grooming a golden retriever puppy

Share 0 Shares The beautiful state of Mississippi has brought with it some rich cultural heritage to the United States. It is considered the birthplace of modern-day blues, the home to the great Mississippi River, and the Vicksburg National Military Park. People from far and wide flock into the Magnolia state to experience this rich deep-rooted American Heritage. If you happen to be one of these people relocating to Mississippi, or perhaps you happen to reside there, then getting a dog would definitely be a great addition to your stay. The Golden Retriever would be the perfect dog for you, its beautiful temperament, high intelligence, and playful energy could make your stay in the Magnolia state a lot more worthwhile. Getting a Golden Retriever should be done the right way, from a reputable breeder. A breeder that cares about the well-being and health of the parent, A breeder that has shown great interest in improving the beautiful canine breed. With that being said, this article highlights the most reputable Golden Retriever breeders in Mississippi. These breeders are well known and trusted when it comes to producing great quality Golden Retrievers of sound temperament and health that make perfect family companions. Located on a very large acre property in Morton, Fairchild Farms are dedicated to sharing their love of the Golden Retriever breed with the world. They do this by breeding top-quality Golden Retrievers with sound temperament and health. All their Golden Retriever dogs are bred in accordance with the stipulations of the American Kennel Club standards on what a good breeder should be. Their sires and dams hail from championed lines with awesome, impressive pedigrees. They ensure this by performing extensive research into each dog being considered. Before adding a Golden Retriever to the breeding program, they perform a series of extensive detailed checks and tests to be sure that each Golden Retriever is fit for their program. They also carry out checks for hips and elbow dysplasia as well as eyes and heart checks. The health of each litter is their top priority and that is why they are so detailed and thorough in their breeding program. Every Golden Retriever pup is raised on the farm in clean and comfortable kennels with enough rooms for the pups to run, play and call their own. They are allowed to socialize with each other as well as with other adults and kids of varying age groups. They are also exposed to a wide variety of experiences, including textures and sounds that could help them better in transitioning into their new families and environments. They are showered with love and well-fed with a high-quality feed. Every pup comes with a copy of their AKC papers, is well vaccinated, potty and crate trained , has their deworming records updated, and is thoroughly examined by a well-licensed and reputable vet. Though we prefer the lighter colors, color is not the focus of our program. This page is about Summer Brook, our family, and our breeding program. In this page, we discuss our goals, how we got started, why we breed, how we breed, who our employees are, and what kinds of dogs we have. Most importantly, this page also provides links proving the quality of our dogs and the life our puppies and dogs have here at Summer Brook. Scroll below to read more about us and the details of our breeding program. Go to the Our Dogs page for links to each of our dogs. You can see a dozen or more pictures of each dog as well as temperament descriptions. Before a young English Golden Retriever is added to our very selective breeding program, he or she must meet several criteria. It is very important to us that we maintain our reputation for being quality English Cream Golden Retriever breeders. All of our breeding dogs must pass all health clearances and not just barely. Health is 1. Solid Temperaments The second important distinction about Summer Brook is that all of our breeding dogs have proof of solid temperaments. All of them have at a minimum a CGC title. This is the first step toward becoming certified as a therapy dog or a competitive obedience dog. Over half of our dogs have advanced obedience titles. You must come to our home to totally appreciate this. However, pictures and conformation titles can give you a good idea. These titles can be earned at one weekend of shows with even a mediocre dog. Our dogs have titles that mean so much more in both obedience and conformation. See our Dog Titles page to learn what the most common titles are and how they are earned. In Europe they are simply referred to as Golden Retrievers. I have heard many people refer to the imported Goldens as White Golden Retrievers. Though they are often a very light cream, they are never truly white. They range in color from the palest cream to a rich gold. As breeders of English Golden Retriever puppies, one of our goals is to improve this beautiful breed in the United States. It has taken many years to get to where we are today. The picture above is our family in with some of our first dogs. Two were retired before ever breeding a litter. One of them had only one litter. Our main goal as English Golden Retriever breeders is to produce English Golden Retriever puppies who are structurally sound, healthy, and with biddable trainable temperaments. Though we prefer the lighter cream color, color is only secondary. Our Family Pictured above is our family almost 10 years ago in front of our pond and home. The two older folks in the middle are Karen and Darrell. We have been married for almost 30 years. All of our kids are either in college or have graduated from college. The English Golden Retrievers in the picture have now all been retired and we now have seven dogs which you can see on the Our Dogs page. While we loved our first four English Goldens, we have been able to improve our lines over time. It has been a hard journey to get to where we are today. We strive to improve our program with each new puppy or dog that we raise. With time, we have been able to greatly improve our program. We are English Cream Golden Retriever breeders who do not settle for mediocrity. Where We and Our Goldens Live Our Home Our family lives on a private road in a community filled with gated areas, beautiful ponds and lakes, pastures, and woods. All of our neighbors have acres of land. Our English Golden Retrievers live and sleep in our home. We have 5 doggy doors going out of our home into five different fenced areas. Our front door gives access to a sixth. Someone is home with them nearly all the time. We are fortunate enough to have a home large enough for the dogs to have plenty of room. Our house has an open floor plan that enables us to see all of our dogs from one place. At the same time, we are still able to separate them individually or in groups when necessary. We have several baby gates that we open and close as needed. See the Our Home page for pictures and more information. How We Care for Our Dogs Unless it is rainy, our dogs have free access in and out of our home through doggy doors. We brush each dog regularly and bathe them about once a month. Because they have access to large outdoor areas, we rinse them off often. We do daily competitive obedience training with most of them and they all do short training sessions at meal times. The dogs rotate between the various areas in our home so that they all have quality time with us. We use primarily natural methods to prevent fleas and tics, and we feed our dogs high quality food. See the Our Home page and the Raising Puppies page for more information on where we live and how we raise our puppies. Litters whelped and raised in our home How and Why We Initially Started Breeding When we first started this venture, we were a home-schooling family with 3 children from years of age. Our home life was and still is very compatible with caring for dogs. My younger daughter, Elise, was also wanting a career with dogs. At 12, Elise was unsure what career with dogs she wanted, but both girls had a big passion for animals. We began breeding initially purely for the love of our daughters. We had no paid employees and Darrell husband and Daniel son helped minimally. But as time went on, Darrell and Daniel become involved and we added several paid employees. Darrell now handles most of the communications. Daniel has graduated from college and is working in Georgia as a civil engineer. We spent many weekends going to obedience trials and conformation shows. Jenna, Elise, and I spent a good percentage of our free time researching pedigrees and breeders in Europe. We loved it! The dogs were our hobby. Adding Employees However, in time our daughters moved on to other interests. They graduated from high school and went to college. Both girls moved from home. It was time for a change for both the girls as well as for Summer Brook. After home schooling for 17 years, I was excited about the prospect of throwing myself into working with the dogs myself. Without the responsibilities of homeschooling, I found myself with more time to invest in my hobby. By this time, my hobby had turned into more than a full time job. Emma along with Luke has worked for us for over 4 years. Our dogs and puppies LOVE here! In , we hired our first employee, 20 year old Anna. She worked with us for about a year and then went on to become a vet tech. Then we were blessed to meet Emma, a 14 year old neighbor that has worked for us after school and on Saturdays for over four years. She is now in about to graduate from high school and will be going to Mississippi State to pursue a career as a veterinarian. Katherine and Jessi, two other high schoolers joined our team in .They both home school and are able to work mornings. All three of these girls have had a big impact on Summer Brook Acres. They will all be graduating this year. Sadly, only Jessi will stay in town and continue working with us. Both of my daughters are now back home working with us again! In the early days of Summer Brook, my interest in breeding was purely for my daughters. However, as I got more involved with the dogs, I learned that I had a huge love and talent for dog training. That is where my passion lies, but I am involved to some degree in all aspects of Summer Brook Acres. This means that your dog is the highest scoring dog in the highest level at the trial. Because breeding and training our puppies is our priority, my training time with our adults in limited. Details of my training experience are on our Trained Puppies page. His primary role with Summer Brook is with communications. I Karen initially handled this role. However, after several years, handling the responsibilities with both the dogs and the people became too much. Darrell also works with our family real estate investment business. Jenna Our daughter, Jenna graduated from college in English, her second passion behind dogs. However, she never lost her love of animals. Her current interests in the dogs is in training instead of the medical aspect. Jenna is now combining her love of dogs and specifically dog training with her love of writing. Jenna designed our website as a high school project and has done a total redesign on it twice since the original design. She has written or edited much of the content on our site. Jenna has graciously agreed to make Summer Brook her priority when we have puppies over 6 weeks of age. We both are advocates for positive reinforcement training along with a controlled environment. You can read more about Jenna on her recently launched blog at www. Elise Our daughter, Elise has also just returned home and is now working again with us at Summer Brook. She primarily works with taking care of our adults and working with younger puppies. Elise is going to school part time getting some prerequisites in before applying for nursing school. She will continue working part time with us and live at home until she finishes school. She is a puppy magnet and we are so blessed to have her! The Early Days of Summer Brook Acres Before getting our first dogs, we spent hundreds maybe thousands of hours researching. We started off deciding on the breed. From there, we moved to researching breeders and individual dogs and pedigrees. We retired more than half of what we originally imported without ever breeding them. Breeders send their best dogs to those they have a relationship with. Most of these best breeders are leery of sending dogs to the U. For those of you considering a new breeder or breeders with adults without verified clearances, proceed with care. There are a lot of European breeders that are exporting entire litters of what Americans are calling English Cream Golden Retrievers. In Europe, many of the parents of these puppies are considered by Europeans less than mediocre and just plain old Golden Retrievers. These clearances can be obtained from vets on dogs less than a year old. This type clearance is useless. See our page on How to Find a Good Breeder for more information. Our experience is not unusual for good breeders. There are a lot of hoops to jump through in order to have really good breeding dogs. It is not as simple as calling or emailing a European breeder and asking for the best dog. The best breeders in Europe are very particular about where their dogs go. It takes time to develop relationships overseas. And it takes patience to build good lines with good looks, health, and temperaments. In addition to our English Golden Retrievers, over the past almost 20 years, our family has had one American Golden and 4 smaller dogs. These 5 dogs were family pets and never bred. Our family has had six horses, three birds, a rabbit, and three cats. Not all of them were at the same time! We loved them all. However, none of them quite captured all of our hearts like the Golden Retrievers. Though all our dogs are a light cream, we do not breed for color. We feel that the head is important but, it is not the entire package. There is so much more in producing a nice litter of puppies. We will only breed the best dogs that meet our very high standards. We have intensely studied the pedigrees of hundreds of dogs looking for those with generations of proven good conformation, good health, and a typical sweet Golden Retriever temperament. Most of our dogs have parents with not only titles earned because of their beauty, but titles proving their worth as working dogs also. While our dogs are beautiful, we believe that a good pet, first and foremost, needs to have a good temperament and be healthy. Our goal is to produce puppies that are physically, intellectually, and temperamentally as close to the FCI breed standard as possible, and then to do all we can to nurture and care for our puppies in such a way that they will have the best possible start in life to develop to their fullest potential. See our page on Why Choose Summer Brook for more information. People have flown or driven to us for puppies from almost every state in the country. Several have come to us from other west coast states including Oregon and Washington. Dozens have come to Summer Brook from Texas as well. Some Flying. Others driving. There are quite a few in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. One family drove miles from Nebraska, a second from Massachusetts, and a third drove from northern Maine which is about miles. Over a dozen have driven from Texas and states such as Oklahoma and Arkansas. We have puppies all over the south. We get tremendous satisfaction from matching puppies to families. We will only send our puppies home with families who have time to raise a puppy. Our puppies go to families who want more than just a dog. They want a companion. We are looking for just the right families for our puppies. At the same time, we are busy raising puppies to be suitable companions for families. It is the ultimate reward when we see happy families meet happy puppies! Pictures of Jenna and Elise To the right is Elise with Maria who unfortunately did not have good enough hips for breeding. To the left is Jenna pictured with our first two Dream Max dogs when they were puppies. Primary Sidebar Breeders and Trainers of English Golden Retrievers We focus on breeding and training beautiful English Golden Retriever puppies with health tested champion parents, great pedigrees, and fantastic temperaments. We have a number of past puppies that went on to serve people as therapists, special assistants and support for mental and emotional challenges. Our dogs are bred to produce beautiful goldens with outstanding temperaments with wonderful attributes that exemplify everything a service dog and family pet represents. Sharing this wonderful breed is truly a joy! Hannah is very outgoing and a bundle of energy. She was like a 80 pound rocket greeting everyone. Now she is amazing! She walks right next to you with just a leash in your open hand, is able to walk by distractions without reacting. The highlight of the night was their praise of Hannah and her breeding! They were so complimentary of my breeder. They said they have trained many police dogs and many pets along with Goldens and Hannah was the best specimen of Goldens they had ever seen. They asked who my breeder was. They said she was absolutely perfect in her qualities, temperament, coat, blocky head and all. Kudos Tanji! This is Hannah Banana. Goose is beautiful and healthy and Tanji made the whole process super easy. She was very responsive to my initial message, invited me out to come meet my sweet boy before we bought him, and kept us posted until he was ready to come home. Tanji raises such great dogs that my dad, who had come with me to look at Goose, fell in love with one of her goldendoodle puppies at first sight and ended up with an addition to his house as well. Overall the experience with Tanji was easy and fun and she answered every question and concern we had. She is the sweetest and smartest baby! Tanji has been wonderful to work with during our process. I am so thankful her husband was coming to town to meet me with my baby! I love that Tanji loves these sweet babies and everything she does for this wonderful breed. Mayfield Family I am so thankful we found Tanji when we decided to purchase an ecgr puppy! She is knowledgeable and passionate about raising healthy dogs and producing healthy puppies with excellent temperaments. Very easy to communicate with and helped us every step of the way. His personality is so sweet and funny and he brings us so much joy. Thank you for everything Tanji! We got Ollie from her in and Cooper in .Tanji makes sure to FaceTime you and send pictures of your puppy throughout the 8 weeks. Tanji has become family over the years keeping in touch and checking on Ollie making choosing a breeder for our next golden an easy choice! We are so thankful to have found her!!! We recommend Tanji to everyone that is looking for a Golden Retriever. Reserve your puppy! Contact Us English Cream Golden Retriever Puppies English cream golden retrievers also known as white golden retrievers, and European or British cream golden retriever puppies, are highly coveted dog breeds and make for great companions. We acquired our first set of golden retrievers in from some of the finest kennels in Europe. The bloodlines were good and confirmed to be accurate. The white golden retrievers are well known for their highly relaxed and ultra-mellow temperaments. These puppies are the most preferable pets as they are intelligent, playful, lovable, incredibly loyal and friendly. As we are known as reputable dog breeders in Mississippi, we have the best selection of golden retrievers for sale,which gives great peace of mind that comes from knowing that your new family member comes from a great bloodline and from people who care for nothing more than the well-being of dogs. We feel that it is extremely important that you feel percent comfortable with the breeder of your new puppy. So, we make sure that you surely love our white golden retrievers with our training tips, guidance in maintaining food habits , grooming habits and etc. Contact us online today if you have any queries or to order your puppy.

