, Labs with dwarfism will often be small, but disproportionately. Their heads and paws may be larger than normal, with very short legs. Do Teacup Labs Shed? They are smaller, so yes there is less fur to deal with. But you cannot escape Lab shedding by choosing a teacup Labrador. Controlling shedding can actually be harder with a teacup Lab, as normal grooming tools may be too large to use easily on your tiny dog. And, remember, coat can be influenced by the breeding method used. Teacup Labs that are the result of mixed breeding could have a non-Lab type coat. And those bred to have dwarfism may suffer from coat-related health issues like alopecia. Are Teacup Labs Purebred? Teacup Labs are not accepted by any official breed registries, so they cannot be shown as purebred dogs in shows. Their status as a purebred dog will depend on the method used to breed them. Obviously, mixing a Lab with a smaller breed will not create a purebred Lab puppy. But, breeding together runts over generations can give you smaller purebred puppies. However, the purebred Labs that result are likely to be less healthy than Labs who are bred with their overall health in mind, rather than just a certain appearance. Teacup vs Miniature Labs The main difference between teacup and miniature Labradors is their size. Teacup Labs are meant to be even smaller than miniature Labs, which are already smaller than the standard. So, they will be at risk of issues just as much as teacup Labs. Labs of all sizes are prone to:. Their legs appear to be bent because they are malformed. This bone malformation causes them to have problems with their knee and hip joints, which can be painful and crippling. Any type of dwarfism can cause additional health problems to the animal. Although you associate dwarf Labradors with short legs, they can also have abnormally formed skulls. This can result in breathing problems. They can also have problems whelping, and require c-sections instead of being able to give birth naturally. Disproportionate leg and body lengths, such as seen to an extreme scale in the Dachshund, can also result in spinal problems and painful movements. Although some dwarf Labradors will live full and happy lives, they are at a greater risk than their unaffected cousins. It is therefore very important that Labrador breeders ensure that they do not breed from Labradors who carry the gene for dwarfism. Dwarf Labrador Health Tests Before you buy a Labrador, their breeder should have carried out a variety of health tests on both of the parents. One of the things you should make sure that they have tested for is dwarfism in Labradors. There is a test available for SD2, which will tell the breeder whether the parent carries the gene. No Lab with the gene should be bred to another with it, as they could result in the puppies having dwarfism. Miniature Labrador Breeders A Labrador Retriever small breed is something that has been coined by a few dog breeders to try and cash in on a market of dog lovers who want a small Labrador Retriever to fit into their lives. Every month hundreds of people scour the internet looking for a miniature black Lab or miniature chocolate Lab to join their family. And unscrupulous people will take advantage of these people who are innocently putting their faith in them to provide a happy, healthy new friend. They will provide you with clear, breed specific information. Those claiming to be miniature Labrador breeders may be producing puppies that carry the Labrador dwarfism gene. They may have cross bred their lines with a smaller breed of dog. Or they may be producing regular sized Labs and simply giving their customers the misleading impression that they will remain the same size. Words Of Warning From Lab Breeders If you are researching Labrador breeders, here are some negative buzzwords to keep your eyes peeled for: Micro Labrador Mini Labrador Miniature Labs These words demonstrate that the breeder is either lacking knowledge about Labradors or is trying to mislead puppy buyers. Either way, they are not the breeder that you want to approach. Well, yes, you can. Some Labradors are smaller than others! Within the bounds of usual Labrador size, they are a bit shorter, lighter and just plain littler than other Labs. You will also find that some English Labradors are chunky in build but short in height. Short legs are more fashionable in the show ring at the moment. So this can be removed as the reason for them being shorter legged. Small Labradors who are simply at the lower end of the normal spectrum can be found from reputable breeders, and they are a good option if you want a Labrador temperament in a slightly smaller package. The other option is to buy a Labrador mix, who is crossed with a smaller breed of dog. Just make sure that you check out the health tests that are relevant to this breed as well before you commit to the puppy. But no healthy Labrador will stay small to the miniature extent. Lab puppies that stay really small do so because they are undernourished, ill or have a disease. Even dwarf Labradors are only around 2. If you want a small Labrador Retriever, then think about why. Is it to do with a lack of space, or simply a personal taste issue? Small dog breeds are popular at the moment, but fashions change and the most important part of any pet is their personality and temperament. I hope that you will decide that a full sized Labrador is worth the loss of space on the couch, in exchange for the love and devotion they will give you for the next ten years. Find Out More About Labradors!

Breeds The link has been copied! When considering the addition of a Goldendoodle to your family, one of the first questions that come to mind is, "How much does a Goldendoodle cost? This comprehensive guide will delve into various aspects influencing a Goldendoodle's price. Additionally, we'll discuss the importance of choosing reputable breeders and provide valuable information on protecting your pup with innovative technology like Fi's GPS-tracking dog collar. By learning about these factors beforehand, prospective Goldendoodle owners can confidently navigate this process while ensuring they bring home a healthy and happy companion. How Much Does a Goldendoodle Cost? If you're considering adding a Goldendoodle to your family, it's essential to understand the costs associated with this popular and lovable breed. In addition to the upfront cost of purchasing or adopting a puppy, ongoing expenses like vet visits, vaccinations, grooming services, and pet food need to be considered. The cost of a Goldendoodle puppy can vary, depending on several elements, which will be discussed in further detail later. First, however, it's essential to focus on the purchase price and consider routine costs throughout your dog's life. These may include annual check-ups at the veterinarian's office including vaccinations , monthly heartworm prevention medication, grooming sessions every weeks, and high-quality pet food that meets their nutritional needs. How Much Is a Goldendoodle Puppy? The price of a Goldendoodle puppy can range widely depending on the breeder, its location, and any special features it may have. However, some breeders may charge even higher prices if their puppies come from an exceptional bloodline or have unique traits. Purchasing From Breeders Breeder reputation: Look for reviews online and ask around within local communities or social media groups dedicated to Goldendoodles. Health testing: Reputable breeders will conduct health tests on both parent dogs before breeding them together. Puppy contract: A responsible breeder should provide a written agreement outlining what they guarantee regarding your new pet's health status and other terms related to care after purchase. Finding Adoptable Dogs Through Rescues and Shelters Adopting a Goldendoodle from an animal rescue or refuge can be a great way to give a home to an abandoned pup while saving money. Many organizations specialize in rescuing specific breeds, like the IDOG Rescue , which focuses on finding homes for doodle dogs such as Goldendoodles. Keep in mind that adopting through shelters may require additional time and patience compared to purchasing from breeders since you might have to wait until your desired breed becomes available. However, this option is often more affordable than buying directly from breeders and helps support animal welfare efforts. Factors That Impact the Cost of a Goldendoodle When considering the purchase of a Goldendoodle, it's essential to understand that various factors can impact their cost. Colors The color of a Goldendoodle's coat can significantly influence its price. Rarer coat colors, such as reds and merle goldendoodles , are more expensive than common shades like cream or apricot. While this may not affect the dog's personality or health, many potential owners are willing to pay extra for unique appearances. Dogs with proven lineage from reputable breeders often come at higher prices due to their genetic quality assurance than those without documented ancestry. Breeder Reputation Reputable Breeders: Purchasing your puppy from reputable Goldendoodle breeders ensures you get a healthy dog raised in good conditions. Reputable breeders follow ethical breeding practices by testing parent dogs for genetic disorders and providing proper care during pregnancy and after birth. This level of care comes at a higher cost but provides peace of mind knowing your pup is coming from responsible hands. Puppy Mills and Pet Stores: It's crucial to avoid buying from puppy mills or pet stores, as these establishments prioritize profit over the welfare of their animals. Dogs bred in such conditions often suffer from health issues due to poor breeding practices and inadequate care. While puppies from these sources may have a lower initial cost, they can lead to higher expenses in vet bills later on. We do not recommend buying from a pet store or a puppy mill. Estimated Size The size of your Goldendoodle will also impact its price. Smaller Goldendoodles, like Mini Goldendoodle or Teacup varieties, typically cost more than Standard-sized dogs because they are in higher demand due to their convenient size for apartment living and easier handling by owners with limited space. On the other hand, larger adult Goldendoodles might be less expensive but could require more resources for grooming costs, food consumption, and exercise needs. The Prices of Different Size Goldendoodles Goldendoodles come in various sizes, which can significantly impact their cost. In this section, we will explore the prices of Mini, Teacup, and Standard Goldendoodles to help you understand how size affects the overall price. Mini Goldendoodle Price The Mini Goldendoodle is a popular choice for those who want a smaller dog with all the wonderful qualities of a standard-sized one. These dogs typically weigh between pounds and stand around inches tall at shoulder height. You may also find that some breeders charge more for rarer coat colors or patterns. Teacup Goldendoodle Price If you're looking for an even smaller version of the beloved doodle breed, then consider getting a Teacup Goldendoodle. Weighing only pounds and standing just under 12 inches tall at shoulder height when fully grown makes them perfect pets for people living in apartments or small homes. Keep in mind that caring for teacups might require extra attention compared to larger breeds, so be prepared for additional expenses in the long run. Standard Goldendoodle Price The Standard Goldendoodle is the largest of the three sizes, weighing between pounds and standing around inches tall at shoulder height. These dogs are known for their friendly personalities and low-shedding coats, making them great family pets. It's essential to choose a responsible breeder who prioritizes health testing and ethical breeding practices when purchasing your new furry friend. This innovative device allows you to keep tabs on your dog's location at all times, giving you peace of mind knowing that they are safe. The Fi Smart Collar offers several features that make it an excellent choice for Goldendoodle owners. These include: Real-time tracking: The collar uses advanced GPS technology to provide accurate location data so that you can find your pup quickly if they wander off or gets lost. Fence alerts: You can set up virtual fences around specific areas such as your home and receive notifications if your dog leaves these boundaries. This feature helps prevent them from venturing too far away or into dangerous situations. Durable design: The collar is built with high-quality materials designed to withstand rough play and harsh weather conditions, ensuring long-lasting protection for your pet. Battery life: Boasting a battery life of up to three months between charges, this collar ensures continuous monitoring without frequent interruptions for recharging. In addition to providing security and peace of mind, the Fi Smart Collar also tracks activity levels. It enables you to monitor how much exercise your Goldendoodle gets daily - crucial information, given their energetic nature. Now that you know the cost of owning one, let's look into what makes this breed so special with our next heading: Goldendoodle Breed Guide. Goldendoodle Breed Guide The Goldendoodle is a popular and versatile breed, known for its friendly personality, intelligence, and low-shedding coat. A blend of the Golden Retriever and Poodle breeds, this hybrid pooch presents a great mix of attributes that make it appropriate for various ways of life. Personality Goldendoodles are typically affectionate, social dogs with a gentle temperament. They get along well with children and other pets in the household. Their high level of intelligence makes them easy to train as they quickly pick up on commands and cues from their owners. Moreover, these dogs have an innate desire to please their humans, which further contributes to their trainability. Generally speaking: Miniature Goldendoodles: weigh between pounds kg and stand at about inches cm tall at shoulder height. Standard Goldendoodles: Standard Goldendoodles are larger, weighing between pounds kg and standing at inches cm. Average Lifespan The average lifespan of a healthy Goldendoodle ranges from around 10 to 15 years when provided proper care, including regular vet check-ups , vaccinations, exercise routines, grooming sessions, and a balanced diet. They enjoy activities such as walking, running, swimming, or playing fetch. Providing them with at least 30 minutes of daily exercise is essential for keeping your Goldendoodle happy and healthy. Additionally, engaging in mental stimulation exercises, like puzzle toys or obedience training sessions, can help keep their minds sharp. Approximate Lifetime Care Costs The lifetime care costs of owning a Goldendoodle include expenses related to food, grooming, veterinary care including vaccinations , pet insurance if opted for , and accessories like collars and leashes Fi GPS Tracking Dog Collar recommended , among others. How Can I Lower the Cost of a Goldendoodle Goldendoodles can be quite expensive, but there are ways to reduce the cost while still enjoying the companionship of this lovable breed. Adopting vs. Buying From a Breeder Pet adoption websites and local animal shelters often have Goldendoodles available for adoption at significantly lower costs compared to buying from breeders. By adopting, not only do you save money, but you also provide a loving home to an animal in need. Purchasing or Adopting an Older Dog Instead of a Puppy If your heart is set on owning a Goldendoodle, but the price tag seems too steep, consider adopting or purchasing an older dog instead of opting for puppies. Older dogs usually come with lower prices as they might not possess certain desirable traits like specific coat colors or pedigree lineage. Additionally, senior dogs tend to be calmer and require less training than their younger counterparts. Conclusion After considering all the factors that impact the cost of a Goldendoodle, it is safe to say that they can be quite expensive. The price of a Goldendoodle can vary significantly, depending on factors such as size, age, and the breeder's reputation. Additionally, grooming costs and potential health issues should also be taken into account when calculating the actual cost of owning a Goldendoodle. If you're interested in getting a Goldendoodle but want to lower the cost, consider adopting an adult dog or purchasing from reputable breeders with reasonable prices. Investing in pet insurance is essential to ensure that any unforeseen medical costs won't be a burden. If you're ready to welcome a new furry friend into your home and want peace of mind knowing their whereabouts at all times, try Fi's GPS-tracking dog collar today! Be sure to keep tabs on your pup with Fi's GPS collar, which gives you real-time location updates and activity tracking. The link has been copied! You might also like. Before buying or adopting any dog, it pays to do your homework. Knowing where to search for your next dog, what to look for in a reputable breeder, and what you should expect to pay can improve your odds of bringing home a healthy dog at a reasonable cost. Purebred dogs have national breed clubs that provide information about the breed. Though the goldendoodle is a crossbreed, a national organization called the Goldendoodle Association of North America supports responsible breeding and pet ownership. Cost of Adopting a Goldendoodle Goldendoodles occasionally find themselves in need of rescue when people buy puppies from unscrupulous breeders who make unrealistic guarantees, or when new pup parents find themselves unprepared for caring for their goldendoodle. For instance, reputable goldendoodle breeders should never guarantee that a puppy will be 'hypoallergenic' or will not shed. When those adorable goldendoodle puppies start shedding, or when their human has an allergic reaction, the doodle may be in need of a new home. Rescuing an adult goldendoodle is not only a great way to save some money on the purchase price of the dog, but also provides other benefits. Goldendoodle puppies may also end up in rescue occasionally. This adoption fee generally includes the costs of updated vaccines and a spay or neuter surgery, and helps to ensure the organization can continue its lifesaving work. Cost of Buying a Goldendoodle Buying a goldendoodle puppy from a breeder is the most expensive way to acquire a goldendoodle. However, the cost of a puppy varies wildly. Breeders from different states may charge more, and the cost of a larger size goldendoodle may be different than a smaller goldendoodle. Some breeders also charge more for more desirable colors or coat types. Responsible goldendoodle breeders put a lot of money into their breeding programs, which is why their puppies cost a lot. Such breeders purchase or keep high-quality dogs for their breeding programs, perform genetic health screenings on the parents before breeding them, maintain pedigrees and pair dogs thoughtfully to better the breed. Reputable breeders also pursue thorough veterinary care for their adult dogs and puppies, feed high-quality diets, register their litters with the proper organization, and never overbreed their females or breed more puppies than they can responsibly care for. Due to the efforts they put in to produce healthy, high-quality dogs, good breeders usually offer a health guarantee on their puppies. Such breeders may simply breed together any male and female they happen to own and sell the resulting puppies. When a goldendoodle breeder tells you the price of buying a puppy, ask about their breeding program, genetic screening and health guarantees to find out what you are paying for. Additionally, be aware that some pets stores sell goldendoodle puppies along with many other breeds of puppies. It is very difficult to obtain accurate information on breeders who supply to pet stores, and in many cases, animal welfare experts worry about these puppies coming from puppy mills. A puppy mill is often described as a commercial dog breeding operation where the goal is to produce as many puppies as possible without regard for their health and the welfare of the breeding dogs. Both the adult dogs and puppies often have poor health, are exposed to more infectious diseases, and tend to have ongoing health problems in additional to coming from inhumane living conditions. For this reason, it is best to avoid purchasing a puppy if it has a questionable origin. One significant