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However, picking the right puppy from a litter can be overwhelming and stressful. So, what is the easiest way to pick a golden retriever puppy from a litter? An excellent way to see how your potential puppy will turn out is to take a look at his parents. Most importantly, ask the breeder a lot of questions before adopting. This article may contain affiliate links and loyalgoldens may earn a commission if a purchase is made. Unlock your goldens natural intelligence and see just how quickly problem behaviors disappear. This is the best at home dog training I've ever used! A responsible breeder is your best bet for a healthy puppy. A dog breeder like this will cut corners and overbreed in order to get as many viable Golden retriever pups to sell to unsuspecting puppy buyers as possible. Even if the price for a golden retriever puppy appears to be less initially, the potential long-term health and behavioral problems involved with a puppy from a genetically unhealthy litter will quickly surpass the cost of a puppy from a good breeder. Some of the best ways to find a quality golden retriever puppy breeder is to get referrals from your local veterinarian, a good friend, or a local golden retriever club. You can also find an excellent golden retriever breeder by attending professional dog shows. When you look each puppy over, you want to look specifically at their eyes, coat, build, and skin. Look at their eyes. They should look focused and clear. You want to keep an eye out for any golden retriever puppies that rub their eyes or appear to struggle with their vision, such as squinting. Touch their coat. The coat of your new perfect puppy should be shiny and healthy. Examine their build. Take a look at the overall shape of each puppy. Check to see if they are favoring one foot more than another foot. These could be signs of a more serious health issue. Check their skin. You want to keep an eye out for any flaky skin or skin with bald patches. Look for redness or signs of irritation. There are also instances when a puppy with anxiety will chew or scratch at their skin until the fur falls off. Things to look for when choosing a puppy from a litter. Even the runts are going to be bigger than a lot of other breeds. Many people wonder if the runt of the litter is a good choice when choosing a golden retriever. The runts are typically the pups who are weaker and smaller than the others in their litter. The mother produces the nutrients the litter needs to survive. The runts will be at greater risk of having weaker immune systems and getting infections. Choosing a medium-sized puppy will reduce your chances of getting a runt, an overeater, or a bully overly dominant pup. When it comes to temperament and size, there are differences between females and males. The most significant difference is going to be their size. A male dog will get slightly longer and taller than females, but they will also weigh more. There are also small differences in their faces. They can also come across as more territorial, but this is a very slight difference as well. While the females will still love you unconditionally, the males will be twice as doting and loving. Watch the way each member of the litter interacts with the others. This will tell you how your puppy will react to the other dogs or animals in your home. Extremely shy puppies may not have been socialized well so far, and could grow up to become distrustful dogs that are full of anxieties. Speak with the breeder or the owner of the litter. Ask them tons of questions about how socialized the puppies have been with other dogs and pets so far in their young lives. Make Sure the Golden Retriever Puppy Is the Correct Age Golden retriever puppies should stay with their mothers for eight weeks before being adopted and taken home. As mentioned earlier, the mothers produce vital nutrients that a new puppy needs to survive. If the puppy is taken away too soon, it puts them at greater risk of infections and other complications. It can also increase their anxiety, aggression and make them over-protective of their toys and food. Discover how to train your Golden Retriever by playing games : 21 games to play with your Golden that will make them smarter and better behaved! Before seeing the litter, research what a golden retriever puppy of eight weeks looks like. It will vary depending on the dog, but this will help you establish a clear idea of what the puppies will look like when you see the litter. The size and temperament of the parents are passed down to their offspring. What is the temperament of the parents? How does the puppy in question behave around dogs outside their litter? What kind of food are the puppies used to eating? Have the puppies all been dewormed? Are the puppies socialized with other animals besides dogs, such as cats or birds? Summary Adopting a puppy is a significant milestone for a family. Here are some things to consider: Size Do you want a big or a small golden? Sex Do you want a male or a female? Style Or a stocky, blocky-headed golden retriever? Color Do you want a dark gold or red golden , a cream-colored golden , or something more in the middle? Personality Do you want a calm golden or more of an energetic one? Nobody will be able to tell you what you want out of a dog but yourself. Consider your lifestyle, home, whether or not you have kids , what you like to do on the weekend, etc. If you want to get a good feel for what a puppy will be like, look at their parents. Temperament and health are hereditary and no puppy test or observation will be as accurate as what their parents are like. So that being said, pick a good breeder that is breeding dogs that resemble what you want. There are two important things here: Talk to the breeder and tell them what you want Observe the puppies and look for the puppy that resembles what you want Talk To The Breeder The breeder has spent the last eight weeks with the puppies and knows them best. By telling them what you want they can help you decide the right one for you. But assuming the decisions lays in your hands, this next section will help you out. Selecting A Puppy From The Litter When we went to pick our puppy from the litter we knew exactly what we wanted: a big, calm, sweet boy. He had probably worn himself out trying to impress them because two days later we were wondering what happened to that calm puppy as a fluffy little tornado was tearing around our apartment! Are they submissive? This might give you some insight into their personality. Take note of their energy levels. Consider how your puppy interacts with people. How are they with you, whoever is with you, and the breeder? Are they fearful? A friendly dog will be outgoing and interested in you. Toss your keys or a toy. Put the puppy on their back. Either cradle them in your arms on their back, or roll them on their back on the floor. A dominant pup may squirm a lot, but a well-adjusted pup should calm down shortly. They should be ok with being handled. Shoutout to Vet Street for a few of the tips above. In addition to choosing the right puppy, you also want to choose a healthy puppy. Now even if you have your checklist and run each pup through these tests, it may all go out the window if a puppy picks you. But as we tried to give each puppy a chance and interact with all of them, Oliver kept coming back to my wife and nuzzling his nose into her to tell her that he was the one. Conclusion When picking a puppy you first want to decide what you want. Then pick a breeder that breeds dogs that resemble what you want. When it comes to actually picking the puppy from the litter, talk to the breeder about it and try to see which puppies match up with what you want. However, know that puppies may be different than how they initially appear. And finally, you might not even need to worry about picking the right puppy because the right puppy just might pick you. Have any questions about picking a golden retriever puppy from the litter? Let me know in the comments below! And if you know someone who is about to pick up a puppy, please share this with them! Related articles:. But simply picking a Golden Retriever from the litter might not be quite as easy as it seems, remember, this pooch would be with you for the rest of its life, so you have to be sure that the Golden Retriever pup you are selecting is just right for you and your family. There are a lot of things to consider, and lots of questions to be answered: What color should I pick? What temperament would I want? Should I pick a male or female Golden Retriever? Lots of questions that require answers. Your experience with the beautiful Golden Retriever should be enjoyed. First off, is Golden Retriever the right dog for you? I assume that you probably did a lot of research on the Golden Retriever breed before picking a reputable breeder to patronize or work with. The Golden Retriever is quite energetic and clingy, and as such does require a lot of time and attention. It requires a lot of exercises to keep from being destructive and for an adult Golden Retriever, an average of hours would be required daily to properly exercise the breed. And for those allergic to dogs or dog coats, the Golden Retriever might not be the best breed for you. This is because the Golden Retriever is a moderate to heavy shedder during shedding season. You might want to consider a Labrador Retriever, checkout our comparison for more detail: Golden Retriever Vs. When trying to decide what sort of Golden Retriever is best for you, answers to these questions would be needed. Male or Female Golden Retriever? This sort of decision might be quite easy for some and incredibly difficult for others. This is because to some, any gender is good enough they have no preferences , while for the rest, specific reasons or purposes could cause them to favor a particular Golden Retriever gender over the other. Both the male and female Golden Retrievers are very lively and equally playful at this stage of their lives. The only slight difference, however, that might occur or might be noticeable between both breeds might be size, as the male Golden Retriever is only slightly bigger or larger than the female when looking at the same litter. As both Golden Retrievers approach their individual sexual maturity, you might begin to notice a lot more differences. A lot of generalization is done between both, the male and female genders of the Golden Retriever breed. Some might say that the male Golden Retriever is a lot more hyperactive and could be harder to train than the female Golden Retriever, or that the female Golden Retriever matures quite faster than the male Golden Retriever, but again, these are all generalizations and speculations. Another popular generalization or myth is that the female Golden Retriever is a lot more independent and affectionate than the male Golden Retriever, again, it could still just be a myth. What Size of the Golden Retriever should I pick? As we already stated earlier, the gender of the Golden Retriever has a huge impact on the size of the Golden Retriever. Golden Retriever males are bigger than Golden Retriever females when comparing two Golden Retrievers from the same litter. What style of the Golden Retriever should I go with? Deciding on what Golden Retriever style you would like is equally important. Are you looking for an athletic Golden Retriever or a slim Golden Retriever, or are you in search of a more stocky and blocky-headed Golden? What Color of Golden Retriever should I go with? Of course, the Golden Retriever has a variety of different coat colors that you could be interested in. Some of these colors are; red-gold or dark gold, or perhaps, maybe a cream-colored Golden Retriever. Either way, there are some interesting Golden Retriever colors to choose from. What sort of personality should I look for? This is yet another decision that can only be made by you. The personality of the Golden Retriever you choose is quite important, so you definitely need an answer to this question. Are you looking for an energetic Golden Retriever dog or a calmer and more gentle companion? You might be searching for a friendly and outgoing Golden Retriever or perhaps a shy or reserved Golden Retriever. The breeder should know them best, being that they have spent approximately 8 weeks with the puppies. The breeder should be able to tell in each litter which of the Golden Retriever puppies is more dominant, which is shy, which is, which barks a lot, which is calmer, and of course, which of the Golden Retriever pups is most energetic. So, by simply telling him what exactly you are looking for in a Golden Retriever, he should be able to make helpful suggestions and recommendations. This is quite common in breeders today, they usually do the picking for you based on the requests and information you give them, which I personally feel is better. These 6 tips would be quite beneficial in deciding which Golden Retriever puppy is best for you. Does it dominate the other Golden Retriever puppies or is it a more submissive puppy? Try to notice the energy levels of each Golden Retriever pup A great way to figure out the temperament of a Golden Retriever pup would be by checking out their energy levels. A Golden Retriever pup that spends half its time barking and the other half running around is a clear indication that it is anything but calm. Notice how your chosen pup reacts or interacts with people In addition to watching how your pup reacts with other littermates, you also have to watch how they react with people. When you interact with them, how do they react, also watch their interaction with the breeder and basically strangers? Do they react in a curious manner? Are they quite fearful? Or are they the outgoing and friendly type that seems to be quite interested in interacting with humans? Try tossing a toy or your keys at the pup This is a great way to identify how alert your Golden Retriever puppy really is. Once you toss your keys or a toy at the pup, try to notice how quickly your Golden Retriever reacts to it. Does your pup run after it? Or does it follow the toy or keys with its eyes? Try putting the Golden Retriever pup on its back As you pick and cradle the Golden Retriever pup, you could try placing it on its back while in your arms or placing it on its back while on the floor. For a dominant Golden Retriever pup, it should squirm or struggle a bit, while for a more submissive and calmer puppy, it should also struggle for a bit but shortly relax. Try Caressing your Golden Retriever puppy You could try caressing your chosen Golden Retriever pup by gently rubbing its ears, tails, paws, and mouth. A calm Golden Retriever puppy should be cool with it. Note: Be sure to check the health of your chosen pup before choosing. Also, your Golden Retriever might pick you. This is not new, as some dog owners have shared their various experiences. Some pups could run up to you all sweetly and cute looking for a cuddle, some could pee on you while others might even go as far as peeing on you, but all in all, when a puppy picks you, you would know. Final Thoughts Picking a Golden Retriever puppy that is just right for you and your family is not an easy task, but it is quite important as this dog would be with you for a huge part of its life. So do ensure you stay attentive when choosing. Ensure that your chosen pup is quite healthy, ensure they are well tested and strong. Following all the steps listed above should be enough to help you when selecting a Golden Retriever pup. In all you do, please ensure that you shower your new Golden Retriever with so much love and care. Drink a lot of water, eat well and of course, always stay devoted to dogs. How will we ever decide? Our Selection Process If you have ever chosen a puppy from a breeder, you were probably given a thirty-minute time slot, a pile of ten puppies and no behavior or temperament information. You likely chose your puppy based on color or gender, or both. You might have chosen the first puppy who came up to you, the puppy lying by himself over in the corner, or the puppy who kept crawling into your lap. Maybe you chose the runt because you felt sorry for her. Every single puppy has a purpose. Some dogs are meant to hunt or search, others are meant to perform valuable tasks, and still others are meant to offer comfort. Most dogs are meant for lifelong companionship. Service dogs and therapy dogs serve very different purposes. The testing and selection process for each is different, as is the training. A dog can never truly be a family pet AND a service dog. A therapy dog can never be an emotional support animal and a family pet, because an ESA is bonded to one person while a family pet divides his time with various family members or friends. Candidates for our therapy and service dog programs are chosen first We do not consider gender or color when temperament testing or placing dogs into our programs We can not control the number of puppies in a litter, nor the number of males and females in a litter. We usually take three male deposits and three female deposits prior to the birth of the litter. Once the litter is born and we know how many puppies we have, we accept additional deposits. We follow a puppy protocol from the day puppies are born, exposing them to different sounds and surfaces. We hold them in different positions and we move them around increasingly. We work with their pressure points and we use essential oils to relax and stimulate them. We construct these profiles based on observed behaviors during weeks such as barking, growling, shyness, food assertiveness, independence, maturity, patience, motivation. Temperament testing occurs during week 6. If the family with the third deposit on the list wants a pet, we will suggest the puppy ies that most closely match their family profile. If the puppy they wanted was selected by the family with the first deposit, they may then move to their second choice. A family who makes the LAST deposit in a litter may not get their first choice, however we do our very best to accommodate everyone. While families may have a color or gender preference, we suggest being open-minded and willing to consider the puppy with the temperament that best fits you and your needs. We do our best to get the right puppy for you, and we are unable to allow a family to wait until pick up day to select a puppy. Above everything, we must ask our families to trust us during this process. Our experience with goldens and goldendoodles, and the relationships we have with our families, have made us what we are today. If you do not feel comfortable with the selection process, please seek another breeder. By placing a deposit, you are agreeing with our testing and selection process. Your deposit is non-refundable, but it may be forwarded to a future litter. The selection process differs from those of other breeders and priority is given to our program. We make every effort to match puppies which best fit family profiles that are submitted in online puppy applications. We cannot determine the number of puppies or the number of males and females in a litter. When necessary, placement decisions will be made according to the order in which deposits are received. You love me when I am not lovable. You find me in the darkness. You keep my secrets and lick my tears. You teach me to live like someone left the gate open. While the puppy mills and commercial breeders almost always have puppies available and will let you take your pick, the people you really want to buy from are the hobby breeders who are breeding for themselves. Hobby breeders are always looking for great homes for dogs but they sometimes cannot let you know until the puppies are about 8 weeks old who is available. And the good breeders often have waiting lists. My comment to people who are puppy shopping is that if you can walk in and get a puppy, be alarmed. The AKC has a breeder list on its website but you should be advised that there are no criteria for quality used by AKC or most other websites. The Golden Retriever Club of America grca. So the standards may vary but there are standards. It's a good place to start. Go to some dog shows or obedience trials and watch people to see how they interact with their dogs. Plan to talk to multiple breeders to choose the one whose values are in line with yours. If the people you meet are not people you want to have a 12 plus year relationship, then keep looking. Because when you buy a dog from a reputable breeder you are entering into a relationship. This dog will live with you and your family for many many years. This is not a decision to take lightly. Indian Trail Golden Retrievers breedings produce a sweet and loving disposition in a puppy. We breed for conformation, as well as personality. We take special care in matching our stud dogs with our dams to produce beautiful, healthy, and long lived dogs. A Golden Retriever puppy should have bright eyes, a thick lush coat, a black wet nose, and clean ears. A puppy should have several puppy shots and be wormed by the time they are ready to go to their new homes. A Golden Retriever puppy should have both parents cleared by OFA for elbow, hip, eyes, and also have a heart clearance. These are weaknesses in Golden Retrievers created by over breeding and breeding too closely. Regardless of what you want your puppy to be- an obedience dog, a show dog, or a loving pet, you as a buyer need to make sure that the breeder follows strict breed guidelines. At Indian Trail Golden Retrievers, located in Connecticut, we take extra care to have all our breeding dogs screened and cleared for any possible health or hereditary problems, which will provide new puppy owners the best puppy available. Your puppy should reflect your family. Active families should choose an active and outgoing puppy that will thrive in a busy household. A puppy needs plenty of activity, and your puppy should be inquisitive, playful, and not shy. All new puppy families should plan to bring their puppy to puppy classes, it is as important for the owners as for the puppy. The investment in puppy school will reap endless benefits. Consistency in training, both for the owners and the pup, will make your pet expedience most fulfilling. Each puppy has an individual personality, and the fact that our puppies are home raised, helps us match pups with their prospective families. We have found that many pups choose their new families. Puppies just love children, and the bond will last for your dogs life. Remember that puppies are puppies, and they will pull on shirts, pants, hands, and your house will have to be puppy-proofed before you new puppy arrives. Puppies will be teething. They will need plenty of chew toys. Puppies will chew furniture, toys, shoes, whatever they are allowed to chew. Damage to your belongings is not the puppies fault, but the owners. Training and correct confinement, such as crating when they are not with you, will help to give a positive experience. Plan to spend time with your puppy. They will require a lot of exercise. The more positive activity you give your puppy, the less time and energy they will have to get into trouble. Our puppies love to retrieve. We take hikes, and just spend time outdoors playing tug of war. Consider how an Indian Trail Golden Retriever puppy will complete your family. You're looking for a dog that's healthy in both mind and body. Let's see how we can help you pick that perfect pup. Time To Buy a Puppy! It's the day you've all been waiting for. Golden Retriever PuppyYou finally get to visit that new litter of cute Golden Retriever puppies and make your selection. The ideal time to do that is when the puppies are around five weeks of age. That's when they're beginning to explore their world and love being around people. You won't be able to take the pup home for awhile. But at least you can figure out how to pick a puppy at your leisure. The first question you need to ask yourself is, would you rather have a boy or a girl? There are some minor differences in size and temperament between male and female Goldens. But it really boils down to your personal preference. If you're positive you want to buy a female puppy, for instance, ask the breeder to take the males out of the bunch for now. If you're dead set on buying a Henrietta, you don't want to lose your heart to a Henry. Golden Retriever Puppy With ChewieIn most Golden litters, the coat colors usually vary between shades of cream and gold. If you're choosing a Golden Retriever puppy for his color, check out the ears. A puppy's ear color is the best indicator of the color of his future adult coat. His ears are often slightly to moderately darker than the rest of his coat at this tender age. Distended stomachs could indicate a problem with worms. When you pick up one of those cute Golden Retriever puppies, he should smell nice. It's a "newborn thing," just like with human babies. And when you stroke him, his coat should be clean and plush, with no signs of fleas or other parasites. You're also checking to make sure there's no evidence of scabs under the coat on the skin. His eyes and ears should be clear, with no runny