Blankets, pillows, and towels. The mother GSD and her litter need a quiet place to stay. It should be spacious, clean, and comfortable. If money is not an issue, you may purchase a commercial whelping box and a washable vet bed. But if you want to be thrifty, you can just make use of a clean cardboard box. Just make sure that the box is big enough for your GSD to stretch out comfortably. You may also buy a heat pad. It will provide warmth to the litter. Instead, put the heat pad under the whelping box, with one end on top of the box. Cover it with a towel to avoid overheating. The whelping box should be close enough to an electrical outlet so you can easily plug in the heat pad once you need more warmth for your Litter. Make sure they stay warm by providing a heating pad and lamp. You may add blankets, pillows, towels, or even old newspapers and a warm water bottle wrapped in a towel. Be careful though because puppies might get entangled and suffocate if the blanket, pillows, and towels are not taut. Puppy milk replacer, baby bottle, or feeding syringe If the litter is abandoned or orphaned, ask your vet to prescribe milk formulated for German shepherd puppies. Purchase a baby bottle or syringe for feeding. If you leave newborn German shepherd puppies with their mother, give her the first two days to bond with her litter and feed them. Once you see that your GSD has accepted her litter and is feeding them, you can put the puppies in a box beside their mother. She will take care of cleaning and nurturing her pups while continuing to feed them with her milk. But if she still refuses to take care of her pups, you must take matters into your own hands. To do this, place a clean towel or a washable vet bed inside a cardboard box. Keep the box beside your GSD but make sure that she cannot get in touch with her pups. Plug the pad into an electrical outlet and adjust the heat to maintain its temperature at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The pups can get hypothermia if their body heat drops below 94 degrees Fahrenheit. See also How long should a puppy chew on a bully stick and when to take the bully stick away? Now, put your German shepherd puppies under the warmth of the heating pad at 95 degrees F and wait for them to feed. Only put three puppies per towel or one puppy per section of the vet bed for ease in feeding and monitoring. A mother GSD can produce about 4 to 5 cc of milk every hour. This means that she will need someone to feed her pups every 2 or 3 hours. To correctly use the eyedropper, put your puppy on its stomach and tickle its throat to induce swallowing. Repeat this process until you see that the pup has emptied the eyedropper. Pups will probably fall asleep after feeding. To avoid suffocation, place rolled-up newspapers in their box the pups can use them as pillows when they sleep. These are only temporary until the mother GSD starts to take care of them by licking them clean and keeping them warm with her presence. Weighing scale To make sure if the German shepherd puppies are gaining enough weight, monitor their weight by using a weighing scale at least 4 times a week. If the puppies are not gaining enough weight, they may not be getting enough milk or nourishment so consult your vet right away. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to massage or rub gently the anal region. A mother GSD can give birth to 4 to 9 puppies in one litter, 6 as the average. Newborn German Shepherd Puppies Newborns especially 1 to 3-day old German shepherd puppies are vulnerable so before you do anything, consult with your vet especially if you are inexperienced. Right after your GSD gives birth, check the 1-day old German shepherd puppies if they are breathing. If you notice a puppy having breathing difficulties, use a suction bulb syringe to suck out the blockage and clear its airways. Most of the time, they just sleep or eat. They usually eat every two hours during their first week of life. If the puppies are orphaned, you may wash them gently using a warm and moist cloth. Avoid over-bathing the pups because it can cause dehydration. You will notice some of them wagging their tails as well which is adorable to look at. The puppies will gradually open their eyes for the first time in 2 weeks. They will be curious so expect them to move around to inspect their surroundings. Instead of crawling, they attempt to use their legs even though their legs may shake. Check their weight to see if they are gaining well and continue keeping them warm and clean. Their ears will open so they can hear the sounds around them. Though their legs still shake when they attempt to walk, they can finally stand on their own. They will begin to socialize and explore their surroundings more so you should not separate the puppies from each other. They will start teething so they tend to bite everything. They will also be interested in eating solid food. The puppies can walk well at 4 weeks so they will continue socializing with their siblings, their mother, and their handler through playing. They can begin eating solid foods for the first time now that their teeth are fully developed. The puppies can be fully weaned when they reach 6 weeks because they become independent of their mother. They also improve their social skills by playing not only with each other but also with people. Not to worry because this is just a normal phase. This is a good time to expose the puppies to various sounds, places, and people. Teach them basic commands but focus on socialization and bite inhibition. If the puppies are not fully potty trained , train them now. At 9 weeks, the weight of male German shepherd puppies normally ranges from 9 to 10 kg while the females would be from 7 to 9 kg. Their height ranges from 12 to 15 inches. See also How to Crate Train a German Shepherd Puppy When the German shepherd puppies reach 10 weeks, their ears will become pointy but sometimes the ears are floppy. Their height and weight will continue to grow as long as they are adequately fed. By this time, your puppies should already know how to gently use their mouth in dealing with humans so you can enhance their training by teaching other basic commands. When they are done, let them play so that they learn how to do this on their own. Be patient because it takes time before they get the hang of it. If after 24 hours it still refuses to eat, use a baby bottle or feeding syringe to feed the puppy. Prepare a milk replacement formula using evaporated milk mixed with egg yolk, using two egg yolks for every half cup of milk. To avoid bacteria growth, boil the water first before mixing everything and store any leftover formula in the fridge. Gradually increase the proportion of milk replacement formula and decrease the proportion of puppy chow until you wean them off milk replacement completely. Your GSD puppy may have parasites because stools may look like pebbles or tan-colored, small balls which can be a sign that they have swallowed something in their litter box. This is particularly common when they are still with their mother because they tend to eat the feces of the other pups. Diarrhea can also be caused by stress, which is common for a newborn GSD puppy that has been removed from its mom. If this happens, make sure you give them enough attention and place your hand gently on their body to calm them down. Conclusion German shepherd puppies are truly a sight to behold from birth to adulthood. Peter My name is Peter and I am a dog lover. I have two German Shepherd dogs, one of which is called Biscuit because his coat is very light with brown patches. My wife and I moved from the UK to Ohio where we now live with our two daughters. We love squash on weekends and following the English Premier League closely! Previous Article. Final Thoughts A 3 month old German Shepherd is still fluffy and cute, but it has changed a lot in comparison to its early days. It has become pretty tall, about one foot in height, with long paws and an extreme desire to chew something. Put away all your shoes, socks, or clothes because they may suffer badly from its teeth. Instead, buy entertaining chew toys and collect all your patience. You need to take proper care of your pup and keep its immense energy under control. So, you need to know how to train your German Shepherd for a happy and healthy future. This guide will help you learn more and let your ideal doggy live a long life full of positive experiences and adventures. If you have a boy, its height will be about inches cm. Girls are a bit lower at this age — they are about inches cm tall. You can also notice the increase in weight. The 3 month old German Shepherd weight can differ depending on several factors. Males can weigh pounds kg , while females weigh pounds kg. However, they can be even smaller if they belong to a working line. The gender difference becomes apparent at this age. The weight can also depend on the diet you feed your pup. The changes in appearance also include the teething stage. At this time, your pup has all its milk teeth, so adult teeth growth starts. It will last for a few months until all the puppy teeth will be replaced. You will notice one more dramatic change. It concerns the coat. Its fluffy and fuzzy nature will disappear because the adult fur starts growing. You will see a racing stripe on the back to show that the puppy coat has started to be replaced. Your pup still has floppy ears that can stand straight from time to time. Though, you need to understand that during this period, the ears will not stand up steadily because teething needs a lot of calcium, and the ear cartilage cannot harden properly. You will see a lot of improvements and a steadier ear position in a month or so. Remember not to pat your little one on the ears or head, or you may damage the cartilage. It will last until your puppy is 6 months old and is characterized by immense energy, curiosity, and getting into trouble here and there. That is why socialization and training are so important in this period. German Shepherd puppies at this age are very energetic. Though they look more grown-up than ever, their puppy nature always gets them into trouble, so you need to remain as patient as you can to train your little one the proper behavior. Your pup may jump at people and bite them. Praise it with a treat if it can abstain from doing that. Since your 3 month old German Shepherd puppy is full of energy, it needs a lot of exercise. Keep it busy all the time, but not make it do something heavy for a long time because it may have severe negative consequences on its health. Take it for walks as often as you can. A minute walk is enough. The distance your pup can walk is up to 6 miles 9. Moreover, your doggy needs a lot of other exercises. It can be a combination of playing fetch, running, and aerobic activities. You can make it play with a rubber toy or do some strength training. Once again, one-time sessions should not be very long. If you cannot take your pup outside for a walk because it is very cold, play with it inside. It can be playing with a puzzle toy or hiding something in the house and asking your dog to find it. If you have a car, you can take your puppy on a ride to provide it with more experience. Overexercising can lead to problems with joints, so you need to be very careful. The sleeping schedule of your puppy also changes a little at this age. It is approximately hours per day. It can also wake you up at night and require playing or going potty. It is normal at this age. The fastest sleep for it is before dawn. If you hesitate about how much your German Shepherd should sleep now, or whether it needs some sleep during the daytime, you can consult your vet. Health and Care Your 12 week old German Shepherd grows fast, and it looks healthy. However, you need to be aware of possible health issues at this age to be careful about. The first thing you have to keep in mind is weighing and measuring your doggy regularly. At this point, you should also provide it with the second set of vaccinations. It includes parvovirus, parainfluenza, hepatitis, and distemper. Keep to a healthy and nutritious diet. If you have any doubts about the possibility of hereditary health conditions, get a DNA test. It is especially important if you want to prevent degenerative myelopathy. Even if your pup is healthy and merry, you need to take care of it regularly. Healthy diets, frequent walks, and enough exercise are all indisputable components of good puppy care. Remember to groom and brush your doggy just twice per week. Changing the coat to an adult one will lead to excessive shedding. Try to help your pet get rid of the fur that is not needed anymore. You can even develop a specific schedule for grooming or make an appointment with a professional if you are not sure how to do it properly. That can be a regular playdate with your dog-loving friends and their pets. Or you can help your pup meet new friends when you are walking with it in the park. Potty walks are an essential part of care. A 3 month old GSD can hold its bladder for an hour or so. That is why you need to keep an eye on it and let it eliminate whenever it is needed without unnecessary inside accidents. Your little one needs only healthy nutrition to grow strong and intelligent. Be attentive about treats. Obesity can cause other health problems with the heart, kidneys, and joints. Develop a feeding schedule and try to stick to it. If the puppy leaves some food in the bowl, take it away. Never leave the leftovers in the bowl, or your puppy will come back to them later, and it will be impossible to establish a feeding schedule. That will lead to potty accidents and digestion issues. The diet has to be rich in protein, but be sure that it does not contain too much fat. The food should also contain phosphorus, calcium, and vitamins. You can use vitamin supplements meant for German Shepherd puppies, but never opt for those that are for humans or adult dogs. The schedule is very important for your pet. If you establish it at three feeding times per day, try to keep to it. Distribute the amount of food evenly throughout all meals. Never feed your doggy immediately before going to bed. Provide it with enough water. Fresh water is essential for puppies, so the bowl full has to be around all the time. You do not need to take it away. It starts understanding what is going on around it. So, it needs proper training at this age. It should also learn how to interact with other animals and people. Obedience training is essential at this time. Your puppy may not master all of them at once because its attention span is rather short, so be patient enough to repeat them again and again. Only after you see that your pet is confident about these commands, you may continue with more complicated ones. Never punish or beat your puppy if something does not go well. Positive reinforcement is always your priority. Never forget to praise your little dog and give it treats if it has done something well. Your doggy should also know how to deal with other dogs. If you have a friend with a dog, invite them to your place or pay a visit to them with your pup. Your doggy will feel more confident if it knows how to build trust and socialize with other living beings. Training is very important during this period. So, if you have not started doing it yet, begin your training sessions immediately. Your doggy should see a leader of the pack in you, so be as persistent and confident as possible. If you have some difficulties, it is better to seek the help of an expert. You should be prepared to spend a lot of time training your pup. It may not be so easy at first, but it is certain to be rewarding. The height of your puppy changes very quickly because its intensive growth continues. How much should a 3 month old German Shepherd weight? There may be an apparent increase in weight at this age. It depends on several factors, such as hereditary options, type of line, feeding schedule, etc. On average, boys weigh pounds .Puppies from the working line can weigh less. How much should a 3 month old German Shepherd eat? Your pup should eat 2 cups of dry kibble or homemade food per day. How much does a 3 month old German Shepherd sleep? You will notice some changes in the sleep schedule of your pup. It needs less sleep, but the overall sleeping time is about hours per day, including day naps. The puppy can still wake you up at night for playing or potty. Though, this will happen more rarely. How far can a 3 month old German Shepherd walk? How much exercise should a 3 month old GSD get? The puppy needs a lot of exercise at this age. At least 30 minutes per session can help it grow smart, alert, and strong. Walking and running for about 15 minutes can be a part of this exercise. However, you can include playing games into the sessions. Final Thoughts The first thing you need to remember when you have decided that a German Shepherd is a good breed for you is to be ready for taking a huge responsibility. Be patient and positive. Never punish, shout at it, or beat it. However, you have to be consistent and demanding to let your 3 month old German Shepherd puppy feel that you are its leader, and it should follow and trust you. German Shepherds, if properly trained, socialized, and cared for, are great family dogs. That is why you need to keep the advice from this article in mind and always contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive information about our upcoming litters! God has blessed us with two beautiful daughters, but we had more love to give! A lifetime dream of owning an English Bulldog has led to not only owning several of these amazing dogs, but breeding and rescuing. They are so similar to humans. Talk about emotional support. One look into their beautiful eyes and you will understand exactly what we mean. They are a challenging breed to produce, especially correctly and responsibly, but oh so worth it! We breed very few litters a year personally, but we do whelp litters for some friends! Just ask when our next litter is arriving and we should have some info for you! Just like a potato chip. Cannot stop at just one! Due to our overwhelming love for the breed we have opened our hearts and home to many rescues along the way as well. If you know of a bulldog in need, please do not hesitate to contact us! Also, if you are looking for the most amazing companion ever, message us about adopting one of our pups, retired adults or adult rescues! Sign Up For Updates. Questions about Bulldog puppies for sale in Austin TX? We have answers. How much are Bulldog puppies for sale in Austin TX? The cost of any Bulldog for sale in Austin will vary due to a few factors. The combination of coat color, pattern, and eye color will make a difference, as some combos are more unusual than others. The experience and location of Austin Bulldog breeders will also play a part in how much they charge for their pups. What if there are no Bulldog breeders in Austin right now? Bulldogs are a super popular breed so you should have too much trouble finding Bulldogs for sale in Austin. The businesses in our network can even arrange for pups to fly to your nearest airport! How do you screen Bulldog breeders Austin? Each of them also has to sign our Breeder Pledge. What makes Uptown Puppies different from anywhere else with Bulldog puppies Austin? What are puppy mills? Puppy mills are grim places that put profit above welfare. Sadly, pups born in mills are far more likely to suffer from health conditions, behavioral issues, or both. Are there any Bulldog puppies for sale Austin right now? In fact, we reckon you should check them out right now! Our network of approved companies have some seriously cute Bulldogs for sale Austin that are just waiting to find their forever homes. Will you be it? While they may have been bred as working dogs, the modern day Austin Bulldog for sale are chilled out pups who would rather curl up for a nap with their favorite humans than head out to earn their keep. How big does a Bulldog get? Bulldogs are built low to the ground but with plenty of chunk! They might only stand 15 inches tall when fully grown but they can weigh a huge 50 pounds. Are Bulldogs good family dogs? They absolutely are! The Bulldog for sale in Austin on the Uptown network want nothing more than to find their perfect family. Their kind and loving natures mean that a Bulldog is never happier than when surrounded by their people both young and old. This keeps the breed characteristics constant. Mixed breeds are created by crossing two purebred breeds together to create a new breed with characteristics that are a combination of both the parent breeds. Both are awesome options!