cost to consider for goldendoodles is the cost of professional grooming. Almost all goldendoodles need to have their hair trimmed by a groomer. Some goldendoodles may need grooming once a month; others can go about eight weeks in between haircuts. Article Sources The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. At their best, they are intelligent, friendly, and affectionate. They come in three sizes: miniature weighing 15 to 30 pounds , medium 30 to 45 pounds , and standard 45 to more than pounds. Because they are a cross breed, their traits are not fixed, so there is not a guarantee that the Goldendoodle puppy you purchase will fall into the desired weight range. The Goldendoodle is intelligent, friendly, and family oriented. It is a highly social dog. Goldendoodles tend to follow their nose wherever it leads, so a fenced-in yard is recommended. They are always ready for a game; most Goldendoodles retain the natural retrieving instincts of the Golden Retriever. Goldendoodles do not bark frequently. History Less - In the s, breeders in both North America and Australia began crossing golden retrievers with standard poodles. The original purpose of the cross was to attempt to develop guide dogs suitable for visually impaired individuals with allergies. The goldendoodle is sometimes called a designer dog. The Encyclopedia Britannica traces the term "designer dog" to the late 20th century, when breeders began to cross purebred poodles with other purebred breeds in order to obtain a dog with the poodle's non-shedding coat, along with various desirable characteristics from other breeds. Adding a Goldendoodle puppy to your family is a big commitment…and it can come with an equally big price tag! Knowing what the average Goldendoodle price is and the factors that influence the cost can help you budget appropriately. It can also protect you from vastly overpaying or being the victim of a scam. So, how much does a Goldendoodle cost? What Determines the Price of a Goldendoodle Puppy? There are six main factors that will help us determine how much you should expect to spend on your future Goldendoodle. Size There are five sizes of Goldendoodles —standard, medium, mini, toy, and teacup. That rule is, the smaller the size, the higher the price. First and foremost, you want to pick the Goldendoodle size that will work best in your family. All else being equal, however, you may save significant money by choosing a larger dog. Generations are what describe the genetic makeup of Goldendoodles and how close in DNA they are to their Poodle and Golden Retriever ancestors. Some Goldendoodles may even be hypoallergenic , though this can never be guaranteed. More Poodle DNA frequently results in a curlier coat. When it comes to Goldendoodle price, the closer in DNA your potential dog is to a Poodle, the higher the cost will usually be. This is because the demand for allergy-friendly and low-shedding dogs is very high. Location As the cost of living increases, so does the cost of a puppy. For example. Sometimes it can be helpful to drive a few hours to a Goldendoodle breeder further away. While less convenient, it could save you a little bit of money if you are from an area with a high cost of living. How did they seemingly get such a bargain? The answer is where they got their dog from. These owners likely adopted their Goldendoodle from a shelter or rescue organization. Quality, reputable breeders typically charge a premium for their puppies. On the other hand, puppy mills and backyard breeders will sometimes charge very low prices because their expenses are so much lower. Be careful, sometimes you get what you pay for. A cheap, unhealthy puppy will cost you more in the long-term than a more expensive, healthy dog. Click here to get an instant, online pet insurance quote from Healthy Paws! These stores thrive off of emotional, impulse purchases and receive strong criticism for obtaining their puppies from questionable breeders. Color There are so many colors of Goldendoodles, it may be impossible to choose your favorite! There is a wide spectrum of solid color options like cream, apricot, chocolate, or black. On top of that, there are unique, multi-color patterns like parti, merle, phantom , and sable. Many breeders base their pricing partially on color. Usually, the rule of thumb is that multi-color Goldendoodles, particularly those with rare or desirable patterns , are going to be significantly more expensive than their solid-color counterparts. For more budget-minded folks, a solid color Goldendoodle puppy will be just as cute for a fraction of the price. Usually, black. Black Goldendoodles are adorable, but are often overlooked and you can sometimes find them at a bit of a discount depending on the demand. The moral of the story when it comes to choosing a Goldendoodle color is to keep your options open. When there are lots of prospective buyers and not a lot of available puppies, prices will go up. When there are plenty of available puppies but not a lot of buyers, prices will go down. The best example of this when it comes to buying a puppy is around the holiday season. Goldendoodles, along with many other breeds, are often given as Christmas presents to children or spouses. For this reason, many breeders charge more for puppies that will be available to go home around the holidays. Why Are Goldendoodles So Expensive? Why are Goldendoodles so expensive? The simple answer is supply and demand. Poodle mixes are extremely popular due to their adorable, teddy-bear looks and also their likelihood to be allergy-friendly and low-shedding. On the other hand, reputable breeders struggle to keep up with demand and often have waitlists that extend months, or even years, down the road. All Goldendoodle puppies should come with at least their first round of vaccinations, deworming, up-to-date flea and tick prevention, and a vet check. Most reputable Goldendoodle breeders also offer a health guarantee on their puppies. This can range anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Usually, breeders will send your new puppy home with a few basic items like a blanket, toy, collar, and a small bag of food. In almost all cases, you will be required by a breeder to place a deposit to secure your selection from a particular litter. Be extremely careful sending money to any breeder who you have not personally visited. Do your due diligence to make sure they are legitimate. Many scammers are out there luring eager Goldendoodle buyers in with adorable, fake or stolen puppy pictures only to take their deposits and never be heard from again. Lifetime Cost of Owning a Goldendoodle If you thought the price of a Goldendoodle puppy was expensive, you might want to sit down for this. Here is the average lifetime cost of owning a dog according to a few, reliable sources which utilized major research studies to arrive at their conclusions:.

Rescue Me! Grooming Your Mastiff Mixed With Boxer Boxer Mastiffs are easy to groom overall but generally shed in large amounts, which is why you should schedule days that you thoroughly brush their fur. Daily brushing is essential even for your short hair because it eliminates and lessens dirt accumulation as well as hair accumulation in the house. Ear and teeth hygiene should be an everyday priority to avoid dirt and bacterial accumulation in the ears and cavities or tartar, which could lead to infections in the future. Some of the conditions to take note of are: Hip Dysplasia: This is a genetic disease wherein there is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which causes immense pain for the dog. If left untreated may cause crippling and painful arthritis of the joints. Due to excessive gastric content, the stomach of the dog becomes overstretched. It may cause severe pain when moving. Ectropion: This condition is more common in Mastiffs. The lower eyelids appear droopy due to an abnormality and may result in conjunctivitis or keratitis. Make sure you make arrangements with members of the family to ensure an adequately measured amount of food for your puppy. Choose gifts that have low calories instead, so that obesity is avoidable. The best choice of food would be those that are rich in protein for proper muscle building and repairing. Protein can be obtained through dog food alone, or you could ask your local vet for additional snacks and supplements. You can find protein in meat such as chicken, lamb, fish, and beef. Meat meals are concentrated forms sans the moisture but offer the same amount of protein as well. Fats are essential for eye and brain development because of the rich sources of Omega-3 Fatty acids. Chicken meat and fish oil are excellent sources. Avoid giving your Boxmas foods rich in common allergens such as corn, soy, dairy, wheat, and potatoes. Also refrain from giving any food coloring, as these may compromise the immune system. Never give them table food because it might cause different allergic reactions ranging from skin allergies to difficulty in breathing. To give your Boxer crossed with Mastiff better nutrition, check the following high quality and nutrient-packed dog food available on the market: Fromm Large Breed Puppy Gold Formula: This is a brand that ensures there are no allergens or irritants included. Specially formulated for puppies who are known to grow over fifty pounds, protein and fat levels are moderately incorporated. DHA-rich salmon oil is a bonus for brain and eye development. There are additional vitamins and antioxidants as well as a grain-free formula. Protein and fat levels are lower compared to different brands in the market but still packed with needed nutrients and vitamins to ensure proper growth and development. Royal Canin Boxer Adult Dry Food: This product boasts of high-quality proteins and nutrients, as well as the incorporation of L-carnitine. This combination helps your Mastiff mixed with Boxer maintain its overall built, burn fat efficiently, and avoid obesity. Orijen Puppy Large: The ingredients are fresh and high in protein. It consists of chicken and turkey, as well as fish. Your dog may be big or small, but you need to keep it happy and healthy all the time. Never give them the worst dry dog food that is low in nutrients and filled with by-products, and opt for best dry dog food instead. For the littlest of munchkins, check out our list of best puppy food brands , and for gray-coated, wise grandpa-doggos, opt only for the best senior dry dog food. Your stunning mixed heartthrob carries the genes of their super-gorgeous and incredibly different parents. But that means that you are in luck as you can offer your little charmer both the best dry dog food for small dogs and the best large breed dry dog food. Let them have a final say in which kibble they nibble. In line with the diet, also schedule a daily exercise regimen for your Boxmas. They are highly energetic and exuberant by nature, which means they require at least an hour of intense activities and exercises. This program includes running, walking, playing fetch, obedience exercises, and jogging. Never contain your Boxer crossed with Mastiff in a small space such as apartments or condos. Fulfill their need to stay fit by choosing a home that has adequate running space if you plan to adopt a Boxmas. Another option is to take trips to the park or jog around the neighborhood. If left idle for too long, they can be agitated or easily distracted and tend to destroy or chew on things out of frustration. Here are some toys to help exercise your Boxmas: OxGord BazooK-9 Tennis Ball Launcher Gun: Since your hybrid is energetic and loves running, this tennis ball launcher is a perfect toy when visiting parks or playing in the backyard. Invest in this versatile product so that it also saves you energy from having to throw the ball. It prevents the potential risk for periodontal disease. KONG Wubba Dog Toy: Made of nylon and has two balls inside one chewable and one squeaky , the Wubba dog toy will be a Boxmas favorite because of its durability and appearance. There is no need to continually throw away and replace toys when you purchase this product. Your hybrid will engage in chewing and decrease any risks of periodontal diseases as well. It can be a challenge for most owners because of the intelligence plus energetic combo, but with patience and determination, your hybrid will follow proper orders in no time. Boxers are easy to lead and train. This trait will save you a lot of time and effort. Make sure to familiarize yourself and your pup with play biting and attacking an intruder or stranger. If you can, plan for the whole week instead. It can be a challenge to keep their attention focused on the training, but with perseverance and patience, everything will eventually pay off. Encourage positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement will always be one of the best and most endorsed strategies to train a dog because it taps into the mental aspect. Your hybrid will automatically think that the specific actions you want your dog to do will earn a treat. Apply this in all tricks and strategies you wish to impart. Another thing to remember is always to have a big space for them to move around when around children to avoid any unwanted accidents. Your hybrid is a large dog and might be prone to crashes if confined in a small space. You can renovate your backyard and put obstacles or toys, or you may visit the park and play with other dogs. But in general, Boxer Mastiffs are very loyal, fun, active, and protective. The temperament from both parent breeds ensures that there is no aggressiveness or violence along with, of course, proper training. Older members of the family can pitch in and help training the big fellow, and this also allows more exposure to different people. This plan will avoid the unwanted one-owner type of dog in the future, as well as agitation and idleness. As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure a healthy diet, proper living space, frequent trips to the vet, and specific training to help your hybrid live the best years of its life. Raising quality puppies since ! We strive to raise the highest quality puppies and to provide them and their parents with the best care possible. Our puppies are raised with lots of TLC from us, our children, and our grandchildren so you can be sure they have been pre-spoiled and very socialized before leaving us. We believe a puppy should be a member of your family and should live inside your home with you. Puppies should be given every opportunity to have a healthy and happy life. We try to make sure our puppies are placed in loving homes where they will receive the best life has to offer them! If you are looking to add a puppy to your family, please browse our site and check out our available puppies. You may contact us by phone or email to discuss the adoption process. We have always passed our inspections and have never had any non compliant issues. We are always praised by our inspectors for having a top quality kennel. Our licensed veterinarian comes to our home to see all of our dogs on a regular basis so he can inspect them and provide them with a thorough, hands on well check up in addition to all regular veterinarian care. As members of these organizations, we receive the most up to date news, education, and veterinarian tips that help us take the best possible care of our dogs. We take great pride in our kennel and our dogs. If you are looking to add a new puppy to your family, please contact us for a complete list of available puppies. We would love to help you find your new family member! We offer a one year health guarantee with every puppy we sell and a lifetime of breeder support. Please review our health guarantee and contact us if you have any questions. Being a member of AKC's Bred with Heart program means we provide our dogs with important genetic health testing that can rule out health problems with our puppies. Finding reputable breeders that produce top-quality Boxer Mastiff mix puppies can be quite difficult. There are places where you can find Boxer Mastiff puppies for sale, and I am not talking about pet stores or puppy mills! These are reputable places that advertise Boxer Mastiff puppies. Here are some of the places where you can find Boxer Mastiff puppies for sale: Petango — This online pet database lists thousands of large-size hybrid dogs, including Boxer Mastiff mixes. You will also find other information about the listed mixes, such as their location, gender, coat color, and type of mix, on their website. PuppySpot — With over hundreds of purebred and designer dog breeds, you can surely find a Boxer Mastiff mix on this site. This online platform also comprehensively details the backgrounds of the puppies on its list. Another option is adopting from rescue and local animal shelters. Adopting is a practical and noble way of acquiring and owning a Boxer Mastiff mix. They take in, treat, feed, and train abandoned Boxers and Boxer mixes until they are ready for adoption. Mastiffs to Mutts Rescue MTM — This animal shelter dedicates itself to rescuing surrendered and abandoned Mastiff breeds and other giant breed dogs and mixes. Their rescue efforts extend throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. You should contact them as they might have a Boxer Mastiff mix in their care. If you are lucky, you might find a Boxer Mastiff ready for adoption in this rescue. Aside from the rescues mentioned above, you can also check out our Boxer rescue directory that lists local shelters that take in Boxer mixes, including the Boxmas mix. You should also review our ultimate dog adoption guide , which could help you ace your dog adoption application. This dog has specific demands and needs that should be met. There are also some advantages and disadvantages to owning one of these dogs. Here are some of the pros of owning a Boxer Mastiff mix: Unique appearance: There is no denying that Boxer Mastiff mixes have cool and unique appearances. Their overall looks resemble the elegant phenotypic features of the Boxer breed and the colossal size of the English Mastiff. Good guard dog: The Boxer Mastiff mix has innate guarding abilities. It is calm and gentle but will not hesitate to protect its family. Its sheer size could also easily intimidate intruders. Highly intelligent dogs: This giant mixed breed is easy to train because of its natural intelligence. They are docile, and they love to please their owners. They only need weekly brushing and monthly bathing to keep them fresh and clean. Meanwhile, here are some of the cons of owning Boxer Mastiff mixes: Not recommended for families with toddlers: Because of their large body builds, Boxer Mastiff can unintentionally knock off toddlers, which can cause accidents and injuries. Highly protective: Since both the Mastiff and Boxer are guard dogs, the Boxmas dog can become too protective of its family. Hard to predict its growth and size: There is no established guide for monitoring the growth of the Mastiff Boxer mix. Hence, its final weight and size are difficult to predict. Highly active: Boxer Mastiffs are energetic dogs so they require regular exercise and activities. This means that if you are a busy person, this hybrid might not be the perfect dog for you. These are just some of the pros and cons of owning a Boxer Mastiff mix. You can use this list in deciding whether this designer dog is worth having as a pet. Both the Boxer and the Mastiff breeds were historically used as protectors or guardians. That means Boxer puppies are highly likely to inherit this instinct to protect and guard their families. This will help them grow into well-rounded and obedient adult dogs. That means shorter walks, no jumping from heights, and feeding a specific dog food designed for larger breeds. They excelled as cattle dogs, watchdogs, police dogs, and guide dogs, as well as serving as war dogs in both world wars. Mastiff type breeds have been around for centuries. Luckily, U. Boxmas dogs are extremely protective of their families Thanks to the fact that both the Mastiff and the Boxer have been bred to instinctively protect their families, Boxmas puppies are highly likely to inherit this same trait. Without these training sessions, their protective instinct can soon turn into aggression. On the flip side, when it comes to mixed breeds, it can be harder to predict particular characteristics of these hybrids in terms of size, appearance, and temperament. This gives them a nice balance between activity and rest. While