discharges from either place. His nose should be jet black. At this stage, a Golden Retriever puppy's eyes will be gray, but they'll gradually change to a permanent dark brown. Your prospective pup shouldn't have any bald spots or apparent sores. You should not see any evidence of adverse reactions to recent puppy shots. Are you choosing a Golden Retriever puppy to show him in the ring? Then you need to make sure there are no obvious markings or conformation problems that would disqualify him. But health and soundness is more than just clearances. Golden Retrievers are often known for skin problems, and the parents in question should be trouble free with no apparent allergies or susceptibility to hot spots. You should ask the breeder about the overall health of the parents, and how long ancestors in the first two or three generations have lived. The answers could indicate the quality of life your new pup can expect throughout his life, and how long you might be blessed with his friendship. Consider Personality When Choosing a Golden Retriever Puppy Sarah Cuddles PuppiesWhen you first see the litter together, they should mob you, absolutely thrilled at the sight of people--and new people at that! Peaches's puppies always enjoyed their play time with my daughter, Sarah seen here. Every puppy has an individual personality, and each litter contains a range of personalities. It's up to you to match your family's needs with your perfect pup's personality when selecting a Golden Retriever puppy. You can do this with the help of puppy temperament testing. Golden Retriever PuppyIf you're choosing a Golden Retriever puppy to take hunting, bring a duck wing or pheasant tail with you when you visit the litter, and tease the puppies with it. Some pups will immediately be fixated on the feather and chase it around constantly, even picking it up when you toss it. Other pups won't care one way or the other what's tickling their nose. Look for the pups that like to hold things in their mouths or carry them around. All Golden Retrievers have a natural retrieving instinct, but some have practically a compulsion to have something in their mouths at all times. There's your hunter pup. Now is the time to buy puppy supplies, make the veterinary appointments, check back with the breeder to make sure the puppy is up to date with his vaccinations, and spend time puppy-proofing your home in preparation for the canine invasion. In general, puppies should stay with their mother until sometime between the eighth and tenth weeks. By this time, the puppies have learned critical canine socialization skills from their mother and littermates. They're also weaned off their mother's milk, are eating puppy food, and are old enough to pass Beginning Housebreaking with flying colors. That means you've been blessed with a wonderful new best friend who will give you many years of unlimited, unconditional love. What more could any mere mortal want? Similar Articles :. This could cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills down the road. On the other hand, when you buy the animal from a licensed Golden Retriever breeder, you can pick out your future puppy with confidence. Not only will proof of his pedigree show that your breeder is certified, but it will also verify that your puppy is a true Golden Retriever. The best puppy breeders take pride in providing healthy dogs through careful genetic research. They should be so confident in their work that they offer you a health guarantee , which will tell you what to do if your puppy faces any unforeseen health issues. Since breeders are there from the day the puppies and their parents! And picking the right pet for your family starts with finding a breeder you can trust. No matter how nice they seem or how attractive their website looks, you should always do a little bit of research before choosing a Golden Retriever breeder. Here are important points that all breeders should address: Image Source Does the breeder give back to the breed? Breed preservation should be the primary goal of Golden Retriever breeders. They should participate in keeping the species alive through membership at a Golden Retriever breed dog club, a performance club, or an obedience club. What type of experience does the breeder have? Do they stay true to the pure genetic traits of the breed? Do they provide health screenings and health guarantees? Can you meet the puppies and parents in person? How many litters do the females have each year? Female Golden Retrievers can have up to two litters per year. However, breeders who follow ethical practices will only allow the females to have four to six litters in their lifetime. A female can breed between the ages of two and eight. Once you choose a breeder that seems like a good fit for you and your family, you should write up some questions to ask them. And in return, expect some questions about you, your lifestyle, and your home! One of the first things any breeder you inquire about should provide is a list of former buyers. Reviews posted online are one thing, but being able to talk with customers directly speaks volumes about the legitimacy of the breeder. When you speak with their former customers, ask questions about their buying experience and how their dog is doing years after purchase. Puppies should receive some level of preventative care that is appropriate for their age. Newborn puppies up to eight weeks old should stay with their mothers, but they will also receive their first round of core vaccines during these few weeks. They should have a yearly examination by a licensed veterinarian that will perform vaccines, flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, as well as general health checkups. A reputable, passionate breeder will be more than happy to receive updates and questions about their puppies well into adulthood. With that being said, the breeder should also provide a health guarantee. A health guarantee states that you are not financially liable for any genetic issues in the puppy, as long as the health condition is verified by a certified veterinarian. This is an essential point that you might not think twice about. A good Golden Retriever breeder will ask questions to determine if your household is a good fit for their puppy. Image Source 1 Why do you want a dog? This is a simple yet important question that you should have an answer to. Golden Retriever breeders that dedicate their livelihood to continuing the pure genetic bloodline will want to know what appeals to you about these energetic companions. Additionally, the breeder might ask who will be walking, feeding, and playing with the dog. Golden Retriever puppies require tons of attention, especially during the first two years of their lives. If the breeder asks this, they want to know how your children will be participating in the handling of the puppy. They also want to understand how you plan to introduce the puppy to other pets so they can coexist safely within the same home. No matter how nice a breeder may seem, you want to avoid accidentally contributing to backyard breeders or a puppy mill disguised as a reputable breeder. Doing so can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills and years of potential heartbreak. Here are some of the most critical and obvious warning signs of an untrustworthy breeder. Less experienced breeders will charge on the lower end, and more experienced breeders usually with generations of pure genetic proof! Additionally, some of the best breeders will only sell trained puppies to ensure their pooches are family- and forever-home ready. Therefore, you should receive standard documentation upon adopting your new Golden Retriever puppies, such as care instructions, registration papers, vaccination records, and necessary contracts. The contract may also state that you agree to surrender the puppy instead of adopting him out to a shelter or the pound. Some warranties will say that the breeder should have the right to reclaim the puppy in an unexpected situation like this. If you do ask for references, and they give you a list of written reviews instead of contact information for former clients, this is a red flag. A refusal for a tour means that the breeder knows potential clients may be turned away by the environment. If you are invited to tour a facility, learn about what a professional kennel should look and smell like first. The bottom line is, you need to do plenty of research.

How often you should feed a German Shepherd puppy depends on their age and their activity level. Many owners also want to know when they can switch to adult food formulas for their German Shepherd puppies. Switch your GSD puppy to adult food when they are around 12 to 18 months old. Puppies can begin adult kibble when they are approximately 80 percent of their adult weight. This usually occurs around 8 to 10 months of age, but you can safely feed puppy food up to 18 months old as long as they are not putting on excess weight too quickly. If you want to know what to feed a German Shepherd puppy, keep reading. Finding the best food to feed your German Shepherd puppy is overwhelming at times. This means choosing what to feed a German Shepherd puppy is even more serious and intimidating! Follow this feeding guide when you need to know what to feed German Shepherd puppies. I understand! The following dog foods are all recommended for large breed puppies and meet and exceed regulated nutritional standards. Feeding a high-quality kibble from a name-brand company that uses feeding trials ensures the best quality and nutrition. Here are some of the best German Shepherd puppy foods that are research-backed. Packed with nutrients to help limit inflammation of the joints and uses fresh ingredients. Easily digestible formula for puppies prone to allergies and sensitive stomachs. Rich aroma with DHA fish oil to entice puppies to finish every last bite while giving shine to their coats. The better the food, the healthier your pup will be inside and out. Cheaper GSD puppy food lacks quality proteins that are essential for your working breed dog. Adding too much weight to your German Shepherd too soon can cause lifelong joint issues that are painful to your pet and expensive on your wallet. Most GSDs are healthy and fit on commercial dog foods that are high quality. These balanced formulas keep their bones and muscles strong throughout their growing periods and can ward off later joint issues, a common breed problem, as they mature. There is a greater demand for quality nutrition during the early growth stage. For these reasons, you must feed high-quality food. Now, consider what to feed a German Shepherd puppy based on their age. These feeding charts and guides will help keep your new companion growing strong and athletic. Tiny portions of canned, wet foods are introduced. Meals per day: 4 or more Puppies should stay with their mom for to keep them healthy. Nutrition Warning! At 8-weeks-old a GSD pup is eating more solid foods and develops a better appetite for kibble and other foods. Add in only a couple of small spoonfuls of canned plain pumpkin, unsweetened Greek yogurt, or cooked oatmeal to entice your pup to eat. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue feeding the same as the 8-week-old diet. Treats are not only enjoyable for your German Shepherd, but help you to eneterain and build a positive relationship with him. Be sure to keep their zoomies under control by playing plenty of fun German Shepherd games for puppies. Meals per day: 4 Week-Old Puppy Continue to feed the kibble. Watch for excessive weight gain during this growth time as their bones cannot take extra weight! Too much weight gain too quickly can cause joint issues as an adult and prevent healthy development. Use their mental energy to help keep them more relaxed throughout the day by playing brain-boosting mind games for German Shepherd puppies. Meals per day: 3 to 4 Week-Old Puppy Keep your puppy trim and athletic by monitoring how much you feed your puppy and their body condition. You can write how much they eat and track this over time, and adjust how much your feed your German Shepherd puppy to keep them at a healthy weight. Try using fresh, raw, cut-up pieces of carrots as healthy treats or small, deseeded cubes of fresh apple as part of their training treats. Keep your eyes open for a growth spurt about to begin! Meals per day: 3 Week-Old Puppy Around 4 months old, you might notice your puppy finish their meal quickly and look for more food. Be sure to watch how many treats you give them throughout the day. You can do this by holding them safely in your arms and weighing them with you on the scale. Then, place them on the floor and step onto the scale without them to weigh yourself. Remember, around 16 to weeks old your German Shepherd puppy begins to rapidly grow. Instead, when looking overhead at your puppy their waist should look trim and not rounded outwards. German Shepherd puppies should appear sleek in their waistline. Meals per day: 3 Week And Older Puppy Continue to feed your German Shepherd puppy dry kibble with a small amount of healthy foods mixed in. You can lessen the healthy food you mix in gradually if you prefer. But, even as adults, German Shepherds love a bit of tasty toppers on their kibble. Around a year old, begin feeding your German Shepherd puppy 2 meals a day. Two meals, one in the morning and evening, are not only safer but also provide your German Shepherd with sustained energy to fuel their high-energy lifestyle. You can create a positive meal time by using the following tips: Always offer fresh water during their meal times. Keep the area where they eat their food in calm and out of the way of the family hustle and bustle. I found sitting with a book reading, just keeping my GSD puppy company, encouraged my dog to eat their meals while giving us time to quietly bond. Feed your German Shepherd at the same time everyday. The best time to feed a German Shepherd puppy is in the morning, before you leave for the day, and in the evening, about 2 hours before you put your dog to bed. Allow them to potty after eating to ensure their comfort. Your dog also needs to eat at other times of the day for their health and growth. How much you should feed a German Shepherd puppy really depends on a number of factors. Your GSD pup should eat enough to maintain their growth and energy, while not carrying any extra fat. Every dog is different. Keep in mind the number of calories in the kibble, which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each puppy food company has a different amount of calories and size of the kibble. Here are a few things that might affect how much your German Shepherd puppy should eat. The more active a German Shepherd puppy is, the more calories he needs to eat to replace lost energy. For example, puppies need nearly twice the amount of calories as compared to adults. And older or senior German Shepherds who are less active need less food. Health Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to feeding your German Shepherd. Simply put, you can prevent some medical conditions and health problems by monitoring their waistlines. Instead follow the healthy way to bulk up a German Shepherd. To see if your German Shepherd is at the right weight you can find the average weight depending on their age. Final Thoughts A German Shepherd is an iconic breed. These dogs are best friends, companions, and workers. They are very intelligent, hard-working, and loyal. However, they need a lot of care and attention while raising. If you are a happy owner of a 10 month old GSD puppy, you need to consider the many things we are talking about in this article. Your task is to do your best to raise your dog to be healthy, strong, and admirable. Of course, its growth is not completed. These dogs continue growing until they are 1. Moreover, they are still filling out. Usually, a male dog is obviously bigger than a female. The height is measured at the withers. It is in the back section above the shoulders. The females are 49 cm 19 inches tall. Males are also heavier — pounds .The measurements can differ among dogs due to their heredity and keeping conditions, though the parameters should not differ too much. Practice weighing your puppy every week to know whether it develops properly. Teething usually ends at the age of around months, so now your Shepherd has all its 42 adult teeth. Ears stand upright, steady by about 8 months. You may need to talk to your veterinarian about the possible reasons for it and proper correction or think about the purity of the breed. The coat is double-layered and entirely adult. Your pup is an adolescent, very curious and exploring. It may lead to getting into trouble if not managed properly. Interactive games, proper training, and stimulation can help it burn off the excess energy and get controlled. Your puppy becomes more independent and even tries to test your authority. On the other hand, it gets more protective and eager to guard its territory. It likes socializing with dogs and other animals, but a male can grow aggressive and competitive if another male enters its realm. A female experiences its first heat ovulation. Further on, it will come into it twice a year or every 18 months. Every cycle lasts for about 3 weeks. It can make your girl anxious, uncontrolled, and seeking mating with a male. She becomes sexually mature and can produce offspring if you are not careful enough. Your pup needs a lot of sleep now because it continues growing. Provide your pet with comfortable bedding for its nap times. You may also notice that your doggy does not want to sleep too much during the daytime. It is because of the immense energy it needs to burn out. However, if you suspect that your pup does not get enough sleep, you may need to correct its exercise routine. Your German Shepherd needs much time for running and playing, too. Provide it with just two hours of intensive exercise per day. However, give it one rest period between the sessions not to overload it with physical activities. Several walks or play sessions will be ideal if you have enough time to do that with your pet. Walking time can be counted by adding 5 minutes to the number of months of age. So, your puppy needs at least 50 minutes of walking per day. The rest of the time can be spent playing fetch or Frisbee. Provide your pet with sufficient mental stimulation, too. Choose a proper place for walking and let your friend explore the environment or train it to behave properly outdoors. Use interactive toys, nose work, and puzzles to provide enough exercise. Your doggy will become destructive and disobedient if it does not get much physical and mental stimulation. Buy durable and specifically designed toys. Avoid small sizes to prevent choking. So, it may resemble a bird or a small animal to make playing more interesting. They can help keep teeth clean and healthy; playing with them is always entertaining. Balls and tug toys are also good choices. You can use balls for fetching and tug toys for interactive games. It does not need any vaccination sessions at this age, provided it got all the necessary vaccines when it was 5 months old. The next vaccination will only take place when it is a year old. However, you had better be aware of possible health issues your doggy may be prone to due to its breed or heredity. This list includes the following: Arthritis. This condition is age-related and can cause joint pain and stiffness. The causes of allergies can differ, but all of them lead to hair loss, itching, ear problems, and redness. They can appear at any age, so you must be alert. Hip and elbow dysplasia. This condition is common for Shepherds and can cause pain and lameness. Large dogs like GSs are immensely susceptible to this condition. Gastrointestinal problems. They may include vomiting and diarrhea. Your large dog has a fast metabolism, so you need to be careful about any changes in its feeding behavior. German Shepherds are prone to specific types of this life-threatening disease, like bone cancer and lymphoma, at any age. Talk to your veterinarian if you see any signs of possible health disorders. Proper nutrition and care can help avoid many of these issues. You also need to think about spaying for girls and neutering for boys at this age. It is a surgical removal of the reproductive organs. The procedure is safe, and it has many health-related benefits. It reduces territorial roaming, aggression, and risk of cancer. You can prevent uncontrolled litter production and risks of life-threatening behaviors. You can opt for it if you do not intend to mate your dog with a purebred partner. Feeding The dietary needs of your 10 month old GSD differ from those of a small dog. It needs the proper combination of minerals, fats, and vitamins for healthy growth. When your pup reaches the age of 10 months, continue feeding it twice per day. If the diet is natural, give preference to animal sources of proteins, like chicken, fish, lamb, pork, beef, and eggs. You can also include vegetables and grains in the diet if your doggy does not have allergies. You may also prefer to feed your pet with dry food called kibble. It is more cost-effective, but the food has to be high-quality. You can also give your pup dry and wet food in turn. This amount should be spread between the two daily meals. Your dog needs to have access to fresh water all the time, so keep a bowl of water at its feeding place all the time. Training Training is essential for your 10 month old German Shepherd because it is very curious and intelligent at this age. It is a quick learner, though a bit stubborn. It may already know the basic commands, like come, stay, and sit. Try to be positive while training your doggy. Use treats and praise, but never force your pup to do anything. You must be consistent with all the commands and reinforcements, or your pet will get confused. The attention span of your puppy is very short at this age due to hormonal changes, so you need to make out some individual ways to keep its attention. Use interactive toys to do that. Give it more time to acquire new skills. They have to be small, soft pieces that are easy to eat. Too many treats can cause weight gain. The most common treats dogs love include cheese, chicken meat cut into small chunks, and vegetables, like carrots or green beans, also chopped properly. Your doggy needs at least 2 hours of exercise per day at this age. You can spread it between two or more sessions. Walking can take about 50 minutes 5 minutes for every month of age. Do German Shepherds grow after 10 months? Even if it seems to you that your pet looks like an adult dog, it will continue to grow after 10 months. Most dogs reach full physical maturity at the age of two, and some even continue growing until they are three. They need this time to fill out and build their muscles. However, when we speak about a 10 month old German Shepherd, you need some more knowledge because you deal with an adolescent influenced strongly by hormones. So, taking care of it requires even more accuracy and consideration. We hope that the information provided in this article will help you a lot to ensure that you are doing everything correctly and your doggy will grow up healthy, strong, intelligent, and obedient. You need to follow them and always talk to experts to enjoy a happy life with your perfect furry friend. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Welcome to our German Shepherd puppy development stages and ages — week by week guide Different breeds like all different babies develop at different rates. There are going to be many exciting events for you to look forward to. Whether you are bringing your 8 week German Shepherd puppy home or about to be blessed with a litter of puppies. This is going to be an exciting, demanding but hugely rewarding journey. Newborn puppies are born at around days after fertilization. Newborn puppies are born with their ears and eyes tightly sealed. The reason eyelids are sealed shut is to form a protective barrier for the fragile developing eye. This helps to protect them from any foreign object, bright lights, bacteria or any other microorganism that can cause disease or damage. In the same way puppies ear canals are closed at birth to make them effectively deaf. This is a protective barrier to protect the fragile underdeveloped machinery needed to hear. In a mature ear the pressure caused by sound will mechanically move structures in the ear. German Shepherd puppies are highly dependent upon their noses. Puppies navigate by smell from the moment they are born. This helps them to identify their mom, the very important milk supply, siblings and surroundings. Newborn puppies are born with a fur coat however they cannot control their own body temperature yet. To keep them warm they are dependant on their mothers or another heat source. If you live in a cooler climate installing a heat lamp would be ideal to help keep the puppies nice and warm. Germans Shepherds make amazing mothers and will be relied on a lot at this stage. Mother dogs will only leave their newborn puppies to go to the toilet, eat and drink. However, when mom has gone the newborn puppies are not completely useless. They are able to use their front paws to drag themselves towards a heat source. When mom is away the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat. Along with being able to drag themselves to a heat source newborn puppies are also able to drag themselves to their mothers to locate the milk supply. They will move their heads around to search for a nipple, latch on and suck strongly. Newborn puppies are not born with teeth these will also develop in the next several weeks. Other than the above puppies are completely dependent upon the care of their dedicated mom. Newborn puppies have little control over the rear end of their bodies. To encourage their pups to pass urine and bowel movements the mom will lick their bottoms. Anything produced mom will then lick up and swallow to keep her puppies and nest clean. Some pups will even double their birth weight! Your German Shepherd puppy will still be highly dependent upon their mom at this stage. Beneath all their fur the vital organs will be working hard to mature. This includes the eyes. Your puppy will not be ready to open their eyes yet but lots of changes are taking place to prepare them for grand opening. The ear canals will begin to open around the same time as the eyes. When the ear canals do open, the ears are much more formed than the eyes are at this point in time. Their eyesight usually takes around 8 weeks to reach its full potential. When their eyes become wider, they will reveal blueish-gray eyes which are hazy in appearance. Their eyesight will continue to develop until around 8 weeks old. The ear canals will also open around 2 weeks. The puppies hearing has been developing much quicker than their eyesight and they will be able to hear most things by the time their ear canals fully open. However, their amazing hearing ability will continue to enhance over the next several weeks. At the moment your German Shepherd puppy will have cute floppy ears. Their adorable tall ears can come up anywhere between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Floppy ears are common until your German Shepherd finishes teething. By then the ear cartilage will become strong and hard enough for the ears to stand up permanently. Now is a good time to start handling the puppies and get them used to your voice. Most puppies are wormed for the first time when they are 2 weeks old. All this development has happened so quickly, but things are about to get even more exciting. Between 2 and 4 weeks your German Shepherd puppy will begin to stand up this is when the real fun begins. Puppies milky teeth will also start to develop between 2 to 4 weeks. These sharp little teeth will remain until about weeks of age. These little daggers play an important role during the weaning process. Even the most patient moms will struggle to nurse with these sharp painful teeth. This reluctance to nurse will prompt the German Shepherds to seek alternative food sources. These sharp teeth will then help to make up for the lack of jaw strength when eating solid foods. Finally, these sharp puppy teeth play an important role in teaching the pups to gauge their bite pressure when playing with their mom and siblings. This is an essential life lesson that enables our powerful German Shepherds to become safer companions as they mature into strong adult dogs. During the last few weeks mom has done an amazing job of getting her babies strong and their mobility will have come on leaps and bounds well not quite yet but by 3 weeks of age your German Shepherd puppy will begin to trotter around. Most 3 week old German Shepherd puppies can stand and sit. With their baby teeth starting to cut through a lot of breeders. Especially those with large litters will start introducing some solid foods. This helps relieve some of the pressure for the devoted German Shepherd mom. When weaning puppies, you need to start off by soaking their food in either water or puppy milk replacement formula to make it mushy and more comfortable for them to eat. As they start to interact and play with their siblings their personalities will really start to show. You may also notice them starting to playfully growl at each other. At 3 weeks old it will become easier to start identifying different members of the pack. Breeders and moms will be kept on their toes and paws over the next few weeks. As the pups start getting more confident on their feet they will be running around and playing enthusiastically. At 4 weeks old they will begin to wag their adorable little tails. With solid food becoming a major part of their diet the pups will be passing bigger bowel movements. They will be able to show more control of their bowel movements as they take themselves away from their brothers and sisters to perform their business. At this stage mom will be taking a much more relaxed approach to parenting and there will be a lot more for the breeder to clear up. By this point mealtimes are a messy process. If it is warm and safe enough to do so we would recommend taking the pups out in the yard for feeding. German Shepherd puppies are becoming a lot stronger at vocalisations by 4 weeks old. When mom returns to her babies the litter will noisily greet her. Around 4 weeks of age your puppies will need to be wormed again. From this week onwards human interaction is very important in order to form relationships with people. Including different noises and smells. This exposure will ensure your German Shepherd puppy turns into a confident, friendly individual. Mom will also be doing an important job of teaching her puppies to not bite too hard. Even an 8 week old German Shepherd puppy would have the power in their jaws to break the smaller bones in humans fingers. This is why mom teaching her puppies bite inhibition is so important. For more information on bite inhibition please see our guide on German Shepherd bite inhibition. By 5 weeks old German Shepherd puppies will be eating a lot of solid foods, several times throughout the day. Those sharp little teeth would have done their job and mom will be gradually weaning her pups of the dependency on her milk. When mom does feed her puppies, she will only do so for a short period whilst standing up. They will be eating between five and six small meals a day. Although the pups no longer rely on mom for milk, they still need her help and guidance for the next few weeks. Mom will be teaching her babies important life skills to live alongside humans. In some countries 6 week old puppies are taken away from their mothers and moved into their new home. We would not recommend this as the puppies will miss out on continued bite inhibition training from their siblings and mother. This can result in a puppy who bites too hard which can be challenging to manage as they get older. In the USA your puppy will be due their first combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 6 weeks old. This vaccine helps to immunizes your puppy against hepatitis, parvo, distemper, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Most puppies will also need to be wormed again at 6 weeks old. Their last week together will consist of plenty of socialization and playing. Most breeders will arrange a 7 week health check up with the vet to make sure your bundle of fluff is fit and healthy to go to their new home. In the UK some breeders will arrange for the pups first 8 week vaccination to take place during this check. Although some vets advise against it. By the end of this week German Shepherd puppies are ready to leave their mothers and move into their new homes for good. The week you get to take your new puppy home. This will be a very exciting time, but you may also be feeling a bit nervous. There will be some challenged along the way for new puppy owners and your puppy will take some time to adjust to life without its mother and siblings. In the UK the first combined vaccination will help to immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. The first puppy injection in the UK typically will happen between 8 and 10 weeks. Some breeders would have trained the puppies to poop and pee on newspapers or puppy pads. From the moment you get them home it is important to show your German Shepherd puppy where to pee and poop. Puppies naturally like to pee where they have done so before so to avoid building history of peeing in your home is best if you can to avoid it. The more you can avoid accidents from happening as much as possible from the start the faster the puppy training process should be. All puppies are different, and some will get this quicker than others. The main thing to remember is not to discipline your puppy for accidents. The most successful way to potty train is to reward success and ignore accidents. Just clean them up quickly and thoroughly. Your puppy will love nothing more than being praised. For more information please see our guide on How to potty train your German Shepherd puppy. Already your German Shepherd puppy will feel like part of the family. German Shepherds puppies are always adorable but at 9 weeks they are at the age where they are still puppy-like but very clumsy,curious and keen to play with her new family, which is very cute. Your German Shepherds unique personality will make you feel very proud. At 9 weeks your cheeky German Shepherd pup will be feeling more confident, with this the need to explore everything and anything may end up getting them into trouble. Your puppy will develop new sleeping patterns and feeding routines which you will need to adapt to. Most puppies will sleep between eighteen and twenty hours a day at 9 weeks old. During the day when you are with your puppy generally you will not need to shut them away in a crate to nap. German Shepherd puppies are often more than happy to sleep whilst family life goes on around them. However, there will be times when sleeping in a crate is better and safer for your puppy. You must not leave a 9 week old puppy to sleep outside the crate if you are not home to watch them if they wake. Puppies are into everything and many innocent items found in the house could be a potential hazard to your inquisitive pup. For more information please see our guide on how to puppy proof your home. Even if your puppy can barely keep their eyes open other pups and children will still want to play and your German Shepherd puppy may find it hard to refuse. After a hard day of play the peace and quiet of a crate will enable your pup to have a well-deserved nap. If your German Shepherd puppy does need to go to the toilet in the night make sure you keep it short and to a minimum. Establishing a daily routine is the best way to get your German Shepherd puppy to sleep through the night. Part of this schedule will involve mealtimes. Your 9 week old puppy will need four meals a day. Split these up throughout the day and try to stick to similar times. This is to stop encouraging your puppy to wake up earlier and earlier because they associate waking with food. You should always reward your puppy either vocally, with a favourite toy or treats for good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour. Puppies and dogs want to be praised so they respond very well to positive encouragement. Punishing puppies and dogs may have a short term positive effect on their behaviour but long term you could be setting them up to fail. It is very important to socialise and expose your puppy to other humans, dogs and different scenarios whilst they are young. This maybe hard before your puppy has had all its vaccines however getting many different people to come and visit you at your home will enable them to get used to visitors. Before their full vaccinations you can also, you can take you German Shepherd puppy out and about with you to expose them to the outside world as long as you can carry them. If you live in the USA, your puppy will be due their second combined 5-in-1 vaccine at 9 weeks old. In the USA a minimum of three sets of the combined vaccine are required for your puppy. Although you cannot put your puppy down outside until after their final vaccination. Puppies 10 week injection In the UK is a booster vaccination to help immunizes your puppy against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and hepatitis. Check with your vet what date after their jabs your German Shepherd puppy will be able to go down outside. Your puppy will then need a booster between 6 and 12 months old. If you live in the USA at 12 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be due their booster for the combined 5in1 vaccine against hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, parvo and coronavirus and a vaccine against rabies and leptospirosis. If you live in a high risk area, they may also need to be given the vaccination to help immunize them against Lyme. If applicable at 16 weeks your German Shepherd puppy may need to have a fourth combined 5in1 vaccine. A minimum of three combined injections are required in the USA. Check with your vet what date they will be able to be out down outside. By 10 weeks old your German Shepherd puppy will be able to control their bladder a lot more. Potentially up to several hours. This is great time for you to introduce them to the big wide world and develop their social skills which you have already been building the foundations. When taking your German Shepherd puppy out try to introduce them to as many other friendly dogs, humans and noises you can. This will help your German Shepherd puppy to grown into a confident well-rounded dog. At 3 months old your German Shepherd will go down from four daily meals to three. These three portions will be larger than what they are used to which may cause stomach upset. If your German Shepherd puppy does get an upset stomach, try going back to four smaller meals for a couple of days and they try the three larger portions again. This can be a challenging time as your adorable German Shepherd puppy turns into a furry crocodile. Luckily the teething stage is only a phase as with human babies and short lived. In most cases your puppy biting should stop around when they are around 7 months old and have their adult teeth. You maybe noticing your German Shepherds gorgeous ears fluctuating between floppy and pointy. By the time your puppy has finished teething their ears should tick up all the way. This usually happens around months. As they grow their cartilage becomes stronger. Some puppies need another month or so to help them cope without going out for frequent toilet breaks. Even when your German Shepherd puppy is toilet trained occasional accidents are normal. German Shepherds do have large ears but they tend to grow into them as they get older. German Shepherd puppies will begin to grow their new adult coat between 4 and 6 months old. To make way for their adult coat all the puppy hair has to go. For several weeks you will notice an increase in shedding. This is a completely normal part of growing up for your German Shepherd. Being a double coat breed German Shepherds dogs have a topcoat and an undercoat. Twice a year your pup will shed their undercoat. Usually in spring and again in fall. They also shed in general days a year so be prepared for a lot of fur! They will very much look like a smaller version of their adult selves. Although your German Shepherd may look older on the inside, they are still very much a puppy. If you are looking to get your puppy neutered or spayed the recommended age is 6 to 9 months. However, it is common for some female puppies to get spayed at 4 months old. Summary: Your German Shepherd is bound to give you so much joy and happiness throughout its life. There will be challenges along the way but remember this is completely normal. German Shepherds are such an amazing breed and you will have a loyal friend for life. Related Posts. 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. Baby German Shepherds growing up! German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most popular dog breeds out there at the moment, with many devoted fans. They can be large and imposing as adults. But, like every breed, they have a cute puppy phase that many fall in love with. However, since most puppies are bought at weeks old, most of us miss out on this magical period of their lives. So what happens during those first important weeks? A typical German Shepherd litter consists of around puppies. The mean average, according to a study performed in , is 6. When they are first born, they will still have an umbilical cord attached and may be covered in amniotic fluid. Their mother should chew off the umbilical cord and spend the first few hours cleaning their pups. Then mom will focus on keeping her newborn pups warm while allowing them to nurse. At this stage, German Shepherd puppies will just sleep and avoid expending energy. They will frequently nurse from their mother. Newborn German Shepherds When baby German Shepherd puppies are first born, they are completely dependent on their mother. Their ears and eyes will be closed and they will be unable to regulate their own body temperature efficiently. A coat should be present, and the color will depend on the genes they have inherited from their parents. Black with tan markings is the most common for this breed. Additionally, they will be relatively immobile. They will be unable to properly support their own weight. Therefore, they will commonly crawl on their stomach to move about. They will also be unable to urinate or defecate on their own. Stimulation from their mother will be required to help them go to the toilet. One Week Old Baby German Shepherd In the first week, the puppies should bulk up significantly and double their birth weight. However, there will not be much change in their behavior. They will still primarily be focused on nursing and sleeping. To help themselves stay warm, the puppies will normally cuddle close to each other, except for when they are in a hot environment. At this stage, they will still be blind and deaf. While they are still unable to see very well, this is a big step. Eyes should open for the first time at around days of age. They will appear blue in color, but this will change into brown as they develop. They may become a little more inquisitive about their surroundings with their new-found eyesight, and may begin to crawl around a little more. We can expect to see them make some big steps at this stage. Firstly, at around days old, their ears should begin to open for the first time. They should now be able to both see and hear, though not too clearly. Their senses will continue to develop over the coming weeks. They will begin to be able to stand and support their own weight. Walking may still be tough, though! They will likely be pretty wobbly. You can also expect to see their baby teeth come in at around this time. While they still get the majority of their nutrition from their mother, they will begin to show interest in solid food. They will begin to become more independent at this age, being able to urinate and defecate on their own. Beginning Of Socialization With their sight and hearing, they are likely to show a little bit of adventure and courage for the first time, exploring their surroundings as much as their unsteady gait will allow them. This milestone also marks the beginning of the socialization period, a critical phase of their development. Things learned now can shape their personality and behavior for the rest of their lives. They may engage the other puppies in clumsy play and show body language such as tail wagging for the first time. They will form relationships with their den mates, their mother, and humans. This stage is critical in getting the puppies used to humans. This can be achieved by gently exposing the puppies to human presence and contact so that they can see that they are no threat. While their brains are still very much in development, they are still able to learn some simple concepts at this stage. Crate and potty training can begin at this age. They should now be able to walk pretty well. This mobility will allow them to further play with their family and be even more curious about their surroundings. On top of this, their baby teeth should now be fully formed and the weaning process should be fully underway. They should be offered soft but solid food. They may begin to show signs of more complex social behaviors towards their other den mates, and they should learn important skills like bite inhibition. The socialization process should continue, with the puppies gently being exposed to new people, sights, and sounds. The German Shepherd babies will also be further weaned off the mother at this time, slowly moving onto a fully solid diet. Six Week Old Baby German Shepherd At this age, you will begin to see the puppies become even more independent of their mother. Six week old puppies are gaining social skills rapidly, and love to play with people and each other. Seven Week Old Baby German Shepherd When we move into the seventh week of their life, a new significant phase of development starts to begin: the fear period. While this sounds disconcerting, it merely means that this is the time that many puppies begin to show fear towards new things, rather than curiosity. Things that the puppy may find scary or uncertain during this time can make for big changes in their personality throughout life. For example, if a puppy has a bad experience with a human at this stage, it may lead them to becoming fearful and distrustful towards people for the rest of their life. This is why gently exposing the puppies to humans and common sights and sounds beforehand is important. By preemptively socializing the puppies with humans, we can help this period run smoother. The puppies will have reached weights of around pounds and should be around inches tall. Their ears will lie flat but should begin to become erect and upright over the coming weeks. They will be fully independent of their mother at this age. They should be completely weaned, with some basic training and socialization. From here, new owners are expected to continue to train and socialize them, as they are still within a critical period of development. New owners will also need to continue to ensure the German Shepherd puppy is fed a good, nutritionally balanced diet. For more information, you can check out our full puppy development guide here. And make sure you also take a look at this guide to bathing a puppy! In general, a German Shepherd puppy can open its eyes after 7 to 10 days after birth. A German Shepherd can start to focus and see things after about 14 days, after birth. Upon birth, its ears and eyes are closed. Its umbilical cord is still attached. Their heartbeat is slow. After three or four days, the umbilical cord of a GSD puppy gets dry and falls off. At this stage, your GSD puppy relies on its mother in everything. Its mother will feed it, clean it, and protect it from everything. Its temperature starts to normalize as well. At two weeks old, the nervous system of a GSD puppy is still not fully developed. At this age, it will start to open its eyes and ears. After the second week, it can have fully opened eyes and ears. A GSD puppy at this age starts to crawl too and can do its bowel movement on its own. In normal circumstances, a GSD baby will open its eyes at around 10 days according to pets. It can walk and it will start exploring around. At this stage, it starts to form a bond with other puppies and with humans. Its emotional development starts to develop as well. Your puppy will start to roam around. A slight noise will make it react. It will start to notice other living things like cats or other animals in the household. It will start to notice you, its owner. You can introduce it to a pet toy too. It will start playing with humans at this age as well. At one month, a GSD puppy already has a full set of teeth. Its temperature is now normal so is its heartbeat. You should also start exposing your puppy to kids to see how it will react or its behavior around children. At two to three months old, your puppy is learning quickly by now. Its motor skills have greatly improved by this time and it has reached sexual maturity. At the age of six months , a GSD is now considered an adult. A female GSD experiences its first estrus period at this age. For both male and female GSDs, this is their juvenile stage. It means it is their most active phase in life. Your GSD would want to go outside all the time, play, or run. It is about doing outdoor activities. It now raises one leg when urinating to show ownership and leadership. After 12 months of being with you, you can now feel the bond that your dog has for you. Your GSD will continue its maturity until it reaches three years old. If it has been two weeks and your puppy has not opened its eyes yet, you can check if its eyes are clouded with dirt birth buildup dirt. You can do it again the following day according to Dopappy. If the eye is infected, use saline water to clean its eyes. A drop of saline water two to three times a day should do the trick. German Shepherds of all ages are susceptible to eye problems. Among the common eye problems that GSDs are at risk of are: Cataracts.