Anyone on the internet could throw prices around, and knowing what you should pay can be challenging. Read on to learn all about German Shepherd puppy sales. Where to find a German Shepherd puppy? There are a ton of options when looking for a German Shepherd puppy. Your second choice is to find a rescue that might have a German Shepherd puppy. Depending on your area, there are various reputable rescues with guarantees and warranties on the puppy that will be joining your family. A third option is to go through Mission K9 , which has retired military German Shepherds available for adoption. Your last option is to ask for a referral from a few different sources. Your vet, dog clubs, boarding kennels, or groomers can all have advice on great options for a puppy. They will know reputable breeders around town and send you to a trustworthy source. What is a reasonable German Shepherd puppy prize? Different factors like age, color, location, and breeder cost will apply. These fees also differ depending on the rescue and organization you find your puppy through. Now, if your friend or neighbor has a German Shepherd puppy for sale, you will probably still have to pay for the puppy. What affects the price of a German Shepherd puppy? As puppies get older, the price begins to decrease. Other factors that can contribute to the price of your German Shepherd puppy are the following: Coat color: a rare white German Shepherd will cost more than your standard black and tan. Lineage and bloodlines: puppies that come for a line of show dogs and pedigrees will cost more money. Location: Populated cities will have a higher price for puppies than smaller communities. Certificates and warranty: Reputable breeders will have a lifetime warranty on their dogs and provide adequate documentation. Why should you buy a German Shepherd from a reputable breeder? When buying a German Shepherd puppy, a reputable breeder is one of the most important things to look for. There are several reasons why it is important to buy a German Shepherd from a reputable breeder: Health: Reputable breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic health problems and only breed the healthiest animals. This can help reduce the likelihood of your puppy developing certain health issues later on. Temperament: Reputable breeders strive to breed for good temperament and work to socialize and expose their puppies to a variety of people, sights, and sounds. This can help ensure that your puppy grows up to be well-adjusted and confident. Ethical breeding practices: Reputable breeders follow ethical breeding practices and have the best interests of the breed at heart. They do not overbreed their dogs or breed animals that are too closely related. Matching a dog with the owner: Good breeders know their breed and know their puppies. They will help match you with the best puppy for your lifestyle. Lifetime support: Reputable breeders are a good resource for information and support throughout the life of your dog. They can answer questions about training, nutrition, and general care and are often willing to help with any problems or concerns you may have. How do I choose a reputable German Shepherd breeder? A reputable breeder will make it known they care about the puppy. They will want multiple visits from you and your family to see how you interact with the breed. You want to choose a breeder that offers information on genetic testing of the parents and certificates for their hips, elbows, eyes, and knees. Unless otherwise discussed, responsible breeders will have you sign a contract for spaying or neutering your dog. Here are a couple of places to stay away from: Online classified websites Websites such as Craigslist and eBay Classifieds often have listings for German Shepherd puppies. However, be aware that these websites can also be used by scammers and unethical breeders, so you will need to be careful when considering a puppy from one of these sources. Pet stores Some pet stores may have German Shepherd puppies for sale. However, be aware that pet store puppies may come from puppy mills and may not have been raised in the best conditions. Backyard breeders are popular online and try to sell their dogs for a steal of a price. Things to avoid when buying a puppy Another thing to be aware of is puppy mills. This includes veterinary care, vaccination, spaying or neutering, food, and other expenses. This does not include emergency vet visits. Before buying a German Shepherd: Consider this There is no denying that the German Shepherd Dog is one of the most wonderful dog in the world. Hands down. German Shepherd puppies are the cuttiest and one of the most mouthiest thing you can expect. Mind you there is a lot of work in owning a big and energetic dog like the German Shepherd. Here are some of the questions you may want to ask yourself just to make sure you are well-prepared: Are you willing to spend most of your time with your GSD for the next 10 years or so? Will you give your love and care to a child that never grows? Do you have an active lifestyle? Are you willing to train your dogs from an early age? This can give gives you the opportunity to experience firsthand what it is like to have a GSD in your home and to see if you are ready for the commitment of dog ownership. This can help you determine if the breed or size of the dog is a good fit for your lifestyle. The good news is, we already have a list where you can find a German Shepherd rescue and adoption list in your area. Papers will also show your puppy comes from a reputable breeder. Can I adopt a German Shepherd puppy for free? Even through a shelter or rescue, getting the dog comes with a fee. What is the cost of a rescue German Shepherd? More posts on German Shepherd Puppies Recommended post. Here's what to expect in the time leading up to bringing your new puppy home: As soon as the parents breed we will update you with a due date. We hold all appointments on the same day as the people waiting behind you will be eager to pick. The parents will be onsite and available for you to meet. On pick up day, appointments are also booked back to back so it's important to be on time. We will go over feeding, vaccinations, vet records, microchip information and any other questions you may have. Parents will again be onsite for you to get to know and interact with. Please remember once you have a Herzog German Shepherd I make a commitment to you for the life of your dog. In the event you are having issues please contact me directly so we can work through them together. Our relationship is going to work best if we remember to treat each other with mutual respect and keep in mind that we all want to see a successful family life for the pup and everyone in your household. Becoming argumentative or upset will make it difficult for us to work together to find a good solution. The available spot is for 4th pick of a male. I would provide you with details on the upcoming litters and which spots are available in those litters so you can make the most informed decision possible. Here are some scenarios in which the litter of your choice may not work for your home and what available options you have: Your circumstances change: Loss of job, have to move, injury, timing no longer works, etc. There is no rush on our end as we feel choosing the right pup is a big decision. One thing to keep in mind is if you decide to stay off the list entirely and want to jump on a list with short notice there may not be available spots so try to give me as much notice as possible. You find a breeder that has a litter available sooner, a lower price, etc. You decide you want to go with a different breed or species. The deposit is forfeited as deposits are used in the care of our dogs and are unavailable for return for any reason. Herzog German SHepherds.

For the complete list please see our Golden Retriever List page. Purebred bloodlines can command a higher price, as well as puppies that are destined for the show ring. It is possible to find a free Golden Retriever puppy in New Hampshire, but it is not easy. Most breeders do not give away their puppies and those that do usually have a waiting list. There are a few organizations that specialize in finding homes for rescued dogs, but most of these dogs are mixed breeds. If you are looking for a purebred Golden Retriever puppy, your best bet is to contact a reputable breeder. These groups usually specialize in a particular breed of dog and can help you find the perfect pup for your family. A responsible breeder breeds for the health and welfare of their dogs and takes great care in placing their puppies with the right families. You can also get referrals from friends or family who have recently bought a dog. Responsible breeders will be happy to talk about their dogs and will be proud of their breeding program. Breeders who are members of the GRCA adhere to strict breeding standards and have pledged to uphold the welfare of their dogs. Meet the breeder and their dogs in person. Ask about health clearances for both parents. Responsible breeders will screen their breeding stock for genetic diseases common to Golden Retrievers and will ensure that both parents are cleared of any health issues. Make sure you understand the contract before you buy a puppy. A responsible breeder will require that you sign a contract stating that you will spay or neuter your dog, and will provide a written health guarantee. This will allow you to see the environment the puppies are being raised in and also allow you to meet the parents of the puppies. By meeting the parents, you can get a feel for the temperament of the breed. Visiting your potential breeder will also give you the opportunity to ask questions about their breeding program. Make sure your breeder is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America. Golden Retrievers make great family pets, and with a little bit of homework, you can find the perfect one for your home. Ask Questions About the Breeding Program When visiting a breeder, be sure to ask questions about their breeding program. Find out how long they have been breeding golden retrievers and what kind of health testing they do on their dogs. You should also ask about the history of any genetic problems in the lines of dogs that the breeder has used. This will help you to get feedback from other people who have worked with this breeder in the past. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but it can also help you to make an informed decision about which breeder is the best fit for you and your family. Asking for references from past clients is a crucial step. References can also help you to determine whether or not the breeder is the right fit for you and your family. This will give you the opportunity to ask them questions about their experience with the breeder. Meeting past customers will allow you to see their puppy in its home environment and will help you to determine if the breeder is the right fit for you. You can see the temperament of the puppies in their home environment and get a feel for how the breeder interacts with their clients. A responsible breeder will be happy to provide references from past customers and will be proud of their breeding program. This contract should outline the responsibilities of both the breeder and the buyer. Some things that you should look for in a contract include: The price of the puppy The guarantee provided by the breeder The return policy of the breeder What happens if the dog is no longer wanted by the buyer What type of health testing has been done on the parents of the puppy The breeding rights of the puppy The clause requires spaying or neutering of the puppy. Be sure to ask your breeder any questions you have about the contract before signing it. This will help to ensure that both parties are aware of their responsibilities. This will help you to determine if the breeder is taking good care of their dogs. A reputable breeder will have a good relationship with their veterinarian and will take their dogs for regular check-ups. A responsible breeder will take care of their dogs and will ensure that they receive regular veterinary care. This will ensure that your puppy is healthy and has been cleared for travel. Puppies should be vaccinated against parvo, Distemper, Adenovirus, and Coronavirus 4-in-1 at 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. They should also be given a rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. Deworming should be done every weeks until the puppy is 12 weeks old. They should be happy to answer. If the breeder is asking for a lot of money for a puppy, this might be a sign that they are not reputable. A responsible breeder will not charge more than what is considered to be fair market value for a puppy. If the breeder is unwilling to answer your questions or provides vague answers, this might be a sign that they are hiding something. A responsible breeder will be happy to answer any questions that you have about their breeding program. A responsible breeder will want you to see their puppies in their home environment. This will help you to determine if the puppies are being well taken care of. If the breeder is not breeding for the love of the breed, but rather for the money, this might be a sign that they are not reputable. A responsible breeder will only breed healthy dogs with good temperaments and will only sell their puppies to the right families. This will give you some idea of what health problems your puppy may inherit. The New Hampshire breeder should also be able to tell you about the health of the puppies themselves. They should be able to tell you about any congenital problems problems that are present at birth that the puppies may have, as well as any health problems that may develop as the puppies grow older. Be sure to ask the breeder if they have had their puppies tested for genetic diseases. Many genetic diseases can be detected through blood tests. Some of these diseases include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and PRA progressive retinal atrophy. A responsible breeder will be happy to tell you about the health of their puppies and will be proud of their breeding program. Make sure that you have your puppy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. This guarantee should cover any genetic diseases that the puppy may inherit from its parents. It is also important to ask the breeder to specify which genetic diseases they are covering in their health guarantee. Some breeders will only cover a few specific diseases, while others will cover all genetic diseases. A responsible breeder will be happy to provide a written health guarantee for their puppies. You will need to set up a place for the puppy to sleep, as well as a place for them to play. You will also need to provide food and water dishes, as well as a place for the puppy to eliminate. Be sure to put away any poisonous plants or chemicals, as well as any small objects that the puppy could choke on. If you have other pets in your home, be sure to introduce them slowly. You will also want to keep an eye on them when the puppy is first introduced, in case they decide to fight. If you have children in your home, it is important to teach them how to properly interact with the puppy. They should never be allowed to tease the puppy or pull their hair. It will take some time for the puppy to get used to their new home, so be patient and give them plenty of time to adjust. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for New Hampshire Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in New Hampshire? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in New Hampshire? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. I live on 18 acres of land which gives me plenty of room to let my dogs stretch out their legs to exercise in fresh air daily. Each of my dogs are foremost a family member and a big part of my life. I have been breeding and showing goldens for almost 20 years and am proud of the goldens I have produced. My goldens have earned many titles in the breed ring, rally titles, therapy titles, CD and CGC titles. I have worked hard to follow a more holistic path for my goldens. I am committed to producing the healthiest in mind body and soul in my goldens. My goldens are feed the highest quality meats, supplements and purified water with the cleanest environment for them. I do minimal vaccinations and instead do titers to check immunity levels rather than re-vaccinating. I do not use any toxic chemicals in, on or around my goldens. Producing goldens with wonderful temperaments and healthy immune systems is most important to me. Many of my puppies go to homes all over the United States and I feel very lucky to have such great families who travel far and wide to obtain one of my pups. My goldens have enriched many family lives bringing much love and devotion. We require our future puppy owners to follow our minimal vaccination schedule. To also follow a more holistic approach to control flea and tick prevention. Please check out my Recommended Holistic Vet page and find a holistic vet near you or go to the link Holistic Veterinarians' Association www. I do require you feed a raw diet as well. He is racking up points quickly with 2 Best of Breed wins. Less than 2 hours from Boston, MA. Gage 11 months old So excited to have this beautiful sweet boy. Born July .Great things are planned ahead for this amazing boy. Breeder of top quality golden retrievers for companion, competition, and working homes since .Producing the Best by feeding a raw diet and using only holistic measures to keep them safe and healthy since .I have been breeding, raising and showing goldens since .I am a member in good standings with the American Kennel Club and a current member and past board member of Yankee Golden Retriever Club and past member of the Framingham District Kennel Club and current board member of the Lakes Regional Kennel club. Their eyes are certified by a board ophthalmologist, screening for any abnormalities, and cleared of cardiovascular disease by a cardiologist. My goldens are raised with a holistic approach and a Natural rearing to diet and care. My Goldens are fed a raw diet and I do minimal vaccinations. I believe that the appropriate diet, less vaccinations, less toxic chemicals in and around them is key in raising a healthy immune system. To find out more about diet and vaccination protocols please see My raw diet page and vaccination page. My litters are born and socialized in my home at an early age until they come to you at 8 weeks of age. My pups have complete and thorough examinations by my vet at the age of 8 weeks and are guaranteed to be in good health on departure to their new homes. I sell my pups with a limited registrations. I will give guidance to each family in helping you raise your new puppy or dog in the holistic path for the life of your new golden. It is my passion and goal to make sure every puppy I produce has a clean slate and is given the best chance for a long and healthy life.