these dogs are sweet and gentle around their families, their protective natures mean they always want to make sure their owners are safe. The Boxer Mastiff cross is intelligent and will enjoy regular training sessions to keep them mentally as well as physically exercised. Their kind and loving nature make them suitable for life with children, but their large size and sometimes excitable nature means they can sometimes knock small children over! You will need to do a fair amount of training to make sure that family friends are accepted into your home with the minimum of fuss. While you might feel confident around your large-breed Boxmas, bear in mind that their size and stature can make them look intimidating to visitors. Make sure your Boxmas knows not to jump on people. Boxers can sometimes tend to become nervous around other dogs of the same sex. Always make sure to introduce new pets to each other slowly and in a controlled environment. Keep the initial meetings short and sweet, and allow each pet somewhere safe they can retreat to if they feel the need. Things to Know When Owning a Boxmas: Deciding to add a Boxmas to your family is a big decision and requires both time and money. Before you make your mind up for sure, here are a few more things you should know about this breed first. This will have the correct levels of calcium and phosphorous to ensure that their bones grow correctly. It will also have a lower percentage of protein, fat, and calories than foods designed for smaller breed puppies. Your puppy is likely to inherit the work ethic and intelligence of both parent breeds. Boredom sometimes leads to destructive habits, which none of us want to face! Their natural propensity to guard can easily roll over into aggression if not managed properly. Puppy training classes are an excellent way to socialize your puppy while having a professional trainer on hand to help with any specific goals you may have. Praise and positive reinforcement are an excellent tool for Boxmas owners. Raised voices during training can worry a Mastiff and may cause them to become disengaged. We reviewed the best puppy training treats: check out our top picks here! A weekly brush should be enough to keep them looking healthy. When they shed, which will be twice a year, you can up your grooming sessions to help remove any dead hair. If your Boxmas puppy inherits a more Mastiff-shaped head from one of their parents, then be prepared for the fact that you might need to deal with drool! Mastiffs are notorious droolers, often choosing to stand close to you while they do so! You can also check their nails at the same time, but these should only need trimming once a month or so. Luckily in the case of the Boxmas, this is also true. Minor Conditions. In this article, we will give you some of the most important reasons why Boxer Mastiff Mix puppies for sale are the best option. Once you have read this article, you should be able to make the best decision for yourself and your family. It is a very strong and dominant dog. This is a problem that many people face when they consider adopting a dog. If your local area has many younger children, it may not be a good idea to bring home a boxer mastiff mix. Young children can get carried away and start playing rough with the dog and when this happens, the dog may start to act out of line or worse yet, even injure another child. Many parents will say that they do not want their children to be injured, but they do not want them to get hurt because they are too afraid to play rough with their dogs. Also, they have a dog who is big and strong, so they are going to be in a situation where their child has to come away from the dog in an ambulance if they are hurt. This is not a good situation at all. In puppy mills, there are a lot of puppies that are mistreated, overworked, and not well cared for. Puppy mills are considered to be a breeding ground for puppies that end up in puppy mills as the owners do not care about the puppies and treat them badly. It is much better to adopt a boxer mastiff mix from a good home than to keep the puppies at a puppy mill. There are a lot of problems that a breeder that produces dogs for sale can do to the dog that is being bred. You could find out if there is a hereditary trait or condition that is affecting the behavior of your dog. If this is the case, then you should not be breeding your dogs. Also, a strong dog that has a strong personality is a better choice. The dog may be raised by a single mother. It may be raised without any interaction with other dogs and other animals. A boxer mastiff mix puppy is an excellent choice because it will get plenty of exposure to other dogs and other animals and have the opportunity to socialize with other dogs. Boxer mastiff mix puppies are very easy dogs to train. You will see that when they are young that they are very smart and they have an amazing attention span. They have the personality to match and the intelligence to match. So, if you are someone who likes to work with their hands, or works outside the house with their tools, then you should consider a boxer mastiff mix pup for sale. If you are going to be raising other animals, then you will need to know the temperament of the other pets that you are going to be raising. You should always choose the puppies carefully and make sure that they are safe for the rest of the family. How to Adopt a Boxer Mastiff Mix Puppies For Sale When it comes to buying boxer mastiff mix puppies for sale, the best option is to look for quality dogs from reputable breeders. These pups have great temperaments and are easy to train. They are extremely intelligent and have an amazing attention span. The temperaments of these pups are excellent for a family dog. They are also very good with children and have excellent training skills. So, if you want a family pet that will last a lifetime, go ahead and purchase a Boxer mastiff mix puppy. The Boxer Mastiff mix is a very energetic and intelligent dog that can be great with children. The Boxer is very protective of its family but is a good choice for families with children. It is also loyal, lovable, and affectionate. Owners say that the Mastiff is strong-willed and courageous. Its strong will makes it ideal for guarding, defending, and protecting the home. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is a large, powerful dog that exudes a playful energy. Its medium size makes it an excellent choice for homes with young children. Because of its size, the Boxer can be quite dominating. If you are not careful, you may end up with a dog that screams or bites at the kids and then injures them. These pets are very protective and love humans. However, they should not be left alone all the time, as they may chew on small items. If you are interested in buying one, you should contact the shelter as soon as possible. The sooner you contact the Shelter, the better. You should check out the living conditions of the puppies. These animals are easy to care for. As for their coats, they shed a lot of hair. Therefore, daily brushing is essential to prevent dirt and hair from building up. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is an excellent choice for a family. They are great with children and are very loyal. The best option for a family with children in a house with a large yard. The English Mastiff is the largest breed in the world. They are highly intelligent and need a lot of space and exercise. For this reason, they are best suited for families with children. They are also good with other dogs in the house. As a result, they are great for families. A Boxer Mastiff mix is a relatively new breed. Its origins can be traced to German Mastiffs and Bulldogs. The Boxer is an excellent companion for families. They are playful, but they can be a little aggressive and need to be handled with care. They are generally good with children but can have aggressive tendencies when they are threatened. This is the best time to buy a Boxer Mastiff mix for sale. Although the boxer Mastiff is a purebred dog, it can still inherit certain health problems. It is vital to get your new pup from a trusted breeder. They are good family dogs that get along well with children and other pets. They can be playful but they are also very protective of their families. Even though they are a large breed, they can be friendly and can be good pets. The Boxer Mastiff Mix is a breed that blends the classic appearance of a boxer with the enormous size of a Mastiff. These dogs are generally considered fun and energetic family pet. Their history goes back to B. This breed is an excellent athlete and is an excellent guide dog. Share this:. But in good clean shape. Large bread size. Months old African Bullmastiff pups 1 male 3 females Seriuos inquiries only pls Puppies need a loving home very friendly Please Contact Adorabull Pocket Puppies Toronto I have a gorgeous litter of pocket puppies ready for their new homes. There are 3 girls available. They will come fully vet checked with first and second shots, de worming and a clear bill of health.Please Contact Pocket Puppies Belleville I have a gorgeous litter of pocket puppies ready for their new homes. They will come fully vet checked with first shots, de worming and a clear bill of health from a.There are 3 girls and 2 boys available. Puppies will be ready to go home on August 11th. They will come fully vet checked.Some of my favorite things are to play in the backyard with my ball, Visit Website Below to Order Now! Ruby is a Rottweiler x boxer and ozzie is Rottweiler x cane corso. Puppies have had tails docked and dewclaws.Dewormed, first vaccinations and clear health check. These babies are desensitized to.They are 15 weeks old and have.Puppies born on June 12th .Works really well - simple and easy to use buckle. Recommended for bull mastiffs, large boxers or Rottweilers type dogs. Smoke free home. Pick up Harmony Rd or could potentially.Excellent with kids and other dogs. Very lovable gentle lil bulldog Both parents are super short , stocky with excellent bloodlines.We have 6 puppies for good fur-ever homes, 4 males and 2 females left. These will be large dogs. He is very playful and is 7 weeks old. Vaccinated and de-wormed fully. Pee pad trained. He is peepad trained and goes outside to potty. Please Contact.

We can proudly boast that all of our dogs and puppies come from only the very best and proven bloodlines in the world. Each one of our males and females is health tested, titled, and has at least one parent that has earned a VA1 title Excellent Select, 1st place. The competition for VA is fierce and very few dogs attain this momentous achievement. Our Dogs Titles: So, what does all of this mean and why should it matter to a pet buyer? Working titles focus on the structural soundness and ability to demonstrate trainability and reliability in obedience, but more importantly, temperament is evaluated. Show titles provide a valuable tool for ensuring that the breed standard is followed. This is an in-depth evaluation that records the qualities and shortcomings of the dog. The temperament, conformation, courage, and function are reported. Temperament and character, along with physical and mental soundness play an enormous role in selectively choosing which dogs are breeding prospects. The German Shepherd is an athletic, loyal, self-assured, attentive, and intelligent dog. This applies to both competition dogs and family pets. Purchasing a puppy from titled parents ensures that the dogs being bred have passed vigorous testing and several judges along the way oversaw the process. Following this standard eliminates a biased breeder from breeding indiscriminately and encourages the goal to be producing the best puppies possible. At Centennial German Shepherds, meticulous planning and an abundance of thought go into producing every litter of puppies. Striving for excellence gives breeders credibility and provides the potential buyer with absolute assurance that their puppy is a product of deliberate and quality mating. Capo and our beautiful granddaughter, Shannon The meaning of Our New Kennel Name After working, showing, and breeding German Shepherds for over 25 years, we decided it was time to create a new kennel name and logo to signify our presence in Colorado the Centennial State combined with our Italian and Estonian foundation dogs. Centennial GSD chose to use the head of our gorgeous female Gucci and combine the American and Italian flags across her face to signify our team concept. Additionally, we blended the American and Estonian flags across our impressive male import's face to represent the Margman presence at Centennial. Our puppies are raised inside of our home where we can interact with them from birth until the day they leave with their new families. We assess them, take notes, photos, and videos, and create a detailed log about each puppy so that we can explain their individual characteristics and personalities as clearly as possible to anyone who is inquiring. We evaluate each puppy's growth and development, along with littermate interactions and responses to "daily life" situations on a full-time basis. Once the puppies are mobile, they are introduced to toys and small obstacles which are intended to spark curiosity and promote problem-solving and confidence. We understand that visiting the puppies or looking at photos is difficult, as both are only small snapshots of time in the rapidly changing life of a growing puppy. Visitors might experience the litter just before or after a nap, eating, playing, or any other event or activity that may skew the true personality of the puppy, and relying on a few minutes or even hours to make a decision can be overwhelming. For these reasons, frequent communication with prospective families from birth to placement is crucial. By clearly conveying expectations, we are able to assist in the selection process to ensure happiness and success for both the puppy and the individual families welcoming the youngster into their new home. Centennial GSD works hard at producing the finest German Shepherd Dogs through methodically and meticulously scrutinizing compatible bloodlines and pedigrees to ensure each breeding results in producing the best litter of puppies possible. Combining specific lines or avoiding lines that have genetic faults is important as we always have the betterment of the breed in mind. This is done by carefully choosing a mating pair that compliment one another by enhancing positive qualities and making an effort to reduce any faults known in one or both bloodlines. Our foundation dogs and the dogs we use for breeding trace back to the best Italian, Estonian, and German bloodlines. We seek out dogs with a geographically diverse gene pool while also studying line breeding to keep the integrity of the breed intact. By doing this, we reduce the risks associated with more closely related dogs. Our breeding dogs have certified hips and elbows, have been tested for DM, and are titled; ensuring that they are healthy both physically and mentally. None of the dogs in our breeding program and many generations back have joint or known hereditary issues and all of the dogs possess stable and wonderful temperaments. At Centennial quality over quantity always comes first. We stay in touch with our families after the sale of our German Shepherd puppies, whether it be for help with a question or just a friendly email to check-in. I sold several puppies almost two decades ago both out of state and overseas and have been fortunate enough to form beautiful friendships with many of those people that will last a lifetime. We take pride in our Colorado German Shepherds. Our goal is to produce healthy and beautiful German Shepherd puppies that win in the show ring, excel as working dogs, succeed as therapy or service dogs, and most importantly, flourish as loving family companions and guardians. I traveled to Estonia to pick up my female puppy Briatore Nordica, and while I was there I met another puppy her half-brother named Margman Othello. He was a gorgeous and friendly 7 month old sable youngster. Both puppies shared the same father, the magnificent multiple VA Margman Torsten. I was immediately smitten and consequently brought both back with me to Colorado. I also had the honor and pleasure of hosting Torsten, his owner, and his breeder at my home when they traveled to the United States for the first time after a Sieger Show. A few years later I imported another Margman female black and red who was bred to Torsten. Her puppies were wonderful and she enjoyed a nice life in Colorado. By this time Margman had become a household name and known for quality German Shepherds around the world. We had lovely puppies; a mix of sable and black and red, both long and short coats. It was then that I began my great love for the long haired German Shepherd. Rio was phenomenal in the show ring, he earned his SchH3 title, placed V1, and produced puppies that achieved the same and other working titles. He was a gentleman in the house and had a flawless character which he passed down to his puppies time and time again. His puppies excelled as therapy dogs, service dogs, and as healthy and loving family dogs. Rio was intelligent, possessed a solid temperament, and was stunning to look at. My beloved Rio was by far one of the best dogs I have ever had the privilege of owning and set the bar high for our future dogs. Now, many years later, I have once again imported a Margman dog; an impressive male to show, breed, and enjoy as a perfect companion dog. We look forward to combining the lines again and producing the best puppies possible. Expanding the gene pool while still staying true to the standard is our goal with future litters. Margman Dacapo is magnificent; an absolute dream dog. In we imported our first Margman long coat, a deeply pigmented black and red girl. Margit has bettered the breed by thinking outside of the box. Her sable and black dogs are the absolute best and she has also produced top long coats along with her phenomenal black and red dogs. She has combined strong females with the correct stud dogs to produce some of the best puppies in the world. She is devoted to her dogs and the future of the German Shepherd Dog. Her dedication is obvious, and the result has been and remains to be dogs that possess beauty, working ability, and outstanding character. Her vision is clear, her dedication is steadfast, and he loves the dogs so her goals are always set with the future in mind. First and foremost, our human members are Search and Rescue Professionals. We must know how to navigate in widely varying terrains, during the day or at night, in any weather most likely dark and often raining or snowing. We need to be able to strategize to make sure our resources are used in the most effective way possible. We are out there searching for clues and information which will help locate the individual who is at risk. Our qualified dogs are one of the most important tools we use to help us, but they are just one of the tools. In order for both members and teams to be qualified to field, a lot of hours of training are donated and years of insight and knowledge are shared by all of our members. There is no single book or website to which an individual can go to and learn the vast amount of information that has been gathered and learned by our team over the years. No one in FRRD does this work for the praise or glory, we are here because we truly want to help those in need. We all realize that every step forward we or our dogs take in this process is due to the support of our teammates, that every find our dog makes is because of the foundation and guidance we have been given by those with whom we work. FRRD is first and foremost a team, and that team is made up of individuals with widely varied backgrounds. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys gardening, exercise and restoring a Austin Healey "Bug-eye" Sprite. Ryan resides with his wife, Ann, two boys, and their two dogs, two cats, and chickens. Buck's family are all working dogs, mostly on sheep and cattle ranches, and some also compete in agility. The reputations of these little working dogs—their unwavering focus, the drive to work all day and night, their agility and athleticism, their no-nonsense temperament, and, yes, their obsessive-compulsive leanings—were just the prerequisites for the suddenly extreme conditions, topography and situations that typify search work in Boulder County and across Colorado. He currently works as a family physician in Conifer, Colorado. Roger is currently fielding his 3rd qualified search dog, Finn, and training a pup, Brodie. When not participating in SAR activities Roger enjoys teaching wilderness medicine, mountain biking, rally racing, backpacking, skiing or snowboarding, and spending time on horseback. Canine: Finnegan "Finn" is a sable colored English Shepherd from Longmont who was initially supposed to end up in North Dakota herding cattle. When that transition fell through, he was adopted by Roger and quickly excelled at his new job as a Search and Rescue Dog. Finn loves spending time with his human and canine SAR teammates, and riding on anything that has wheels or otherwise moves although UTV's and snowmobiles are his top choices. Jenny grew up in Boulder and knows the county very well. She is an officer with the City of Boulder Police Department. The experience gained as a mock search subject, then Field Support Member, led her to her first search dog, Tika. She has boundless energy, a very strong search drive and an insatiable willingness to chase tennis balls. Roger is currently fielding his 3rd and 4th qualified search dogs, Finn and Brodie. Canine: Brodie is a sable colored English Shepherd dog who is 4 years younger than his older Brother Finn. Though both from the same parents, Brodie is quite a different dog. He is extremely athletic and loves to run and race any dog that cares to take him on. He is currently training for an Avalanche qualification as well. When he isn't working he loves to ride on anything that moves including tractors, ATV's, and snowmobiles. His favorite food is roasted cauliflower. After retiring as CIO and a VP of a large financial transactions company, he started his own computer and financial security consulting company. His unbounded energy and enthusiasm help get him through long days of searching. John and Echo are working on qualifying in Avalanche. Qualified Field Members Jeff Sparhawk Jeff has been involved in search and rescue since roughly .He was a handler with both Kiyla and Hiydn. Jeff is also a long time member of Rocky Mountain Rescue Group. With these nonprofits Jeff has had the good fortune to be able to balance work in the boardroom and time in the mountains on search and rescue operations, leading trainings at local, regional and national conferences, and evaluating search dog and mountain rescue teams throughout the west. Jeff now juggles a small son and running a solo law practice. He has been a firefighter with West Metro Fire Rescue for 15 years and is active on their wildland, dive and technical rescue teams. He was a volunteer with Boulder Rural Fire Rescue for 15 years before that. Tim spends most of his free time outdoors. He's an avid sailor, hiker and climber, having scaled Half Dome and El Capitan multiple times. Since moving to Boulder to pursue an education with the ultimate goal of becoming an emergency medicine physician, she has spent what free time she has adventuring outside. Running, skiing, hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking, give Bella time to think freeley and create new ideas to bring back to the rescue team and academic studies. She enjoys relating her studies to lessons learned in rescue to come at problems pulling from a more divers area of knowledge. She is currently training Ralph. April was a handler with Ankh. She has been involved with search and rescue as a dog handler since .Rusty will be her second certified search dog. Her previous search dog was certified in wilderness air scent. Kristen works as a freelance broadcast engineer traveling both US and internationally on large-scale sporting events and as a local dog trainer. She also spends time in the Grand Canyon as a backpacking guide. She is currently training a young and spirited Dutch Shepherd named Quest. She was born and raised in Annapolis Maryland. Darby is employed by CU Sports Medicine in clinical research. In her free time, she enjoys horseback riding, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and many other outdoor activities. Darby is training Chessie and Ruby. She is employed by Ball Aerospace in Information Technology. Debi is training Matty, an English Shepherd. He is a retired physicist and systems engineer. In Silicon Valley, he led research teams working on displays, imagers, and sensors. He has over 20 years of experience in industrial emergency response, doing hazmat, USAR, and medical. Beyond search and rescue, his interests include hiking, camping, cycling, XC and backcountry skiing, woodworking, and home brewing. Rusty and Ann Rusty is an English Shepherd who takes his job of trailing seriously. When not working he loves long hikes in the mountains and playing with his stuffed toy crab. Quest and Kristen Quest is a young Dutch Shepherd. His favorite things are: his mom, playing tug, and running around in the woods. Matty and Debi Matty is a black and white English Shepherd pup. Ruby and Darby Ruby is a red golden retriever who loves everyone she meets. She is a smart and outgoing puppy who has a lot to learn. Elli and Ann Ellie is a Golden Retriever. Her favorite activities include working, playing hard with her best friend Rusty, and getting hugs from her favorite people. Ralph and Bella Ralph is a rescue who has taught Bella to face every problem with complete enthusiasm and effort. In turn, Bella is teaching Ralph to help those who might need a rescue and that mud doesn't always need to come in the house. These dog teams paved the way and helped build the foundation of what FRRD is today. This list is only of those dogs that served with current Field Members. Kiyla was a constant and completely reliable companion. She needed almost no training, figuring out obedience and search skills with little direction. They had difficulty passing tests because they kept finding the subjects too quickly thus nulling the tests. With more successful finds than Jeff can remember she fielded on well over a hundred searches in many wonderful areas of Colorado. Kiyla was also a pretty good mountaineer and rock climber having summited hundreds of peaks and easy routes. She helped Jeff teach at many SAR academies and trainings. Kiyla was a great canine team player in that she was very adept at showing other search dogs how the game is played and was often used to help the newer pups when they got stuck with a concept. Kiyla was a once-in-a-lifetime partner. Ankh and April attended many trainings around the country learning various skills. Buster Ryan Root, Handler Buster was a pointing lab that was a little too rambunctious for a quiet life in the suburbs. After several barking citations, chewed-up table legs and dug-up carpets, his previous caretakers donated Buster to Ryan and Front Range Rescue Dogs in hopes of finding a positive channel for his energy. Wilderness search and rescue is a demanding trade, requiring the strength to charge through thickets and willow bogs, the endurance to cover hundreds of off-trail acres, and the discipline to work off-leash amongst all the wildlife distractions; it was just the ticket for Buster. Buster was able to locate two separate drowning victims, and picked-up a trail for a person missing for three days in Rocky Mountain National Park, establishing a direction of travel that guided a helicopter toward finding the lost person. Sadly, Buster's career was cut short due to blindness, brought on by progressive retinal atrophy, and epilepsy. Hiydn was qualified in Wilderness Air Scent and Avalanche. Hiydn was also a member of the Flight for Life Avalanche Deployment team. She never got a chance to deploy but she was always happy to be out in the snow. She picked up search work really quickly and had a natural talent for it. They also Qualified in Evidence. She also trained in Human Remains and Water. Rascal was a part of many interesting searches — her first search was for a missing ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park. She had been flown into searches in helicopters. She helped search for human remains and airplane parts in two different plane crashes. Along with numerous wilderness searches, Rascal helped in water searches, fire investigations, and urban missions. She was eager and enthusiastic when it came to her search work. Tika was a steady search companion and patient teacher of handlers and pups alike. Having looked at over dogs from local shelters and at Best Friends', as well as all the surrounding shelters, Ryan decided to take a chance with Scout. One couldn't ask for a better ambassador to the public; Scout adored children and loved to show off. Puppy pads Create a Schedule German Shepherd pups would do well with a schedule. Dogs live with a routine, and they are easy to train by having one. For this reason, make a schedule of the things you need to do regularly. Eventually, your pup will learn the routine events and will make itself adept at them. It will help you prepare for your pet, especially in the first few days of living together. As you allow your pet to adjust, do your best to create a stress-free environment for it. Always supervise it as it familiarizes itself with its new home. Still, it would be best to prepare yourself for loud noises when your pet is asleep. Moderate Training German Shepherds are highly trainable. It simply means they respond well, especially to positive reinforcement. Squeaky Toys Out of all toys, your pet will love the squeaky ones. For this reason, prepare for a lot of loud squeaks every time your pet is active. Thus, in picking your pet, you may want to consider getting it from the best. Tells you any health problems A good breeder will tell you any significant health problems in any of the dogs he or she bred. Asks more questions than you A good breeder would ask for more items from you than you would for him or her. Not in a hurry to send off A good breeder is not in a hurry to send the puppies off and get your money. He or she will even show you other breeders and veterinarians caring for their dogs. Requires expectations on both sides A good breeder will create a contract that offers not only what he or she expects from you. More than that, he or she will also show what you can expect from him or her. Sends puppies properly A good breeder will never send a puppy in a compartment and without any responsible person to go with it. Works only with one or two breeds A good breeder works only with a single or a couple of species. Shows breeding experience A good breeder shows her dogs in recognized confirmation shows. He or she will also join his or her breed in other breed-related performance events. Other states. Snow Capped Shepherd Rescueis a Denver, Colorado based, volunteer-run non-profit c 3 organization. We do not have a shelter, instead all of our rescued dogs are housed with caring foster families…a temporary stop on their way to happily-ever-after. The problem. The reason so many dogs and cats have to be rescued in the first place is that there are not enough homes. Too many dogs and cats are sadly born to die. Do your part, spay and neuter your pets and encourage others to do the same. The solution. We rescue White German Shepherds of all sizes, ages and personalities. These dogs come to us from former owners, shelters or as strays. Sadly, shelters and humane societies are over-run with homeless pets and tragically must euthanize thousands of adoptable pets every month to make room for more. Why would you need to buy a pet when so many are in need? Foster homes provide care and love for these wonderful dogs while we work to find them permanent homes. Plus, by living in a true home setting, our adoptable animals become better prepared for their new adopted families. Matching responsible guardians with our adoptable dogs takes place through our adoption process. We carefully interview potential adopters to ensure that the right match is made. We ask questions about lifestyle, desired activity level, work situation and gather other pertinent information from potential adopters. Too often pets end up unwanted because they were never a good match for their previous home in the first place. At Snow Capped Shepherd Rescue, we look for people who intend to provide a home for a lifetime and understand what that requires. Visit their website for more information on how your kids can have fun at camp too!

These are dogs that are strong, intelligent, alert, courageous, energetic, and loyal. The breed excels as a guardian and these dogs can be trained to perform a range of important tasks. But most of all, this is a dog that protects the ones he or she loves and holds dear. Naming Advice When it comes to naming your German Shepherd, there are a variety of factors to keep in mind. Check out these super cute Pet ID Tags! Personality Finding the right name may not be immediately apparent, and sometimes it takes a while to decide which moniker fits your pup best. Wait for his or her personality to fully emerge before choosing the ideal name. Spend a little time with your new friend and the perfect name will come. Name Length A good rule of thumb is to keep the number of syllables in the dog's name to one or two at most. Three is acceptable but the shorter the name, the easier it is for your dog to hear and respond to commands. Clear communication is imperative for German Shepherds, particularly during training. Avoid Confusion Some names may sound like commands and this will only serve to confuse your pup. If you name your German Shepherd something that sounds identical to those and other commands, obedience is going to be an uphill battle for both you and your pet. Perhaps one of these names will fit your pet best, or maybe these names will help you think of the best possible name for your particular pup. German Shepherds have distinct personality traits and all of these names can reflect those attributes every time you call his or her name. Choosing the right name for your male German Shepherd is a fascinating endeavor. While contemplating, consider the defining attributes of the breed — their unparalleled intelligence, formidable strength, and remarkable adaptability. A Brainstorming Activity If you find yourself struggling to land on the perfect name, why not try a little observation? Spend some quality time with your new German Shepherd puppy or rescue dog, and simply watch them. Note down every detail, from the color of their coat to their distinct walking style, and any observable personality traits. Not only will this activity foster an immediate bond with your new puppy, but it will also serve as a rich source of naming inspiration! Among the thousands of potential names, certain ones stand out as fitting for male German Shepherds. As a breed known for their bravery, intelligence, and capability, they deserve a name that reflects their stature. Rin Tin Tin was a star of the silver screen, featuring in 26 Warner Brothers films from the early 20th century until his death in .Buddy, another prominent name, belonged to the first seeing eye dog owned and trained by Frank Morris. The intelligence, trainability, and strength of the dog meant that it was soon adapted for other purposes, such as being police dogs, military dogs, and, of course, household pets. German shepherds have a rich history, and this can offer some interesting naming options. Beowulf — one of the first puppies of the breed, ideal for strong dogs with sweet personalities Heinz von Starkenburg — one of the first puppies of the breed, perfect if they are sweet like baked beans Hektor Linksrhein — after the father of the breed, a great name if you are adopting an older German shepherd Horand von Grafrath — Horand or Grafrath after the very first German shepherd recognized at shows, the ideal name for sleeker examples of the breed Max von Stephanitz — Max or Stephan or Stephanie after the founder of the breed Phylax — after the Phylax society founded in the late 19th century to standardize the breed Pilot — one of the first puppies of the breed, and a name for a dog that likes to take the lead on walks Names Of German Gods And Goddesses Pre-Christian Germanic religion is a rich and interesting culture linked closely to the Norse religion. Why not name your German shepherd after one of their fierce gods or goddesses? Why not name your dog after some of the famous Germans that have made their mark on history. Keep It Short Choose something short, ideally only one or two syllables, or at least something that can be shortened. This is because it is easier for dogs to learn shorter names, which means they will start responding when you call sooner than if you chose a longer and more complicated name for them. Considering that it is the nickname that you will be using most often and that they will recognize best, make sure you consider their nickname just as carefully as their full name. Consider The First Letter It is a good idea to choose something that starts with a sibilant consonant or blend consonants, such as an S or an SH, or a hard commanding consonant like a K or C. These subtle choices will make it easier for your dog to distinguish their name from all the other ambient noise around them, which means it will also be easier for you to get their attention. Avoid Names That Sound Like Other Important Words Avoid names that sound too much like commands that you will use regularly, as this can just confuse your pup. If their name sounds too much like a command that you use regularly, such as sit or stay, they may confuse the two words. This is why it is rarely a good idea to choose something rude or potentially offensive. All too often, people give their dogs names that they think are funny at the time and then find they are embarrassed to use it later. Remember, everyone in your family who is responsible for your dog will also need to be able to use their name with ease. You can read our guide to teaching your dog their name here. The Verdict Finding the perfect name for your dog really is about exposing yourself to lots of inspiration and ideas until you come across something that feels right. After that, you should sense-check your name to make sure it works. Hopefully, the lists in this article have provided you with some inspiration and our guidelines for checking a name can help you find the perfect name for your German shepherd pup. Do you have any recommendations for the perfect name for a German shepherd? Share them with the community in the comments section below. Related Article:.