Ropiez and snake tug toys Toys For Exercise Both the English and French breeds of bulldogs can struggle when it comes to exercise. On the other hand, without adequate exercise, they run a very high risk of health complications as they are prone to becoming overweight. This is particularly true for the English style. English bulldogs naturally carry more weight around their face and middle. They commonly struggle with back and hip problems. Due to this Catch, providing your bulldog with just the right amount of exercise can be a challenge. Taking walks can be tricky. Best Toys for Bulldogs Who Play Fetch Instead, a game of fetch with a classic dog toy such as a frisbee or a tennis ball is a great option. This way the game can be easily stopped and started as needed. For the perfect fetch toy, consider dog toy tennis balls with engaging squeakers that come in different sizes compared to the standard used at Wimbledon. Especially for French bulldogs, a smaller size will be easier for them to carry and less likely to further obstruct their breathing. Making sure that your bulldog is happy and healthy should be monitored on an individual level. Consistency over time is the best way to seek the results that you desire, but make sure to keep the games and toys fresh to add some variety and stay out of exercise ruts. When the good old tennis ball and frisbee lose their appeal, mix things up with a novelty such as a Squawker Rubber Chicken. Made from natural rubber and too cute to resist, these fancy chickens are sure to liven up your game of fetch. Made from natural latex rubber and lead-free paint these hilarious dog toys are perfect for playing fetch and other games with your dog! The irresistible squawking squeaker will keep them engaged and mentally stimulated as they chomp and play. Your pup will love fetching this squeaky tennis ball whether playing indoors or enjoying the great outdoors. When this happens, they can easily become destructive or even depressed. To combat this, choosing an interactive dog toy can make a game out of alone time. Choose interactive puzzle toys with increasing levels of difficulty to sharpen their mental state and entertain their brain. Starting with level one is recommended. This lays out foundational skills that they will build upon and utilize as they progress to more challenging puzzles up to level four. With their natural intelligence, bulldogs are sure to enjoy these mentally stimulating toys and master them in due time. If you also have concerns that the boredom might be compounded by separation anxiety, then a great toy to try is a kong or a similarly hollow chew toy. Fill this with the all-powerful, chewy, and alluring magic spread: peanut butter. Just make sure that your product is dishwasher safe to make for easy cleanup and sanitation. Brightly colored and shaped for an unpredictable bounce to make each playtime and snack experience a blast! The durable natural…. You might think you can do it quickly by browsing online, but how can you be sure you pick something that will not only be loved by your bully, but will also be durable and safe for him or her to play with? When choosing a good toy for your English bulldog, there are four things you should consider: durability, size, functionality, and aesthetics. Keeping these four factors in mind will not only result in you choosing a toy your bulldog will love, but one that will last even after hours of chewing. Nylabone Puppy Starter Chew Toy: The Nylabone is a great option for your bulldog when he or she is a young little puppy. It comes in different sizes and is quite durable and can handle those sharp, little puppy teeth. It serves many purposes: it can be a stick that your dog can fetch, a toy your bully can chew on, and a treat dispenser. It comes in three different colors and sizes, and most importantly, it is BPA-free, so it is safe for your doggie to chew on. Bullibone Spinning Dog Chew Toy: This is a great toy for older bullies, and will have them chewing on them with joy! They are quite durable and will last through hours of chewing, keeping your dog entertained and happy the whole time. And with flavors like bacon, it will be hard for your dog to resist this toy! Allstar Innovations Wobble Wag Giggle Ball: This is probably the most entertaining toy we have on our list, as you can probably get from the name! As the name suggests, the ball makes giggle-like sounds every time it moves, which keeps your dog entertained every time he or she touches it. The ball has six small clutches or holes, which makes it a bit easier for dogs to grip on to with their teeth. The toy also has a hollow center, so you can fill it up with treats and watch your bully play with it for hours on end. Busy Buddy Bristle Bone Dog Toy: This toy is another great option and combines a toy, with a treat holder, and a teeth cleaner. And to entice your dog, the toy comes with six rawhide treats and you can buy more , which you can insert on the toy and give your pup more reason to chew on it. It comes in three different colors and sizes. He is way too lazy for that! There are a few factors that you have to keep in mind while choosing the best toy for your English bulldog. There are also great options that act as treat dispensers, that will keep your dog buys for hours. And, who wants a dull-looking toy anyway? What types of toys should English bulldogs owners avoid? There are a few types of toys which you should avoid as an English bulldog owner. It is always better to provide your English bulldog with at least three to four toys. Where are good places to buy dog toys online and in-person in the U. Online stores to buy dog toys: Amazon: Amazon has one of the largest collections on offer, as you can probably imagine. They haev quite a wide variety of toys, from plush toys, chew toys, interactive toys, and fetch toys. Petco: Petco has over a 1, different types of toys to choose from and you can select by category of toy your desire. Brick-and-mortar stores: Petsmart: With over 1, stores in the country, you should be able to find a Petsmart store in any of the states in the U. A great option when you want to check out a toy in person before you get it for your pooch. Petco: Petco not only has a great online collection, but they also have over a hundred stores in the U. So, you get the convenience of browsing online, but also get a chance to check out items in person before you buy. We hope this guide is helpful to you as you browse for the best toys to keep your bully satisfied! Select Options How to make your Bulldog's activities joyful and interesting? Get a dog toy for your beloved pet! Dog toys help Bulldog to perceive the world around, to develop mental and biting skills, to save your things from being spoiled. Your Bulldog will always be engaged in fun dog games any time and at any place you take the dog toy! What is the best dog toy for Bulldog? We offer rubber dog balls, dog balls on rope, soft dog balls, dog toys with bell inside, dog training toys, dog chew toys for Bulldog's oral care, Starmark Academy dog toys, dog fetch balls of dura foam, dog feeding balls and even small soccer balls for Bulldog games! Wide choice of dog toys for any taste and purchase is available in our online shop! All our dog toys are absolutely safe for Bulldog's health as they are made of non-toxic materials and contain no harmful impurities! We guarantee quality of our dog toys so you can be sure that our dog toy will serve your Bully for a long time! How to choose a dog toy? It depends on the dog's age, taste and the purpose of use. Bulldog toys are also divided for inside and outside usage. Squeaky dog toys, dog treat dispensers, soft dog toys, dog chew toys are for indoor use. Frisbee disks, fetch dog toys, dog training toys are for outdoor use. What toy is best for my dog? Dog toys for chasing - various dog balls, which are made of rubber. These toys may be solid or hollow inside. Dog toy squeakers - emit sound when squeezed. Dog treat toys - used for Bulldog training and interactive games. These toys are of various sizes and shapes with hole holes for treats. Dog chew toys - perfect for Bulldogs, which like chewing and for puppies during second dentition. Tug of war dog toys - develop full mouth grip, but they are allowed only for Bulldogs with fully formed bite no earlier Bulldog's age of .Newer allow your Bulldog to play with such toys alone. It can tear them and swallow parts. Dog training toys - bite tugs, dumbbells, training balls etc. Soft dog toys - choose only specialized toys for Bulldogs. Soft toys for children aren't suitable as they have small plastic details, which can be swallowed by your dog. Don't leave Bulldog unsupervised with soft dog toy as the dog can tear it and eat stuffing or parts of fabric. Dog toys that fly - dog frisbee disks or toys. They are suitable for active Bulldogs. Dog dental care toys - intended for dental hygiene, oral care and teeth cleaning during chewing. How to buy dog toys? Remember, when you buy Bulldog toys, they should be convenient for the dog to hold in mouth. Don't scold or punish Bulldog if it broke the toy. The dog should have several various toys to feel happy, but don't give them all to your Bulldog at once. One per day will be enough. Bulldog toys not only bring joy into your dog's life, but also develop it mentally and physically! The best toys for English Bulldogs are chew toys that are easy for them to pick up, but are also easy for you to clean and preferably work as a toy for playing fetch, too. Durable options are also always preferable. Of course, this flat face is adorable — after all, these are one of the most popular dogs in the United States! Take the following into account when picking his toys. The difference in muzzle size, length, and shape is immediately apparent. Breathing difficulties can make holding on inadvisable Perhaps the most concerning health issue arising from having a flat face is problems with breathing. This makes water play impossible and vigorous exercise unwise. They also love to eat. Be sure to choose a size that your dog has no chance of swallowing accidentally! This toy comes in three sizes and has raised bristles to help clean teeth and gums while your dog chews. It comes in three sizes and four flavors to keep your English Bulldog engaged and interested in new tastes. Best Toys for English Bulldog Puppies English Bulldog puppies can have some special dental issues as their adult teeth begin to grow in. Underbite where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth and too-crowded teeth can lead to chewing difficulties, infection and, in time, periodontal disease. It goes without saying here that the best toys for English Bulldog puppies should include toys that help clean the teeth as well as toys to ease teething pains! It is too large and awkward to swallow and too durable to break apart. You can also freeze it for extra teething relief. You can also insert treat rings to help encourage chewing behavior. Choose from four sizes as your English Bulldog puppy grows up. It is made of hard non-toxic rubber with ridges and grooves to help keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. There are three sizes to choose from as your puppy grows. So the best toys for English Bulldogs will stimulate their brain. Since their breathing issues often prevent vigorous physical exercise and play, they need even more mental enrichment to stay happy and healthy. Happily, puzzle toys can fill this need perfectly. The ball comes in two sizes and can be adjusted for a greater level of difficulty as your pup masters the basic levels. In fact, the manufacturer offers a percent guarantee of durability! This plush toy comes in 10 colorful characters and features an extra layer of reinforced material for strength. It has a fun squeaker hidden deep inside to encourage your nap-loving bulldog to play with it. The filler is non-toxic poly and the seams are double-stitched for safety. The outermost material is soft yet durable and the inner liner is a patented strong mesh. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own. Perfect for large breed dogs Available in three colors: blue, green and red Mammoth TireBiter With Rope Made real tire for dogs, Mammoth Tirebiter is designed using a specially formulated natural rubber with two-ply nylon. Toss it, tug it or roll it, this seriously tough toy holds up to even the most aggressive chewers. You can use it as a Frisbee too! Check current prices here! Designed for the most aggressive chewers, this toy mentally stimulates dogs and enriches them by fulfilling their instinctual needs. You can fill the toy with tempting kibble bits and snacks, with a dash of peanut butter. Stuff and refrigerate the stuffed toy for a long-lasting fun. The GoughNuts Stick Green ensures that the safety of your pet and fun go hand in hand. Polymer and mechanical engineers designed this indestructible toy for canines. Even Police K9 units worldwide use this stick. The two-layered technology and a lifetime guarantee ensure the protection of your purchase, making it one of the best indestructible dog toys out there. It does everything! Canines love gnawing and fetching it, especially in water. Owners like it because they can clean it up in the dishwasher safely and easily. It keeps dogs mentally and physically stimulated and away from your furnishing and footwear. But also, they have a tendency to be destructive. Namely — to their toys. Like shoes, purses, baseball caps, remote controls, end tables… In addition, bulldogs can also show a softer side to their favorite toys. Have you ever heard of English Bulldogs suckling their toys? And believe me, it is CUTE. Below I roundup and review toys that are recommended specifically for bulldogs. I go over durability, safety, enjoyment, and overall quality. They deserve the best of the best, and top quality toys. And in case you have no idea what that means, think about how a baby sucks on a pacifier. Or a young toddler who sucks their thumb. Bulldogs do this type of thing as well. But they do it with their stuffed toys, or their blankets or beds. Not sure why there would be a difference, but that was the case. I believe it makes them feel safe and comforted. Because whenever my bulldogs start to suckle, they go into almost a trance-like state, and basically fall asleep while doing it. Oh, and one other thing — it is sooo adorable to watch!! We have gone through so many Snoopy plush toys over the years. The hands and feet have squeakers in them, but no one tends to play with those parts of the monkey. For some reason, this specific monkey is a sought after suckle toy for my dogs. How many people actually recall who Lamb Chop is? Anyone born prior to millennial age will probably have a good recollection. Lamb Chop was created by entertainer and puppeteer Shari Lewis, who spent over 30 years performing for children on educational TV shows. But for some reason, my big guy loves to suckle on this one. Best English Bulldog Chew Toys For English Bulldogs who love to chew, you need to find a durable, quality product to stand up to their powerful jaws. But I do really like the quality of Nylabone brand chew toys. There are four different areas to hold onto, for them to get the best gnawing grip. Plus there is an English Bulldog on the actual packaging! The blue rubber part in the middle makes a crinkling or crackly sound as it bends. There are different versions, but the one we have contains animal sounds. We have the largest one, which is really about the size of a baseball. My smaller dog cannot fit it into her mouth, but my big guy can. Just be careful if you have a chewer, since the plastic is pretty solid. Wekin Anti-Burst Exercise Ball This is a really fun one, especially if you have a bullie who likes to herd. Have you heard about a competitive sport for dogs called Treibball? If you are in an actual competition, your dog will push 8 balls into a goal. But this inflatable exercise ball has provided hours of outdoor activity for my dogs.