Some final words There is a little bit of leeway in their feeding schedule as all standard poodles are not the same. Each individual dog will require different amounts of food at different times of the day. The following information is a guideline as there is no set rule on when or how much to feed your pet each day. Before they are 6 months of age, you can feed your little pet up to 4 to 5 times. After they reach the age of 6 months, you can lower that total to 3 times every day. Just because you serve them multiple times throughout the day, it does not mean their serving size is huge. You are looking at feeding your puppy about 2 cups of dog food each day. This serving size can be equally measured out so that your little feller or gal gets enough food at each meal. It will take a little research to find the perfect food for your pet. If you are in doubt, you can always ask your vet what is the best type of dog food to use. The key to feeding your dog its food is that you cannot change it from week to week or day to day. You must pick one and stick with that brand. Changing the food often and without mixing it with their old dog food will upset their stomachs and cause accidents to happen. If you are worried about the number of calories your puppy is eating, those are listed on the side of the package under the heading kcal. Just look at the number next to that box to get the actual number of calories your dog is receiving. Also, the amount of food you feed your pet depends on how active they are. If they are not very active you can cut their portions down a little bit. This will help avoid your pet from becoming overweight. If he or she is very active, then you should feed them a little bit more food than the recommended amount. Puppy Food Tips There are some guidelines to help you find the right pet food for your puppy. Here are a few of those guidelines to direct your search: 1. Try to Avoid Fillers and Additives- Look for those options that contain more meat and vegetables 2. Grains are Good- Unless your vet recommends against it. Grains help your pet have more energy. Be Heavy on Glucosamine and Chondroitin- These ingredients will help your pet if it has a family history of dysplasia or joint problems. Make Sure the First Ingredient is Meat- The first ingredient tells you that it is the dominant ingredient and the more meat the better for your puppy. Look for Vegetables as Well- These ingredients provide needed nutrients your puppy needs to grow healthy. Provide a Mix- A little wet food on the dry dog food will help your picky eater build their teeth and get needed nutrients. Wet food alone will not do this but it does help with dry dog food consumption. What Foods Not to Feed Your Poodle There are some ingredients you should avoid so that your puppy gets the healthiest meal possible. MSG- It is not good for humans, and it is not good for pets. In fact, not only can it give you a UTI, it can do the same for your dog. Artificial Colors and Preservatives- These are hard to avoid but try if you can. Foods with Animal By-Products- The reason to avoid this ingredient is that you do not know where those by-products came from. Some final words Be careful when you feed your pet. There is always the danger of over-feeding them. If they act like they are always hungry, give them something else to do. They could have just arrived in your home, have a toothache, upset stomach , or they do not like the taste of the food. When you give your pet a bone, there is always a chance that bacteria may be on it. So be careful when raw feeding your pet any food item. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Written by Sydney Heupel A poodle feeding chart is the perfect tool to help you keep your furry friend healthy and happy! Knowing how much food to give them, what kind of food to feed them, and when they should eat it can be a tough job. As always, discuss the best diet regimen with your vet before making any major changes. Poodle Feeding Requirements Poodle feeding requirements vary based on the size and age of the dog. Smaller Poodles, such as toy or miniature varieties, should be fed smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Larger Poodles may need larger portions spread out over two or three feedings per day. The same is true for puppies versus adult dogs; puppy portion sizes should be adjusted accordingly. In addition to this, high-quality proteins are essential in order to provide your pup with all the necessary amino acids they need to grow healthy and strong! Omega fatty acids found in fish oils help keep their coat looking shiny and healthy too! Feeding time should always be supervised by an adult so that only designated food items are eaten by your poodle — no human snacks allowed here! How Much to Feed a Poodle Poodles are highly active dogs that require ample amounts of nutrition to stay healthy and happy. Feeding a poodle the correct amount is essential for maintaining their wellbeing. When determining how much to feed your poodle, it is important to consider their age, size, activity level and health condition. Generally speaking puppies should be fed three times per day while adult poodles should have two meals per day. Additionally, if your dog is overweight you may need to reduce their portions slightly. Lastly, always make sure freshwater is readily available for optimal hydration levels! Best Dog Food for Poodles When it comes to selecting the best food for Poodles, there are several important factors to consider. It should provide balanced nutrition with plenty of protein from animal sources and the right amount of healthy fats plus complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed foods with too much sugar or preservatives as these can be unhealthy for your pup. You also need to factor in any existing health conditions like allergies or sensitivities which may require alternative ingredients such as sweet potato or oatmeal instead of grain-based fillers. When preparing homemade meals for your poodle it is important to remember that dogs require certain nutrients in order for them to stay healthy. Animal proteins such as poultry or fish should be included in each meal along with complex carbohydrates like brown rice or barley. Additionally some health experts recommend adding omega fatty acids from sources like salmon oil or flaxseed oil for optimal health benefits. It is equally important to remember that there are items which should never be fed to a poodle including onions, garlic, chocolate and grapes which could cause serious illness if ingested by your pet. Be sure when formulating the recipe you take into account any allergies or dietary restrictions your pup may have before giving them the meal so that you do not unknowingly put their health at risk! Benefits of Proper Nutrition for Poodles Poodles require specific nutrition to reach their maximum potential and stay healthy. Proper nutrition for poodles is essential in order to ensure they have a long and happy life. Proper nutrition also supports cognitive development and keeps their energy levels up throughout the day. Calcium from dairy products or supplements helps maintain joint health while other nutrients like phosphorus support cellular growth in bone tissue. Weight control: Feeding your poodle the right amounts of good quality food will help them maintain a healthy weight which reduces stress on their skeleton due to excess body fat accumulation — especially important for toy breeds such as Poodles who are prone to obesity if not monitored closely! Longer lifespan: Quality dog foods contain ingredients specifically designed to promote longevity by providing all the nourishment needed for a well functioning body systems over time with minimal supplementation required. This means less visits and costs at the vet later down the track! Creating a Balanced Diet Plan for Your Poodle Creating a balanced diet plan for your Poodle is an essential part of keeping them healthy and happy. The best way to achieve this is by understanding the nutritional needs of your pet, as well as the different foods available. Generally speaking though, most poodles should eat two or three meals per day consisting primarily of high quality proteins such as poultry, fish or lean meat along with carbohydrates such as rice or pasta and fresh vegetables. Fruits are also nutritious additions that can be included occasionally in moderation but should never replace any other food groups from their diet. Providing balanced nutrition will give them energy throughout the day while helping them stay fit and active throughout their lifetime! Sample Weekly Meal Plans for Adult and Puppy Poodles Poodles are a highly intelligent and active breed that require plenty of food to stay healthy. Including several meals throughout the day will ensure your adult and puppy poodle is getting enough nutrients for their individual needs. For adult poodles, our recommended weekly meal plan includes two full meals per day, followed by snacks in between if desired. A high-quality protein source should be the main focus of each meal such as chicken or fish. For additional nutrition, consider adding vegetables like kale or carrots along with complex carbohydrates like brown rice or oats. Supplementing with probiotics can also help promote better digestion over time while providing beneficial vitamins and minerals to keep your poodle feeling energetic all week long! As puppies grow quickly into adulthood, they need more frequent feedings than adults do… typically three times a day including breakfast lunch and dinner until they reach twelve months old when they may downsize to twice daily feedings instead. Puppies may also benefit from supplements specifically formulated for growing dogs, but always consult your veterinarian before starting any supplementation regimen with your pup! At the end of the day, proper nutrition is key when it comes to keeping both adult and puppy Poodles healthy, so creating weekly meal plans that include variety helps ensure their nutritional needs are met every single week! Related posts:. However, you should keep the intervals between meals similar. Best Dog Foods for Poodles To keep your dog healthy and happy, choose the right food. A feeding guide should include the best food to feed your dog, whether raising a puppy or caring for an older companion. Poodle owners have several choices when it comes to feeding their pets. They can buy commercial dog food, prepare a homemade diet of raw food or raw meat, or opt for a combination of the two as the best food for their pup. Poodle Homemade Food: A homemade diet can provide your dog with all the nutrients it needs, as long as you know what to include in a balanced meal. You can consider giving ingredients like grain-free foods for those with a sensitive stomach. You may also feed a Poodle puppy sweet potato or add cooked meats to their diet. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet BARF : BARF , also known as raw diet or raw feeding, is a type of diet that mainly consists of raw meats, eggs, crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. If feeding raw food is done correctly, it can be very healthy for your puppies and adult dogs since it is free from preservatives. Consulting an experienced vet is strongly recommended when looking for the best diet for your Poodle. Sometimes, they get curious too. If you love coffee, keep it out of reach of your Poodle. It contains caffeine , which may cause high blood pressure, stomach upset, and heart problems. Another human food that should not be a part of your puppy food is chocolate. Theobromine , found in chocolate, can cause abnormal heartbeats, seizures , and even death in your puppy or adult dog if consumed. Toy, Mini, and Standard Poodles can also be harmed by gum, peanut butter, and candy containing xylitol. This can cause disorientation , hypoglycemia , seizures, and collapse. Most kinds of toothpaste also contain xylitol, so make sure not to drop any on the floor when you brush your teeth. A small amount can be fatal to your Poodle. Moreover, it is not advised to feed your Poodle avocado or cherries. The pits, skins, and leaves of avocados contain a toxin called persin. It is essential to always check the food label on any treats or ingredients to avoid giving toxic foods to your pets. Additionally, do not feed your puppy too fast and too much as it can result in bloating. You should also consult a vet if you have questions about safe human and puppy foods to ensure they live a long life. Start by adding more of the new food and eliminating some old food at each meal until your pet eats only the new food. This also applies when you switch from puppy to adult food. Feeding a Poodle Overview Ensuring that your Poodle is on a well-balanced diet is one of the most important elements to keeping your canine family member healthy, both now and into the future. This section will cover all Poodle feeding guidelines including how often to feed a Poodle, serving sizes, dry vs wet, grain vs grain-free, and top recommended kibble. Don't need all of the details and just want to know which brands are recommended? New Puppies - The Importance of Gradually Switching Foods Before you even bring your Poodle home, it is very important to discuss with the breeder or shelter worker if you are adopting a rescue exactly which brand of food they have been feeding to your Poodle. A fast change in food can cause upset stomach and digestive problems. Breeders and shelters are buying food in bulk and have to feed many dogs which is a factor in which brand they choose; so there is a good chance that you will want to offer your Poodle something different. Have both the current food and the new food on hand and make a gradual switch over the course of 3 weeks. Though you will be leaving food out at all times, it is important that the food is fresh. Do not just top it off throughout the day, rinse and clean the bowl as necessary so that old food is not stuck at the bottom of the dish. Puppy: Starting at just about the 3 month mark, Poodles of all varieties should be eating 3 meals per day, plus snacks. Adult: When a pup matures into an adult, this does not necessarily mean that they should suddenly be given only one meal a day. Smaller dogs such as Toy Poodles and Miniatures often do best with 2 or even 3 meals per day. Standards have a bit more tolerance to a single dinnertime feeding, however many can also benefit from having food split up into two servings. Several snacks can be given in between meals and this is particularly helpful is a Poodle is a fast eater. How Much to Feed a Poodle Exact serving size varies quite a bit depending on the type of food. There is a big difference in calories between wet vs dry and low quality vs high quality. And, the amount of food that a Poodle should be eating depends on the dog's age, activity level, individual metabolism, and health status. Even the weather can play a role since dogs tend to eat a bit more in the winter and a bit less in the summer. In regard to calorie requirements, puppies need more calories per pound than their adult counterparts, approximately 40 to 55 calories per pound, daily, compared to adult dogs that need about 35 to 45 calories per pound, daily. S enior Poodles typically have slower metabolisms and reduced mobility and therefore usually require slightly fewer calories, in the 40 calorie per pound range. If you are feeding your Poodle a commercial food, follow the suggested feeding guidelines. These are usually pretty spot-on. Since these are based on both age and weight, do not estimate how much your Poodle weighs but rather know what this is within a pound or two. If you are feeding your Poodle homemade food, a rough guideline for serving size is 1 ounce of food for each 1 pound of body weight, daily. As you can imagine, this can vary quite a bit depending on the exact ingredients. Using the 1 to 1 rule as a starting point, what your Poodle consumes within 15 minutes is usually a good amount for each meal. Wet vs Dry If a Poodle had their way, most would opt for wet food. However, dry food is recommended since this is much better for the gums and teeth. In addition, dry kibble tends to be easier on the stomach and intestines and a diet of all wet canned food can lead to runny stools. Grain vs Grain-free Until relatively recently, there was not much debate on this subject; if a dog tended to have gastrointestinal or allergy issues when on a diet with grains, they were switched to a grain-free recipe. However, this changed when it was discovered that several dogs that were breeds not prone to dilated cardiomyopathy developed that particular heart disease and also happened to be fed grain-free kibble. Lots of pet parents immediately thought that they needed to change their dogs back to grains; however, many more studies need to be done. In fact, the most recent update from the Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University suggests that 'grain-free' alone may not be the issue at play. For now, it is theorized that a certain diet dubbed a BEG diet may be to blame. This stands for boutique small local brands with exotic meats non-traditional meats like alligator, bison, ostrich, venison, and kangaroo and grain-free along with peas, legumes, or potatoes as one of the top 5 ingredients. Currently there are no recalls of grain-free dog food brands and the FDA is still investigating any possible links including the BEG theory. If your Poodle does not do well with any grains at all, you may wish to stick to a brand that has traditional meats like chicken, turkey, or beef or a fish-based recipes. And, if you are not sure about which grains your Poodle may do okay with, you may wish to opt for wholesome non-wheat and non-gluten grains like rice brown or white , oatmeal, quinoa which is technically a seed. Exact recommendations for the best foods include both grain and grain-free options. Elements to Keep in Mind When Choosing Food for Your Poodle What to avoid: It's no wonder that pet parents have a difficult time navigating the many choices of dog foods in their quest to find the best brand to give their Poodle, there are a lot of ingredients to avoid: Artificial flavoring like MSG which can cause terrible allergic reactions. Artificial coloring. Some of the worst are Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 2, and Yellow 6 which are linked to very serious issues including neurological and behavioral issues like insomnia and hyperactivity and serious health issues including some cancers. Chemical preservatives. This can be tricky to avoid since these do not always need to be labeled; if these are added to protect 'protein meals' in low levels, you'll never see it listed as an ingredient. These are meats and animal parts deemed unfit for human consumption. Examples are lungs, spleen, spinal tissue, genitals, hooves, beaks, intestines, and more. Generic meats or oils. This can, by law, be any species of animal whatsoever and are usually 4-D animal parts: Sourced from dead, diseased, dying, or disabled zoo animals, farm animals, or even roadkill. These are very common in cheaper subpar brands and are inexpensive ingredients that are added only to plump up the food but offer little to no nutritional value. Examples of fillers include corn, soy, wheat middlings, peanut hulls, oat husks, and cereal grains. Ingestion of fillers is a contributing factor in coprophagia eating feces and is linked to malnutrition. High grain count. Though some wholesome grains may be desired next section , high levels of wheat or gluten can cause upset stomach issues and allergies. What to look for: Knowing what to avoid can help you identify some of the better brands though exact recommendations are below. This means zero artificial additives. Natural preservatives. Wholesome ingredients. For meats and proteins this includes chicken, turkey, duck, lamb, rabbit, beef, and many types of fish including whitefish, haddock, salmon, and cod. You'll also want your Poodle to have some vegetables and fruits which provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Zero fillers. Every ingredient should serve the purpose of providing nutrients and never added simply to bulk up the recipe. The right balance of healthy grains. Though some Poodles will need to avoid all grains, most do very well with select non-wheat, non-gluten options including oatmeal, quinoa, and rice. Added extras. Next, we'll cover exact recommendations that fit all of the above criteria. Best Food for Poodles: Recommended Brands Please note that if you have not yet read ' Grain vs Grain-free ' section, you may wish to do so before continuing. Top recommend food with grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry. For larger miniatures and standards, you'll want to opt for their regular Complete Health. There are also puppy, adult, and senior formulas. All of these have no wheat, corn or other fillers, artificial coloring or flavoring, soy, meat by-products, or chemical preservatives, so you can feel very confident that your filling your Poodle's bowl with truly wholesome, healthy food. These recipes also have excellent levels of omega-3 fatty acids. And, this is made in the USA. Halo Natural Holisitc Dog Food. This top brand has found its niche by offering a purely holistic, organic recipe with non-GMO veggies and fruits and meats with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no factory farming. The protein base is chicken and liver, the two grains in this are oats and barley, and vegetables and fruits include peas, blueberries, cranberries, carrots, and sweet potato. All other ingredients are to naturally preserve the kibble or are vitamins and minerals. This particular recipe is for small breeds, however there is also an original for larger dogs. Halo is made in the USA. Top recommended food without grains: 1. Merrick is a great brand which offers this recipe for small breeds, like toy Poodles and another option for larger dogs which would include miniatures and standards. Protein bases include Texas beef, lamb, chicken, and salmon. There is no corn or other fillers, wheat, gluten, artificial additives, or chemical preservatives. And, there are excellent levels of omega-3 and both pre and probiotics. Merrick is also made in the USA. The CORE formula from Wellness is, by far, one of the very best grain-free foods on the market today. It hits very single checkbox of what you are ideally looking for in a food for your Poodle and it has some superior extras. There are excellent levels of glucosamine and chondroitin, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. There is both a small breed formula and an original formula for minis and standards as well as puppy recipes and a reduced fat option. Wellness is made in the USA. What to Feed Your Poodle if Home Cooking You will want to have a mix of protein, healthy grains, vegetables and fruits. Proteins can include beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, veal, and fish cod, flounder, salmon, whitefish. Vegetables can include sugar snap peas, green beans, lima beans, spinach, peas, zucchini, carrots, sweet potato, and regular potato. Fruits can include blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apple, and pear. Extras can include eggs, salmon oil, extra virgin olive oil, certain cheese with low levels of lactose Colby, Monterey Jack, Swiss cheese, and cottage cheese and plain whole white yogurt. Note that if you home cook, you will want to include a daily vitamin and mineral since it is near impossible for any combination of foods to offer a dog every nutrient that they need. Snacks Snacks and treats are also an important part of a dog's diet. Dry treats often labeled as baked or crunchy are best to tide over the appetite in between meals. Moist or chewy treats are best when used as training rewards and to reinforce good behavior. Rapid ingestion of food can lead to gas, vomiting, or upset stomach and is linked to killer bloat. Types of Nuts that a Poodle Can Eat - If you are snacking away on some nuts and want to share them with your Poodle, see which ones are safe and which are not. Poodle Begging Behavior - Giving into begging for table scraps or extra snacks contributes to this bad habit. See how to react if your Poodle won't stop begging. Overly Picky Poodles - Read how to address finicky eaters to make mealtime less stressful for both of you. All rights reserved. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. Share Us. They may also learn how to walk for the first time so be sure to place their food or drink bowl within short distances. However, not all puppies are the same and it depends on various factors. As with all puppies, your Standard Poodle pup should be dewormed and vaccinated during this period. After the weaning process has finished, they can be separated from their mother and sent off to a new home. Socialization is, therefore, crucial in this period to avoid behavioral problems. They might need obedience training and they also need a proper schedule for feeding to avoid obesity and begging behaviors. Keep in mind, though, that this might also result in the puppy eating much more than they did before. Ready some stock food! They might not play around as much when compared to their puppy days. Recommended Food Are you having trouble with choosing the right food for your Spoo pup? Choose puppy food without additives or fillers A Standard Poodle puppy will benefit more from a puppy food that has no fillers or additives. We recommend getting organic puppy food instead of commercial brands because they have more meat and veggie content rather than just fillers. Foods rich in glucosamine and chondroitin You will find these in fishes like animal bones and seafood. First-ingredient meat Among the most common meat choices for puppies include chicken, beef, turkey, and even salmon and whitefish. Look for these as the first ingredient of your Standard Poodle puppy food. In the wild, after all, they tend to eat a bit of grass. They get tasty food and strong teeth as a result. Here are the foods to avoid for them: 1. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to wheat that can be a source of carbohydrates, such as quinoa and oatmeal mentioned above. We will try our best to answer the most common ones below: Help! My Standard Poodle is still hungry! What should I do? Begging behaviors are sometimes caused by infrequent feeding or too much free time on their hands. Perhaps you can try to increase the feedings per day? A Standard Poodle puppy is very likely to get obese compared to other breeds so always restrict their diet in the right way. Obesity in Poodles also comes with all sorts of health issues, such as joint dysplasia, heart problems, sore backs, and tummy aches. You can try using a slow feeder discussed below or a puzzle feeder to help your Standard Poodle puppy slow down in terms of feeding. Likewise, you can also ask your veterinarian for an expert opinion. They might give your Standard Poodle puppy a recommended diet plan to avoid overeating and excessive begging habits. Any puppy not eating for a while is usually okay as it might just be stressed or full. But there are also times when not eating for a long time will make you panic. Here are the most common reasons why your Standard Poodle puppy loses appetite: 1. They just moved in Anxiety can cause any puppy to not feel well, which will result in loss of appetite. If you think about it, bad breakups and troubles with friends, family, and finances also make you not want to eat sometimes, right? They have a toothache Dental issues are also a factor that could make your Standard Poodle puppy lose their appetite. Get your puppy to a vet if you suspect that they have abnormally bad breath as that could be a sign of teeth problems. They have a bad stomach Perhaps your Standard Poodle puppy ate something bad? Talk to your vet right away if you suspect that your pup has some sort of digestive issue, which can usually be examined through their stools. To avoid your puppy getting a bad stomachache, you should be careful when feeding them new food. They might not like the food A Standard Poodle puppy can be a picky eater, much like all other Poodle types. Most pet owners like to mix part dry and part wet food, as well as some home-cooked meals and raw meats in the dish. This might attract your puppy to eat. However, keep in mind that raw feeding should be done properly to avoid bacterial contamination in meat. Most pet owners who start out feeding raw only tend to focus on the meat side, leaving behind certain vegetables and whatnot. Always make sure that your Standard Poodle pup gets balanced nutrition and research first on raw feeding before you begin. Slow-feeding a Standard Poodle puppy As mentioned above, a Standard Poodle puppy has a high risk for obesity due to quickly eating. In this case, a slow feeder can work well. Slow feeder bowls are available in the market and your local pet store — their job is to make your puppy work harder to get their food rather than gobbling it all at once. Aside from that, a puzzle feeder for your Standard Poodle pup works similarly but also adds a fun factor to their food. This will be easier for them to chew and swallow than large pieces of kibble. Weight ranges can vary quite considerably, so some puppies will naturally need a lot more food than others. One way you can adjust your meal sizes is by working with your veterinarian. If you struggle to feel any definition, your puppy could benefit from smaller meal sizes. But, if their ribs are very prominent, they could benefit from slightly larger meal sizes. You should always work with your vet when adjusting meal sizes to ensure that everything is done in a safe and healthy way. But, since Poodles have so much curly fur, seeing them can be hard even if they are overly prominent! As they get a little older, this can decrease to 3 meals. And, when your puppy is at their adult size, this can decrease to two meals per day. How to Choose the Best Puppy Food? There are a lot of commercial options to choose from when searching for the best Poodle puppy food. You will find dry options, wet food, grain free varieties, limited ingredient recipes, and more. Some owners even choose to make homemade meals for their dogs, or raw diets. However, homemade diets are more likely to be nutritionally imbalanced, which can lead to health problems. Commercial food brands offer a lot of choice. There are pros and cons to every food type, so it can also help to speak to your veterinarian. For instance, wet food is often the most palatable, but it can be hard to use in training and has a shorter expiry date than other types. Grain free food is associated with some health-related concerns, but studies have determined the need for more research into a link, and this food type can be better for puppies with allergies. And, kibble food is easy to store and use during training, but can contain unwanted ingredients, like unnecessary fillers. Slowly substitute in your new food over the course of a week, until the old food is completely removed. Doing this too quickly can result in stomach upset and digestive issues. You will also need to transition to an adult food variety when your puppy has stopped growing. Toy Poodles will often finish growing somewhere between 6 and 8 months. Miniature Poodles can take between 8 and 12 months. And Standard Poodles can take up to 18 months. The transition to an adult food should also be gradual, taking space over the course of a week. Is My Poodle a Healthy Weight? However, all Poodles are different. They will grow at different rates and will have different healthy adult weights. They will be able to help you make any suitable adjustments if your puppy needs to increase or decrease their weight to remain healthy. Obesity and excess weight can cause and worsen some serious health problems in our pet dogs. They can help to adjust meal sizes where necessary. And, they can look for any underlying causes to high appetite levels in your Poodle. This often happens when people first bring their puppy home, leading to panic and stress! However, puppies can also feel stress and fear when moving to their new homes. And, this can cause a loss of appetite. Or, if they think something better might be on offer. For instance, if you tend to feed them table scraps, they might leave their food to try and get more tasty treats. Doing so will prevent obesity and weight gain. Completing all of your training in the morning will pose the same problems as feeding your puppy a very large meal first thing in the morning. Another benefit of this is that your puppy will be extra hungry and motivated to work for their food if training is before each mealtime. How Much to Feed a Poodle Puppy — A Summary All Poodles are different from one another, so the amount of food they need each day and at individual meal times will vary. But, they usually need some adjusting. Have you got any tips for raising a healthy Poodle puppy? Let us know in the comments! Readers Also Liked. Category : Puppies When you take your puppy home usually around weeks of age they will need to eat 3 or 4 times a day. At 8 weeks old we feed small meals 4 times a day at 7 am, 11 am, 2 pm and then at 5 pm. We allow them free access to water until 7 pm in the evening. An alternative is to feed 3 times a day at 7 am, 12 noon and at 5 pm. If your puppy is hungry split the meals to 4 times a day. By the time they are 10 weeks old they can go to 3 meals a day. If your puppy feels thin you can feel all the ribs and backbone easily increase the amount of food. If your puppy feels fat you should be able to feel some of the ribs reduce the amount of food. Some puppies are very active and burn up every calorie they eat, some are prone to being a little rounder and their food intake needs to be carefully monitored. Research has shown that dogs that are not overfeed have a much lower risk of developing hip dysplasia. Keep your puppy thin and healthy. We do not recommend free feeding of puppies as this makes it more difficult to housebreak your poodle and regulate their diet. Better to move to free feeding after housebreaking if you choose to. It is harder to monitor how much food they eat when free feeding and a glutunous puppy may quickly become fat. Remember a thin puppy is less likely to develop hip dysplasia. We strongly encourage you to keep your puppy on the same food we provide for the first month. Both coccidia and giardia may live in the gut of a healthy poodle and they never have an outbreak. When their bodies are stressed they are more likely to develop an unhealthy balance and the result may be a sick puppy. Moving to a new home, leaving their Mother and siblings and diet changes are all stressful. We encourage you to make as few changes as possible to your puppies diet the first month. Changing to a different dog food — go slowly. It may take a month or longer to switch foods. If at any point your puppy develops an upset stomach go back to the level of food mix that they were doing well on. Should your puppy develop bloody diarrhea take them to the veterinarian, they have most likely developed gastroenteritis and may need some medication or possibly fluids. Go slowly, new protein sources require time for the stomach to adjust. This is true not only in puppies but also adults. We continue to feed our puppies 3 meals a day until they are 6 months old. Our belief is that in keeping food moving through the puppy it allows for better consistent growth and health. At 6 months of age we start to feed 2 times a day with snacks throughout the day. We continue to feed our dogs 2 times a day throughout their life. We feed snacks several times a day to both puppies and adults which may be carrots, green beans, eggs or chicken or pieces of their kibble. We feed our poodles both kibble and home cooked food. Bully sticks are given occasionally for chewing. No Comments.

All dogs are unique and grow at their own rate. Pro Tip: Check out our complete guide to puppy care to ensure your Lab gets off to a great start. As a medium to large breed, Labrador Retrievers need at least one year to reach their full size. A general rule of thumb suggests your Lab should be at or close to its full size by their first birthday. However, bigger-boned Lab puppies can keep growing and filling out their chest up to 18 months old. How big should a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever be? The average Lab weight at six months old is about 40 to 55 pounds for males or 30 to 35 pounds for females. Please keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and every puppy will grow at a slightly different rate. How much bigger will my Labrador Retriever get? There are three ways to predict the size of a Labrador Retriever at maturity: Age. Labrador Retrievers typically reach their full height and weight around their first birthday. Larger Labs may need up to 18 months to fill out their chest, but any weight gain after 12 months should be minimal overall. If your Lab is less than a year old, they are likely still growing and putting on muscle to reach their adult size. Paw Size. If their paws look oversized next to their legs and body, then they are probably still growing, as this is a classic puppy feature. Lastly, if you purchased your Lab through a breeder, you can contact them for a more exact height and weight estimate. What is the size of a full-grown Labrador Retriever? A full-grown Labrador Retriever weighs between 65 and 80 pounds and stands about .The average weight of a full-grown female Labrador Retriever should be about 55 to 70 pounds, standing at .Make sure to consult with your veterinarian to ensure that your Lab is maintaining a healthy weight for its body size. The Labrador Retriever growth rate should be indicative of its athletic body and muscular build. Did you know. ? Their webbed paws made them strong swimmers, along with their otter tail, which acts like a powerful rudder when retrieving ducks. English nobles spotted the dogs and brought them home across the Atlantic, where breeders continued to refine the breed into its own variation. Between their friendly demeanor, adaptability, and outgoing disposition, they make ideal family members. As cherished members of our families, Labs deserve the best care. Unfortunately, like many other purebred dogs, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to various health issues. Some of the most common examples include:. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links. As a dedicated Labrador parent, one of your primary responsibilities is ensuring your pup remains healthy and achieves all growth milestones based on his age. However, some of the most overwhelming factors to crack through are size and weight. So, is your Lab puppy too small for his age? Your Lab puppy might be too small if it weighs less than 12 lbs 5. Lab puppies generally weigh about 2 lbs 1 kg with every week of growth. If your puppy weighs a lot less than that, he may be too small for his age. If you're worried that your pup might be too small for his age, you're in the right place. In this article, I'll outline Lab puppies' size and weight facts to help you understand where your young canine friend stands. Keep reading! In this article How Much a Lab Puppy Should Weigh This is one of the most common concerns and one of the most challenging to address directly. This is because a puppy's weight and size may differ based on his gender, genetic composition, or underlying conditions. However, there's a trick that may help you determine your pup's weight range. In most cases, average puppies add about 2 lbs 1 kg with every week of growth. And just like the weight, Lab puppies have different sizes. You may notice a huge size variance in a litter of Lab puppies. Some may appear too big or too small for their age. Below are 3 factors that can affect a Lab puppy's size and weight. Genetic May Affect Size A canine's size is partially genetic. Therefore, a Lab puppy born of small parents may inherit the genes and appear smaller for his age. However, this isn't always the case because some small-parents puppies sometimes grow into huge dogs. So, it's possible to note a considerable size variance on puppies from the same litter. Diet Greatly Influences Weight A puppy's diet also has a lot to do with his size and weight. Poorly fed puppies may fail to grow properly. Thus they may be low in weight and small in size. When feeding puppies, it isn't always about the amount of food the pup consumes but rather the nutritional value. So, to be on the safe side, it's advisable to consult your vet on the right foods for your pup based on his age. Health Problems Can Inhibit Growth Puppies that have been ill or have underlying conditions may portray slow growth. Their size and weight may be small compared to healthy pups within the same age limit. However, you shouldn't worry about this because such puppies often catch up later after recovery. Note that this chart only gives a weight limit, and it doesn't mean your puppy should weigh precisely that. It's only meant to help you protect your pup's weight and easily point out when he's seriously under or overweight. Labrador Retriever Puppy Growth Chart and Development with Pictures Large breed dogs, like Labs, gain weight and grow rather rapidly in their first year. They also develop certain skills at approximately the same time. Lab puppies at this age are entirely dependent on their mother. They are born without teeth, vision, or hearing. The mother Lab will also stimulate them to eliminate and eat their waste to keep her nesting area clean. Most Lab puppies will have their eyes opened at 2 weeks of age, and their ears will begin to open around this time too. This period can be called the awakening of senses, as they are growing to be more conscious and inquisitive. Try to spend some time with each puppy daily, so they get used to being handled. They should not be removed from their litter for more than 10 minutes at a time as this could cause them to miss out on important life lessons. Mama dogs will teach her pups some discipline and dogs that are taken from their mom before this age often suffers from behavioral issues. You should handle them often and can begin basic training. Treat your puppy gently, with no harsh discipline. Your 8-week-old Lab puppy will be able to start sleeping through the night and have better control over its bowel movements. Potty training can be introduced at this age, but you should avoid bringing them to crowded places. Most puppies get their first vaccination before heading to their new homes. You should keep your new puppy away from other dogs until they complete their vaccinations to prevent them from contracting infectious diseases like distemper or parvovirus. Lab puppies eating their dog food At 2 months, Lab puppies should be fed 4 small meals a day. Knowing how much to feed them is key. Your Lab puppy will begin to test you in order to figure out what their position is in the family. Labrador Retriever puppies at 3 months might ignore commands they are familiar with. Some dogs might start nipping. To combat this, direct them to chew appropriate toys instead. Be patient with them and keep reinforcing positive behavior because they will grow out of it soon enough. They are still establishing their role in the pack and might assert their dominance over little children or pets. You can start incorporating other activities like obedience or agility to divert their attention and help them understand their role in the family better. Some dogs will go through another fearful stage at this age. You can help them through it by desensitizing them and being kind and understanding. They are still puppies at this age, after all. They should not be forced to face their fears in hopes they will get used to it. Appropriate exposure with lots of praise, attention, and treats will do the trick. They will have grown into the dog they are meant to be and will have a consistent personality. They should also have settled into a routine and know their place in the family. Following a UK study, Labs grow into their adult weight by their 1-year-old birthday. Mentally, Labradors will stay a puppy till they are 2 or 3 years old, but some never really do grow up. When Do Labs Stop Growing? Lab puppies generally gain 2 lbs 1 kg a week from birth until they are 6 months old. After that, their weight gain tapers off slowly. Most people think that dogs mature at the same age, but small dogs like a Terrier or a Pomeranian might reach adulthood at 9 months of age whereas a Great Dane might fully mature at 3 years of age. It has been noted that they reach their full height at 1 year of age, and their adult weight at 2 years of age. How to weigh a Labrador dog? Weighing your dog is a good way to keep track of its growth. A less strenuous and stressful way to weigh your dog would be to buy a weighing scale for dogs and weigh them regularly. You can incorporate this into your dog training and reward them every time they stay still on a scale. There are reasonably priced pet scales on Amazon but if you do not have a budget for a dog weighing machine, you can get your dog weighed at the vet. This is because muscle weighs more than fat. A chubby-looking Labrador might have the same weight as a lean and strong Lab. Testing Physical Appearance There is a system called BCS or Body Condition Scoring that allows owners and health providers to assess whether their dog is at a healthy weight from a glance. There are 9 levels, with the 1st level representing extreme emaciation, level 5 being optimally fit, and level 9 being life-threateningly obese. However, if they are outside of that spectrum, you might want to consider seeing a specialist as your dog might have some underlying health issues. It can also cause lots of health problems such as joint problems, respiratory or heart diseases, and even cancer. The bad news is that Labradors are prone to obesity due to their genetics. A large portion of the Labrador population has a malfunctioning POMC gene that stops them from being full. Even without the condition, Labs are notoriously greedy! Look at Midnight eating in her dreams: Hyperthyroidism and Insulinoma are disorders that can cause unexplainable weight gain. How to help your Labrador achieve a healthy weight? If they are suffering from certain disorders, you will need to treat them first. If they are simply being fed too much, remove any excess calories from their diet by cutting down treats including table scraps! You can also encourage them to move more through exercise, play, or work. Being too thin is also unhealthy, especially if your puppy is still growing. Weight loss or not being able to gain weight can be caused by worms, illness, or a lack of calories. Active dogs will need to be fed more than those that lead sedentary lifestyles. What you can do is