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Take back control of their behavior using these quick and easy solutions to stop German Shepherd biting that actually works. Even better, have a set of toys that are only used when you want to engage in play with your puppy. Hide these toys in a basket or box after your game of play. This makes them extra special. They are under your control and your dog must give them back to you. Special toys are more fun for your pup to bite than you. When in doubt of what special toy your dog likes, choose from this specially-curated list of what toys German Shepherds love for interactive toy ideas to keep your dog entertained. Say OUCH! When your pup bites you, say OUCH firmly. This simple technique catches the attention of many puppies when done correctly and can train a German Shepherd puppy to not bite you. You could also make a YIP sound instead, just like their little brother and sisters would make a yipping noise when playing too rough. If they continue to bite and nip, say OUCH again and then get up immediately and leave the room for a few moments. You may return to play but keep repeating this simple process until they learn to keep their teeth on their toys. This will only encourage them to continue their unwanted behavior. Use Puppy-Safe Partition Gates Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent your German Shepherd from jumping over. If your pup bites you aggressively when you and your family walk past you, then use an exercise pen or this German Shepherd-sized pet safe partition gate to contain them. Only use pet-safe partition gates that are high enough to prevent and discourage your German Shepherd from jumping over to continue to try and bite you. Use the items during busy times in your home to keep your dog calm and out of areas that might increase their excitement and biting and nipping you. Puppies tend to bite and chew when their teeth are coming in. They do this to relieve the pain and help soothe themselves. Freeze a durable large Kong with their favorite treats and kibble and have them on hand for times when your dog is acting out and biting you. Give them a Kong to gnaw on and bring icy relief to their gums. Plus, chewing has been shown to help relax and calm dogs. Redirections are actions that keep your pup from engaging in unwanted behavior by showing them appropriate behavior. For example: When your dog nips you, find their teething toy to bite instead. When your dog jumps on you to bite your hands or ankles, look around for a Kong to give to them to bite on. Squeaky toys like this toy that continues to squeak , even after a puncture, are ideal to distract your dog from your hand to another object. These toys differ from their special toys mentioned above because these redirection toys are ones you leave out for your pup to chew most of the time. So, be sure to have them nearby! Use Daily Leadership Skills How many times a day do you teach your German Shepherd to listen to you and offer them leadership? Use daily interactions as an effective way of teaching your dog about leadership. Have them sit before you take them for a walk or exiting a door. Ignore them altogether. Only offer them interaction and come back to them when they show you calming behaviors. Our dogs love our attention. And German Shepherds crave it! An overfed dog that is under-exercised may display destructive behaviors because of boredom and lack of energy needs being met. Get up off the couch and go outside for a walk and sniff party. Low impact activities and free-running off-leash running are best. Choose from a list of fun and gentle, age-appropriate German Shepherd puppy exercises to keep your pup healthy and better behaved. Stop roughhousing with your dog before it frustrates them. Use appropriate, puppy-safe toys instead of play sessions. This way, your pup can bite the toy instead of your fingers, hands, or arms. You may also stress out your GSD by engaging them rough of play. For your pup to either keep up with the play or stop you from too rough play, they may bite you! From day one, avoid play that involves mouthing or teeth on the skin. Use toys to provide your dog a way they can bite to release their energy… Without nipping you! And this game is great because it teaches your dog a necessary life skill. Practice the game: multiple times a day for 2 to 3 minutes at a time Your pup learns impulse control during the game and this transfers over to their ability to stop themselves from biting you. Read below for the easy-to-follow directions. If your dog gets too worked up and then bites, then teach them this Rev Up and Cool Down game. After a few running steps and before your pup gets too excited, stop running and walk slowly. Keep moving slowly until your dog also slows down. When you see them slow down, take a few more steps calmly and peacefully. Continue with steps one through three. Each time your dog should slow down sooner and quicker. If your puppy knows any of these basic German Shepherd commands , incorporate those commands to make the training more interesting and fun. The link above will also easily explain how to teach over ten commands! The point of the Rev Up and Cool Down game is to teach them to settle and stay calm without nipping and biting you. You need to keep your pup exercised, mentally stimulated, and show them what calming behavior is. Be fair and understanding. A Shepherd is a joy to own when given the direction they desire and the commitment they need. Found this helpful? Share it! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Despite the fact that play biting, or mouthing, is normal dog behavior and may be cute at 8 weeks, if not curbed, as the dog grows, it can become downright painful and a nuisance to get under control. The correction is very simple-the puppy on the receiving end of the painful bite will yelp and stop paying with the offending puppy. After a beat or two, the play resumes but this lesson eventually teaches the pups how to control the intensity of their bites on each other. Controlling mouthing, along with house training, is usually one of the first lessons puppies learn and it takes time, consistency, and patience to get past this phase of life. There are usually two types of dog owners, those that allow some play biting and those that allow none. Teaching a dog not to bite human skin is the purpose of this article and has many benefits to the dog and owner. How to teach your dog to stop mouthing: Very young puppies explore their worlds with their mouths and will need continuous training and reminders. When a young puppy bites hard, let out a loud yelp and allow your hand to go limp. That sends the message that the game is over for the moment. You can expect your puppy to resume play and each time he bites too hard, you will repeat the yelp to get his attention and praise the moment he stops biting. If this is not effective for the young puppy, when the puppy bites hard, yelp and when he lets go remove your hand for 15 seconds. This will teach the puppy that rough play ends the fun but gentle play continues it. As the puppy grows, training him to stop biting skin can begin. How to teach a puppy to stop biting skin: Substitute a chew toy when the puppy gets too rough or bites fingers and toes. When the puppies is overexcited and play bites when being handled or petted, feed treats or distract with a toy while you handle him. Encourage age appropriate play, chase the ball or tug rather than biting your hands. If the puppy bites your pant legs, shoes, ankles, and feet, offer a tug as an alternative. Carry the tug with you during puppy training or play times. Provide a variety of toys and textures for the puppy to explore. If possible, allow the puppy to play with other puppies or friendly dogs. As the puppy grows, if he bites our skin, continue to yelp and stop the play. As he matures, you can also turn your back on the puppy to stop play. Never entice your puppy to bite by smacking his face or waving your fingers in front of him. Never use your hand as a tug toy or allow him to pull on your body parts. Your goal is to startle your dog so he stops playing and mouthing for 10 to 20 seconds. Once your dog has learned to control his bite pressure the next step is to teach him to stop mouthing completely. When your dog gently mouths you, begin yelping and redirecting him to a chew toy whenever he touches your skin. If he continues to put his mouth on your skin then yelp and walk away from him for 30 to 60 seconds. Continue playing games and redirecting him with toys until he stops mouthing. If your dog is still mouthing you after you've tried all of these training options then you may want to try redirecting him by putting dog repellent sprays or bad tasting mouth wash on your hands. The last thing you want to happen is to frustrate your dog and have him become aggressive or fearful of you. If you find it cute that your little German Shepherd puppy is biting your hand, think again! GSDs grow-up to become strong and muscular dogs. However, once a GSD pup grows , its biting habits are not cute at all. Trust me on this one. Little pups that bite on hands or chew on toys are doing so because they are developing teeth. Recently, we got a new addition to our GSD family, a cute male named Bobby, and surely Bobbly likes to bite everything. We did order a set of tug ropes for him and it is working. Here is the model that we ordered from Chewy. They chew on toys because their gums feel irritated and to make the pain go away, they bite and chew on things. This behavior during the teething period is very normal and not much of a problem. Another reason that GSDs bite a lot is that they did not receive proper training as pups. When people start to appreciate or encourage GS biting or nipping, they are making it develop this into a habit. Your dog will start to bite at visitors and household items. This is a problem that needs to be controlled right away or else someone will end up getting hurt. If you let your GSD bite and nip, you are letting it take over. Biting and nipping is also a play game for GSD pups. They like to bite other pups in the litter, and this is usually harmless. However, when a pup gets hurt unintentionally, it makes a loud sound. This sound is an indication for the pup that it is hurt, and it is time to stop. There are several ways you can train your pup not to bite or nip. If your pup is biting because of teething, it is not a problem. The first step is to tell your dog that biting is not acceptable. You will do this with the help of voice commands , body language, and hand signals. When you stop playing with your pup the moment it bites, it will associate no play with biting. Repeat this practice whenever your GSD bites or nips. It will help your GSD learn that biting and nipping is not appreciated. Put your other finger lightly beneath its chin. Your pup will not be able to bite you and in this uncomfortable situation, it will try to get your fingers out of its mouth. This is an effective technique that will make the puppy feel uncomfortable and it will avoid biting you. Remember, you will have to repeat this technique several times until your pup completely hates taking your hand in its mouth. Pull your hand backward and pinch your pup in the neck. Do not pinch too tightly. This will make the pup associate pinching with No, and it will soon stop biting you. Be Consistent in what You Teach If you are trying to train your dog to behave and stop biting and nipping, make sure you are doing it with consistency and repetition. While training a GSD, you will need to repeat your technique several times until it starts to learn. Your GSD needs to know that biting and nipping is not acceptable and will upset you. You will also need to become the leader of your dog, not a friend of the same level. When the dog accepts you as a leader, it starts to follow the rules you set and the commands you give. Do not let your puppy bite on your hands during the training process. Reward Good Behavior If your dog is doing well and following your orders, do not forget to offer it a treat. Food treats are a kind of reward that you offer your dog only when it learns something. Make sure you have enough treats with you when you are training your pup. This way your GSD will learn that no biting means a yummy treat. You can also sign-up for our newsletter to get an expert opinion on GSD behaviors. Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! An aggressive pound dog pouncing on you can get quite ugly fast. Think broken bones, damaged muscles, deep lacerations, bruises, scars, and expensive medical bills. German Shepherds have a bite force of PSI pound-force per square inch, or the measure of strength that a bite inflicts on the victim , compared to humans with a bite force of PSI. In fact, the American Animal Hospital Association lists the German Shepherd as one of the six breeds with the most dangerous bites, based on a US study. Therefore, training your GSD to inhibit her bite is mandatory as it not only rewards you with a well-behaved dog, but also ensures your safety as well as the safety of the people around you. A crucial step towards correcting this nasty behavior is to first understand why German Shepherd puppies bite. Nipping or biting stems from various reasons. Understanding the root of the behavior will equip you with the proper corresponding countermeasures to correct it. German Shepherds Have a High Prey Drive One of the primary and distinct characteristics thatmake a German Shepherd a popular choice for police and military work is their high prey drive, coupled with their intelligence and high trainability. Take a look at the video below showing what GSDs were originally bred for. GSDs also have a natural inclination to chase almost everything that moves in their surroundings. They Are Teething As early as two weeks old, the baby teeth of pups start to come out. Puppies use their mouth to explore their environment, so nipping is to be expected. This behavior, called teething, can last until the puppy is six months old when all her adult teeth have started showing. Teething is very uncomfortable for puppies and can lead to sore gums, so puppies turn to anything to chew to soothe the discomfort. Unfortunately, this can include biting you! They May Be Taken From the Litter Too Early Young puppies learn to naturally inhibit their biting through socialization with their mother and their siblings. A puppy does not quite understand yet the force of her own bite unless she bites too hard and the recipient reacts by yelping out of pain. Taking a puppy away from her mother prematurely will therefore deprive her the chance to learn important socialization skills. As a rule of thumb, the American Kennel Club AKC recommends that you take home a puppy that is no less than eight weeks old. By this time, the puppy should have had ample time to interact with her playmates and learn bite inhibition. We concur that you should never take home a puppy that is less than 8 weeks old. In fact, more than half of the states in the U. This does not mean, however, that your puppy will completely stop nipping. As the new parent, it is your job to continue training the dog so that any subsequent bites should be gentler. For more on selecting the right German Shepherd puppy from a litter, including additional information on the proper age, what to look for in a puppy, and what to expect from ethical breeders, be sure to check out the 2 articles linked below: How to Buy a German Shepherd Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide The Puppy Might Be Overstimulated, Fearful, or Anxious Sometimes puppies lose control of their bite because of overstimulation. Overstimulation can happen during playtime, or when your puppy has become cranky due to teasing. Your GSD puppy may also bite out of fear. Your puppy has but 2 defenses — to run away or to bite. If your puppy feels cornered, then biting is the defense that she will most often resort to. Because biting is normal canine behavior and GSDs are a breed that is more prone to it, the goal here is to inhibit the bite, not completely stop it. Do Start Training Early We keep mentioning throughout this site that training and socializing your GSD as soon as you get her home is crucial. Although training older dogs is not impossible, it is true that it is easier to train younger puppies, when habits are still new and can be easily corrected. If left untrained, adult German Shepherds can be prone to aggression towards other animals and humans, which can result in tragic situations. To get a better understanding of what is involved with these necessary steps, be sure to read these 2 excellent articles: German Shepherd Training Guide: All You Need to Know Do Use Toys as Alternative Items to Chew Puppies will nib on your hands or your feet especially during the teething stage. Train this behavior away by offering the puppy a toy whenever she starts biting your hand or your ankles. This teaches her what is acceptable to bite and which is not. It is good practice to always keep a chew toy nearby in anticipation of the biting behavior. She needs to understand that biting ends playtime and that it does not give her anything in return. In the Alpha Roll , the human pins down the dog on the floor on his side or back and holds that position to exert dominance. Besides, it has also been proven in many studies that dogs have very different behavior from wolves. Pinning your dog will cause him to freeze out of fear, which can also turn into aggression. It also teaches your dog that physical touch is something to be feared. Nobody wants to be punished by hand, not humans and certainly not dogs either. Do Reward Good Behavior Dog trainers and experts agree that positive reinforcement using rewards are highly effective in forming and keeping desirable behaviors as a puppy matures into an adult dog. If her nose touches your fingers without biting them, give her a treat and praise generously. Hold off the treat if she bites. Do this repeatedly until she associates the treat the reward with not biting your hand the good behavior. In fact, most dog bite cases in children occurred because of teasing! Instead, teach your child to be gentle with your pet , as even unintentional rough play can result in unwanted events. Dogs get cranky too, especially when they get hurt or feel that their privacy is being invaded. Never leave your child alone with your puppy unattended. Supervise their interactions at all times. Studies show that parents trust their dog around their kids too much that they overlook the signs that the dog is in distress. For tug games, keep in mind, however, that your dog must be calm and not overstimulated before playing. Otherwise, your puppy may get too serious and hold on to the rope too much. The AKC recommends that for breeds that are prone to aggression such as German Shepherds, tug-of-war can be safely carried out if the puppy knows you are in control and follows your commands. Once this has been established, a game of tugging can be used both as an exercise and as a reward for your dog. When playing, always remember to be gentle with tugging as your puppy still has baby teeth! By doing this, you are also socializing your puppy with other animals — an essential skill to learn for a well-rounded behavior. That being said, do not completely write off playing with your puppy! Playtime is still an excellent opportunity to bond with your dog, but make sure to keep it safe and fun by establishing boundaries. This method, however, is a matter of trial and error. Some puppies respond to this positively. On the other hand, many puppies get aroused by this and become even more aggressive. If you yelp and she stops biting without expressing any signs of aggression, the method has perhaps worked. You are then free to continue doing so until the puppy learns to stop biting hard. On the other hand, temper tantrums, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , are characterized by a stiff body, lips pulled back to show teeth, and growling. Biting will be more forceful and painful, since the behavior is typically caused by fear or anger. A German Shepherd puppy may be more prone to displaying this behavior, especially around unruly children. Bite inhibition is crucial especially among German Shepherds, a breed that is widely reported to be the culprit of many dog bites in America. Bite inhibition is simply one of the many important skills that your GSD must learn during her training. It can spell the difference between gentle playing and aggressive biting that leads to serious injuries. Always remember that dogs have feelings, too. They are not perfect little angels that never get angry. Even the most well-mannered dog in the world will snap out of irritation.