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Making the decision to buy a pup from a reputable breeder will most definitely cost you more money than if you opt to adopt your new canine pal from a shelter, rescue, or online marketplace. Because there is no standardized pricing for puppy purchases across the United States, there are many different factors that come together to determine the purchase price of your new puppy. However, it is important to note that though price is not necessarily indicative of high quality; you do get what you pay for in life. Most often, higher priced puppies are the result of breeders who invest a great deal of time, money, and resources into the production of litters that are healthy, of solid structure, and of good temperament, something all new owners should value in their new canine pal. The 3rd most popular breed in America in , the German Shepherd Dog is a breed that is in high demand. When a breed becomes popular with the public, prices will sometimes begin to increase. However, most reputable breeders do not change their prices or increase the number of litters they produce to keep pace with trends. Most often, reputable breeders only increase their prices in small ways and only when their own expenses for breeding, whelping, and raising their puppies well becomes more expensive for them. Because the German Shepherd is a very popular breed, the asking price for a puppy is relatively high. If your hopes for your new canine pal extend to the show ring, a service dog prospect, or a breeding dog, the cost to purchase a dog of this quality will be substantially more than that of a pet. However, there are many more expenses to consider than simply the initial purchase price of your German Shepherd Dog. Other costs you will need to keep in mind for the future include veterinary care, vaccinations, training, grooming, food, toys, and much, much more. German Shepherd puppies are in high demand, and thus, you can expect to pay a higher price to obtain one in this age range. German Shepherd mixed breeds can often be found in shelters and rescues and for a much lower price than purchasing a purebred. Alternatively, many states have GSD specific rescues that occasionally get puppies and adults in their care that would be available for adoption. Pet puppies are no less special than their littermates that have been reserved for breeding programs or show careers, but their price is typically lower since there are no performance expectations on the breeder or the puppy. Since many breeds do not fully mature until they are two or three years old, a puppy that looks very good at eight weeks may not develop as hoped, and thus, will not end up being suited to life as a show dog. Show potential puppies nearly always come with breeding rights as well, and because of this, they are priced significantly higher than pet puppies. This high price is justified by the fact that this breed is extremely popular, making it also highly competitive in the show ring. Breeds that have high entries have exceptional quality competition, meaning your breeder will need to sell you one of her very best pups if your hopes include the show ring. Most show breeders require a contract that stipulates what must happen if the puppy does not turn out as hoped. Most often, this includes the return of the puppy for a replacement or refund. Some breeders will sell puppies as show potential. When this happens, the breeder typically prices the puppy at the lower end of the spectrum as an acknowledgement that the puppy looks good now but may not remain show quality when fully mature. The lower price reflects your willingness to take this chance. However, in some cases, you may find a breeder that is willing to sell you a dog that is guaranteed to be show quality. It is also important that the breeder wait the dog out until maturity to ensure the dog does not possess any faults that would be disqualifying or considered to be severe for the breed. When a breeder guarantees a dog to be worthy of the show ring, the price is much higher as a result. The breeder is offering you a promise that the dog you are purchasing is capable of representing its breed well and is worthy of being considered in the Best of Breed ring. You should be prepared the pay the top end of this range if this is what you are hoping for in a dog. For some breeders, this will mean that you will pay the same price as you would for a pet puppy. Already house trained and less exuberant than a puppy, a senior GSD may be the perfect addition to your family. To acquire a service dog, you need to select a breeder who has the ability to carefully assess their puppies for the traits that a service dog needs to excel in their job. Most often, you will pay the mid to high end price you would pay for a pet puppy for a service dog prospect. However, the price point you pay to purchase your potential service dog pales in comparison to what you will pay for the requisite training and certification. In some cases, there are valid reasons why a male or a female may be a better fit for your home. There are some gender specific differences with German Shepherds that may factor into this decision for you. Though the male German Shepherd tends to be a better fit for first time dog owners, boys can be more prone to aggressive behaviors, have stronger guardian and territorial tendencies, and are more frequently plagued by health problems. By comparison, females are softer natured and tend to have better longevity. Girl German Shepherds are also known to be more gentle and tolerant with children and are easier to train. Why Purchase a Purebred German Shepherd? Some people feel purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder comes at a very high price when compared to what you would pay for a dog from an online marketplace, shelter, or rescue. While this can be true, you must consider what this additional amount of money buys you. Reputable breeders