increase their intake and monitor their growth rate. Another commonly asked question is when to fix their male or female Labradors. The general consensus is that you should fix your dog around 6 months, but there are new studies to suggest that early neutering might create more problems for your dog. Another specialized study suggests pet owners to neuter or spay after 37 weeks. This prevents excessive growth that can aggravate hip or joint problems. Will my Lab still grow after being neutered? Depending on when your dog is neutered. If it is neutered after sexual maturity, it will most likely have already reached its adult size and will not grow any taller. However, most neutered pets gain weight much more easily due to a decrease in sex hormones. This will cause their metabolic rate to slow down so you should adjust their diet accordingly. Differences between variations of Labrador Retrievers English Labs are show dogs that are bred to be more heavyset. Therefore, they can be slightly on the heavy side. As for American or working dogs, they are generally more athletic and lighter. Gender also plays a role in their weight, with females nearing the lighter end of the spectrum and males being on the heavier side. Chocolate Labs and White Labs are usually bred for the show ring. It is entirely possible to have an English Fox Red and vice versa for all other colors. Leading a healthy lifestyle will keep your pup healthy. Further reading: Additional puppy growth chart guides. Between 8 weeks and 10 months, your puppy has a ton of growing to do, and they change drastically from month to month. Each stage of growth requires specific attention, exercise, and diet, so there is much to learn and pay attention to these different growth stages. There may be behavioral challenges while your pup adjusts to their new life without their mother and siblings. This period of adjustment can sometimes lead to fearful and timid behavior, and your puppy will need as much attention and affection as possible. They should be eating 3—4 small meals a day at this stage. You can begin basic command, leash, and potty training at this point too. Although the schedule is not complete this is a critical period to begin socialization and making sure they are calm and friendly with other dogs, just make sure they are also vaccinated. We highly recommend making training a part of their daily activities at this age. Biting can be an issue at this stage too, as they will begin teething, and they will start exploring and chewing whatever they can find. Chew toys and consistent command reinforcement are both vital for avoiding this behavior. The good news is that your puppy will grow out of this habit at around 6 months old. Your lab should also be house-trained by this point, but there may still be the occasional accident. Remember to be gentle but firm when this happens, and your pooch will likely move through it swiftly. They will begin losing their baby teeth at this point, and biting and chewing may reach its peak. Firm but gentle commands, chew toys, and loads of patience are essential at this stage. Your puppy will be testing the limits and may start showing dominance, ignoring known commands, and asserting more independence. You can now drop their meals down to two meals per day, but be sure that they are not eating too quickly. Your puppy will start to closely resemble an adult at 6 months, but remember that mentally, they are still puppies and will need loads of direction and training. Females may enter their first heat at 6—7 months, so keep a careful watch for stray males. They will still display puppy tendencies and traits and have a ton of excitable energy, but they should be fairly obedient and well-trained by this stage. Be sure to give your Labrador plenty of exercise at this stage to help keep them from misbehavior. They will have reached their full height by now but may still gain weight and muscle mass in the coming months. Unless you intend on breeding, you should consider neutering and spaying your puppy to avoid wandering and unwanted pregnancies. While some breeders recommend that you wait until a year old, this is a perfectly suitable time to perform the procedure. They may still gain weight and muscle mass but much slower than during the past few months. They will still display puppy characteristics and even test boundaries, but all in all, they should be obedient and well-trained by now. They will have a ton of energy and still enjoy playtimes and loads of exercise. While they are at their full height at this age, some Labs may appear lanky and still have weight to fill out in the coming months. When Do Labradors Stop Growing? All dogs are unique, and the question of when they stop growing is largely dependent on the individual. Anecdotally, your Lab should have reached their full weight by 18 months and full height by 9—12 months. Most breeders agree that your Lab will stop growing at some point during their second year. Even so, any weight gain during their second year will be minimal, and they will have done the majority of their growth by their first birthday. Mentally, they are out of the puppyhood phase of testing boundaries and disobedience by their first year— if correctly trained. If you have been consistent in training thus far, your Lab should be friendly, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday and into adulthood. In males, neutering can sometimes result in a calmer, more relaxed dog, and this, in turn, will slow down his need for exercise and may result in weight gain. A study in showed that dogs neutered before 37 weeks may gain more weight, while dogs that had the procedure after 37 weeks had a slower growth trajectory. The difference was minimal, though, and there is no reason to assume that these procedures have much of an effect on growth rates in dogs. Dangers of Growing Too Quickly or Stunted Growth While some puppies may grow quicker or slower than the agreed-upon average, this is usually nothing to be concerned about due to the individual and unique nature of dogs. However, if your pooch is gaining weight rapidly or not gaining enough, there may be deeper issues to look into. If your dog is from working or hunting stock, they may be smaller than average Labs and are usually lighter for work in the field. Size may also be genetic, and if your Lab comes from small parents, they will be smaller than average. The same may be true of heavier-than-average Labs—if their parents are large, they will likely be similar in size. However, larger-than-average weights may also be due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise , or a combination of both, so be sure to keep their exercise and feeding habits consistent. Image Credit: rebeccaashworth, Shutterstock Growth Distinctions of Different Labradors Although they are designated under the same breed, there are two different types of common Labradors: English and American. English Labradors tend to be stockier and more muscular than their American counterparts and have a thick, waterproof coat , while American Labs have a slender build with a slightly finer coat. English Labs are slightly shorter, topping out at around 22 inches, but their stocky and muscular build often makes them heavier than American Labs. In fact, English Labs have been known to weigh up to 20 pounds more than American Labs without being considered overweight. American Labs are known to be slightly more active and energetic than English Labs, while English Labs tend to be less excitable and more laid back. English Labs are by no means lazy, though, and they still have plenty of energy and stamina to go around. Conclusion: Monthly Labrador Growth Pictures Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the growth rate of your Labrador puppy and given you a better idea of what to expect during the different stages. See also:. But, any weight gain after 12 months should be negligible generally. Larger Labs may take up to 18 months to fill out their chests. Your Lab is still growing and gaining muscle to attain adult size if they are younger than a year old. It is a typical puppy characteristic. If their paws appear overly large compared to their legs and body, they are still growing. Usually, huge-pawed puppies grow into large canines. Genetics Genetics is the central aspect affecting how big your Labrador will grow. More minor parents will result in more miniature puppies. Additionally, there are various varieties of Labradors. No matter how much or what he eats, all labs tend to grow to their height and length. When do Labradors stop growing? Your puppy should stop growing physically by the time it turns one, yet, this is not always the case. Despite not growing much height in feet between their first and second birthdays, labs continue to gain weight. It is crucial to keep an eye on their eating habits through a food chart to ensure they do not become overweight. But much of this is up to the dog, so make sure he continues to grow his height by age normally. If properly trained, they are mentally past the puppyhood stage of pushing the envelope and disobeying by the end of their first year. Your Lab should be pleasant, obedient, and well-behaved from their first birthday until they reach adulthood if you have been diligent in your training up to this point. But, if your dog is gaining weight quickly or not gaining enough, there may be more severe problems to consider. The size of your Lab also depends on inheritance. If your Lab has small parents, they would likely be smaller than average. The same may apply to Labs that are heavier than usual; if their parents are enormous, they will probably be as well. Keep in mind that overweight Labs could also result from inconsistent food and exercise routines, overfeeding, or a mix of the two. Remember that each dog is unique, and their size and weight range can vary significantly based on their particular genetics. Related Posts. Labrador puppy weight. It can be hard to know what the right weight is for your specific pup. An American Lab is likely to weigh less than an English Lab in general, but not always! How much do Labs weigh in general? Male Labradors weigh between 60lbs and 80lbs, while females weigh in at between 55lbs and 75lbs. But many healthy Labradors fall outside these averages. As you can see, there is quite a range! Labrador Puppy Weight Lots of our readers want to know how much should my Labrador weigh at this age or that age. Labrador puppies are growing fast, and their weight is constantly changing. We used the data from our forum to create the Lab weight chart below. If you want a rough idea of how much your pup should weigh at different stages of their young life, just compare them to this chart and see how they match up. But remember, average Labrador weight is not totally straight forward… Average Labrador Weight Labradors come in a wide variety of sizes. So average Labrador Retriever weight figures can be misleading. As a very rough guide an adult female Labrador might weigh between 55 and 70lbs. An adult male Lab will weigh 65 — 80lbs. Female Lab weight will on average be lower than male Lab weight, but as you can see there is a considerable cross over. But Labradors also come in a couple of different types, and his type will have an impact upon his ideal Labrador weight. English Labs bred from show lines are likely to be at the upper end of the scale. You can expect English Lab weight to be around 60 — 70 lbs for a female and 70 — 80 lbs for a male. Some of our chunkier, show bred Labs can be a good twenty pounds or more heavier than their field bred cousins, without necessarily being overweight. Whereas the American Lab who is field bred is likely to be at the lower end of average. Volume for volume, muscle weighs more. So it is worth bearing in mind, that a very fit dog will have more muscle and may weigh more than an unfit dog of similar dimensions. Black Lab Weight In theory there should be no difference in weight between Labradors of different colors. Black Labrador weight for an English black Lab will probably be at the higher end of the range, for an American black Lab it will likely be lower. Black Labs are frequently found in both these categories, but some Lab colors differ. For example the chocolates. Chocolate Lab Weight Chocolate Labs are more likely to be show bred than field bred. English Labs weigh more than American Labs in general, and may therefore be at the higher end of average when it comes to weight. This is because yellow Labs are commonly found in both categories. White Labs are more likely to be English Labs, and will therefore probably be at the heavier end of the scale. Fox red Labs are normally American Labs, and will often be thinner in build and therefore lighter in weight. The way to effectively judge whether your Lab is at an ideal weight is not through the scales. It is by feel and appearance. You should not be able to see ribs, but if you press firmly along his sides you should just be able to feel your fingers bumping along them. But in most cases it really is not necessary to weigh your puppy every day, or even every week! Any more than you would weigh your three year old child on a daily or even weekly basis. There are however, some exceptions. Very thin puppies Occasionally we have people post up about puppies that are desperately underweight and clearly failing to thrive. Most of these comments come from people that have purchased puppies that are not ready to leave their mothers, and should not have been sold by the breeder. Some of these puppies are as young as three weeks old. If you have inadvertently been sucked into this horrible trade in underage puppies, do contact a vet for help with feeding your puppy, as a matter of urgency. If you are concerned that your puppy might be seriously underweight, again, your vet is the first port of call. As a very rough guide, many Labrador puppies will weigh around a kilo for every week of their lives. So you would expect a ten week puppy to weigh something in the region of ten kilos or around twenty-two pounds. A twenty percent variation around this would be fairly normal. If your puppy falls outside this variation he may still be perfectly healthy, but if you are inexperienced, a check with the vet is a good way to put your mind at rest. Should I Weigh My Dog? You may need to weigh your dog if he needs medical treatment. Determining the appropriate dose of some drugs requires that we know the exact weight of the patient. But in this case your veterinarian will probably do it for you at their check-ups and assessments. The main reasons to weigh a dog are loss or gain. Trying to put weight on a very thin puppy? You may want to check your progress with regular weigh-ins for a while to make sure they are sufficiently gaining weight. Trying to help your adult Labrador weight decrease? Checking their weight each week will help you to know that you are succeeding, along with visual checks. How to weigh a dog If you need to weigh a puppy, and he is small enough to hold in your arms, you can do this at home. Just weigh yourself on the bathroom scales without him, then weigh yourself again whilst holding the dog, and subtract the first weight from the second. This is accurate enough for most purposes. Larger dogs will need to be weighed on purpose built scales. Most vet surgeries have one in the waiting room, and some pet stores have them too. Really tiny dogs can be weighed accurately on a good sized set of kitchen scales. For once, this is a situation where appearances really do count. Try to get into the habit of looking at your dog objectively and of avoiding comparing with other dogs, many of whom will be overweight. You may find that some other dog owners will tell you your nice slim Labrador is actually too thin. This happens a lot, largely because people are simply getting used to so many dogs being overweight, including some of those receiving the highest accolades in our show rings. Again, if you are worried, check with your vet, but the chances are if someone is telling you this that actually your dog is healthy, and it is really their dog who is overweight. Treats What should a healthy Labrador weigh ideally? A healthy Labrador should have a weight range of 55 to 80 pounds. This is KG in the UK. For example, a young male Labrador will typically weigh more than an adult female. Similarly, a taller dog will usually weigh more than a shorter one. While there is some variation within the breed, Labs that fall outside of the healthy weight range are more susceptible to health problems. For instance, obese Labs are more likely to develop joint problems, while underweight dogs may have difficulty regulating their body temperature. As such, it is important to ensure that your Labrador maintains healthy poundage. Free Labrador weight chart A Labrador body mass chart can be an extremely useful tool for pet owners. It can also help you spot health problems early on, and get your dog to the vet for treatment. There are a number of different weight charts available online like the one below, and they are usually free to download. If you have a Labrador, or are thinking about getting one, then a weight chart is definitely something that you should consider looking at like the one below. Standard Labradors weigh between 55 and 80 pounds in line with the chart above, while miniature Labradors weigh between 30 and 50 pounds. Labrador puppies typically weigh between 2 and 4 pounds at birth and this changes as they age. For the first few weeks of life, Labradors gain weight rapidly, doubling their birth weight by two weeks of age. From there, they continue to gain weight steadily until they reach adulthood. The average Labrador reaches its full adult weight by 18 months of age. However, smaller or larger individuals may take longer to reach their full size. For example, a standard Labrador that weighs 70 pounds at 18 months old may continue to fill out and reach 75 or even 80 pounds as an adult. On the other hand, a miniature Labrador that only weighs 45 pounds at 18 months old is unlikely to gain any more body fat or weight. Labrador weights can vary significantly from one individual to the next, but this breed generally maintains a fairly consistent size throughout its life. You can use the weight chart above as your Lab increases in age. Labrador puppy weight Labrador puppies are born small, but they grow quickly. On average, Labrador puppies will double their birth weight by one week old. They will triple their birth weight by two weeks old. By the time they are six weeks old, Labrador puppies will typically be about half of their adult heaviness. Then you can use the weight chart above to see how well your adult Labrador is in line. After six weeks, their growth rate will begin to slow down, but they will continue to put on weight until they reach adulthood at around one year old. The average adult Labrador weighs anywhere from 55 to 80 pounds, although some Labrador mixes may be larger or smaller. Labrador puppies typically reach their full adult size between 12 and 18 months old. However, they may continue to fill out and fill in until they are two years old. Some Labs may even continue to grow until they are three years old! A 6-month old Labrador should weigh in at around 18 to 23 kg UK , depending on the gender and build of the dog. Generally, male Labs will be on the higher end of that weight range, while females will be on the lower end. If your dog is significantly under or overweight, it may be indicative of a health problem and you should consult with your veterinarian. Labs are known for being active and energetic dogs, so make sure to provide plenty of opportunities for exercise and playtime to avoid the buildup of too much fat. An adult Labrador usually weighs between 25 and 30 kg, so your pup still has some growing to do! In conclusion While the average weight of a full-grown labrador retriever is around 55 pounds, there is significant variation among individual dogs. Some labradors will weigh as little as 40 pounds, while others may reach 70 pounds or more. The size of a labrador also depends on factors such as gender and whether the dog is spayed or neutered. In general, male labradors are larger than females, and intact dogs tend to be heavier and have more fat than those that have been spayed or neutered. See how to tell if your dog is fat for more information if you are worried. For example, a labrador that eats a lot of high-calorie food may be overweight, even if it is not particularly large for its breed. Ultimately, the best way to determine whether a labrador is at a healthy weight is to consult with a veterinarian who has special scales for measuring how heavy a dog is. Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Unless your vet advises otherwise, you should try and keep your dog in the weight-range typical for his or her breed and gender. By analyzing thousands of data points, we created the real-life Labrador Retriever weight distribution chart. For a typical female, the weight ranges from .That is, .The chart presents the percentage of the population that falls in a specific range. You can see trends and identify any problems. You can set up the normal weight range for your pet and log different measurements over time. Monitor the weight of your pet Download the 11pets: Pet Care app now and start monitoring the weight of your Labrador Retriever. Download the 11pets app now We have included a tutorial that shows every step of the weight tracking process. More information from experts of your Labrador Retriever Care guide for the hygiene of your Labrador Retriever In our blog you can also find a care guide for the hygiene of your Labrador Retriever developed by a group of experts. It explains how often you should bath your dog, trim its nails, clear its ears etc. Thanks to this post you will understand better the origins of the breed, its character and its maintenance needs. Most importantly, you will find tips about its training.