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Also known as the beagador, the beagle Lab mix is an increasingly popular designer breed. Created by crossing a purebred Labrador retriever with a purebred beagle, this mix combines the best of both worlds. If you are looking for an active, fun, and playful family companion, the beagle Labrador mix might be a perfect choice. Medium-sized, highly energetic, and sometimes mischievous, this crossbreed will keep you on your toes and provide hours of entertainment. This mix needs a lot of activity and mental stimulation to behave nicely and can turn into a real menace when not properly exercised. Whether you are looking for a family companion or an energetic canine to be your exercise buddy, the Lab beagle mix fits the bill! Read on to learn everything you need to know before welcoming a beagador into your home! Beagle Lab Mix Dog Overview Size — 19 to 24 inches tall, weighs between 30 and 80 pounds Coat — Short double coat, color varies Shedding — Moderate shedding Lifespan — 12 to 15 years Temperament — Friendly, lively, curious, and affectionate Trainable — Highly trainable, but can become bored if not mentally stimulated Activity — Very active needs from 30 minutes to an hour of vigorous activity every day Best For — Active people, families, and homes with fenced backyards What Is A Beagle And Lab Mix? The beagle Lab mix dog is a designer breed, developed by crossing a purebred Labrador retriever and a purebred beagle. This mix goes by several names, including beagador, labbe, labbe retriever, and labeagle. While both parent breeds are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, the beagador is considered a designer dog breed. While some Labrador beagle mix dogs are a perfect blend of their parent breeds, others take more after one parent than the other. Keeping that in mind, there are a few things you can expect to see in your mix in terms of size and coat. Size As an offspring of a beagle and Labrador retriever, your Lab beagle mix will likely be a medium-sized dog. Most labbe retrievers are between 19 and 24 inches high at withers and weigh between 30 and 80 pounds when fully grown. Color There are three officially recognized Labrador colors — yellow , black, and chocolate. However, the beagle has 25 possible color combinations and can come in a variety of colors, including tan, brown, white, lemon, blue, black, red, fawn, bluetick, and redtick. Like all other double-coated breeds, your labeagle is going to shed moderately all year round and lose even more hair during the shedding season. Beagle Lab Dog Character There is no way of guessing the exact personality and temperament of any mixed-breed dog, including the beagle Lab dog. People-loving and affectionate, this mix makes a great family dog and gets along nicely with children who know how to play and interact with a dog. Before you welcome a beagle and Lab mix into your home, know that these dogs are very social creatures that crave attention and companionship. When not provided with the affection and attention they need, labbes can develop behavioral problems and turn to digging and howling. Beagadors need up to one hour of vigorous exercise every day, and they generally enjoy all sorts of activities. Jogging, hiking, swimming, and cycling are just a few of many things you can do with your dog to keep them exercised. A word of caution though — make sure you are using a leash while out and about with your mix. Beagles are scent hounds, and your mix will likely inherit a strong urge to sniff and chase after new scents. These dogs thrive and are the happiest when included in all family activities. If you have a fenced backyard, let your dog out to run, play, and sniff new scents for as long as they want to. Intellectual Stimulation Besides being highly energetic, labbe retrievers are also very smart and can get bored without proper mental stimulation. And when they are bored, lebbes are also destructive and will resort to chewing, digging, and howling just to have some fun. Companionship Beagadors are social and people-loving dogs that like to be involved in all family activities. They are best suited for larger families or homes that are never empty, meaning your dog will rarely, if ever, stay home alone. They crave attention and companionship and can easily develop behavioral issues when left alone at home. Grooming The beagle Labrador mix is a low-maintenance dog when it comes to grooming. When it comes to bathing, bathe your beagador once every two months or as needed using a mild dog shampoo. Diet The ideal diet for the Labrador beagle mix should be formulated for medium-sized dogs with high energy. Please note, like their parent breeds, beagadors tend to overeat and can easily pack on the extra pounds and become obese. The Labrador beagle mix is generally healthy, but they can inherit the same health problems that are seen in their parent breeds. These include: Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: This condition is commonly seen in Labs and is characterized by malformation of the hip and elbow joints. Both of these conditions are extremely painful for the dog and can lead to arthritis, mobility issues, and lameness. Epilepsy: This is a neurological condition and the most common cause of seizures in dogs. Epilepsy is an inherited disorder that is commonly seen in beagles. Cherry Eye: This is another condition that is more often diagnosed in beagles than Labs. Life Expectancy The Lab beagle mix has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. However, with proper care and regular veterinary checkups, beagadors can live longer and reach senior years completely healthy. Training a beagador might go either way, depending on which parent your pup takes more after. Most Labrador beagle mix dogs are highly intelligent and eager-to-please, just like their Lab parents. To keep your pooch interested in learning and training, use positive reinforcement, and always give your dog a reward when they follow your command. Reward-based training has been proven as the most effective training method and will give results even if your mix is too headstrong for its own good. Besides training, you should also start socializing your mix from an early age. Start exposing your beagador to different people, situations, places, and scents after they receive all the necessary vaccines. This way, your dog will get used to interacting with other people and animals from a young age and grow up into a friendly and outgoing dog. The Lab beagle mix makes a great pet and companion to active people and families with children. But, if you are active, spend most of your time outdoors, and have a fenced backyard the beagador might just be the perfect dog for you! As always, talk with the breeder first and schedule an appointment to meet the puppy and the mother. They will also be able to provide health certificates for the puppies and the parents that show their dogs are completely healthy. The exact price of the puppy will depend on the breeder, your location, lineage, and supply and demand. History Of The Breeds Beagle The beagle is a small breed of scent hound, primarily developed to track and hunt small game, mostly rabbits and hare. While beagles are still used by hunters as scent hounds, they also make wonderful family pets and companions. Labrador Retriever The Labrador retriever originated in Newfoundland, where it was originally used by fishermen to retrieve fish. The breed was later brought to England where it was developed into a hard worker and companion we know today. Eager-to-please, friendly, loyal, and kind are just a few of many traits that make Labradors universally loved and extremely popular. Labrador retrievers make amazing family companions and pets and are also used as search and rescue dogs and service dogs. Lab beagle mixes make wonderful family pets to active people or families with children. They are social, playful, and energetic dogs that like to be involved in all family activities and spend time with their owners. Keep in mind that beagadors can easily become bored and destructive if not properly exercised. How much do beagadors cost? Keep in mind that this is the average cost and you might end up spending more depending on the breeder, your location, and supply and demand for Labrador beagle mix puppies. Do beagadors like swimming? Depending on which parent breed it takes after more,your Lab beagle mix might enjoy swimming. If your beagador is anything like their Labrador retriever parent, they will love to swim in the water. Conclusion The increasingly popular beagle Lab mix makes a great companion and family pet to active people and families with children. Medium in size, easy to groom, and generally healthy, beagadors are suited for novice and experienced owners alike. Before you welcome a Labrador beagle mix into your home, make sure you can: Keep your dog exercised and mentally stimulated Have a fenced backyard for your mix to play in Have enough free time to interact and play with your beagador every day Do you have a Beagle Lab Mix? If so, what is your dog like? Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. A Beagador puppy should grow into a medium-sized, chunky adult although there can be some variation. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the show type Labs - big, chunky dogs that carry far more weight. These Labs can top the scales at a hefty 80 lbs 36 kg at adulthood, while also reaching a not too shabby .In contrast, if you have ever seen a pack of Beagles you will understand that they are far more uniform in size. This medium-sized hound reaches an adult weight of around lbs kg , with a maximum height of 15 inches 38 cm. Your best bet is to look at the parents, especially the Lab side of the equation. As a rough estimate, they are likely to range from between inches tall 61 cm with a weight range of lbs 11 - 20 kg ; making them a medium-sized dog. Despite this, remember that there are no guarantees when producing a cross and there can often be a wide variation between a single litter of puppies! When buying a puppy, ensure that both parents have still been health tested. Major problems for the Labrador and Beagle include hip dysplasia and degenerative eye conditions ; both of which are hereditary. This means that the problem can be passed down from the parents to the puppies. The American Kennel Club provides a list of health checks that breeders should adhere to, ask the breeder to see the relevant paperwork before you buy. It is easy to get carried away when faced with a litter of adorable puppies, but problems such as hip dysplasia can cause your little bundle of fluff a world of pain when they mature and could result in them needing surgery. At the end of the day, always ensure your little Labbe puppy has been bred not just for looks, but also health and temperament too. How easy will a Beagle Lab mix be to train? The Labbeagle is a mix of two very different types of dog. On the one hand, you have the Labrador; a powerful, agile gundog that was historically bred to spend the whole day out in the field retrieving game shot by his owner. They are used to being exceptionally obedient , responding to commands in an instant. In contrast to this is the Beagle who needed to be capable of independent working, using their exceptional sense of smell to track prey and hunt it down with little input from people. With such variation between the two parents, your Labbe puppies personality can be a little unpredictable! You may have a pup that enjoys learning and in some respects is easy to train. Yet be prepared that you might also have a puppy that develops selective deafness should something more exciting come along! A Labbe puppy and adult can often have a mind of their own, something a new owner should be prepared for. Of course, this situation can be mitigated by ensuring your puppy attends training classes as soon as their vaccines have been completed. Not only will they learn to respond to commands amid distractions, but it also provides a safe environment for them to socialize with other dogs. Otherwise, you could find they take you hunting for the day! They can be incredibly vocal! Cats especially will soon make a break for it and if your Beagador decides to give chase, not only could they hurt the cat but they could also hurt themselves if they run into a road. Their coat might be short, but be prepared for them to shed lots of hair Both the Beagle and Labrador have short, no-nonsense coats suitable for an active working dog. However, do not be deceived by this. Although short, your Beagle Lab is likely to shed lots of hair, particularly when the seasons change. Not only will this help keep your home cleaner but it can also help cut down on the hoovering! Both breeds have been bred to work well with people, and this easygoing nature ensures that as long as the children are well behaved, your dog will be too. Cuddle time is a winner with this mix, and they are also exceptionally loyal. Of course, it is important to remember that this temperament will come from you puppies parents too, so again make sure you meet them before you buy. If this sounds like your sort of dog, do not get a Labbeagle! This breed has a strong working instinct gained from both its parents, resulting in a dog that needs not only physical exercise but mental stimulation too. If these needs are not met, the result can be a noisy, destructive dog capable of doing some serious furniture damage when you are away from home. Try to avoid leaving your Beagle Lab mix for more than a few hours at a time. I would aim for two decent walks a day one hour each ; this is the bare minimum that they should receive. This will ensure that they can stretch their legs, meet other doggy friends and have a good sniff around to work that fantastic nose of theirs. This regular exercise will also ensure that they avoid becoming overweight. By ensuring they have plenty of free running time, you will keep off the pounds. An obese dog is not only at risk from weight-related diseases such as diabetes and arthritis, but ultimately they will have a shorter lifespan too. Conclusion If your idea of a dream dog is a loving sofa companion that will also enjoy spending several hours each day galavanting around the countryside with you, then a Labrador-Beagle mix could be the dog for you. Just remember to put in the hours with the training in the early days, and you will be rewarded with a well-mannered pet in the long run. Own a Labbe already? Thinking of getting one? Let us know in the comments below! 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. Eye and Ear Examination Hip and Elbow X-Rays These tests will help in the early diagnosis of your pets and get them treated immediately afterward. These tests will also help you know if your dog has acquired one or more of the following health concerns for their hybrid: Gastric Torsion. Some cases could also include the sudden death of the dog. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia. A common skeletal condition in dogs wherein the elbow or hip joints do not fit or develop properly, which results in gradual deterioration and eventual loss of function. Congenital Heart Defect. This is caused by a heart disease which can affect one or both sides of the heart. It sometimes progresses slowly, taking years before it is spotted in a dog. Osteochondritis Dissecans. It occurs when abnormal cartilage develops on the end of a bone in their joints. It is a result of the disruption in the blood supply of the affected bone. In some cases, the Lab Beagle hybrid can also develop Glaucoma. There are also cases in which minor health concerns appear in dogs such as the Otitis Externa, Cataract, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Lab mixed with Beagle Food Requirements In choosing what to feed your dog, keep in mind their age and lifestyle. Younger dogs will thrive on these best puppy food brands, and the Beagle Lab mix will make the most of available nutrients if you opt for one of our best large breed dry dog food picks. Your Lab Beagle pup might be on the smaller side of the dog-size scale. If so, your vet will almost certainly approve that the dog munches on any of the best dry dog food for small dogs. Depending on their exercise habits, the Lab mix should consume between 1. If your pet is an older pooch, they will be better off with one of the best senior dry dog food brands. Checking their eating habits frequently should also be done to prevent overeating which might lead to dog obesity. Another thing that can help you keep their weight in check is choosing among best dry dog food and staying away from artificial preservative-filled worst dry dog food in the market. Feeding them should occur twice a day rather than in a single large meal to prevent bloating. Here are some of the best dog foods for active puppies like the beagle lab mix: Canidae Grain-Free Pure Foundations Puppy — This dog food contains chicken, chicken broth, dried egg, peas, salmon oil, and many more. Recommended for all puppies including those of the larger breeds, it helps with the growth of the puppy. It has an above-average protein and fat, as well as below-average carbohydrates when compared to the conventional wet dog food. It has above-average protein and fat content and lower carb content. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy — Comprised mostly of buffalo, lamb meal, sweet potatoes, egg product, and pea protein, this dog food is recommended for puppies of all breed in all its life stages. It has above average protein, near average fat, and low carb content. Another way to provide your pup with essential nutrients and the right amount of fat and protein is to include premium-quality supplements that will give your dog extra energy. They are ready to join you in any kind of excursion, may it be a beach trip, a forest walk, or a hike in the mountains, anytime. Just make sure to keep them in a leash because if they caught a scent of something they find interesting, their curiosity might take over. They are quite fond of swimming and will love to participate in a game of fetch, ball, or frisbee to burn off extra energy. This hybrid will also do well in dog sports like agility and tracking. They are advised to live in a household with a fenced yard, which they would not be able to dig under. This hybrid is known to be excellent diggers after all. They are not really sensitive when it comes to weather and climate but just make sure to walk them in the morning or the evenings and not in the middle of the day when the sun is glaring too hot from the sky. Their recommended weekly mileage is 14 miles with at least 60 minutes of daily activities. You must also keep your dog within the recommended weight range so maintain their health at a maximum. Some experts even recommend a minimum of 30 to 40 minutes of rigorous daily exercise. If your dog seems to be restless and destructive, you may take it as a sign that the dog needs more training than they are getting. Exercise will help your Beagle Lab Mix avoid boredom, which might lead to unruly behavior. The breed is a people pleaser that is why it will do anything for the people it loves, making it easier to train. Although there are times that the breed can be a little stubborn and hard to teach. First time trainers might have a hard time teaching the dogs some tricks. Here are some tips by which you can effectively train your dog: Crate Training. It can be a way to keep your new dog safe and prevent them from excessive chewing. It also helps with their potty training and is a great way to manage the safety and well-being of the puppies. Remember that the crates should be large enough for the adult dog to stand, sit, and stretch out. Obedience Training. This is one of the most essential and necessary trainings for any dog. The obedience training comes from the five core commands which are the come, sit, stay, heel, and down. Most beagle mixes are sweet-tempered and get along well with different dogs and cats. Socialisation is essential to train your dog to become outgoing and confident. Remember that like every breed, the beagle lab mix must undergo training in its early stages. Positive reinforcement is also considered effective and impactful in training. Beagle mixed with Labrador and Families There are a few things to consider before buying this hybrid. Both its parent breeds are energetic and intelligent, so they might need additional room to grow and play, especially if it inherits the size of its Labrador Retriever parent. There will also be a time that you will need to invest much money and time in positive reinforcement. The natural curiosity and inquisitiveness of its parent breeds may result in the hybrid excessively wandering off, so you might need to invest in an excellent fenced-in yard. Beagle Lab hybrids are also great as a family pet for people who have kids of all ages. The hybrid tends to be loyal and patient to its family and can get along well even with the other dogs and house pets. If you find that these factors are enough, then maybe a Lab Beagle cross is the right puppy for you and your family. Finding a healthy puppy. Where Do The Come From? The Beagle Lab mix has a strong working history on both sides of the family. The Lab originated in Northwest Newfoundland, Canada. Once upon a time, the Labrador was actually known as St. In modern times, the Lab is bred as a doting family pet. In addition, Labs are known as excellent guide dogs for the blind. Their intelligence and loyalty make them great service animals to their human companions. Just like the Lab, Beagles were bred primarily for hunting. Beagles are also known for a keen sense of smell and their signature bark, which comes in handy when leading hunters to a fallen game. Temperament and Behavior of the Beagle Lab Mix As with any first-generation crossbreed, the outcome in terms of things like temperament can be unpredictable. Crossbred dogs can inherit behavioral traits from either purebred parent. Taking a closer look at the parents of your potential Beagle Lab mix puppy can give you some insight into the possible temperament your dog could inherit. In general, Labs