are looking to make a commitment to you to support you and your puppy throughout its lifetime. Many of these breeders offer health guarantees should your puppy become ill. When you invest in the purchase of a puppy from a reputable breeder, you are not only gaining a puppy; you are also gaining a lifetime of experience and a firm commitment to breeding, raising, and promoting exceptional quality puppies that are well suited to life as healthy, cherished family pets. The breed standard is of critical importance to a reputable breeder. The breed standard dictates what the ideal German Shepherd Dog should look and act like. It is these characteristics that make the GSD what it is and what reputable breeders fight so hard to preserve in future generations. Structure is not just a matter of aesthetic appearance. A dog that is properly built will not break down easily and remains healthy and able to fulfill its role in life. Still, this is only one part of the puzzle when it comes to the future health of your GSD. All dog breeds are predisposed to some genetic health issues. Reputable breeders perform all appropriate health testing to understand what is behind their potential breeding dogs, eliminating dogs from their program that may be affected or likely to pass on disease-causing genes to their offspring. To understand what tests should be done on German Shepherd breeding dogs, you can find this information on the Orthopedic Foundation of Animals website. The recommended health tests for the GSD provide assurance that dogs being considered for use in breeding are free from the most common genetic problems affecting the breed. Mixed breed puppies are every bit as adorable and loving as purebreds, and all are deserving of wonderful, loving forever homes. Unfortunately, since mixed breeds come from unknown genetic pools in many cases, it is impossible to predict how a puppy will look or act when fully grown. Also a mystery is what health issues may lay ahead for the puppy. When breeding any two dogs together, purebreds or mixed breeds, there is a genetic gamble involved. With any one litter, the breeder may get some puppies with the best traits of both parents, some puppies with the worst traits of both parents, and most often, a mix of the two is seen. Because of this, it is a good idea to purchase pet insurance if you opt to welcome a mixed breed into your home. Not because health problems are inevitable, but because preparation in case issues should arise will save you a world of heartache down the road. German Shepherd puppies that are the product of two AKC registered parents are eligible for registration with the American Kennel Club. This is optional but does come with its advantages if you choose to do so. The American Kennel Club offers many perks to owners of registered dogs. One of the programs many owners find very beneficial is AKC Reunite. Since AKC Reunite records and tracks the microchips of all registered dogs, they can be a great help to you if your dog is ever missing, lost, or stolen. In addition to this, AKC also offers discounts on their in-store merchandise and pet insurance policies. The location in which you live will most definitely make a difference when it comes to the price you can expect to pay for your German Shepherd puppy. Areas of the country where the breed is not commonly seen will likely sell their puppies for less than in other states where the breed is in high demand. Another thing that often has an impact on the final cost for a puppy is the financial investment the breeder had to make for the breeding to occur. It is expensive to breed, whelp, and raise a litter properly. When these expenses rise, an increase in price is often necessary. For example, if you search on puppyfind. Instead, others like gooddog. I suggest that one way to ensure the breeder is reliable is by checking they have a decent website. So, when searching for breeders, following up on the information on their website gives authority to the breeder. This tells you how much experience they have as a breeder. Address, social media pages, and phone contacts. Ways on how you can contact the breeder, which is one way of finding out if they are authentic. A collection of photos of their dogs and available puppies or those already sold. These give you a first idea of the quality of their dogs, the prices of their German Shepherd pups, and the waiting time. Breeder achievements. For example, German Shepherds who have won sporting or other awards indicate the quality of their breeding. A copy of their purchase contract, a questionnaire for gauging your suitability, and an application form. All these are key in creating a first idea of what you should expect from the breeder you will buy from. An indication of the price of their puppies. This gives you a more updated idea of how much the pet will cost compared to breeder search sites. For example, some German Shepherd breeders listed on gooddog. Nonetheless, many factors impact how reputable breeders price their dogs. But what makes German Shepherds so expensive? German Shepherds are so expensive as breeding costs are not cheap, and as a popular breed, breeders can demand more. Health screening, vet visits, and vaccinations need to be paid for. Factors influencing price are lineage, color, type, litter size, breeder qualifications, and registration. And this is without counting additional costs if you are using a top German Shepherd sire and need to make trips abroad. You can read my article, Costs of Owning a German Shepherd, to get a clear picture of what awaits you after buying. German Shepherd Prices In the below table, I have researched the current prices of German Shepherd puppies from 17 breeders. You can find some examples of UK prices later in the article. I am not endorsing any of these breeders, and you should still do your due diligence before purchasing. Most will offer details of future planned litters and how to apply for and reserve