And sometimes French Bulldogs show that big personality through vocalizations like barking, howling, or even growling! But you might be asking yourself, why is my French Bulldog growling or even why is my French Bulldog growling at me?! Did you prepare dinner on time? Or did you take your sock away from your Frenchie while he was busy chewing on it? Your Frenchie probably thinks you owe him an apology. What are some reasons a Frenchie might be growling? A French Bulldog might growl because of feelings they have about various situations. They are little dogs, but they have big voices and have a lot to say. Understanding why your French Bulldog is growling is essential to addressing the behavior. Keep reading to learn some of the possible reasons your French Bulldog might be growling. As a warning One of the first reasons a Frenchie might be growling is also one of the most common. This occurs when a French Bulldog feels that he or she must act as a protector of sorts or even as a watchdog. Fear French Bulldogs may growl out of fear when they encounter new places, people, situations, or unfamiliar objects. Injury or pain French Bulldogs may also growl when they are unwell, injured, or in pain. Anyone who has experienced pain knows that the natural reaction is to protect oneself and avoid touching where it hurts to avoid worsening the pain. Jealous of other dogs or people French Bulldogs are known to be a loyal and affectionate breed, often developing strong attachments to their owners. This can result in growling or other vocalizations as a way to express their displeasure. Trying to show dominance French Bulldogs may growl as a way of displaying dominance, especially when they feel threatened or challenged by other dogs or humans. This behavior can be their means of asserting authority and conveying that they are in control. Stress When French Bulldogs growl, it can indicate that they are feeling stressed or anxious, or they may be trying to establish their boundaries and tell people or other dogs to give them space. Some common causes of stress in French Bulldogs can include changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home or being introduced to new people or animals, as well as medical issues or discomfort. Resource guarding Resource guarding is a protective instinct that dogs have developed over time to safeguard their valuable possessions, such as food, toys, and bedding. Even people can be seen as a resource in the eyes of a Frenchie. When a French Bulldog feels threatened or insecure about its resources, it may growl to warn others to back off. Growling during play During playtime, French Bulldogs may growl to express their excitement, engage their playmates, or assert their dominance in the game. Along with growling, playful behaviors such as jumping, wagging tails, and running around are also typical. How to stop a French Bulldog from growling French Bulldogs use growling as a means of communication. It is a way of expressing their discomfort or displeasure with a particular situation, person, or dog. Sometimes though, it can be simply a vocalization they make when they are excited and feeling playful. However, in most cases, if growling is not addressed, it can escalate into more aggressive behaviors. It is essential to identify the root cause of its behavior in order to stop a French Bulldog from growling. Once the cause is determined, try to avoid triggers and reward positive behavior with treats, praise, and affection. It is crucial to never punish or harm the dog physically for growling, as this can lead to more significant problems. If the growling persists, seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or behaviorist to develop a behavior modification plan and learn effective communication techniques with your dog. By addressing the underlying cause of the growling and using positive reinforcement, you can help your French Bulldog become a happy, well-behaved family member. There could be several reasons why your French Bulldog is growling at you, including fear, pain, jealousy, stress, or even trying to show dominance. Identifying the specific cause is essential to address the behavior appropriately. Is it normal for French Bulldogs to growl during play? Yes, growling during play is normal for French Bulldogs. It is a way for them to express their excitement, engage their playmates, or establish their dominance in the game. How can I stop my French Bulldog from growling? To stop your French Bulldog from growling, first identify the root cause of the behavior. If the growling persists, seek professional help from a certified dog trainer or behaviorist to develop a behavior modification plan. Is growling always a sign of aggression in French Bulldogs? No, growling is not always a sign of aggression in French Bulldogs. It can be a way for them to communicate their emotions or intentions, and it can also be a playful behavior during playtime. However, aggressive growling is typically low-pitched, prolonged, and accompanied by other warning signs such as snarling, baring teeth, and stiffening of the body. Can fear cause a French Bulldog to growl? Yes, fear can cause a French Bulldog to growl. Are French Bulldogs prone to resource guarding and growling? French Bulldogs may exhibit resource guarding and growling when they feel threatened or insecure about their valuable possessions, such as food, toys, and bedding. Disclosure HappyFrenchBulldog. The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Always seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. Contact Have questions about our content? Contact us at info [at] happyfrenchbulldog. Footer Nav. By familiarizing yourself with how your dog is trying to express itself, you will be able to recognize when something is wrong and take appropriate action. When your French Bulldog is growling, it is most likely due to a reaction to an environmental situation. Advice from the internet is no replacement for the opinion of a medical professional, so it is important to always be sure that you are receiving reliable information. Why is My French Bulldog Growling? One of the important things to understand when you hear your dog growl for the first time is that growling can result from a wide variety of different situations. Dogs like to signify to others that they have control over a certain area, so it makes sense that your dog would growl as a means of asserting its dominance. There is also the possibility that your Frenchie is growling as a result of being jealous of another dog. Oftentimes when a dog is on a leash, it will feel negative reactions towards other dogs that are able to walk without leashes. The lack of freedom of motion causes feelings of resentment and might result in growling. Another probable cause of growling is whether or not your dog is intimidated by another creature they have come across. Especially when their owner is by their side! However, intimidation can play out in a variety of ways, not just by growling. There are also other reasons that your dog might be growling. Sometimes growling is not a signal to other dogs, but instead the humans that take care of them. Sometimes a French Bulldog will growl because it is in pain, causing it to loudly try and reach out to you. This is a situation in which you must be prepared to take your dog to a veterinarian immediately, as it is often a serious situation if your dog is resorting to growling. In most situations, your French Bulldog is not growling as a way of being aggressive towards others. Instead, it is trying to communicate with you, so try and listen to it and see if it is directing you towards a particular action. Of course, if your Frenchie is growling all the time, it could be a behavioral issue that needs to be addressed. Stopping your French Bulldog from growling can only be achieved by analyzing the surrounding area. For example, if you are walking your French Bulldog and it begins growling uncontrollably in an area where there are other dogs, it could be that your dog is intimidated by the other animals. In this situation, all you have to do is remove your dog from the area and it should calm down quickly. In the same way, if your dog is upset at the people you are introducing it to, the best remedy to the situation is to leave the area that is stressing out your dog. Bringing toys or other types of comfort items can help keep your dog at ease and demonstrate that the situation is actually comfortable for them. One of the most important things to remember when your French Bulldog growls is that you must treat your dog with respect. The dog is often trying to communicate or protect you, so chastising the dog will not promote healthy communication methods. Though some medical offices might be expensive to attend, there are affordable clinics around that specialize in helping your pets get the care that they need. I hope this guide has been helpful so that the next time you find your French Bulldog growling, you know just how to interpret it! Do Frenchies like kids, cats or other dogs? General French Bulldog Temperament These little dogs are loyal, loving, laid back and affectionate. They will enjoy curling up on their owners lap, and will be happiest when they are together with you. Frenchies are also intelligent and eager to please. They can take well to training, especially positive, reward-based methods. But, there are times when these little dogs can show less-lovable traits. Every dog has teeth, and therefore the ability and potential to bite if they feel threatened or backed into a corner. But these behaviors in a dog that is under a year old are almost always a result of playful intensions. The best thing to do to avoid these situations is to disengage, put them somewhere safe and take a time out. If your Frenchie is biting, growling, and snarling, but they are still a very young puppy, they may just be exuberantly playing. But over 18 months old and you may have an aggressive dog on your hands. The most common cause of biting or growling in this breed is anxiety. Fearful dogs may try to hide, or run away before displaying any aggressive behaviors. However, a few Frenchies can some guarding instincts. They feel uncomfortable with visitors entering their home, and might even try to protect or defend the property and their family. Barking, raising a lip, snarling and snapping at your guests is a sign that your dog is not happy with the intrusion. Resource guarding is another potential cause of aggression in dogs, and one that owners can accidentally make an awful lot worse. We used to be advised that removing the food bowl repeatedly would teach our dogs to share their dinner, but we know better now. The right thing to do is to add more food as they eat, not snatch away something they value and were enjoying. Making them nervous that they might not get to hold onto this prize. French Bulldog Socialization Well socialized dogs are less likely to react with fear-based aggression when they are older. Make it your mission from 8 to 16 weeks old to take your dog as many places as possible. All those you will want to bring them to when they are older. Train stations, bus stops, the school gates. They all help to teach your pup that everywhere you go is normal, and everything they experience is safe. Invite lots of different visitors over to your home, of a variety of ages. Make sure everyone that arrives is given a handful of kibble to offer your puppy. Make guests something to celebrate, not to fear. Kids and French Bulldogs French Bulldogs are popular family dogs partially because they often get on well with the kids that they live with. This can lead to aggressive reactions, such as growling or biting, if your pup gets hurt. And potentially a lifetime reluctance to spending time with younger people. Do Frenchies Like Other Pets? In my experience, this is a breed that does best alone most of the time. People tend to have the best luck in this respect if they introduce new canine family members slowly, and carefully. Frenchies are likely to be okay with cats that they grow up with. However, they may not do well with cats outside the home, even if they live with one. Why Is My French bulldog Growling? Do you love him? Well, most people love French bulldogs, but do you know why? A key thing to understand about growling is that it can happen in a variety of situations. I can be both friendly and unfriendly. Because there is a possibility that they will growl at you. The behavior is rather common among dogs. This type of behavior is nothing but food guarding and it can be seen in dogs. It is because their wild ancestors- wolves guard their possessions. Domestic dogs should not be exhibiting such behavior because it is not desirable. They will try to establish their dominance by growling and barking. Since dogs like to let others know about their dominance in the area, we can understand why they growl. Due to Jealousy There are chances that your French bulldog is growling because of jealousy with any other dog. Dogs that are on leashes tend to feel resentful when there are dogs off-leash nearby. This claustrophobia may cause dogs to growl and even lash out at other dogs. This can be one of the more difficult things to handle. Especially if you are not accustomed to having dogs that exhibit dominant or jealous behavior. This means you should never ignore it as it often indicates potential danger. Your French bulldog needs to be fairly confident to grow out of his anxiety. So you have to make positive associations with things that scare him. Until he learns to trust and overcome those fears. To tackle this issue the best thing to do is to make sure that your pup is involved with you and other pets or people that come to your home. Luckily he will let you know when he is uncomfortable by growling as an act of defense. Because Of Any Illness Or Injury When it comes to the health of your Frenchie , finding a veterinarian who can take care of him should be first on your list of priorities. This behavior is more common than you think. In this particular scenario, all you want to do is move your dog to a different area so he calms down quickly. When it comes to the introduction of your Frenchie to new people, many dogs can be very standoffish. This can end up making for a very stressful situation for the dog and potentially creating an uncomfortable environment for your guests. To remedy this, try taking your pet and moving to a calmer area, as they are stressed out by the interaction. If you do not have access to a different location, try providing comfort by removing your guests from the situation so that your dog gets some private time. You can also provide toys or treats that signify the presence of positive energy in order helping to break some of those negative associations right away. The best toys that can be helpful in this situation are Suction Frenchie TugToy This tug toy provides hours of entertainment for you and your Frenchie. The ball present in it is tough enough to withstand heavy tugging for long periods, yet soft enough to bite and grip. It is very helpful in training your pups and can be a useful tool during the teething phase. The light will help your pup to know where the ball is. Frenchie can play with it even in the dark. This LED light ball is made up of durable and non-toxic material. This means your pup can play with it as long as he wants. Conclusion The French Bulldog is a popular breed of dog which is known for its adorable, doll-like face. Like all dogs, though, a Frenchie may growl for a variety of reasons. In this blog post, we have examined several reasons why your Frenchie may be growling and suggested some ways to deal with the issue. Overall, the French bulldog temperament is calm, cool, and collected, making Frenchies good family dogs that love to be around their people and are happiest when they give and receive affection. An aggressive dog often becomes so due to a lack of dog training or less-than-ideal breeding situations, like coming from a puppy mill. Are French Bulldogs Aggressive? Are male French Bulldogs aggressive? What aggressive behavior might the Frenchie dog have? Is the French Bulldog temperament right for my family? Can dog training curb aggressive behavior in a Frenchie puppy or adult? Understanding the French Bulldog personality and signs of aggression can lead to a better understanding of this bulldog breed. As a rule, French bulldog aggression is rare, but it still can happen. French bulldogs are, by nature, a stubborn breed. Their stubbornness can sometimes lead to training difficulties, manifesting into disobedience and other undesired traits and behaviors. Frenchies can also become very anxious when separated from their loved ones, even if only for a few minutes. When a dog is overly anxious, they can become more susceptible to aggressive behaviors, even toward those they love. Here are some common signs of aggression to be on the lookout for with your Frenchie: 1. However, both female and male dogs of the breed can be very stubborn, making them seem unruly. Instead, Frenchies just like doing things their own way. As a French bulldog owner, you might find that your pup is challenging to train because of their stubborn nature. How does this relate to aggression? Aggressive tendencies often come from a lack of training or an inability to train properly. As a puppy, your Frenchie will learn basic obedience and socialization with a trainer. These tasks are crucial to raising a well-behaved and well-mannered dog that enjoys being around other animals and people. Without this fundamental training, your older dog may feel timid or aggravated around others, leading to potential aggression. The best thing you can do for your Frenchie and your family is to ensure that your dog gets proper training as a puppy. Also, work on socializing your pup frequently during the first three months of its life to help them get used to being around people and animals. Growling Growling at other pets or people in the family can be a sure sign that your dog might be on the verge of becoming aggressive. More often, it shows that your dog is scared, angry, or maybe even in pain. This is known as positive reinforcement, and it rewards your pup for positive behaviors rather than scolding it for negative behaviors. A vet visit can rule out any physical ailments that could be causing your dog pain. Professional training can help with people and animal aggression and other fears your dog might have. For example, if your Frenchie begins growling when a child interrupts it from a nap and continues to play with the dog, the next step might be to snap. Because the causes are usually the same, the steps needed to curb the behavior are similar. Giving your dog plenty of chew toys to play with and avoiding rough play may also teach better mouth habits. Common signs that your dog could lash out include: Arching its back Stiffening its tail or tucking it between its legs Baring teeth Hair sticking up on the back of the neck Tensing its body Laying ears back or standing them up tall Staring at a target If you notice any combination of these signs in your French bulldog, you should work on getting its attention and removing your pup from the situation as quickly and smoothly as possible. You need to stay calm in this situation, or your dog could pick up on your anxiety and attempt to attack its target. Remember to reward your Frenchie when its attention goes back to you and it complies with your guidance. Jealousy Does your Frenchie puppy or adult seem agitated when you give another pet or person attention first? Jealousy can run rampant in French Bulldogs, a breed that loves being the center of your attention. While this jealous streak might seem cute in puppies, it can easily give way to aggressive behaviors as your dog ages and thinks this behavior is acceptable. Instead, walk away and wait to reward your dog after it calms down. Strong Demand for Attention and Affection A significant part of the Frenchie temperament is the desire for attention. These small dogs crave affection, even though they like it at their own pace! In contrast, others might desire attention so much that they are willing to behave aggressively to get it. For example, your dog might learn to sit on a special mat or blanket when it wants to play rather than scratching at your feet for attention. Excessive Barking Barking excessively can be a sign of dog aggression, especially if a dog is territorial or has separation anxiety. These problems stem from fear, and a fearful dog can be on edge and unpredictable, so aggression is always something to watch for. Does your pup bark when it sees another dog near its yard? Does barking happen when you leave for the day and during crate training? Does your Frenchie tend to bark more to get attention? Once you figure out the cause, you can work on positive reinforcement training to reward your pup for participating in good behaviors, like sitting and waiting when someone walks by with a dog, instead of barking. Like other signs of aggression, barking can also come from pain. Desire for Dominance French bulldogs sometimes have a desire to be the dominant one in the pack. This usually happens with male dogs, but female dogs can have the personality trait too. You might not know whether your dog craves dominance until you have a new pet in the home or you send your Frenchie on a playdate with other dogs. Adequate training and socialization during puppyhood are critical in preventing a strong need for dominance that could develop into more aggressive behaviors down the road. Fear or Anxiety Anxiety, especially separation anxiety, is prevalent in the French bulldog. They might soil their crate, scratch or chew furniture, and display other negative behaviors when you leave home. However, the Royal Frenchel stands out in many ways from the French Bulldog, and their benefits may give you a different outlook on what dog breed is best for your family. Each pet owner that meets the breed falls in love with their larger-than-life personalities, even as a tiny puppy. Frenchies exhibit many of the same characteristics, but their stubbornness can often get in the way of becoming an obedient member of the family. In contrast, the Royal Frenchel can be an incredible service dog. Their intuition, combined with their trainable personalities, make them one of the best dog breeds for people looking to add a service or therapy dog to their family. The Royal Frenchel is rather laid back and happy-go-lucky. Another area where Royal Frenchels stand out is with their health. French bulldog health problems are many; allergies, ear infections, breathing problems, and spinal disorders are just a few issues that plague the breed. However, Royal Frenchels have a 10 times lower percentage of health problems as a breed than the French Bulldog. What does that mean for you? You may also spend less time and money on veterinary trips, medicines, and treatments for health problems. Improper socialization, training, and breeding can also cause Frenchie aggression. The Royal Frenchel comes from a reputable breeder devoted to giving each Royal Frenchel family the tools they need to transition their new dog into their family. That includes tips and resources for proper socialization with children, adults, and other animals to prevent fears and anxiety that cause aggressive behaviors. We want to help you succeed with your new fuzzy family member.