are widely known as intelligent dogs, eager to please and easy to train. They are excellent family dogs and do well with children and other pets. But Labs like to chew! As such, they require an abundance of toys and bones to reduce the chances of damaged furniture and flooring. Labs are also high-energy dogs requiring regular exercise and love nothing more than being part of fun family activities. Beagles are known to be playful, affectionate, and highly energetic, meaning they crave constant activity and need a sufficient amount of exercise. Beagles are also known to love the outdoors. Since they are easy to train, Beagles do well in homes with children, just like the Lab. However, they are quite vocal and known for their boisterous bark! Defining Characteristics of the Beagle Lab Mix As with temperament, the Beagle Lab mix can inherit a wide range of physical traits from both parents. Features like coat color, weight, and height have to be left to chance and will depend on which parent the mix takes after. The Lab comes in three standard colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. The Beagle has 25 possible color combinations, with ten colors making up those combinations—tan, white, brown, lemon, red, blue, black, bluetick, redtick, and fawn. The full-grown Labrador will be 22 to 25 inches and weigh about 55 to 80 pounds. An adult Beagle is typically 13 to 15 inches tall and weighs about 20 to 30 pounds. In general, a full grown Beagle Lab Mix will be a medium sized dog that about 19 to 24 inches and 25 to 45 pounds. Again, size, height, and weight can vary depending on the purebred parents. Grooming Your Lab Beagle Mix For the most part, the Beagle Lab cross is easy to care for and only requires bathing a few times a month. Both the Lab and the Beagle have similar weather-resistant coats that shed seasonally. So, the Beagle Lab mix is going to require weekly grooming and brushing to help keep its coat shiny and healthy. Training and Exercising Your Beagle Lab Mix Since the temperament of the Beagle and Lab are quite similar, a Lab Beagle Mix puppy is expected to be an intelligent, highly energetic, and incredibly loyal crossbreed. Like his parents, the Lab Beagle Mix will be eager to please and easy to train. This can include daily walks on public trails or paths, hanging out in parks, and switching up scenery to get your dog used to new faces, sounds, and smells. Labrador Beagle Mixes are known to suffer separation anxiety and may exhibit destructive behavior when left alone too long. If they become bored, the Beagle Lab Mix will sometimes bark, or even howl. Consistent exercise and a variety of toys will help keep your Beagle Lab Mix calm and entertained while you are away. As with all breeds, some health problems are passed down from generation to generation, and the purebred Lab is no exception. Labs are known to suffer loose knee joints, elbow and hip dysplasia, ruptured ligaments in their hind legs, eye disease, heart disease, epilepsy, cancer, and chronic allergies. Labs are also more prone than the average dog to gastrointestinal problems and bloating. Early health screening of your Beagle Lab mix can help to avoid or prepare for future problems. Choose healthy brands of food that provide proper nutrition depending on the age and weight of your Beagle Lab mix. Doing this can help reduce the chance your Beagle Lab mix will suffer from obesity. The Beagle Lab Mix will do best with an owner who lives an active lifestyle and enjoys being outdoors. Lab Beagle Crosses makes excellent family dogs. Finding a Labrador Beagle Mix Puppy Finding a new puppy from a reputable, responsible source can sometimes be tricky. So do plenty of research before you decide where to get your Beagle Lab Mix. Most reputable breeders should be able to provide certificates regarding the health of its parents and prove they have been screened and cleared of certain health issues. Be sure to ask about temperament issues and health concerns with parent dogs when looking to adopt any crossbreed. If you are unsure about rescuing from a local shelter or purchasing a dog from a breeder you find online, you could try attending a local dog show. Networking at events like this can help point you in the right direction. You can also find a local AKC , which can help you locate the right breeder. Shelters often carry all types of crossbreeds, and one of the many advantages of a rescue dog is the price! Although most shelters incur fees, they are often a fraction of what some breeders will charge. Most shelters will cover the initial vet fees, to ensure the dog is adoption-worthy and ready for a new home. We recommend researching reputable shelters in your area to find out the specifics on pricing. Glaucoma, cherry eye, progressive retinal atrophy Joints: Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella Other Hypothyroidism, hereditary myopathy, Exercise Induced Collapse Epilepsy Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that is known to occur in the Beagle parent of this mix. This issue can cause seizures in affected dogs. Beagles that are known to suffer from epilepsy should not be used to create Beagador puppies. Glaucoma Canine glaucoma actually refers to an entire group of eye conditions that affect the optic nerve. Dogs with this problem may lose their vision entirely over time. Others may experience pain and redness around their eyes to accompany this vision loss. Cherry Eye Cherry eye is another canine eye disorder that is often seen in the Beagle parent. You may notice redness and excessive itching or rubbing in dogs with cherry eye. Progressive Retinal Atrophy This is another eye disorder, often seen in the Labrador parent of the Beagador. Over time, dogs with PRA will lose their sight completely. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Hip and elbow dysplasia are a joint disorder commonly seen in the Labrador Retriever. This can lead to pain and trouble moving and walking. But, luckily health tests are available for this issue, so dogs with high risk can be avoided when breeding Beagadors. Luxating Patella Luxating Patella is also known as a dislocated kneecap. If your dog has this problem, their kneecap will slide or move out of its normal place. This can cause problems walking and pain. Hypothyroidism Dogs with hypothyroidism will have an underactive thyroid gland, slowing down their metabolism. Signs of this can include weight gain, lethargy, dull hair, and getting easily cold. This problem is treatable, but not curable. Hereditary Myopathy Hereditary myopathy is also known as muscle weakness. It is a genetic issue that can be found in the Labrador Retriever breed. A DNA test is available to identify carriers and aid in planned breeding to avoid passing the disease on. Be careful of overexercising and overexciting Beagle Lab mixes, especially if they are known to suffer with this issue. General Health of Cross Breeds As long as this mix is bred by a reputable, experienced breeder, they will usually have great health. Discuss any unusual or suspicious findings with your vet. Labrador Retrievers and Beagles are prone to excessive weight gain. This will increase the chance of elbow or hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism. The Beagle Lab mix will have a short, dense, double coat. It may be water repellant, like a Lab. If so, you may notice a strong smell when your dog gets wet. This is due to the oily covering on his fur that repels water. Once he is dry, the smell should dissipate. Coat Care The Beagador will always have a short, dense, double coat. It may be soft like a Beagle, or water repellant like a Labrador. A Beagador will need regular brushing to maintain a healthy coat. Regular brushing will also reduce shedding. Be sure to give him some extra attention during the warmer months, when shedding is at its peak. This breed is known to shed a lot. It will likely not be suitable for people who suffer from allergies. Based on the average lifespans of the parent breeds, the expected lifespan of a Beagle Lab mix is years. Although this is by no means a fixed length. Choosing a puppy from a reputable breeder, following the tips above, and attending regular veterinary checks will help to increase this lifespan. They need a high level of training to contain their high spirited nature. But they will provide hours of fun and loving companionship for adults and children alike. A well trained Beagador will be happy to accompany the family on outdoor adventures, hikes in the woods, or a visit to the lake. Beagle Lab mixes are pack animals that need to be with their family. They will not tolerate being alone for long. A family that is often away from home would not be a good fit for this social pooch. You may want to consider opening your heart to one of these great dogs. Rescuing a dog is a great option for people who are less particular about the exact breed or characteristics of their Beagle Lab mix puppy. Rescue organizations are also a great option if you want to adopt an adult dog. This is a good choice if you prefer specific personality traits or are looking for a dog who already has some training. Finding a Rescue Center Currently, breed centers that specialize in Beagadors are not common. To find a Beagle Lab mix available for rescue, look in rescue centers in your local area. You can also look in rescue centers that are dedicated to the Labrador and Beagle parent breeds. Many of these places will take in mixed breeds as long as one of their parents is their chosen breed.

Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Click here for more information on this characteristic Chug Highlights Chugs can be prone to excessive weight gain if overfed. Make sure to stick to an appropriate diet and feeding schedule. With early training, you can curb unwanted barking, however. Most owners say their Chugs have goofball personalities and like to act silly. A Chug will be great at making you smile. As a mostly brachycephalic short-snouted dog, Chugs can be prone to heat stroke. Take extra care of them in hot weather. Chugs also have shorter fur, so they may need the added protection of a jacket in cold weather. The main colors of Chugs are brown, black, fawn, cream, and white. Their coats can be solid colors or a mix of colors. Chug History The Chug dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer breeders started intentionally mixing Chihuahuas and Pugs in the early s , likely in the United States. Although there is no specific breeder created with the creation of the Chug, like other mixed breeds, it can be assumed that the Chihuahua and Pug were crossbred in hopes of attaining the positive attributes of each breed. Even though the Chug breed got its start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up Chug rescues, or check with breed-specific Pug or Chihuahua rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. Chug Size As the Chug is a relatively new breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a mix between Chihuahua and Pug parents, you can expect Chugs to be on the small side. Most Chugs weigh in around ten to 20 pounds, and they can be between ten to 14 inches tall. Chug Personality The Chihuahua is known for its feisty but loyal attitude. The Pug is known for being a goofy and playful pup. Some people report that their Chugs are extra cuddly and playful, while others say their Chug has a comedic Napoleon Complex and can sometimes get territorial. With proper training, your Chug can learn how to curb their yappy tendencies. Like their Chihuahua parent, the Chug can sometimes get attached to one particular human member of the family. They may become territorial and guard this person if they feel threatened. Fortunately, there are ways to curb resource guarding and this type of behavior in general. Chugs can also be incredibly silly dogs. Many Chug owners refer to their pups as goofballs who love to play, run around, and get lots of cuddles. Chug Health The Chug breed is predisposed to some of the same conditions that the Chihuahua and Pug also face. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your dog healthy. Chugs are prone to weight gain , and they have high energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one good half-hour- to hour-long walk per day with a few good, active play sessions and shorter walks mixed in. Check their ears for debris and pests daily and clean them as recommended by your vet. They should not be clicking against the floor. Your groomer can help with this. You should brush their teeth daily, as small breeds—especially the Pug and the Chihuahua—are prone to dental issues. Chug Feeding An ideal Chug diet should be formulated for a small breed with high energy. Like their parents, a Chug can be prone to excessive weight gain if overfed. Stick to a regular feeding schedule and do not leave food out during the day. Limit their amount of treats, as well. Sometimes their coats are solid, and sometimes they have a mix of colors. Their coats can be short and coarse, like short-haired Chihuahua and Pugs, or it can be softer, like long-haired Chihuahuas. Chugs are not recommended for those who suffer from dog allergies. Regular weekly brushing and grooming can help keep shedding to a minimum. No matter the type of coat, Chugs are not made for extreme weather. If you live in a colder area, they will need coats or sweaters when going outside. Likewise, they should not be kept outside in extreme heat, especially if they have a short snout. Chugs prefer to be mostly around adults or older kids who know how to play gently. That said, for children who learn early how to properly approach and play with a small dog, the Chug can make a great, active companion. When it comes to other pets, Chugs can get along with other animals if they are introduced slowly and calmly, and early socialization will help this go smoothly. That said, Chugs, like their Chihuahua parent, might not be naturally fond of other animals and may prefer to be the sole animal of the house. Chug Rescue Groups It may be hard to find a breed-specific rescue for Chugs because they are a mixed breed. However, you may want to try Chihuahua or Pug breed-specific rescues, as they often care for mixes, as well. Here are some rescues you can try:. Chihuahua Pug Mix Origins The Chihuahua Chihuahuas are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world, and they are also one of the most popular. These pint-sized pups originated in Mexico, and they get their name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Chihuahuas are known for their big personalities, and they are also very loyal companions. In addition to being great pets, Chihuahuas also make excellent watchdog. They are always alert and ready to protect their families. The Pug Pugs were brought from China to Holland in the 16th century. Some think the phrase "multum in parvo" was created because of the pug's small size and big personality. In , pugs were brought to England and became very popular there. Pugs were a symbol of royalty and were kept as indoor dogs. The Chug The Chug was first developed in the United States during the early s as a result of selectively bred hybrids of the two floppy-eared breeds. While there's no specific breeder associated with creating the hybrid, it's believe that it was created in order to help improve the less-than-stellar breathing problems associated with the Pug. The Chug is not recognized by the A. C Chug Appearance The Chihuahua and the Pug are different in many ways, but their are both classified as toy breeds. The Chihuahua Pug mix is a small dog that is generally sturdy and very muscular. Chihuahua Pugs mix' face is round, featuring brown colored almond-shaped eyes. The Chihuahua Pug mix' nose is rather short and darder in color, just like what a miniature boxer would look like. Their head is big in comparison to their body. They have erect ears which can be either floppy or pointy. The Chihuahua Pug mix' neck is thick, and their chest is broad. Its tail can be either long or short, and it usually curls over their back. The Chihuahua Pug Mix typically weighs between 10 and 20 pounds and stands 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder. Pug Chihuahua mixes can be black, white, fawn, brown and cream. There are many different coat patterns for Pug Chihuahua mixes including, solid colors or sometimes a blend of different colors. Chug Temperament If you're looking for a dog who is equal parts adorable and annoying, the Chihuahua Pug mix is the perfect breed for you! Combining the best and worst attributes of the Pug and the Chihuahua, the Chug is a small dog with a big personality. Like both of its parent breeds, the Chihuahua Pug mix is prone to barking and is very alert, making it an excellent watch dog. However, this also means that your Chihuahua Pug mix will bark at any time, whether someone is actually at the door or not. In addition, Chugs are notoriously clingy and crave attention, which can be frustrating for owners who prefer a calmer pet. But despite their occasional yapping and neediness, Chugs are intelligent, affectionate dogs who make loyal companions. A post shared by Dexter and the Divas dexterandthedivas Chug and other pets Chihuahua Pug mixes generally get along well with other dogs and animals, although they may be a bit possessive of their toys and food. As long as you introduce your Chihuahua Pug mix to other pets at a young age, there should be no problem in having a multi-pet household. Just be sure to keep an eye on your Pug Chihuahua mix around larger animals, as their small size makes them more susceptible to injury. Regardless of their hair lenght, they do shed. They will likely shed as much as their Pug parent, which has very dense fur. Chugs's coat can be single coated or double coated. If they have a second coat, they'll be shedding all year. Double coated Pug Chihuahua mixes shed more in the summer and winter. We recommend grooming your Pug Chihuahua mix twice a week during the spring and autumn seasons, as well as deshedding when needed. Their coats will generally be thinner in length. Chug Health Chihuahua Pug Mixes typically have a lifespan of between 10 and 13 years. While Chugs may inherit some of their physical and behavioral traits from their parent breeds, they also inherit the same health issues. Brachycephaly Unfortunately, the Chihuahua Pug mixes inherits many of the health problems of its parents, the Chihuahua and the Pug. One of the most common problems is brachycephaly, a condition that results in a short, flat skull. This can cause a host of issues, including difficulty breathing, eye problems, and neurological issues. Heat sensitivity The Chihuahua Pug Mix is a brachycephalic breed of dog, meaning it has a shortened snout. This can cause a number of respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing in cold temperatures and extreme heat. As a result, Pug Chihuahua mixes are best suited for homes in moderate climates. However, if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, there are a few things you can do to help your Chihuahua Pug mix stay comfortable. In the winter, invest in a high-quality coat or sweater to help your Chug dog retain body heat. And in the summer, make sure to provide plenty of cool, fresh water and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours of the day. How to find a Chug Puppy? You can get a Pug Chihuahua Mix through a breeder or a rescue. Breeder Chugs, also known as designer breeds, may be bred for specific colors or qualities due to the absence of a breed standard. When searching for a Chug, it's important to be cautious of profit-driven breeders or unsanitary conditions. A responsible breeder will allow you to see the parents of the dog and selectively breed to avoid passing on health issues to the offspring. Rescue Looking for a Pug Chihuahua mix can be tough since they're not common. But you can try looking at Chihuahua rescues or search specifically for this mix. These rescues may provide care and help for deer head Chihuahua owners. It's not guaranteed, but it's worth a shot! With some luck and effort, you might find the right rescue organization to bring your furry friend home. As the popularity of mix-breed dogs increases, so does the potential for puppy mills and backyard breeders. You can find a good breeder by asking for referrals from pet care professionals, such as vets or trainers, friends or family members, or by attending a local dog show in your area. Be Sure to Bundle