They are thought to be distantly related to the Pug ancestor of the Pugapoo and brought to Europe from Asia nearly 2, years ago. Impressed with their large size, Romans used the Mastiff to fight in arenas for entertainment. More recently, in the s and s, they were used for hunting bulls, bears, and lion baiting. They were also a common watchdog during this time. By the time the s rolled around, they were mainly used for guardians and as companion dogs. Commonly found in the homes of nobles, these dogs were known for being gentle and mild tempered. After this battle was won by the British, it was estimated that only 14 Mastiffs had survived in the entire country. The Mastiff population was rebuilt mainly by the U. Poodle Breed History: While commonly associated with the French, the Poodle actually originated as a duck hunter in Germany over years ago. Eventually, Poodles made their way from the lake to the life of luxury as they were the breed of choice by French nobles, and eventually royalty across all of Europe. To this day, the Poodle is still the national dog of France. The Toy Poodle started in the United States in the early 20th century to be a city-dwelling companion dog. After the Poodle gained popularity in the 60s and Poodle mixed breeds started gaining traction in the 80s, more and more breeding options became available. The Mastiff was just one of many to be bred with the Poodle in the late s. Mastidoodles tower over most other doodle breeds. With two big parents, that is to be expected. On average, the male Mastiff is between inches in height and the females, which are generally slightly larger, are between inches in height. Poodles are regarded as needing a lot of maintenance—more than most breeds. They generally need brushing almost daily. On the other hand, Mastiffs need to be brushed a few times a week. The amount of grooming that an individual dog needs depends on the dog itself. If the Mastidoodle puppy inherits more of a Poodle-like coat, it will need grooming more often. You can expect to have a Mastidoodle groomed every months, but in warmer climates it should be done closer to weeks to keep them cool. Are Mastidoodles Hypoallergenic? Do Mastidoodles Shed? No, Mastidoodles are usually not completely hypoallergenic. Because one parents is hypoallergenic and the other is not, there is no way to guarantee that the offspring will be hypoallergenic. Mastiffs shed rather heavily, while Poodles are hypoallergenic and shed minimally. Mastidoodle puppies will most likely shed less than a purebred Mastiff because it is mixed with the lower shedding breed of the Poodle. On average, they tend to live anywhere from years. However, all breeds have the possibility to develop some health problems. Some major concerns with the Poodle Mastiff Mix include entropion, elbow dysplasia, and canine hip dysplasia. Due to the cost of treating these common health concerns, we highly encourage all dog owners invest in pet insurance. We recommend getting a free online quote from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. That being said, sometimes they forget how big they are, so ensure supervision around small children and elderly adults. These dogs love their families and are very loyal. This makes them good watch dogs. They will be quick to give a warning bark to any approaching danger and their size alone is intimidating. The Poodle is an especially smart dog breed, so frequent mental stimulation is important. Mastidoodle Dog Breed Activity Requirements: The Poodle requires a lot of physical activity, but the Mastiff only requires a moderate amount of activity. Expect to spend around an hour a day engaging your Mastidoodle in physical activity. This can include walks, jogs, a good game of fetch, or time to run around with friends in the dog park! Alternative Breeds to the Mastiff Poodle Mix. Mastidoodle breeders and puppies What is a Mastidoodle? A Mastidoodle is a Mastiff Standard Poodle mix. They are large, lean dogs with floppy ears and strong personalities. This cross breed is both recent and rare, with fans travelling long distances to find a puppy from these very different doggy lines. Purebreds vs Designer Dogs The Mastidoodle is classified as a designer breed. This means it is bred from two purebred dogs, in this case a Mastiff and a Poodle. The first part of making an informed decision is to be broadly aware of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of designer breeds in comparison to purebred dogs. The flip side is that purebred dogs can suffer from a range of health and physiological problems resulting from inbreeding. This research into pedigree dog preventative care provides an interesting insight into the breeding efforts to address purebred health challenges. Where Do Mastidoodles Come From? Mastidoodle were first developed as little as twenty years ago in the US. The main part of their history and heritage comes from their parent breeds. The Poodle is believed to have originated from Germany over years ago. This breed was developed to be a water hunting dog. When the Romans invaded Britain in 55 BC they encountered a huge and courageous dog which easily trounced Roman breeds. Unsurprisingly, the warlike Romans took some home with them and used them for fighting wild animals in the Coliseum. Over the centuries they became popular as guard dogs. How Big Are Mastidoodle Dogs? The Mastidoodle could weigh 55 to pounds and measure 15 to 30 inches tall. Its features will vary significantly depending on which of the parent breeds has greater influence. Standard Poodles stand around fifteen inches tall and weighs between fifty and seventy pounds. They have a well-proportioned, squarely built frame which gives the breed its proud, almost haughty stance. The Mastiff is a much larger dog. Its height typically reaches around 25 inches and its weight ranges between 55 and 75 pounds. This is an athletic dog with a strong musculature and an alert, agile bearing. Mastidoodle Appearance and Characteristics The Mastidoodle will typically have a domed forehead, drooping ears, and almond shaped eyes that are equal parts soulful and intelligent. Colors can be black, brindle or cream. The Mastidoodle is likely to be a large and solidly built dog, with a striking physical presence derived from both its muscular Mastiff and its proudly upright Poodle pedigrees. If your Mastidoodle puppy has inherited its coat from the Poodle side, its coat will be more wavy. You will need to groom at least every other day to deal with matting, burrs, and debris. Maybe the coat of your Mastiff Poodle mix comes more from the Mastiff side. Then its coat will be shorter, less wavy, and considerably easier to maintain. Are Mastidoodles Hypoallergenic? If they are at the curlier end of the spectrum they can be low shedding and therefore hypothetically a good match for owners with mild dog allergies. Mastidoodles Temperament Traits The Mastidoodle is intelligent, adaptable and forms strong bonds with their families. They are wary or aloof with strangers, and therefore benefit from plenty of socialization as puppies. People are often surprised at how patient and nurturing they are, given their imposing size. They love any kind of exercise and will happily run, swim, and retrieve. This mix can make great watchdogs, if not guard dogs too. Are Mastidoodles Aggressive? More vigilant than aggressive, they make great guard dogs and generally have a home-loving streak. The Mastiff x Poodle is intended to blend those traits. This results in an extremely affectionate and intelligent dog who develops a strong attachment with its family. Mastidoodle Training and Obedience Both Mastiffs and Poodles respond very well to positive reinforcement training. Given the likelihood that your Mastidoodle puppy will be an extremely bright and perceptive animal especially if its Poodle pedigree is dominant , you may also need to be creative in finding fresh challenges and approaches throughout the training process. Health Issues and Special Needs Beginning the process of looking for a Mastidoodle puppy and speaking with Mastiff Poodle cross breeders? Issues to consider with Mastidoodle dogs are: Elbow and hip dysplasia. Lifespan Sociability Of all the mixed doodle breeds, this guy is certainly one of the rarest. This means that you need to be prepared for the long and hard search that is ahead. If you are impatient and are desperate for a dog to join your family in the next few months, this will not happen with the Mastidoodle. He is rare, but this is definitely a huge part of his appeal. It also goes without saying that the Mastidoodle is a huge dog. And do you know what giant dogs need? Lots and lots of space. He might not be as big as his Mastiff parent, but you can be sure that he is much bigger than his Poodle parent. The Mastidoodle can be an obnoxious dog if you allow him to be. For this reason, we suggest that that only an experienced dog owner takes him on. He will inherit a degree of stubbornness from his Mastiff parent, who is a strong-willed pooch. Thankfully, his smart Poodle genes should alleviate this, but do not expect a fully obedient dog in this guy. He can also become overprotective, too, if he is not trained and socialized adequately as a pup. He is courageous and takes his role as family protector very seriously. Thankfully, his Poodle genes will make him more accepting of strangers. The Mastidoodle needs more exercise than most giant dogs, and that is because of his Poodle parentage. Poodles are livewires who were traditional duck hunting dogs, and so they have a lot of working energy that they need to expel. If they become bored, they will leave a trail of destruction behind them. So, you need to be able to commit to time exercising him. He also needs more grooming compared to other dog breeds too. Again, you can blame the Poodle for this. His long and wavy curls need daily grooming to keep him looking his best and prevent any tangling. And with his big body, you can expect that it will take longer to brush him compared to a Chihuahua. The Mastidoodle may shed less than other dogs. His Poodle parent is a hypoallergenic dog, which means that he sheds less than most dog breeds. The Mastidoodle may or may not drool. To drool or not drool? That is the Mastidoodle question! And it is one that you will find out after welcoming him into your home. This means that you need to be prepared for a little doggy drool in your life. The Mastidoodle is genetically unpredictable. He is a mixed dog, and as such, he can take after either parent. As a rare hybrid breed, he will likely be a first-generation pup. This means that there is no breed standard and no expectations about which parent he may turn out like. Just like most giant dogs, the Mastidoodle is a sweet and gentle giant. He is one of the soppiest sweethearts in the canine kingdom, so you need to be prepared for the onslaught of puppy kisses! This is also great news for the younger ones in the house. When he ventures outside, he is lots of fun too. His well-balanced temperament means that he is suited to most families. The Mastidoodle is a very intelligent dog thanks to his Poodle parent, who is ranked as the second most intelligent dog on the planet. This means if you are after a fully obedient dog, you might want to stick to the purebred standard-sized Poodle. Thankfully, he will do as he is told most of the time. Are These Dogs Good for Families? As we have already mentioned, you just need to make sure that you have the right environment for him to do well. A large home with access to a large yard is one of his most essential requirements. But he also needs a family that can spend most of their time with him. As well as stimulate him throughout the day to prevent him from becoming bored and problematic. Because of his large size, you will need to supervise him just in case of accidental bumps with his big derriere. His protective Mastiff genes might make him wary of other animals, which is why his training is necessary. The only pet that he will not be able to live with is ducks and other birds. This is because of his Poodle parentage. His Poodle parent is a traditional German duck hunter, so you will need to keep him well away from ducks and other winged creatures. Things to Know When Owning a Mastidoodle: Now you know more about the Mastidoodle in all of his giant teddy bear glory, here is a list of his day-to-day needs. He will consume between four and five cups of food every day, depending on his age, size, and activity levels. Like his Mastiff parent, he is likely to be a greedy pup, and he will eat anything and everything in sight. If it fits in his mouth, he is going to swallow it. You should feed him a diet that is specifically designed for large breed puppies. This is particularly important during puppyhood. This is because they contain the optimum nutrients that large and giant dogs need, and they help to control his rapid bone growth. In turn, this could decrease his chances of developing bone diseases such as hip dysplasia. You need to set aside at least an hour every day for his exercise routine. But a long and brisk walk around your local park or neighborhood will suffice for most of the week. Because he is an intelligent and active dog, you should mix up his activities to keep him interested. A simple change of scenery or a frequent visit to a local doggy park to meet new friends will benefit him. And it will top up his socialization skills too. Being a doodle mix, he will be fond of the water, so you should try to include this in his exercise routine. He will love you for it, trust us. As you already know, his Mastiff genes might make him a little overprotective, but his Poodle influence should calm this down. Mix him with as many other dogs and animals as you possibly can when he is young, and this will teach him that most dogs are friends and not foe. Also, mix him with unfamiliar humans, as well as new sights and sounds, and this will increase his confidence too. He can be a stubborn dog, and so you need to be persistent with your training. Keep training sessions fun and engaging. And with a treat in your hand , he will do as you say, most of the time. He will usually inherit the Poodle curls, but he will have shorter hair like the Mastiff dog. You should invest in a comb or pin brush to keep matting at bay, and also a slicker brush to pick up all of his dead hair and any dirt. You should bathe him every six to eight weeks to keep him looking and smelling his best. Mastiffs are well known for their drooling potential, and many owners comment that they have a strong doggy odor. The Mastidoodle may or may not drool and smell more than most, but with frequent and thorough grooming, this should keep the smells at bay. When it comes to the drooling, a packet of tissues will do the job. This might seem short, but for a giant dog breed, this is slightly better than average. Keep this guy happy and healthy with regular exercise and the right nutrition, and you could keep him with you for longer. And be sure to keep up to date with trips to the vets. Minor Conditions.

References 1. Clinical and pathological effects Hip dysplasia HD is a disease of the hip coxofemoral joints. Dysplasia means abnormal development. Both hips are usually affected Brass .It is a complex disease that results from a combination of genes that predispose a dog to developing hip dysplasia interacting with environmental factors that lead to its full development and expression Riser .It is characterized by hip joint instability which, if compounded by environmental factors, then results in secondary osteoarthritis and the clinical signs of hip dysplasia which include pain, lameness and disability Zhang et al .To fully understand hip dysplasia, it is necessary to understand the structure of the hip joint. The hip joint is the joint at the top of the hind leg, where it articulates forms a joint with the pelvis. It is described as a ball and socket joint, as in normal hips the ball-shaped head of the femur the thigh bone fits perfectly into a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis, the acetabulum. The head of the femur femoral head and the acetabulum are normally covered with cartilage which produces a smooth, low friction surface. Within the joint there is also a fine layer of synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant between these cartilaginous surfaces. This thin layer of synovial fluid, along with the round ligament a ligament that runs round the edge of the acetabulum — between the acetabulum and the femur , keeps the two cartilaginous surfaces together by creating a suction-like effect. The ligaments and the joint capsule also help to hold the ball and socket closely together. In newborn puppies, because the bones are soft and not fully ossified turned into bone as they need to grow and develop, they are still deformable if abnormal movements or stresses and strains occur in them. Riser suggests that, in a normal six month old individual, ossification of the bones and soft tissue strength the strength of the surrounding ligaments, joint capsule and muscles have developed enough to prevent hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is described as a biomechanical disease. The hips appear normal at birth. However, in affected individuals, the hips develop abnormally due, at first, to joint instability sometimes called joint laxity Riser .This means that the developing femoral head and acetabulum are not held constantly, closely together, and can move into abnormal positions relative to one another. This puts abnormal stresses and strains on the joint. Riser states this is due to the soft tissues, such as ligaments and muscle, not being strong enough to maintain congruity between the articular surfaces of the femoral head and the acetabulum ie the constant contact between the surfaces of the bones is not maintained. The pathological changes seen due to the joint instability are progressive inflammation and degeneration of the tissues that together form the joint. Brass details the following changes in the joint: The joint capsule can become thickened and the round ligament can become stretched or ruptured leading to additional, excessive movements. The synovial fluid increases in volume and changes in nature, due to inflammation, this pushes the joint surfaces apart. The cartilage on the bone surfaces gets worn away exposing subchondral bone the layer of bone beneath the surface cartilage. Unlike cartilage, bone contains nerve endings and such exposure will commonly cause pain. The rim of the acetabulum becomes damaged and flattened and later new bone starts to grow here as the body tries to stabilize the joint. The femoral head becomes deformed and flattened and also grows abnormal bone called exotoses or osteophytes. This changing of the shape of the joint with new bone growing in abnormal positions, and being lost in others, is called joint remodelling. The signs that are seen with hip dysplasia can vary hugely in their severity, the age at which they first appear and their progression. In mild cases dogs can be free from clinical signs for years; however, for more severely affected individuals, signs of pain can develop whilst they are still immature less than a year old Signs include acute pain, particularly after strenuous exercise or movement. This may show as lameness or reluctance to jump, to go for walks, climb steps or move at all if really severe. The pain may be worse in cold, wet conditions Brass .These signs may start intermittently, but over time can become constant. Muscle wastage is often seen in the hindlegs Brass .There appears to be little correlation between the severity of pain shown by the dog and physical abnormalities felt on examination by a vet or revealed on an x-ray Brass ie some dogs can be in severe pain but have few changes on x-rays and vice versa. This is typical of any joint disease. Controlling food intake during growth has been shown to decrease hip dysplasia in Labradors ie by reducing excessive energy intake and therefore excessive weight gain during growth Kealy et al .High calcium intake during growth has been shown to delay maturation of the skeleton and increase the risk of hip dysplasia in Great Danes Hazewinkel .It is thought that controlling the amount and form of exercise during development may also help Corr .Bennett and May suggest excessive exercise during development can lead to hip dysplasia. Treatment for hip dysplasia is complex; many surgical interventions have been developed to prevent signs appearing in young animals with high joint laxity and to treat dogs with severe osteoarthritis. All need specialist surgeons. Various medications to aid pain relief are also available, along with recommendations to reduce the effect of environmental factors. Return to top 2. Intensity of welfare impact Though some dogs may be mildly affected, for many German Shepherd dogs with hip dysplasia, the impact of the condition is major and life changing. These animals suffer pain that is severe and debilitating, leading them to be in pain even with small everyday movements such as standing up. Their quality of life is severely affected so that they are unable to enjoy normal canine behaviours such as walking and running. It is not uncommon for dogs to be euthanased due to the pain and disability of arthritis associated with hip dysplasia. Return to top 3. Duration of welfare impact Hip dysplasia is a progressive disease with signs seen from any age. For some dogs pain starts before a year of age. Signs may be intermittent to start with but often progress to be constant. Medical treatment and advice can help control pain and possibly slow progression, though a cure can only be obtained with major surgical intervention in dogs that are considered suitable candidates for such surgery. Return to top 4. Number of animals affected Hip dysplasia is the most common joint problem of large dogs Smith et al .UK VetCompass data for dogs overall, showed that 7. In this sample, diagnosis of conditions affecting the pelvis eg hip dysplasia did not significantly differ between purebred and crossbred dogs. Figures vary greatly for how frequently German Shepherds are affected by hip dysplasia, depending on the method by which they have been screened and the database reviewed. The frequency is likely to vary for geographically different populations of the same breed Brass .However, Paster et al suggested that the OFA population was biased, as it is not compulsory for radiographed dogs to have their x-rays submitted to the OFA scheme so some owners may have had dogs pre-screened and only submitted apparently non-dysplastic ones for consideration and scoring. In this study, German Shepherd dogs had a higher odds ratio of hip dysplasia occurrence than Dobermanns, Labradors and Rottweilers, indicating that the breed