We specialize in family companion dogs, and our dogs are used for children with Autism and Aspergers. We also provide dogs for epileptic and diabetic detection, as well the hearing impaired. Our dogs also serve as companions to veterans , and we work closely with VA hospitals to provide dogs who assist with PTSD and anxiety. A large number of our dogs are also competitors and working schutzhund dogs. We make use of a private courier service to pick up and deliver our dogs. We're very mindful to ensure the dogs are completely happy throughout the delivery! If we think you're the right match for one of our dogs we can deliver them to you wherever you are based in the US. All of our dogs come with a lifetime guarantee on health contingent on meeting criteria stated in the contract. Our dogs are gentle and attentive and have dispositions perfect for family companionship or special needs. Puppies come with comprehensive training included, along with a full year of shots. A list of individual dogs accomplishments include Va Winnie, Va Ollie, V1 Saint and many dogs involved in the 6xwinner of the progeny group competition. Regis Regal German Shepherds have also worked in many different areas of public service, such as patrol dogs, search and rescue dogs, avalanche rescue dogs, bomb detection, narcotic detection, and even arson dogs. As featured in Puppy Rental for Special Events Looking for a memorable experience at your next event? Rent one of our German Shepherd dogs for a limited time at your next special event. Our team is perfect for birthdays, conferences, conventions, company retreats, and special events all over the country! Get in touch with our AKC German Shepherd breeders to learn more about our puppy rental services and event guidelines. Contact our team to learn more. Client Testimonials "I purchased my German Shepard from them when she was a puppy and she is now a beautiful, sweet tempered 4-year-old dog. We took home our pup and have had only good thoughts and things to say since we left. Cindy shared so much time and knowledge with us before we left. Axle just turned two years old and will be an important part of my kids lives as they grow up. We work closely with them in order to train our dogs to assist veterans with PTSD, anxiety, and more. Cindy's Latest Articles Cindy Kelly loves to share her expertise on breeding, training and raising world class German Shepherds. When she has time she publishes articles on the Regis Regal blog - you can find some of her most recent ones listed below. If you would like to hear Cindy's thoughts on any particular element of owning or raising German Shepherds then feel free to get in touch. Learn here! Read More Trending States Based on their Interest in our World-Class German Shepherds We make use of a high quality, private courier service to deliver our dogs where a customer is unable to come to our premises in Illinois. Life Span Did You Know? The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile, well-recognized, and popular dog breeds in the world. The modern German Shepherd is descended from a family of various German herding dogs. Breed standards were not developed until the late 19th century when Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, worked with Arthur Meyer and other breeders to develop the ideal German herding dog. Stephanitz and Meyer wrote the breed standard in and the American Kennel Club recognized the German Shepherd as a member of the Herding Group in .Although they were originally bred as herding dogs, they were also bred for versatility, which made the German Shepherd an all-around working dog that could excel in a variety of applications. German Shepherds are one of the common dog breeds employed in K-9 units in both police and military applications. They also make great service dogs and, of course, are still awesome herding dogs and farm dogs! The German Shepherd is a strong-willed and highly intelligent dog. They have a playful, energetic spirit and tend to get along with children, other dogs, and other pets, which makes them a great family companion. A born protector, the German Shepherd will provide a great sense of security for their family while their loving and lively personality will make them fit right in as a companion. German Shepherds are naturally protective and can be wary of strangers at first. A well-socialized German Shepherd will bark to alert you and tends to warm up to strangers once introduced. German Shepherds are dogs that were bred to herd and work. This, plus their high energy, makes them a better fit for homes with fenced yards where they can run. They can adapt well to larger apartments as long as plenty of time is dedicated to ensuring they get enough exercise, mental stimulation, and attention every day. A bored, ignored, or under-exercised German Shepherd can often become a destructive one. They also can be sensitive to their surroundings and large gatherings can be off-putting. With a longer coat, they tend to prefer cooler climates and are sensitive to heat. The German Shepherd is a generally healthy breed, but there are some potential health concerns and good breeding practices make a big difference. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a German Shepherd include hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia , and degenerative myelopathy. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of both parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. As a barrel-chested breed, the German Shepherd is also at risk for bloat. While the German Shepherd is highly intelligent and highly trainable, they are generally not recommended for novice owners. If you are a novice dog owner, enroll in puppy training classes or enlist the help of a professional dog trainer; not just for your dog, but for yourself as well. Training assistance will help you grow in experience and build a strong bond between you and your German Shepherd puppy, which is essential. Also, the GSD has a thirst for training and fulfillment. They get bored easily and especially with repetition, so continued training with your German Shepherd throughout their life will be necessary. German Shepherds have a medium-to-long double coat. They will shed year-round and heavier as seasons change. Brushing a few times a week is usually sufficient; brushing daily is even better and your GSD will likely love you for it. Bathing is occasional on an as-needed basis. Ear checks weekly with careful cleanings as needed can help prevent ear infections. German Shepherds are high-energy working dogs. Not only do they require a lot of daily activity, but they also are a herding breed that was made to run, guard, and observe, so they need a job to do to be happy and healthy. Daily walks plus playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough for a GSD, but they will likely be up for more activity if you are. With their versatility and athleticism, you can try a lot of different activities when puppies finish growing and they are cleared for higher-impact things. A fully-grown German Shepherd usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. German Shepherds generally live for years on average. Corporal Duncan brought him back to the United States and Rin-Tin-Tin became one of the most famous dog actors in history. Featured German Shepherd Article.

What Is a Sable German Shepherd? This is also the most dominant gene in the German Shepherd genetics. All of the first German Shepherds were sable colored. Sable color actually means that the coat is multi-colored and has black tips. It can appear on any base coat. In the German Shepherd breed, this is usually red or tan. Instead, you can hear them use the term German Shepherd Agouti. These dogs can grow up to be between 24 and 26 inches depending on whether you have a female or a male GSD , respectively. Females can weigh between 55 and 73 lbs, while males can reach a weight of 95 lbs! This makes them significantly larger than females. Sable German Shepherds come in various color patterns. However, the most common ones are liver on cream, black on cream, black on red, and sometimes even silver on cream. Most, if not all sable German Shepherds change their coat color as they age. In fact, before they reach adulthood, they will change color several times! Usually, sable German Shepherds will be born with a solid black coat. As they reach 8 weeks of age, however, their color will become lighter. Still, until they are fully grown, their coat color might darken again, or become lighter over time. This makes it hard for sable German Shepherd breeders to confirm the exact shade that your new puppy will be. You can get a general idea of what your sable German Shepherd puppy will look like by looking at his parents. However, if his parents are in quite different colors, then predicting the adult coat color can be challenging. Overall, though, your puppy should keep the markings it has when it is very young. The only thing that will change is the shade of its base coat, and sometimes some individual hairs might become lighter or darker. Are Sable German Shepherds Rare? They are not a crossbreed, and the sable gene exists in all GSD bloodlines. This makes them a lot rarer than standard black and tan German Shepherds, although they are still not considered rare — at least not red and tan sable GSDs. Still, if a base color is rare, that makes the sable variation of it even rarer. For example, silver sable German Shepherds are quite rare, while tan sable German Shepherds are fairly common. The rarest combination of all is recessive black. In fact, this is the rarest of all German Shepherd colors , whether sable or not. These pups look just like solid black German Shepherds , but they carry tan or sable genes hidden in their bloodlines. They can easily be confused with black German Shepherds. Overall, the only thing that makes sable German Shepherds different from any other German Shepherd is their coat color. Sable GSDs resemble wolves in that each individual hair has a black tip. Standard sable German Shepherds have a mixture of tan and black coloration. Other than wolves, it is found in only a few dog breeds. It is known that the agouti gene controls the sable color in these dogs. German Shepherds, just like other dog breeds, can come in many colors and patterns. In fact, many coat colors are considered faults and, as a result, they are not acceptable by most major kennel clubs. Some coat colors are unacceptable because they are connected with an increased risk of certain health problems. This is usually the case with white or merle coats. These colors are caused by genes connected with vision and hearing loss, so intentional breeding is frowned upon. The same goes for the white German Shepherd. Both of these colors are forbidden by kennel clubs. Photo from: nala. This is because the sable pattern has always been inside the GSDs genetics. The AKC recognizes light and darker sable colors, black sable, and bi-color sable dogs. Despite this, you can conclude that sable is a perfectly acceptable German Shepherd color. Still, there is one important thing to note. While sable German Shepherds are recognized by kennel clubs, it is unheard of that a sable GSD has won or even participated in a dog show or any type of dog competition. This is because the judges favor standard black and tan and black and red German Shepherds. Because of this, most sable GSDs come from working lines and not from show lines. It consists of a base coat with black or darker tips. This is because black and tan German Shepherds are quite common as it is. Some of these pups might appear brindle at a first sight, but upon closer inspection, you would notice how they actually have black tips instead of stripes. Because of their shade, which is something in between red, brown, and yellow, many dog lovers confuse tan sable German Shepherds with golden sable German Shepherds. In fact, according to many German Shepherd owners, red sable is probably the most unique and gorgeous GSD coat color. The bright red coat color looks striking when combined with black tips. Black Sable German Shepherd When talking about black sable German Shepherds, we have to mention that there is a distinction between classic black sable and recessive black sable pups. Black sable dogs look like a dark shade of sable. While not entirely black, the majority of their coat will be very dark in shade, with a few brighter spots peeking out of this dark coat color. Black sable German Shepherds are among rarer sable GSDs, but there are still many breeders that reproduce them, so you can find them fairly easily. On the other hand, recessive black sable German Shepherds look very similar to solid black GSDs, except they are a bit lighter in shade. If you look very closely, you could see that their undercoat is similar to a very dark shade of brown instead of being fully black. Recessive black sable GSDs are extremely rare. While they appear black in color, they actually carry a sable gene, so they can produce sable or black and tan offspring. Because this type of black sable is a recessive gene, there are almost no breeding programs that specialize in this particular shade. Blue is the dilution of the black pigment caused by a specific blue dilution gene. Your GSD can have a coat of any other color with the exception of black and still be considered blue. Yes, all blue German Shepherds will have a blue nose. The same goes for the blue sable. Their eyes will usually be of lighter color. Sometimes, they can even be blue. As the blue dilution gene is recessive, this coat shade can be quite rare. Liver Sable German Shepherd Just like blue German Shepherds, liver German Shepherds are also the result of a recessive dilution gene — except that this particular gene dilutes the black color into a deep brown shade. Instead, the hair tips and markings will be dark brown. Most importantly, liver sable German Shepherds will have a black nose, amber or green eyes, as well as brown lips and eye rims. Because this coat color resembles that of a wolf, it is also known as wolf grey. These pups can have black markings over grey, or even grey over silver. This is a unique color combination for German Shepherds, with or without the sable pattern. Also, instead of a black mask and black saddle markings, these pups will sometimes have markings that are grey in color. Because of such color overlap, some experts think that silver sable German Shepherds and grey sable German Shepherds should be considered as the same coat color. Golden Sable German Shepherd Golden sable German Shepherds have a pale tan or yellow base color which, when combined with black tips, makes them look as if they are made of gold. The easiest way to tell whether your pup is a yellow liver or golden color is to look at its nose color. While liver GSDs will have a brown nose, golden ones will always have a black nose, as well as dark eyes. While many things have remained unclear, this we do know: The sable coloring is caused by the dominant gene that can be written as AW AW. All of these color genetics are recognized by the SV. The SV is the breed standard set by von Stepanitz, and this remains something that all other breeders look up to. They are the result of the mutation of the original genes. Still, not all sable dogs are AW AW. Some carry recessive genes in them — for example, AW a , a German Shepherd that would appear sable but could have a recessive solid black offspring. The sable gene is the most dominant color gene in German Shepherds. In other words, all dogs with the AW allele will appear sable, even though they might have an offspring in some other color. Many dog lovers want to know if dogs of a certain color are more at risk of getting some severe health problem. The agouti gene is responsible for the sable color. In other words, the way you or the breeders treat dogs is how they will behave. A puppy that grew up with loving human parents will likely become a well-behaved, polite dog. However, if you abuse your dog, he will become aggressive. Of course, socialization is necessary for German Shepherds as they are large and protective dogs. Still, this is entirely up to the owner and not to the sable coat color — or any other coat color for that matter. Sable German Shepherd Temperament Sable German Shepherds are bred to be working dogs, such as police dogs and service dogs, and not show dogs. This means that they might be a bit more used to harsh working conditions, and that they are not as used to being indoor dogs as black and tan or black and red GSDs — although this slight difference in temperament is barely noticeable. This means that it is a very intelligent dog that is effortless and straightforward to train. He can learn new tricks in no time. Keep in mind that you should make sure your German Shepherd gets lots of not just physical exercise, but also plenty of mental stimulation. Sable GSDs can get bored easily, and this can result in bad behaviors. Unfortunately, this also means that sable GSDs are prone to separation anxiety if left alone. Separation anxiety can lead to many destructive behaviors, and your furniture or walls might suffer. While GSDs are serious working dogs, they are full of love and have a silly side to them. This also means that sable German Shepherds do great with children — but under one condition. Your kids need to know how to behave around such large dogs. While sable GSDs are patient, they have their limits, and they might snap if children go overboard. Dogs have much keener hearing than humans. If your kids are too loud for you, they are unbearable to your pet. Also, sable German Shepherds are large dogs. Other than that, sable German Shepherds make amazing family dogs that will bring joy and a feeling of security to every family member. Long-Haired Sable German Shepherd You might think that the only difference between a short-haired and a long-haired sable German Shepherd is in the length of their fur, but there is more to this. This makes them less capable of dealing with cold winter weather, unlike their cousins with double coats. Because of this, long-haired sable German Shepherds are more accustomed to indoor living, so they are calmer and more used to being around their humans all the time. Not just that, but long-haired German Shepherds of any color are not accepted by the AKC, and therefore, cannot participate in dog shows. All of this makes long-haired sable German Shepherds a lot more mellow compared to standard short-haired sable GSDs. Most long-haired GSD owners have reported that their pooches are cuddlier and friendlier than regular German Shepherds. If you want to get a sable German Shepherd with the sole purpose to be an amazing family pet, you might want to consider getting a long-haired one. They are still prone to any health problem that standard GSDs have. The most common of these issues is hip dysplasia. This causes pain and difficulty in walking. Hip dysplasia is hereditary, and not much can be done to prevent it entirely. However, environmental factors are important for the progression of this health condition, so there are some things you can do to keep it under control. Think of hip dysplasia as arthritis in humans. In fact, severe hip dysplasia can lead to a specific type of arthritis in sable German Shepherds. Make sure your German Shepherd is active so his bones and joints are well formed. Active dogs are less prone to any orthopedic condition, and hip dysplasia is no different. One of the best activities you can make your German Shepherd do is swim. Feed him only high-quality dog food. There are plenty of affordable, yet healthy dog food brands on sites such as Amazon. Good dog foods have to have lots of protein and not as many carbs. This will make sure that your doggie is energetic and healthy. You might also consider replacing store-bought dog treats that are high in bad nutrients with healthy alternatives from your kitchen. Sure, some human foods such as anything spicy can be harmful for your pet. However, tuna , fish sticks , or peppers , can be very beneficial for your four-legged friend. Another important thing is to never miss vet check-ups. If you identify any health issue early on, you have a greater chance of preventing further disease development. Of course, you should always buy from reputable breeders who can tell you the precise health history of the parent breeds. As many diseases that plague German Shepherds are genetic, a puppy born from healthy parents will have fewer chances of getting sick. While sable German Shepherds are prone to a few more health conditions, such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA and bloat, they have a decent lifespan, and most live more than 11 years. As they grow older, however, the sable coloring will become more obvious. Despite the sable gene being dominant, this can become a bit tricky. You can never know at least not without extremely expensive genetic testing! In other words, you might breed two sable German Shepherd dogs and end up with a black and tan puppy. This is another reason why not many breeders dare to specialize in breeding them. However, quality dogs with good bloodlines tend to be more expensive. Some might end up costing thousands of dollars! While this might sound like too much money to pay, there is one thing to keep in mind: reputable breeders have a reason behind the high price of their puppies. Responsible breeders will conduct all the necessary health testings of their parent dogs as well as all puppies from the litter. They will do all they can to ensure that their dogs are healthy, so they can sell you only high-quality pups. Not just that, but they usually begin training and socializing their puppies when they are only a few weeks old. This means that the chances of your dog misbehaving or acting out of the ordinary are very slim. However, they are usually people who have ended up with an unwanted litter that they now want to sell. This means that the chances of you getting an unhealthy or misbehaving dog are quite high. Places to certainly avoid are pet shops and puppy mills. Dogs bred at puppy mills tend to have plenty of health problems. Adopting a dog is certainly the most ethical and humane thing that any aspiring dog owner can do. However, there are a few risks with adopting dogs. First off, you need to look for trustworthy adoption centers. Such locations will make sure that their dogs are healthy and evaluated before they are sent off to their new home. Also, you can never be entirely certain on the background of your new dog, both medical and environmental wise. You might end up with a dog that has a hidden genetic defect or an abused dog who needs additional socialization. Some people can agree upon this, and this is a risk worth taking. These dogs make amazing and loyal family pets, and they can even be great nanny dogs for your kids. However, you need to be aware that these are large and active dogs. They need to learn how to behave around small children and other pets. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation in order to behave, and you have to provide this to them. If you have kids, then another important thing is to teach them how to respect their new family member. Sable German Shepherds are known to love to have some space from time to time. In the end, the perfect dog breed for you only depends on your preferences and what you can provide for your new pet. If you want a fluffy and loyal family member and you are ready to commit to him, then a sable German Shepherd is an excellent choice. Post navigation. Breed Info German Shepherds come in many coat varieties although people are most familiar with the black and tan coloring. What is a Sable German Shepherd? The sable German Shepherd is a GSD with a distinctive coloring because their hair strands are black at the tips and light at the base. Typically, the lighter color is red or tan, but it can also be gray or silver. In general, two pigments affect the coat color of dogs. These are eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Genetic differences affect the intensity of phaeomelanin and can appear as anything from a very rich red Irish Setter to a light shade of gold Golden Retriever or cream Yellow Labrador. Sable GSDs have both eumelanin and phaeomelanin but are affected by the A locus called agouti. The agouti protein manipulates how melanin is released in each hair strand. In sable GSDs, it releases eumelanin to create the black tips and then switches to phaeomelanin to create the lighter-colored base. In canine genetics, sable is expressed as aw. Homozygous sable GSDs have the combination aw aw where both the dominant and recessive genes are sable. Genetic testing is the only way to determine whether a dog is homozygous or heterozygous and to check what recessive alleles they carry. As long as the German Shepherd has a dominant aw, it will don a sable coat. As long as there is a sable parent, there will surely be sable offspring. However, the genetic combinations of the parents will affect the number of puppies that will be sable in a litter. Homozygous Sable Parent The best way to guarantee sable puppies is to have at least one homozygous sable parent. How Rare is the Sable German Shepherd? German Shepherds that are found in households and even working in commercial settings are typically of the show line. Nevertheless, among the working line German Shepherds, the sable color is pretty common. Typical Attributes of the Sable GSD Because sable German Shepherds are usually from the working line, they will have some subtle but significant differences from the show line GSD you might be more used to seeing. Most notably, they have distinct differences in both physical appearance and drive. Additionally, their backs are straight rather than sloped, which makes them less prone to bone and joint issues like hip and elbow dysplasia. While both are incredibly intelligent and capable of hard work, working lines have much more energy and are generally much more confident. As such, these dogs will need even firmer leadership and much more opportunities for mental and physical exercises. As for general care requirements, sable GSDs will be much like any other dog of this breed. They will shed throughout the year and blow their coats twice a year. That means they need frequent brushing and occasional baths. Other grooming requirements will be the same. Are Sable German Shepherds Purebred? Yes, sable GSDs are purebred. They are produced by purebred German Shepherds, which means they are purebred by default. The only time a sable GSD would not be considered purebred is if either one of their parents is a cross or another breed altogether. Yes, the American Kennel Club lists sable as one of the acceptable coat colors of the German Shepherd. So, for as long as both parents are purebred, sable GSDs can register with the AKC and also compete in conformation events. How Much is a Sable German Shepherd? The reason why working line German Shepherds and, consequently, sable GSDs are more expensive is that their breeders are generally more responsible with their breeding practices. They make an effort to secure the reputation of their pedigrees and ensure they produce healthy dogs with excellent temperaments and long lives. Final Thoughts Sable German Shepherds definitely have a unique and striking appearance. They are beautiful dogs that would make excellent working partners as well as family companions. However, because they are likely to be working line German Shepherds, they are expected to have even more energy and drive than your typical GSD. Degenerative myelopathy or Canine Degenerative Myelopathy is a neurological condition that affects the spinal cord. Epilepsy Unfortunately, some Sable German Shepherds are prone to seizures. How to get a Sable German Shepherd? You can get a Sable German Shepherd through any of the resources below. Red Sable German Shepherd breeders Hayeshaus hayeshaus. Sable German Shepherd breeders near me Several puppy search engines can help you find Sable German Shepherd breeders near you. Try contacting Hayeshaus hayeshaus. They specialize in breeding and selling healthy golden Sable German Shepherds puppies. A Silver Sable German Shepherd puppy usually costs extra due to the rare coloration. Try contacting VomBanachk9 vombanachk9. Certain special colors also influence the price. For example, the black Sable German Shepherd price will likely be lower than a silver Sable German Shepherd price due to their novelty. On the other hand, adoption and rescue can be significantly cheaper options. Sable German Shepherd rescue The best way to find a Silver Sable German Shepherd rescue is to contact your local animal shelters and rescue organizations. Numerous breeders have German Shepherd Sable puppies for sale. Here are some of them. Check out Vomdinaburg vomdinaburg. Puppy search engines will help you out. Sable German Shepherd puppies Illinois Vomragnar vomragnar. Check out Hocking Hills hockinghillsgermanshepherds. Sable German Shepherd puppies for sale Washington Vombanachk9 vombanachk9. Kesyra GSD kesyragsd. Finding a healthy Sable German Shepherd for sale Finding an adult, trained Sable German Shepherd for sale is a good option for people who want an adult canine. Here are some places to search for them. Check out Wolfgang Haus German Shepherds wolfganghausgsd. They have the finest Sable German Shepherds for sale in Texas. Sable long haired German Shepherd for sale If you are looking for a beautiful long hair Sable German Shepherd for sale, check out Rehoboth mygermanshepherd. Sep 27, Jul 8, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Are you looking for a dog with all the amazing characteristics of a German shepherd, but you also want something a bit different and special? If so, then why not consider a sable German shepherd? The sable German shepherd is not a crossbreed dog but rather a recognized variation within the breed, so the dog retains all the benefits of a purebred pup. German shepherds are one of the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States, in part thanks to their intelligence, trainability, and intense loyalty. They are also well-loved for their sleek, noble appearance. Interestingly, sable is actually the original color of the German shepherd breed. It is the only variation of the German shepherd that has the same color as the founding member of the breed. Read on to learn everything you need to know about these attractive, intelligent, and hard-working dogs. Sable German Shepherd Appearance Sable German shepherds look just like most other German shepherd dogs, with the exception of their distinctively colored coat. The German shepherd is a large breed. You can expect the males to reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. The females are a bit smaller. Their heads are domed in shape with a long, square muzzle. They have alert, erect ears and long necks that make them seem even larger than they are. It is considered ideal for the dog to be longer than it is tall with a proportion of 10 to 8. Their bushy tail should extend out in a hook-like shape. German shepherds tend to dip their head low like a wolf when they are running or prowling, which contributes to the consensus that they look very much like the wolf ancestors of dogs. These dogs have double coats with a soft undercoat and a denser guard layer. The guard layer can be either medium or long, though the medium length is significantly more common. Most German shepherds are either tan and black or red and black. The lighter brown shade is usually their principal color, with a black face mask and black markings on their back which often look like a saddle. A variety of other color variations exist, including pure black, pure white, liver, silver, blue, panda, and, of course, sable. Sable basically means the dog has mostly lighter colored hair with a black tips, which can make the dog appear grey or mottled. In reality, the actual color combinations are more varied, and the sable pattern could be any mixture of tan, black, brown, or red. The term is mostly used in the United States. In other countries, such as Germany, these dogs are often just called grey. It has since become a popular working dog for roles such as search and rescue, police, and military due to its strength, trainability, and intelligence. The breed emerged from the s trend to try to standardize dog breeds to assist in certain jobs, such as herding sheep. Max von Stephanitz was a leading thinker in this area and was specifically looking for canine specimens that matched his ideal vision of a working dog. He found that ideal dog at a dog show in .He purchased the dog and named it Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs to promote the breed and others like it. Horand, who was in fact a sable-colored German Shepherd, became the center point of a breeding program. Horand himself had 84 puppies, and extensive inbreeding was required to secure the characteristics of the breed. When the German Shepherd was imported to the United States in the early 20th century, it became popular with gangsters and bootleggers for its strength, intelligence, and intimidating appearance. It was also popular in Nazi Germany, and even Adolf Hitler loved the breed. As a result, it has gained a reputation for being a fierce, intimidating, and even dangerous breed. However, this says much more about how the dogs were used than the natural temperament of the dogs themselves. German Shepherd Temperament The color of a German shepherd makes no difference to its temperament, so you can expect a sable German shepherd to conform to the general temperament of the breed. German shepherd dogs are often described as active and self-assured. This, combined with their intelligence and eagerness to learn and please, makes them excellent working dogs. They are also highly obedient and loyal. Their extreme loyalty also extends to family situations. They will raise the alarm with their loud, deep bark if they sense danger. However, German shepherds are not naturally aggressive. This is a reputation that stems from the way that the dog has been used in the past. That said, German shepherds are often associated with severe dog bites. This is largely due to the popularity of the breed and the strength of their bite rather than any innate aggression; there are simply more of them around than many other dog breeds. Tests suggest that German Shepherds have a bite force of over 1, newtons, which is less than a Rottweiler but more than a pit bull. They tend to have a natural suspicion of strangers and like to chase smaller animals. Their intelligence and compliance means they can be trained not to display this behavior, but as an owner, you need to put in the work of training them properly and consistently. German shepherds are a very curious breed in addition to being highly intelligent, which is why they are well suited for search and rescue missions. German Shepherd Energy Level German shepherds are very playful and active dogs, so they need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to thrive. This is another reason why they often do well as working animals. Working gives them both the physical and mental stimulation to complete these challenging tasks. Pleasing their handlers is also attractive to these highly reward-oriented dogs. Ideally, German shepherds need at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day, preferably spread over at least two different sessions. However, this should be slightly less when they are puppies. There is always a risk of over-exercising puppies, especially when it comes to large dog breeds. As a general rule, you should exercise a puppy daily for five minutes for every month of their age until they are an adult. German shepherds reach adulthood at around 18 months. So, for example, a six month old pup should be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day if we follow this rule, as six months times five minutes comes out to 30 minutes per day. What to know more about exercising your puppy? Read our article: How far can I walk my puppy? German shepherds will love to accompany you on adventures, such as hikes and walks, and they also love swimming. They will do well at the lake, on the beach, or even accompanying you on a boat. However, even though they are excellent swimmers, they should have a doggy life vest if you are out at sea. They will struggle in an apartment, and their large size can make navigating small apartments challenging even for these nimble dogs. Ideally, they should have a backyard where they can move around freely, especially when left at home alone. The intelligence of these dogs means they can get bored quickly. While puzzle toys, such as a Kong , can help on the occasions when you do need to leave them alone, they are likely to become stressed if they are left alone regularly. German Shepherd Health Risks German shepherds have a life expectancy of a little over 10 years. This is normal for dogs of their size, and larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller breeds. You should not expect a sable German shepherd to be immune from these, especially since further inbreeding is often required to produce the sable color. It is common for these dogs to develop hip and elbow dysplasia , which is a developmental abnormality of the joints that can restrict movement and cause pain. This is often the result of different elements of the body growing at different speeds. The best way to prevent this is to ensure good nutrition and the right level of exercise during their crucial growing period. Even if the development of hip and elbow dysplasia does not affect the dog at a younger age, it can make them more susceptible to arthritis and other forms of joint pain when they are older. Older German shepherds often benefit from an orthopedic bed to take pressure off their joints. The breed also appears to be predisposed to degenerative myelopathy. This is a degenerative spinal cord disease that generally shows up in older dogs after about the age of seven years. If you are looking for one of these puppies specifically, you may need to go to a breeder. The sable color is relatively rare, and breeders have to control specifically for this kind of coat. As a result, you can expect to pay a bit more for a sable puppy than you would a German shepherd of any other more common colors. Are you thinking of adopting a sable German shepherd, or any German shepherd, into your family? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if you and your home are a good fit for this breed. German shepherds are highly trainable and obedient, which means even first-time owners should be able to take on the challenge of training them. German shepherds need a commanding presence to keep them in check. The sad reality is that many people are also afraid of big dogs like these, and their behavior and response to them can cause serious problems. You need to feel confident to take control of your dog in charged situations. These dogs are also very active, so they will do best if they have a bit of outdoors to call their own that lets them run around a little, dig, and play. Just be sure your yard is properly and securely fenced in! German shepherds are very energetic dogs that need to be active a lot, which means you will need to be active frequently as well. As well as daily exercise, they will want to join you on weekend adventures rather than weekends on the couch catching up on Netflix. German shepherds need to spend a lot of time with their owners, as they need both companionship and intellectual stimulation. Thinking about getting a new puppy? Check out our new puppy checklist. Sable German shepherds have a coat with lighter roots and darker tips covering most of their body. The tips are usually black, which means the dog looks as though it has a greyish color. It is a natural color variation within the breed. How common are sable German shepherds? Sable German shepherds are significantly rare in comparison to the popular tan and black or red and black colors that dominate the breed. This is why a sable puppy will probably cost you more than other color variations. However, pure black German shepherds are a bit more rare. Are sable German shepherds bigger? No, sable German shepherds are not bigger than other German shepherds. The females should weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and the males 75 to 95 pounds. Look at the size of the parents to get a better feel for how big your pup is likely to get. Are German shepherds good family dogs? With the right training and socialization, German shepherds are excellent dogs for an active household. They will be loving, obedient, and protective. They are good around children, though small children should always be supervised around dogs, regardless of the breed and their level of familiarity. Accidents happen, even when children are around dogs they have grown up with and know well. What is bad about German shepherds? German shepherds tend to be suspicious of everyone, which can contribute to overly protective and territorial behavior. Proper socialization can help minimize this personality trait, but they will probably carry an element of this with them for their entire lives. The Verdict Sable German shepherds are not exotic crossbreeds but rather a rare color of the purebred German shepherd dog. They are actually the original color of the breed, matching its famous founding member. Sable-colored German shepherds are actually relatively rare, so they can be expensive to procure. However, aside from their unique color, they are just like other German shepherds, one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are large and strong dogs with a lot of energy, which makes them well suited to hard work. They are also highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes them ideal to train to complete complex tasks such as the roles of military and police dogs despite being originally bred as herders. Overall, sable German shepherds are: Rarer than just about any other color of German shepherd No different than other German shepherds as far as personality, temperament, etc. With the right training and socialization, they are very safe dogs. German shepherds are great dogs for active people who have a lot of time to spend with their pup and want a companion to join them on various active adventures. Do you have experience with sable German shepherd dogs? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article:.