Up! Since they are short-haired dogs, Chugs do not like cold, wintery weather and love being dressed in a coat or sweater for wintertime walks. Small but Mighty Your Chug could come with a muscular face that strongly resembles that of a Boxer. They were actually named after the Pugyal Kingdom. He can be a sweet comedian, like the Pug, or a little imperious, like the Chihuahua. Your Chug will most likely be feisty yet loyal. As with Chihuahuas, the Chug can sometimes become fiercely attached to one particular member of the household and even become territorial over that person. Fortunately, the right training techniques will curb this unwanted behavior. Are These Dogs Good for Families? Chugs thrive with couples and active families with older children. If you have tiny tots running around your house, you may want to consider getting a different breed. The Chihuahua side can sometimes get snippy around young kids. Take him to the dog park or walks throughout your neighborhood to get him acclimated to other dogs and people. When properly socialized, Chugs can make fantastic housemates to the other four-legged members of your family. So, try not to overdo it on the treats, even when he is tempting you with his adorable, wrinkled face. Also, keep his daily caloric consumption to under every day. This roughly equates to one cup of dry, high-quality kibble per day. Excess weight can exacerbate some health issues, including joint problems and breathing difficulties. Luckily, they can burn it off very quickly and tire themselves out within 45 minutes. Ideally, your Chug should be enjoying a minute walk followed by 15 minutes of playtime every day. Due to their short snout, you should never overexert your Chug because he may have trouble breathing. But, thanks to their Chihuahua parent breed, they can also be extremely stubborn. You will need to be patient and consistent when training your Chug, and always use positive reinforcement as your training method. Punishment methods have been known to promote anxiety and problematic behaviors in Chugs. Yapping is a common issue in Chugs. Instead of using punishment, give them a tasty treat when they stop barking or when they do not yap in a situation in which they normally would. However, brush him once a week to remove dander and dead fur. Be sure to also gently clean their adorable face wrinkles daily with a baby wipe or damp cloth. Minor Conditions Like cherry eye or cataracts Obesity. Chihuahuas have big, expressive eyes with a saucy expression. Combine the two and you've got an animated-looking pupper named Chug with adorable cartoon-like features and a playful personality to match. While both of the Chug's parents are popular dogs that originated centuries ago, this mixed breed is relatively new and rare. But these fun-loving and smart dogs are quickly gaining fans. The Chug dog doesn't need much grooming or a rigorous exercise routine, but they do need a lot of quality time with their families and like to be regarded as "top dog. Typically, they stand 6—12 inches tall and weigh between 10—20 pounds. Will they have the Chihuahua parent's perky ears and apple-shaped head? Or will the hybrid pup look more like the pug, with a big head, lots of deep wrinkles, and globular eyes that hint at the dog's sweet disposition? Full-grown Chug dogs can have a mix of all these adorable traits. Pug and Chihuahua mix dogs can have coat colors that run the gamut—Chugs can be brown, cream, fawn, black, blue, gray, or white. The patterns are also quite diverse, with coats that could be tricolor, bicolor, sable, brindle, black and tan, and more. Whether or not this hybrid breed will shed a lot is a toss up. Chihuahuas have two main coat types: smooth and long. The smooth coats are shiny and short , and these dogs have a ruff of thick, longer hair at the neck. Chihuahuas with longer coats have soft, sometimes wavy hair. Regardless of coat types, these dogs aren't big shedders. However, pugs can have a fine, smooth, soft coat that does shed quite a bit. Meanwhile, Chihuahuas are little dogs with big personalities with an err of self-importance. Often, when you blend the two breeds, you get dogs that are exceptionally playful, love to curl up with their humans for affection, and are incredibly loyal , Burgess says. Half pug, half chihuahua, the Chug makes for a great lap dog. Plus, both parents are intelligent, so Chugs make for top-of-the-class training students. But, one thing to be aware of: Chugs can be prone to barking , and Burgess says they aren't shy about letting you know they're feeling ignored. They also prefer to be the top dog in your household and, preferably, the only dog. Living Needs These small dogs can happily live in apartments and small homes and do not necessarily need access to a yard. Chugs also like to feel like an important part of the family and don't enjoy being left home alone, especially for extended periods of time, Simon says. Because of this, they'd do best in a home with retirees or work-from-home humans. While Chugs are playful pups, they're not the most athletic of dogs. Their short, wide head the technical term is brachycephalic makes heart-pumping exercise difficult. Positive reinforcement training sessions are super important, especially if your Chug has the take-charge attitude from his Chihuahua side of the family. Most dogs love food and treats, and Chugs are no exception, Burgess says. Plus, their fun-loving nature makes training entertaining—as long as you keep your sessions short and exciting. If he has the Chihuahua's smooth coat, occasional brushing and regular baths will keep him looking stylish and clean. But if your Chug's coat leans more toward the longhaired Chihuahua coat, he'll need a good brushing weekly to prevent any tangles or mats. Or, if he has the smooth shiny coat that's closer to that of the pug parent, weekly brushing with a medium-bristle brush or a rubber grooming mitt will help remove loose hairs. To help ward off dental disease , include daily tooth brushing in your dog's care routine. Other grooming rituals to keep your Chug in tip-top shape include trimming his nails every couple of weeks and cleaning your dog's ears on a weekly basis to help prevent any ear infections. As far as exercise goes, Chugs aren't endurance athletes , Simon points out. But they do love exercising in small bursts and need about 45 minutes of exercise a day, she says. They enjoy being brought to new places, so mix up those walking routes and take them to a dog park where they can socialize with other four-legged friends of their size. The Chug's idea of activity, Burgess says, can also simply be following you as you do chores around the house. They like to keep close tabs on their humans! Some inside playtime, either with interactive toys or playing fetch with a favorite plush, will keep him happy, too. Health The Chug's lifespan is 10—13 years. While both parents are prone to their own unique set of health problems, the Institute of Canine Biology says mixed breed dogs are typically less likely than their purebred parents to inherit genetic disorders. That said, a Chug can inherit some health conditions. Pugs can be prone to several health issues, including epilepsy , allergies , hemivertebrae misshapen vertebrae , hip dysplasia , and nerve degeneration later in life. They can also be subject to a variety of skin infections. Chugs with shorter noses and excess skin may struggle with their breathing, especially in warmer weather, Simon says. And, like many small breeds, they can develop dental disease. Pet parents who are looking to bring a hybrid puppy home need to do some important research. The Chug is a relatively new "designer" hybrid breed—and these adorable dogs with pug and Chihuahua traits are in high demand. This can mean some Chug breeders might operate without the dogs' health as a top priority. To make sure you're working with an ethical Chug breeder and that you're bringing home a healthy dog, be aware of these common puppy mill red flags : A breeder offers to ship a puppy. A kennel produces multiple breeds of dogs. It's difficult to find contact information on a breeder's website. The breeder will not let you meet the puppy's parents or siblings. History Chugs are a fairly new mixed breed, and their origin isn't well-documented. However, both of the dogs' parents have long histories. The emperors of China once considered pugs prized possessions, and the dogs lived in luxury guarded by soldiers, according to the Pug Dog Club of America. These happy, sweet dogs were also beloved by monarchs of Europe. The history of Chihuahuas is not as straightforward. Some say small hairless dogs from China were brought to Mexico by Spanish traders, who then bred them with small native dogs. Yet another theory is that Chihuahuas descended from a Central or South American dog known as the techichi , which would have been a larger version of the Chi that can be traced back to the 9th century and the Toltec civilization. Fun Facts The most common way to refer to the pug-chihuahua mix is Chug. But they also go by some fun names, like "pughuahua" and "pugwawa. But the Chug's parents are fairly popular dogs in the United States. Chihuahuas are No. Was this page helpful? Sadly, the Chug has a few medical issues to keep in mind, so the cost of vet visits and dental care might be higher than average. How much is a Chug puppy? There is a lot of demand for Chihuahua mixes which drives up the price of Chug puppies. However, many families get Chugs and quickly realize they are not good for small children, so keep your eyes open for Chugs to adopt. Pretty cheap! Medical Expenses for a Chug can average per year. Insurance: We recommend every dog have health insurance. If you find you can not afford pet health insurance, please try to get your Chug puppy insured for the first year or two. We recommend TruPanion, because they are easy to communicate with. However the only thing a short haired chug will need is a few baths and having their nails clipped. Check out our pug grooming guide for DIY at home tips! There are usually only puppies in a Chug litter, and the puppies are known for playfulness, jealousy, and being extremely attached to a single owner. Pug Chihuahua Mix puppies will grow extremely loyal and bond with their owner very quickly. They are fairly smart but have a stubborn streak and will figure out a way to get what they want. Please visit the breeder and poke around first! Find a responsible breeder. A good Chug breeder will have a spacious clean home. They should be transparent and open. Good Pug Mix breeders will want to meet you in person. They will also specialize in only one or two mix breeds. FaceTime is usually a good way to check the Chug puppies living conditions if they are far away. Tracheal Collapse - please make sure they are wearing a harness and not a dog collar! Brachycephalic syndrome - trouble breathing. They are known for having a big personality in a small package. These little dogs can also be surprisingly energetic and have been known to compete in agility competitions. The Chihuahua is a people dog and bonds closely to its owner. They are also known for being a little nervous and snippy with strangers. Patellar luxation Portosystemic shunt PSS The Pug is also brachycephalic, a condition that gives it a flat face and makes it vulnerable to breathing issues, the problem with regulating body temperature through panting, and reverse sneezing. The Chihuahua side of your hybrid puppy is also rife with medical problems, like hydrocephalus. Pugs have a tendency to overeat and giving them chow that is rich in fiber may be the best solution to make them eat less and let them think they are eating more! Unlike best dry dog food , these worst dry dog food brands are not likely to give you pooch anything except a few extra pounds! Puppies, adults, and seniors all have different dietary needs. Explore the importance of age-appropriate nutrition by browsing these handy best puppy food brands and best senior dry dog food guides to make sure the pup is getting all the nutrients they need. The Chihuahua Pug mix should be given a diet created specifically for small breeds such as best dry dog food for small dogs. The size of your furball does matter when it comes to food and, by opting for best large breed dry dog food for a tiny pooch, you risk giving them an inadequate amount of nutrients. High-energy meals with meat as the main ingredient are best. A cup of the premiere, dry dog food is ideal. Imbalance of protein and fat, as well as vitamins and minerals, can in the long run trigger all sorts of health conditions. Here are some of the best brands out in the market today: Wellness Core Dog Food : This premier dog food has a remarkably high protein content that comes from deboned chicken. This dry dog food has been designed by holistic veterinarians and nutritionists who wanted to create the best mean for small breeds. Dog For Dog Food : This dog food for small dogs is also great for puppies. The kibble is a mix of soft and crunchy pieces that even the pickiest eater will enjoy. Daily exercise lasting for 30 to 45 minutes is enough to keep your dog healthy. So is a weekly walk of five to six miles since this little dog gets tired easily. The brachycephalic genes it inherited from the Pug also makes it vulnerable to breathing issues due to strenuous activities. You should also play with your dog for at least half an hour, one to three times a day. Here are some of the best toys for this breed out in the market today: Air Kong Squeaky X-Small Tennis Balls: These bright balls are durable and perfectly fits even the small mouth of a Pug Chihuahua cross. Made from corduroy fabric with a little squeaker inside, its size is ideal for Chug puppies. Mini Sqwuggie Dog Toy: The best tug toy for toy breeds, the Sqwuggie is colorful, durable, and can even float in water, allowing your pet to play with it anywhere. Chihuahua Pug Training A lot of small dog owners tend to forego training and socializing their pet. Owners tend to dismiss them as a threat due to their size and lets them exhibit dominant behavior. With a Chihuahua Pug already prone to aggressive tendencies, thanks to its Chihuahua side, owners should take steps to ensure their hybrid pet does not become some diva. In short, behavior that is not acceptable from adult large dogs should not be tolerated in small dogs either. It will do well with someone who can provide a Your Pug Chihuahua mix should undergo obedience training and socialization while its still a puppy. Owners should also continue with the training and socialization programs even when their dog becomes an adult to prevent the development of the syndrome. Thanks to their propensity to please their owners, Chugs are easy to train. Here are some interesting tips to consider when training a small dog like the Chug: Think and stay positive. Always remember that small breeds tend to get scared or startled easily. Give your dog small treats and give belly rubs and praise freely. Keep it short and sweet. Stay low. Looming over your small dog while you shout commands will just frighten it. It will make you less intimidating and make your dog feel more comfortable and secure. Once your dog has learned some commands and tricks, you can stand and begin training from a higher level. Stand your ground. Small dogs get away with a lot of things because of their size. Stand your ground and stay true to the training. Housetraining small dogs is different. Crate training is one of the best ways to housetrain your puppy. It loves its human and will try its best to please its owner. However, you should be ready to provide your pet with lots of love and attention. Children should also be taught how to handle this dog properly. This means families with very young children might not be a good match for this dog. A Chihuahua Pug cross is an ideal pet for apartment dwellers, although it will thrive in all types of homes. It has to live indoors as its small stature means it can easily wiggle out of a fence. This dog also prefers warm weather, which is why it loves to snuggle so much.

Many of our adults are champion-sired and have been imported from Europe. Best Health Practices Health success starts at a young age. Each adult is tested for genetic diseases before breeding, and our puppies come with a health guarantee. Family-raised Our puppies are raised on our home farm where they all have plenty of acres to run, play freely, and explore. Today, they are known for their affectionate and friendly disposition and because of their history as a working dog, they make excellent service animals. They inherit characteristics from both breeds, making them loving and active. This breed is hypoallergenic and their playful nature makes them great with children and the perfect family pet. He is growing so so fast and is the sweetest dog!! He was potty trained in about 5 days and continues to surprise us with his smarts and sassy personality every day. He's my big cuddle bug.He is just so full of love and quite the talker not a barker, just so many cute sounds. My kids and everyone else he has met, just love him! He is such a perfect addition to our family! We are best buddies already. No accidents yet, sleeping very well for a puppy, shockingly good actually. She loves to play with my hubby and then come and crash on me. I am so grateful for her in my life.You really know your puppies and their personalities, and you found us the perfect fit.So below we have created a list of questions you should ask the breeder. If you have looking such as searching for a service or watch dog and cannot find one at the shelter, it is a good idea to get one from a reputable breeder. Also, when you visit a breeder, check out their surroundings and all the facilities they offer to their puppies. You need to understand what is the difference between a good breeder and a puppy mill. List of the Questions you should Ask the Breeder: 1. How long have you been experiencing the breeding of this breed the breed you are planning to get? They should have good experience in it. Are you from a club of any race? If he says yes Ask for evidence. Do you raise any other type of dogs besides this breed? Are the Puppies healthy? If he says yes, ask for a medical certificate issued by the vet. Check their bloodline. If yes, see the contract and read It carefully. What are you feeding to these puppies? Make sure he used good quality food without chemical ingredients. If you know any great Bernedoodle breeder who lives in Ontario, please let us know in the comments below. So we can add it to our list. What is the Breeder Name? Where are they located in Ontario? It really helps others who are looking for a Bernedoodle Puppies in Ontario. Conclusion for Bernedoodle Breeders in Ontario Hope you Like this post, so these are the best Bernedoodle Breeders in Ontario that we have added to our list. If you are looking for the best Bernedoodle Breeders in Ontario, you can consider one of these breeders. Contact us The cross between our beautiful registered purebred Bernese Mountain Dog females and registered purebred Poodle males is amazing! We get the best of both breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is an easy going, intelligent, affectionate and loyal breed. However, a Bernese generally has a short life span and is prone to several health issues including cancer, heart disease, dysplasia, and epilepsy. This causes many purebred Bernese owners to look for a solution which is a hybrid breed. The Poodle is known as a highly intelligent breed. They are easily trained with an amazing personality; they are very playful and love to clown around! When bred with a Poodle, the result is a Bernedoodle. The hybrid results in puppies that are healthier than their parents. Therefore, they have a longer life expectancy. The combination of the Bernese and the Poodle is then an easy going dog, gentle with children and elderly, but there is also a wonderful sense of vibrancy. Coat types range from wavy to curly. The curlier the coat, the less your dog will shed. Even if the coat is wavy, it will still be classed as low shedding, especially in comparison to a purebred Bernese. To keep this beautiful coat we recommend your Bernedoodle sees a groomer times a year. They are also health tested by certified veterinarians and declared suitable for breeding. 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 Willowbrook California 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!