is at a significantly higher risk of hip dysplasia development. Return to top 5. Diagnosis For a young dog suspected of hip dysplasia, a diagnosis can be made on the clinical signs shown at home and on examination of the dog, including assessment of joint laxity and joint pain plus evaluation of radiographs x-ray pictures of the hip joints Corr .Assessment of the joint laxity and radiographs may need to be performed by a specialist vet who is used to checking for this condition. For a formal diagnosis, the radiographs are usually submitted to a panel for evaluation. There are three methods of assessing joint laxity. Radiographs and assessment of joint laxity need to be performed under heavy sedation or anaesthesia Corr .Return to top 6. Genetics Hip dysplasia in dogs is a polygenic disease; many genes are thought to play a role in its development. Most of these genes probably have small additive effects quantitative, polygenes and some probably have larger effects Zhang et al .Heritability estimates are used to demonstrate how much variation in a phenotypic trait is due to genetic variation among individuals in a population. Using hip scores published by the British Veterinary Association, heritability for hip scores of German Shepherd dogs was 0. Genes are not solely responsible for whether a dog with the genetic potential for hip dysplasia develops the condition. Environmental factors play an important part. They are discussed in the clinical and pathogenic effects section above. However, there are significant breed predispositions to this condition and the German Shepherd dog is one of the breeds affected. Return to top 7. How do you know if an animal is a carrier or likely to become affected? There are a number of breeding schemes around the world developed to decrease the incidence of hip dysplasia in dog breeds. These schemes assess potential breeding animals in somewhat different ways. All aim to give breeders and owners a strong indication of which dogs are likely to produce healthy offspring and which should not be bred. However, this is by no means straightforward for hip dysplasia as it is a polygenic condition in which the genetics are poorly understood and which is also affected by environmental factors in a major way. This lack of clarity has produced much debate over the best way to assess potential breeding dogs. A brief summary of the various schemes follows including some current evidence for their benefits. All dogs must be at least 12 months of age. There are nine radiographic features which are scored, including the Norberg angle NA - a measurement for hip laxity taken from the EHR and each dog is given a score out of 53 for each hip total of up to for both. A low score indicates healthy hip joints eg Greyhounds would score 0, as is not seen in this breed and a higher score indicates worse hip dysplasia. Breeders are recommended to only breed from animals with a score lower than the breed medianscore e. It is also based on an extended hip radiograph EHR , which is then graded by three independent experts to give an overall grade. All dogs must be over 2 years of age to be assessed. There are seven possible grades for the radiograph: excellent, good, fair, borderline, mild, moderate or severe hip dysplasia. Dogs must be between 1 and 2 years of age and the radiograph is graded by someone appointed by each breed club — they do not have to be an expert. Grades include: A- no signs of hip dysplasia, B — near normal hip joints, C — mild hip dysplasia, D — moderate hip dysplasia, E — severe hip dysplasia. Older dogs can be assessed but the likelihood of more secondary osteoarthritic changes is taken into account. Dogs from 4 months of age can be assessed. It involves the assessment of three different radiographic views of the hip joints called the distraction view, the compression view and the EHR. The radiograph must be taken by a vet who is registered with the scheme and the radiographs are assessed by vets at the PennHIP Analysis Center. Dogs with a DI lower than 0. Dogs with increasing DI values over 0. Advocates of the PennHIP method like it because it accurately identifies individuals who have hip laxity - the primary phenotypical abnormality that predisposes dogs to hip dysplasia. The other schemes only look at the EHR and though the NA can be measured from this, the NA has been shown to be an inaccurate method to assess hip laxity Culp et al .Much of what is assessed on the EHRs are secondary arthritic changes, these are not specific to hip dysplasia and are affected by many environmental factors. Recently, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed that the Distraction Index DI is a significant risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia. In other words, DI scores give a very good indication of the likelihood of osteoarthritic changes, due to hip dysplasia, developing in the future Smith and others , , , Smith , Runge et al .These and other researchers argue that the other schemes are not as good at detecting animals that have hip dysplasia as the PennHIP method and, despite older schemes existing for over 40 years, little improvement has been seen in hip dysplasia in the general pet population Corley , Kaneene et al , Leppanen et al , Paster et al .In fact, one recent study looking at a database of over 1,, dogs found an increase in the prevalence of hip dysplasia Witsberger et al .However EHR scores were found to have a much higher heritability 0. Heritability studies are difficult to compare between different populations with different environmental influences. To improve the gene pool, phenotypic traits that can be easily detected with strong links to the genotype genetic make-up of animals have to be found. Ideally, any potential pet would have had its hip joints assessed by one of the above schemes prior to purchase, although this is often unhelpful, as most pets are purchased as young puppies. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee all their offspring will be free from hip dysplasia. Certainly any potential breeding animal should be assessed prior to breeding using an appropriate scheme. Return to top 8. Methods and prospects for elimination of the problem Hip dysplasia is a complex trait which involves multiple unknown genes and environmental factors. Eradication schemes have been running in some countries for decades and still it is commonplace. Thus prospects for its quick elimination are low. In a recent study, Zhang et al suggested that using scores from four hip traits combined to create a breeding value for each animal would help speed up elimination of the condition. They felt that information on the single joint trait EHR eg the OFA scheme gave insufficient information to provide the basis for breeding decisions. The DLS is a measurement made from an x-ray taken in a weight-bearing position to measure the subluxation of the femoral head Farese et al .In this study on two populations of dogs where environmental factors were strictly controlled, heritabilities for all these traits were found to be relatively high eg heritabilities were 0. The researchers suggested these heritabilites were higher than expected due to the controlled environmental conditions. Zhang et al suggested an improved way for selectively breeding out hip dysplasia would be if breeders could be given breeding values derived from the four traits for each potential breeding animal, plus a measurement of the inbreeding of any potential mating eg the inbreeding coefficient. This way, they suggest, inbreeding can be avoided and only animals with phenotypes strongly indicative of healthy hip joint genes would be bred from. This scheme is a more organised form of others that have suggested using a combination of breeding values determined from pedigree information and phenotype score Ginja et al , Hou et al .As described by Bell , when breeders are prioritising raising dogs that have good hip dysplasia genotypes for future breeding the phenotype has to be used as a marker for the genotype. Although the diagnostic signs can be affected also by environmental factors such as feeding and exercise regimes. It is important that the puppies are raised in a standard and not excessively protective way. Otherwise, dogs that would normally have developed radiographic signs of hip dysplasia will have this masked and their genes will be perpetuated. Future development of genetic tests to help identify some of the hip dysplasia genes, along with more use of pedigree data that includes the health of ancestors and progeny for clinical signs of hip dysplasia and also for other inherited defects of German Shepherd dogs , may well help to improve methods used to eliminate this condition. Currently we have to continue to rely on choosing phenotypical traits which apparently indicate the presence of healthy genes. Return to top 9. Reviewed by Petal Smart Petal Smart is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and has been an editor in the veterinary and medical sciences since .She has edited more than assignments, including research studies published in various academic journals, continuing medical education materials, and articles on pet health. Canine hip dysplasia is most often seen in large breeds like German Shepherd dogs , Saint Bernards , and Greater Swiss Mountain dogs , but a dog of any size and both male and female dogs may be affected. The cause of canine hip dysplasia isn't known. The condition is thought to have a genetic link, and dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Puppies from parents that have hip dysplasia will be more likely to develop the condition than puppies born to parents with normal hips. However, even dogs with normal parents can develop hip dysplasia. What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia? The pelvis cradles the head of the femur thigh bone in a cup-like socket of bone that forms the hip. Puppies typically are born normal, but as the puppy matures, the hip joint alignment becomes progressively worse. This places abnormal stress and wear on the bones when they rub together, and causes further joint degeneration and pain. Bones respond to stress by growing thicker, which makes the fit even worse. As the dog matures, this damage predisposes to arthritic changes and painful joints. Signs and Symptoms Severe hip dysplasia may become noticeable as early as four months of age, but is more typically seen in pups aged 9 months to 1 year. The painful condition causes limping , favoring of limbs, and difficulty rising, running, or jumping. Dysplastic pups may exhibit an odd wobbly gait when walking and "bunny hop" when running or climbing stairs, which may help to ease joint stress. Stairs can prove a particular challenge for these dogs, and sore hips and pain may prompt aggression , causing the pup to snap or flinch when touched. However, there are degrees of severity. Some pups may show few to no signs at all, and mild cases may go undiagnosed until the dog reaches middle age or older. How quickly, or to what extent degeneration occurs is in part determined by the pup's activity level. While healthy, normal hips probably won't be adversely affected by hard work or exuberant play, the dog with mild to moderate hip dysplasia develops more noticeable signs more quickly when excessive stress is placed on these joints. Fortunately, only a relatively small percentage of pets suffer the severest, most crippling form of the condition. The condition may also be influenced by lifestyle, nutrition, body weight, and activity level. The puppy is placed on its back and the veterinarian looks for the typical arthritic changes and subluxation laxity of the joint. Some changes may not become evident until the pup reaches 2 years old, and experts say there may be considerable changes from 6 to 9 months up to 1 year. The OFA provides a consulting service for purebred dog owners and breeders, through which it reviews hip X-rays provided by an owner to evaluate the dog's conformation and, when normal, certifies that fact. The PennHip testing method, developed by Dr. Reputable breeders have dog parents tested prior to breeding to make sure they do not have hip dysplasia and reduce the chance of the condition in puppies. Dogs can be certified free of hip dysplasia by sending appropriate X-rays to either the OFA registry or the PennHip registry. This is evaluated by three radiologists who score the hips fair, good, or excellent. PennHip evaluation uses computer analysis to compare the X-rays to all the other dogs of that breed in the registry. Management of Hip Dysplasia There is no cure for hip dysplasia. Treatment is aimed at relieving pain and improving joint function. How well treatment works depends on the severity of the problem. Often, mild to moderate cases of hip dysplasia can be managed with gentle exercise, a healthy diet, and oral pain relievers like buffered aspirin or Rimadyl as prescribed by the veterinarian. Moderate exercise helps maintain and improve the puppy's muscle tone, which alleviates painful wear and tear on the joint. Encourage your dysplastic puppy to take short walks with you. Swimming is an ideal exercise, but jumping and prolonged running should be discouraged. Keep your puppy lean; obesity increases joint strain and can make the condition worse. Massage can also help the dog feel better. Severe cases of hip dysplasia may benefit from surgery that rebuilds or removes bone or alters the muscles and tendons to reduce pain. More from The Spruce Pets. Articles Sit. Heal German Shepherd Hip Dysplasia Signs and Treatments Muscular, intelligent, and loyal, German shepherds are steadfast guardians and all-purpose workers. Highly trainable and obedient, German shepherds provide a range of services—excelling as show dogs and household companions, as well as military and search and rescue animals. Exuding confidence, this breed is royalty of the dog family. They are susceptible, however, to challenging hip and joint issues like hip dysplasia any time from puppyhood all the way through maturation. As with many large breed dogs, German shepherds are prone to canine hip dysplasia CHD , a dog skeletal condition that can be inherited or caused by a traumatic fracture or other environmental factors. CHD occurs from malformation of the ball and joint socket of one or both hips the hip joint is called the coxofemoral joint. If so, it maybe be because of breeding. The exaggerated hind leg angulation is often bred into the dog because of standards that dictate rear legs upper and lower thighs should come as close to a degree angle as possible. Along these same lines, a sloping back causes hindquarters to become more angulate and, thus, prone to lower back pain. These bent legs could point toward one of many health problems, one of which is hip dysplasia. Although irreversible, canine hip dysplasia can be monitored and treated to reduce chronic pain. According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals , .The progression of it and the treatment options available depend on a number of factors, including the degree of misalignment and age of the dog. CHD has a range of signs, depending on the severity of the disease and degree of looseness in the joint. The severity also ranges from mild to extreme pain—some German shepherds even have to use a wheelchair. CHD Treatment Options Dog hip dysplasia surgery for severe cases in medium to large dogs can be expensive. If invasive surgery is not the best choice for your dog, look into non-surgical, conservative management options, such as dog leg braces, physical therapy, weight control, acupuncture, anti-inflammatories, and massage therapy. Ortho Dog specializes in flexible, adjustable, and affordable dog leg braces. Additionally, leg braces for hip dysplasia may slow the progression of this chronic issue. Is a Hip Hound Brace right for your pup? Designed for dogs who suffer from arthritis and mild to moderate hip dysplasia. Below are four common disorders of the hip and joint commonly seen in this breed: Degenerative Myelopathy As a German shepherd owner, you have likely heard of the fatal, chronic, and progressive disease called degenerative myelopathy that is most prevalent in this breed. Typically apparent between the ages of , degenerative myelopathy is a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord and muscle coordination, ultimately leading to paralysis of the back legs within months. CHD shares several symptoms with early stages of degenerative myelopathy, including difficulty rising and jumping, and progressive weakness of hind limbs. As with any signs that something may be off with your dog, contact your veterinarian for a full exam. Canine Myasthenia Gravis A rare neuromuscular disease, canine myasthenia gravis is a disorder of the signal transmission between nerves and muscles, resulting in progressive muscle weakness, and fatigue with mild exercise. This disease is not typically confused with CHD because the signs tend to show up on the face more than the hindquarters. This incorrect movement can put a strain on their hips, which causes them to walk with an irregular gait. Our Hock Holder brace offers stabilization and support to the hock to help relieve stress. Osteoarthritis Most often seen in senior dogs, osteoarthritis is the inflammation of the hip joints due to cartilage deterioration. You may notice your dog moving a bit more slowly and having trouble with stairs. With less cartilage, bones can grind against each other and cause inflammation. Much like a human wearing a wrist or hand brace for arthritis, the Ortho Dog Hip Hound brace limits the movement of the joint, which helps with the pain. Contact Us How to Identify Hip Dysplasia in Dogs If you are a dog owner, you may already be aware of how common hip dysplasia is in dogs. Some breeds are more prone to developing it than others, but any dog can potentially have hip dysplasia, including mixed breeds. With this information, you can figure out whether or not you need to speak with your veterinarian about the potential of hip dysplasia in your own dog. If you have any questions, call LIVS at .What Is Hip Dysplasia? Hip dysplasia is one of the most common orthopedic conditions seen in dogs. While this condition most commonly affects large and giant breeds, any size dog and even cats may be affected. Hip dysplasia is the abnormal growth and development of the hip joint. The ball is the head of the femur. The socket is part of the pelvic bone, the acetabulum. Normally, the head of the femur fits very tightly within the acetabulum. In hip dysplasia, the joint does not fit together snugly, causing instability. As a result, the joint will partially subluxate or move in and out of the socket. This may cause cartilage damage and severe arthritis in dogs as early as one year of age. Common Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia Lethargy Lethargy is a common symptom associated with hip dysplasia. Since it usually hurts dogs to stand up and move around when they have this condition, they become lethargic and less interested in getting up to do anything more than they have to. Keep in mind, however, that lethargy is also a symptom of many other conditions that might affect your dog. Difficulty Moving If your dog has trouble moving around, this may be another indicator that he has hip dysplasia. Dogs with this condition may have difficulty getting up out of bed and will especially have trouble running, jumping, or climbing stairs. Difficulty moving or limited range of motion is also a symptom of arthritis, and it can also be related to Lyme disease and other serious health conditions. If you notice this symptom in your dog, talk to your veterinarian, as you may need a more thorough examination before a diagnosis can be made. Hind End Lameness Hind end lameness is a fairly solid indicator that your dog could have hip dysplasia. Lameness in the hind end may not occur until the later stages of hip dysplasia. Chances are good that if your dog is showing this symptom, then he has also shown earlier signs of beginning stages of the condition for a while. Hind end lameness is not associated with many other conditions but should still be examined by a veterinarian to be sure. Loss of Muscle in the Thigh As the hip dysplasia condition progresses, dogs will not use their thigh muscles nearly as much, especially when it comes to running and jumping. This will, in turn, lead to an atrophy of the muscles in the thighs. The loss of muscle will eventually become noticeable visually, especially if hip concerns are left untreated. This is another symptom that is not usually associated with many other conditions. If you notice this symptom in your dog, you have likely already seen some of the others listed here before he has gotten to this point of muscle atrophy. Unusual Gait An unusual or odd gait may signify that your dog has hip dysplasia. It is a very strange-looking gait for a dog. Since it is quite noticeable, it is sure to stand out as a symptom if your dog shows it. An unusual gait may also be related to several other problems and will need to be checked by your veterinarian. However, if your dog shows an unusual gait along with any other symptoms on this list, then the chances are more likely that he might have hip dysplasia. Stiffness and Pain Finally, your dog may have stiffness and pain if they have hip dysplasia. Even if he is able to move around, he may be stiff when doing so, and it may take him a while to loosen up when he gets out of bed in the morning. Your dog may also start to guard their hips and legs as the pain increases. If he is reluctant or will not let you pet his hind end or touch his legs, or if he shows signs of fear or aggression when you try to do this, hip dysplasia is a likely cause. Diagnosing Hip Dysplasia The primary goal when diagnosing hip dysplasia is to detect hip joint laxity and to assess the degree of degenerative joint disease. Palpation, or careful manipulation of the hip, is an extremely important tool. Radiographs x-rays are also very helpful when trying to identify the progression of hip dysplasia. Dogs who have hip dysplasia may be able to have their conditions managed through medication, supplements, or alternative therapies. These treatment options are generally known as conservative treatment and may be the best option for dogs who are older or who are not good candidates for surgery. Patients like this may also benefit from physical rehabilitation , to help alleviate pain and other symptoms and improve mobility. If you are concerned that your dog may be exhibiting early signs of hip dysplasia, talk to your primary veterinarian as soon as possible. They will want to schedule an exam for your dog, and if the signs are present, they may refer you to LIVS for a consultation with our surgery team. If you have any questions, give us a call at