We love all of our fur family of animals as our own. Each one is a precious life who we raised for the joy of contribution as "YOUR" lifetime family member for you and yours. Here at our unique ranch, we breed Top Show Quality English Style Labradors, American Quarter Horses, Arabian Horses and a menagerie of fairytale like small animals in a certified wildlife habitat and preserve, with 47 years of agriculture and breeding experience. Our life and our home is dedicated to these beings and making life long lasting friends with our community. We don't own our animals, Our animals own us! Our dogs are part of our family, No mass production. They get the best quality feed and natural nursing. They are gently held and cared for as infant babies would be. They are loved and socialized with people and other animals. We will provide you with our recommendations from many years experience. Reserve your labrador puppy with select look, color, gender, temperament and perfect match! 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Investing in a healthy breed quality Labrador puppy ensures a long life of optimal health enjoying every moment of your time together. He's our sweet stocky beautiful block head boy and is available at STUD. Proven as an ultimate producer of show english lab puppies. Breeding for the betterment of the breed is our primary focus. Outstanding Pedigree Rain Forest. Located around the sunshine state, these breeders can help you find the best pet for you and your family. Published on Copy link Bringing home your first dog is a truly special experience. There is endless excitement that comes with raising a puppy - getting them acclimated to your children, letting them roam their new yard, buying them the perfect leash and chew toys to curb their mischievous appetite. A breeder whose mission is to take the absolute best care of the animals they raise. The breeder is focused on one breed and knows the best way to take care of them, instead of having a slew of dogs that lack the proper care and attention. In all, using a trusted breeder can give you the satisfaction in knowing exactly how your future pet has been treated and raised before bringing them home. GoodDog: Helping You Find The Best Breeder Before we dive into the best breeder options, we want to mention an incredibly helpful resource to find the best breeder in your area. They screen every breeder to ensure they are practicing responsible breeding and their platform was developed with the help of leading veterinarian clinics and academic experts. To give GoodDog a try, visit their website to find a labrador breeder near you. Situated between Jacksonville and Gainesville they breed chocolate, yellow and black Labrador puppies. They engage in Outcrossing - creating new genetic combinations by bringing together genes from unrelated labradors to eliminate undesirable traits caused by recessive genes is the fundamental philosophy of their breeding program. They do not inbreed. They have been breeding English Labradors since and all of their females are the result of their 39 year breeding program. Some other aspects of their breeding philosophy include: Bottle feeding their puppies in addition to their nursing from their mother. Placing their nursery in the center of their house to allow the puppies to adjust to the sounds of everyday life. Temperament tests for each puppy to match them with the perfect family. Complete physical exam by their veterinarian and first of scheduled vaccines. Pet Keen is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. We have not personally investigated all of the breeders below, rather, we have gathered their details for you to get in touch and ask all the right questions before you decide. Learn more about our position and how to choose a breeder here. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. They are loyal, outgoing, friendly, and active. Affectionate and good with other dogs and children, they make wonderful additions to your family. There are plenty of reputable breeders in the Sunshine State to choose from. All the breeders mentioned in this list make sure the puppies are well cared for, including receiving all vaccinations, being thoroughly vet examined, and adhering to the Labrador Retriever Official Standard set by the American Kennel Club AKC. The 10 Labrador Retriever Breeders in Florida 1. No Lab has ever been returned for health or temperament issues, and each pup is raised in a home with 5 acres of land, plenty of love, attention, and care. All puppies are dewormed and thoroughly examined by a veterinarian. They also do not remove dewclaws. To get started, fill out the form under the contact link on the website. They focus on breeding pups of superior temperament and health. All puppies are vaccinated, microchipped, AKC registered, and come with a health certificate. They also offer a 1-year health guarantee. The bloodlines have a history of service dogs , companion, show, and hunting dogs. The pups are sold with limited AKC registration. The breeder socializes the pups, and they are raised in a loving environment. They are more focused on breeding for their own breeding stock and show lines but occasionally have pups available. They serve Florida, Georgia, and surrounding states. All puppies are AKC-registered and bred for companionship, show, field, and service work. All pups are examined and tested for top-quality breed assurance. They are happy to assist you with any questions; all you have to do is shoot them an email. Augustine and Jacksonville, Florida, this small hobby breeder raises AKC-limited-registered pups in the home. All puppies are bred according to the Labrador standard health and temperament and are ready to go home at 8 weeks. All parents are genetically tested for any joint issues and any signs of inbreeding. The British Labrador is primarily a sporting and hunting breed that holds the Labrador Retriever standard temperament. Their facility sits on 7, acres of land filled with wildlife and designed by nature experts, creating the perfect hunting-training scenario. They handpick from the finest British Labs in the world to produce the best hunting and sporting Labs. The puppies are sold with an AKC limited registration and are microchipped. You can take your new puppy home at 8 weeks, and the breeders raise them with love and plenty of attention. A unique fact about this breeder is they use an early socializing technique called early neurological stimulation , which improves cardiovascular health and other physical benefits.

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They do not refer to a particular color but represent a color pattern. So, they do not have a single base color but form patterns throughout their body or on parts of it. Dogs with sable coats have lighter hair at the base and darker hair at the tip. So, if a Labradoodle shows such patterns, you can categorize it as a sable. The color variations in a sable dog are either clear, tipped, or shaded. Tipped sables display color variations on their head, back, and tails. Meanwhile, the shaded sable shows variations only on its head and back. Each hair on its coat has two bands of color; the tips are dark and almost black, while the base can be apricot, tan, or red. Their coats are one color at birth black or brown and eventually gradient into the second color a few weeks after. The change may take anywhere between a week to six and becomes visible as the hair grows an inch long. Again, this is unpredictable at birth, so you may need to wait until their hair grows to adopt one. However, they have slightly different parent breeds. American or standard Labradoodles can inherit the sable genes only from the poodle parent. However, achieving consistent sable genes with a standard Poodle and Labrador Retriever mix may be challenging. So, sable Labradoodles are usually a result of Labradoodles bred with a cocker spaniel. Unlike standard Labradoodles with only two parent breeds, sable Labradoodles have a minimum of three parent breeds. They can be further bred with other breeds to increase their coat variety. This is what makes it difficult to predict their coat colors at birth. Since spaniels and poodles already contain sable genes, it was easier to find consistent results each time a Labradoodle was bred with a Cocker Spaniel. Doing so prevented the Labrador genes from being the dominant gene. In addition, the introduction of spaniel genes resulted in more size variants, providing a small version to the medium and standard Labradoodle sizes. However, mini sables are uncommon. Genes Affecting Coat Color The genetic diversity in sable Labradoodles makes it difficult to predict the coat bands at birth. In addition, the combination of alleles in a gene is never uniform, so your puppy litter may have varying coat colors. However, in recessive sable alleles, the Labradoodle remains a sable yet does not show dual-colored coats. Like all canines, Eumelanin black and Phaeomelanin reddish-yellow are the pigments responsible for providing the banded-colored coats. Eumelanin can produce different shades of black, brown, and grey. Meanwhile, phaeomelanin can have brighter shades like red, tan, and apricot coats. Temperament And Behavior Like all Labradoodles, sable Labradoodle are social dogs; they love being around people and other canines and make some of the best family dogs. Because most sable Labradoodles have a spaniel bloodline, they are smaller and do not require much exercise as standard Labradoodles. But they still need their share of movement to keep them healthy. Sable Labradoodles are intelligent and high-energy dogs. So, if you own one, you want to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Sable puppies need frequent walks, many times a day. On the other hand, adult sables need much daily exercise. Encourage them to run around in your yard and get their organs moving. Or, take them to a dog park for a larger space. Sable Labradoodles also love the waters and prefer swimming as a regular activity. This love for water is rooted in all their parent breeds. Training Training a sable Labradoodle is always fun because they quickly catch on to the things you teach them. Using treats will help motivate your pup for potty training, playing fetch, learning scent trails, and other training. Because sable Labradoodles love water, you want to train them to swim early on to get them used to the Labradoodles. Although they are great swimmers, you need to encourage the habit in them to help develop the skill. Shedding Behavior And Grooming Like all others, sable Labradoodles rarely shed, so if you trim the ends of their coat, they will have a single base color on their coats. This technique will also stimulate new banded hair growth by removing weak strands. If they have fleece or wool textured coats, you might even need to brush them every two days to prevent matting. As regards straight-hair coats, brushing them once a week should be enough. Since Labradoodles are prone to ear infections, you want to ensure that you regularly clean their ears. Besides that, timely visits to the vet can help avoid health risks. Allergenic Nature The allergenic nature of a sable Labradoodle is like that of a standard one. They shed less, so they are some of the most hypoallergenic dogs. However, ALD sables may develop inconsistent shedding and alarm allergenic individuals. This is because ALDs have more diverse genetic traits. So, your best bet is to observe changes in their coat color as they often tend to become lighter before shedding. Nonetheless, here are some tips that will help you find authentic and healthy sables: Find and visit a reputable breeder: The first step to adopting a healthy and true sable Labradoodle is to find a responsible breeder. You can ask for recommendations from friends who own one or search for breeders online. I can recommend you take a look at PuppySpot , as they do a lot to ensure their breeders are ethical and only breed the best dogs. They will also interview you to determine if you have a responsible lifestyle and family. In addition, they will fill you in on the individual traits of each dog and advise you on the proper care. Interact with the puppies: It always helps to interact with the puppies before choosing them. Doing so lets you determine which responds to your affection and is ready for a new home. Other Labradoodle Colors. Blue merle sable pup coat Blue merle phantom tuxedo Black wolf sable pup coat Black wolf sable adult coat chocolate wolf sable puppy coat Chocolate wolf sable adult coat Coat Types Wool Wool is the tightest and curliest coat type, much like a lamb. It is springy and will stand up on its own when brushed out. Easy to maintain with bi-weekly brushing or regular trimming every weeks. A wool coat on an Australian Labradoodle is made up of thick, dense, and tightly curled hair that resembles wool. The hair is often coarse to the touch and provides excellent insulation against the cold. Wool coats are commonly found in breeds adapted to cold climates, such as the Poodle and Komondor. Wool coats can grow very long and require frequent grooming to prevent matting and to maintain their appearance. Fleece Fleece is silky soft and comes in varying degrees of curl. Spirals, loose curls, and waves are all seen in the fleece coat. It is the most commonly seen Labradoodle coat. This coat can be maintained with weekly brushing and trims times yearly. A fleece coat on a Labradoodle is typically made up of soft, wavy, and fluffy hair that resembles fleece or cotton. The hair tends to be longer than other coat types and grows in loose, elongated curls. Fleece coats are low to non-shedding and are usually hypoallergenic, making them a popular choice for people with allergies. Fleece coats require regular grooming to keep them looking their best and to prevent matting and tangling. Hair The hair coat is straight or wavy and prone to shed. This coat is rarely seen in Australian Labradoodles as advancements in genetic testing allow breeders to avoid it easily. The hair coat is typically less curly and less dense than the other coat types, and it can range in texture from straight to wavy. Hair coat Labradoodles require regular grooming, but typically shed less than other coat types. This coat is easy to maintain with regular brushing and can be less time consuming to bath and dry because it is less dense. Allergies Not all Labradoodles are Allergy and Asthma friendly. They have had an extremely high success rate so far. We recommend that if you can meet one of these beautiful dogs in person, you should check to see if you have any reactions before you decide to purchase your new puppy. We recommend that any family member suffering from dog-related allergies or asthma should look into a Wool coated labradoodle as it has the highest success rate. Great Day Labradoodles. One color is typically at the end of the strand and is typically black or brown and the other color is at the root end and can be red, tan, or apricot. Since the top inch of hair or so is the darker color, at birth a sable labradoodle will appear black or chocolate. It is not until the hair grows to be about an inch long that you can see the change in color along the strand. There are times I can see a slight variation in color at birth, but most of the time it is not until the puppy is about 6 weeks old. The definition of a sable pattern refers to the hairs being tipped with black or chocolate. Some dogs like the German Shepard shed hair so these sable dogs always have new hair growth and that new growth has the black tip. The Labradoodle does not shed as much as a dog does not shed and therefore when you groom the dog you are cutting the darker tips off. The darker tips will only reappear on a hair that is new growth so a hair that has been pulled out and is actually re growing from the beginning. A groomed Sable Labradoodle looks red or tan. To get the dog to always show the outer color as much as possible you can brush the dog often. This will pull out hair at the roots and each new hair will grow in with a dark tip. The difficulty for us is determining exactly what color the dog will turnout at birth. We make a guess at birth based on the known genetics of the parents. Any dog we breed who is related to Charlie Thelma, Luna, River, Jojo or bred to Sully can be sable and the answer is always a wonderful surprise. To describe the genetics: Genetically, the Sable Labradoodle can have a single Sable ay allele or have two Sable alleles ay,ay ether way the dog will be sable. Some sables have other genes that mask the sable resulting in a solid color. Other genetics can also accompany the Sable genetics. A Sable Labradoodle can come with a black mask and tail usually does or not and other genetics like Parti half white can also be visable. There are many variations. Below are two photos of the same Sable labradoodle with a Black mask same dog at 6 weeks and 6 months The mask is yet another allele, Em, and shows up as a black muzzle and black portion of the tail. Although the dog is a sable these black hairs remain black. Although the mask Em is a different allele than the sable Ay it tends to stick with the sable ay allele so rarely does a white dog have a black mask, at least in this breed. If you are interested in Labradoodle genetics we like this link Color Genetics in Dogs Below pictured is the same sable labradoodle. One of the unique features of Australian Labradoodles is the wide variety of coat colors and patterns. While Labradoodle colours are interesting, we maintain that you are buying a living creature and not a coat colour. It is essential to retain the appearance of an Australian Labradoodle within the breed standard, but we feel charging for colour is not a fair practice. Van Isle Doodles looks for families whose focus is on adding a labradoodle puppy as a family member to their home. Depending on the intensity of the pigment, a red dog may appear to be a deep red color all the way to a light brown color. Cream Cream labradoodles range from almost white through to latte depending on the intensity of the pigment. This is our Bruno Mars who is a light cream color with black leathers. Black Black Labradoodles range from jet black to silver. This is Cinder Ella an example of a jet black Labradoodle. Chocolate Chocolate Australian Labradoodles range from a milk chocolate color when pigment is diluted to deep, dark chocolate when pigment is intensified. Oceana middle is a dark chocolate Labradoodle with brown leathers. Caramel Caramel ranges from a creamy color to a darker red. The brown leathers make the dog caramel rather than red. Here are some examples of our caramel dogs. Parti Labradoodless can come in any color. This is our caramel and white parti girl, Bernadette. Phantom A phantom is a solid color with tan points. The markings are similar to those found on Yorkies, Rottweilers and Dobermans. Tan points for the phantom pattern are pips above the eyes, along the side of the jaw, a band across the chest, run halfway up all four legs, on the vent and sometimes on the underside of the tail. Phantoms may be either black Labradoodles or Chocolate Labradoodles. Dexter is a chocolate phantom Labradoodle. Tri A tri colored Labradoodle is a phantom plus white. A tri Labradoodle may be black or chocolate. This is Tawnee who is a black tri. Sable A sable Labradoodle has each single hair in their coat banded by color. Each strand of hair has two colors. The tip of the strand will be either black or brown and the color at the root may be red, tan or apricot. Because the top inch or so of the strands of hair are either black or chocolate, at birth a sable Labradoodle will appear to be a black or chocolate dog. Once the strands start to grow out, the change color becomes visible. The amount of time it takes to see the second color varies from birth through to about six weeks of age. Since Labradoodles do not shed, at least as little as any dog is capable of not shedding, they do not generally grow new strands of hair. Once a sable Labradoodle has been groomed, the dark chocolate or black tips are lost and the dog then becomes red or tan in color. This is Ripple our chocolate sable parti girl. Brindle Labradoodles are not common. This puppy is a brindle Labradoodle. If you look at his feet, you will notice the stiped pattern of his color. Van Isle Labradoodles. Which Ones Have Sable Coloring? There are no purebred Labrador Retrievers who have sable coats. But, the Poodle and both Cocker Spaniel varieties carry the gene for sable. So, both types of Labradoodle can inherit the genes necessary for a sable coat pattern. In the Australian line, it could come from Poodle or Cocker Spaniel heritage. But, in the American line, it will only be from the Poodle parent breed. Sable Labradoodle Appearance As we mentioned earlier, no Labradoodle puppy is born with a sable coat color pattern. In fact, a Labradoodle puppy that will grow up to have this coat color will typically start out with a chocolate , tan, or black base coat color. As the young puppy transitions to their adult coat, this base color will lighten. The amount it lightens can vary from one sable Labradoodle to the next. Some sable Labradoodles might keep a darker base coat color, and others will lighten considerably. The dark hair tips will show up more clearly when the lighter adult coat starts to grow in. But, with time, as the coat sheds or gets clipped, the dark tips will become less prominent. Sable does not express in any rigid standardized pattern. This is exciting, because it means that no two sable Labradoodles will look exactly alike. All dogs have these two pigments. Eumelanin black Phaeomelanin yellow These two pigments are responsible for producing the full spectrum of Labradoodle coat colors and patterns. This is why eumelanin can encompass midnight black, chocolate brown, or the palest grey. And why phaeomelanin can show up as bright yellow, deep red, or the palest champagne cream. Color Pattern Just like genes and alleles can interact to produce different colors, they can create intricate and unique coat patterns on our dogs. The genes that control the sable coat color are found on the A-Locus. The A-Locus includes four alleles gene variants that control the coat patterns sable and agouti. These can look very similar to one another. In fact, many people mistake them for one another. Of the four alleles at the A-Locus, the sable allele Ay is dominant over the others. So, a puppy only needs to inherit one copy of the sable gene to have an adult sable coat solid base with darker tips. Types of Sable There are three main sable color patterns. This type is sometimes called wild boar, or simply agouti. This refers to its similarity to the natural coloration of many wild species, including canids like wolves. So, finding a sable Labradoodle puppy can be a challenge. And, the Labradoodle has a reputation for coat fading over time. And, remember that some Labradoodles lose those darker tips after they first shed properly, or after their first clip. Choose a Reputable Breeder New owners with their hearts set on the sable Labradoodle should choose experienced breeders that work primarily with later-generation Labradoodles. This means one that breeds two Labradoodles, rather than a Poodle parent and Labrador parent which would create a first generation Labradoodle. First generation mixes are less predictable. They could inherit any blend of traits from their two different parent breeds. The Problem with Breeding for Specific Traits One last thing to bear in mind is the risk of breeding for specific traits like coat color. Breeding for certain appearances can lead to a more limited genetic pool. Working with a reputable breeder can reduce this risk. The best breeder will only breed from healthy lines. They will carry out health tests on potential parent dogs, and will have proof of clean health certificates. They will also be willing to show you these. If a breeder cannot, or will not, show you evidence of health testing with positive results, you should look elsewhere for a puppy. Do You Have a Sable Labradoodle? Sable Labradoodles are quite uncommon, and always memorable. The sable coat might continue to change all throughout life, so each dog is unique. Are you thinking about adding the sable Labradoodle to your family? References and Resources Lewis, L.