a pup. Current German Shepherd Puppy Prices. German Shepherd puppies are not easy to breed, especially when they are happy and healthy! German Shepherds cannot be crossed easily. A puppy with a good temperament and genetic health will, however, require additional costs for rearing and breeding. German Shepherds should pay special attention to this. Puppies with dysplastic hips or that grow up aggressive are not what you want. Papers The cheapest German Shepherd puppy is one without papers. Due to the lack of documentation from the breeders, there is no documentation for these puppies. These puppies are typically treated with as little care as possible by breeders. The lineage of a puppy is not known when you buy it. There is more money involved when a puppy has registration papers, health certificates, and temperament test results. The puppy will also benefit from those papers as well as you. Purebred dogs meet the breed standard, which means the dog is up to standard. German Shepherd-wolf-mixes are non-purebreds, so you should never buy them thinking they are purebreds. Whole litters are often registered by breeders instead of registering a single puppy. Veterinarian Visits Genetic health testing is done by reputable breeders, but the puppies are also examined by a veterinarian before eight weeks of age. Breeders also vaccinate, deworm, and place puppies on preventatives during these visits. A reputable breeder guarantees the health of your German Shepherd puppy if you purchase a German Shepherd puppy. Tests to measure temperament can also be provided by most breeders. Training Puppies are also socialized and trained by some breeders. Basic obedience and potty training are often the first steps in the training process for experienced breeders. As a result, housebreaking your puppy will be easier, but it will cost you! Your puppy will be of high quality if it exhibits all of these signs. By doing this, you will be less likely to experience temperament issues and costly vet visits for osteoarthritis diagnosis and treatment. Bloodlines Champion bloodlines are more expensive to breed, so breeders strive to breed them as a priority. There might be no need for a German Shepherd of such high quality for a family. The only thing they require is a puppy that is well-behaved and healthy. A working breed, however, is needed by many people. A champion dog or one that is intelligent and hardworking is the most expensive model. The training of a professional service dog can cost breeders thousands of dollars. There is a difficulty in consistently breeding a guard dog that is family-friendly and protective. The temperament and training of the animal must also be considered by breeders. Origin A German Shepherd that is directly imported from Germany is among the most expensive types. These dogs must be imported and bred by breeders, a costly process. It is common for breeders in the United States to import German Shepherd dogs for the purpose of breeding purebred puppies since the German Shepherd breed originated in Germany. There are more regulations for breeding in Europe, so there is better protection for the bloodlines. There are fewer of them, and their backs are straighter, and their coats are brighter. Their appearance is similar to that of a Belgian Malinois, according to some people. Dogs bred for companionship in the United States are more commonly bred for working rather than companionship in Europe. Rottweilers from the U. Are you at home to train them and spend time with them? Apartment buildings do not allow German Shepherds. Is there another pet in your family? A good GSD breeder will not hesitate to show you how and where their pups are raised — it is one of the ways to recognize good breeders. Which German Shepherd puppy is right for you? On average, a litter of German Shepherds contains eight pups. There are a lot of options there! When it comes to choosing one, how do you decide? The first thing to do is to observe the physical appearance of each GSD puppy. Eight-week-old German Shepherd pups should weigh about 15 pounds when they are ready for adoption, according to the German Shepherd growth chart. As a form of communication, they should walk evenly, wag their tails, bark, whine, growl, even howl! It is, however, important that they do not overdo it with their vocalization. Despite being slightly smaller than adult dogs, German Shepherd males are still a bit bigger than females, despite their size difference. In addition to its body posture, clear eyes, and healthy vocalization, you can tell if a puppy is healthy by observing its body posture. Through interaction with you and their littermates, healthy pups appear energetic and eager to play. A reputable breeder should be the first thing you look for. The reason is as follows. The process of finding one is now as simple as clicking a few buttons. However, there are a lot of unethical breeders out there, so you may end up with a dog that is unhealthy and empty-handed. Find the right breeder before you begin your search for the perfect GSD puppy. Doing proper research will lead you to finding the right German Shepherd breeders, even though finding them can seem challenging at first. Registries with kennel clubs, pedigrees, genetic health tests, temperament tests, and health guarantees are just some of the amazing features reputable breeders offer their clients. Play With The Puppies You should avoid being pushy or irritating to the puppies when you interact with them. You should let your puppy choose you, not the other way around! Many GSD owners have experienced this. All that remains is for it to choose its human! You may, however, ask the breeder for assistance if you are still unsure. If you are looking for a German Shepherd dog for display, work, or family use, make sure the breeder knows what kind of dog you are searching for. In addition to watching all of the puppies interact with each other, you can also ask the breeder to bring each puppy so you can see their individual personalities. Despite appearing shy, some people are not aggressive, sick, or unsocialized just because they are shy. You will also like:. If you are looking to buy a German Shepherd puppy, then you should find one from a reputable breeder. While these puppies are more expensive, a reputable breeder can guarantee the health and behavior of the puppy. These dogs are prone to genetic diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia. These health issues can be avoided by genetically testing the parents, which is something reputable breeders usually do. When improperly raised puppies might have behavioral issues and can cause a lot of damage if they bite someone. A good breeder will have their dogs pass a temperament test. German Shepherd Dog Price While most dogs in shelters are adults, adopting a German Shepherd is a great way to find a dog without supporting unethical breeding. Sometimes these hardworking shepherd dogs are given up because they are very energetic. Not everyone is able to take care of a dog that needs a lot of attention and exercise. Some people buy a German Shepherd puppy without understanding the work involved in caring for this breed. Why Are They So Expensive? Breeding a healthy and well-behaved German Shepherd puppy is not easy! It is not as simple as crossing German Shepherds together. However, if you want a puppy of good temperament that is genetically healthy, there are other costs involved in the breeding and raising. This is especially important for a German Shepherd. You do not want a puppy that grows up to be aggressive or that suffers from mobility issues due to hip and elbow dysplasia. Papers A paperless German Shepherd puppy will be the cheapest. Typically breeders invest as little as possible in these pups. You get a puppy just how it is, without knowing its pedigree or background. A puppy with health certifications, temperament test results, and registration papers costs more than this. However, those papers will be beneficial not just for you, but also the puppy. This means your puppy meets the breed standard and is a purebred dog. The last thing you want is to buy a German Shepherd wolf-mix thinking it is purebred. Veterinarian Visits Reputable breeders not only genetically health test the parents, but they will also take the puppy to see a vet before 8 weeks for a basic health check. During these visits breeders will also have the puppies vaccinated, dewormed and placed on preventatives. When you buy a German Shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder, they will offer you a health guarantee. Most will also be able to provide you proof that the puppy has passed a temperament test. Training Some breeders also take the time to socialize and train their puppies. Many experienced breeders have a specialized training program that begins the process of potty training and basic obedience. This will mean you have an easier time housetraining your puppy, but you will have to pay for their efforts! These are all good signs that the puppy you are buying is of good quality. This will mean you are more likely to avoid any temperament issues or having to pay for vet visits to diagnose and treat hip and elbow dysplasia. Bloodlines Breeders who focus on breeding championship bloodlines will charge more for their puppies. A family might not need such a high-quality German Shepherd. All they need is a healthy and well-behaved puppy that will bring them years of happiness. However, there are many people who need a working dog or show dog. The most expensive dogs are those that are bred to be champions or protective and hard-working. Some breeders spend thousands of dollars just training a world class service dog. A family friendly guard dog with a protective temperament is not easy to breed consistently. Breeders have to factor in not just the genetics, but also the temperament and training. Origin The most expensive types of German Shepherds are those that are imported directly from Germany. Breeders must pay to stud and import these dogs which is not cheap. Since the German Shepherd breed originated in Germany, breeders in the US import dogs from Germany to breed puppies with a purebred lineage. Breeding in Europe is more regulated so the bloodlines are better protected. These puppies are known as European German Shepherds and are slightly different. They are smaller, have straighter backs and brighter coat colors. Some people think they look similar to a belgian malinois. Most European dogs are bred to be working dogs, while American dogs are more frequently bred for companionship. This is the same for American and German Rottweilers and American vs. European Dobermans. All of these breeder will be able to provide: Pedigree and kennel club registration. Documents that certify the puppy is free of any disease and has been checked by a veterinarian. A health warranty. Health records that guarantee the parents are genetically healthy and will not pass on elbow or hip dysplasia. These German Shepherd breeders all breed their puppies in accordance with the breed standard. None of them will sell puppies that are not registered with the American Kennel Club. Another good place to start looking for breeders is the American Kennel Club marketplace. Many of these puppies are bred to be family dogs and come with their papers. As you start looking into more well-known breeders or those that produce dogs of championship or working bloodlines, then the price of a German Shepherd starts to increase. Julia was a German Shepherd bred by the Harrison K-9 facility, highly trained in protection. She could also understand commands in three different languages. Her intelligence, as well as her ability to protect, were why she was priced so highly. Julia was bought by a billionaire businessman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The rarest coat color is panda, which is why it is also the most expensive. These German Shepherds are black and white. It is a piebald pattern where the black coat is splotched with large patches of white. Some puppies can have other colors like tan, instead of white. Panda dogs are purebred, but the rarity of this mutation makes them very hard to find. There are very few breeders that sell the panda color. And he actually cost nothing! By the end of his life, Rin Tin Tin had appeared in 27 Hollywood films. Rin Tin Tin most notably helped Warner Bros. But these dogs come in more than just this classic color! There are 11 colors that are recognized by the breed standard. Check out the table below for some German Shepherd prices based on coat color. The tan color covers the chest, belly and legs. White A white puppy has a furry coat that is entirely white, allowing it to blend in with the snow. Its eyes and nose are black as coal. Black A black German Shepherd has a coat that is entirely black. Any other color would classify them as a bi-color. Blue A blue German Shepherd is not literally blue, but has a gray color with a bluish hue. Sable The sable color is one of the most common colors, but is a bit more interesting than the black and tan. The hairs of these dogs have bands of tan and black, giving them a very unique coloring. Some of the factors that contribute to this cost are: Food. If a breeder tries to tell you that his puppies are healthy because their parents never had any issues — do not believe him! It is impossible to diagnose e. Where can you find cheap German Shepherd Dogs? The question is — do you want to purchase a dog with questionable health and temperament? These dogs often are not purebred German Shepherd puppies, but are mixed with e. Labradors, Pitbulls or Golden Retrievers. If you end up with a dog with genetically based health conditions however, be prepared to spend a multiple of the original purchase price on vet costs! Temperament and behavior While a lot of good manners can be taught through consistent training, temperament is genetic to a certain level. When you buy an extra cheap German Shepherd puppy, you not only get a dog with questionable health, but also with unpredictable temperament! Even aggression can be genetic and can be passed on from the mom and dad to the offspring. You can save yourself a lot of time, nerves and money spent on future behavioral training by getting a well-bred and more expensive dog. What is the most expensive type of German Shepherd? Like in many dog breeds, certain rare German Shepherd colors are much more expensive than the most common colors and patterns. It is much more important that your puppy has a sound temperament and fits in well with your family and lifestyle than that he has a certain rare look. These dogs are mutts German Shepherds mixed with Miniature Poodles, Shelties or other smaller breeds. Once more, be certain to not decide on your future dog based on looks alone. A stable temperament and good health is much more integral than a certain size or weight. Working lines vs show lines The German Shepherd was originally bred as a working dog. Since his original use as a shepherd dog however, he has filled many different roles — from guarding properties over being used in the show ring to participating in Schutzhund and IPO trails. Depending on which lines your German Shepherd Dog comes from, the prices can vary a lot! Show line German Shepherds are the dogs that are bred for conformation shows. These are the type of dogs you should decide on if you would like a shepherd puppy as a pet and companion animal. If you are interested in using your German Shepherd as a protection dog and to participate in IPO trials, you should pick one from working lines. There are a lot of highly successful working line breeders both in North America and Europe. For this price, you get an absolutely flawless dog with extensive skills and perfect obedience. Some US dog owners interested in Schutzhund choose to import a puppy from old European working lines. While this might sound insanely high for a pet dog owner, for Schutzhund enthusiasts it is a typical price for a pedigreed German Shepherd pup. How much does it cost a month to own a German Shepherd? This will cover the basics: high-quality food and regular vet checks. Some German Shepherd owners spend considerably more money. Professional grooming is necessary for many German Shepherd owners, as these dogs shed heavily. This breeds tends to exhibit several behavioral issues that can be difficult to fix for first-time dog owners, including: Separation anxiety.

Lifespan Sociability The price of this pup will vary widely depending on the breeder as well as the cost of the parents. The litter size can also affect the price. If the breeder runs tests on the puppy to check for genetic health concerns, it can also increase the cost while providing you with a healthier dog. These dogs are clever and watchful. They will fit in with your family if you have kids and you will be most happy. The Boxer parent gets its name for the way it fights. Often swinging its paws like a boxer. The Boxer lineage can be traced back to Assyrian Empire war dogs. The parents of Golden Boxer. They love playing with and entertaining children, and they get along well with other pets. This breed is a little shy around strangers, so they are fantastic guard dogs, but they are not aggressive and quickly make friends. Too much isolation can cause depression or destructive behavior, which can include continuous barking. Are These Dogs Good for Families? It only barks a lot when upset and keeps a close eye on the house while you sleep. Regardless, the Golden Boxer makes friends quickly and likes to engage in play with cats as well as other dogs. It will even play with animals that enter the yard on many occasions. Avoid foods that use meat byproduct or other non-meat as its first ingredient. Following the instructions on the package serve the food in two to four smaller meals throughout the day instead of one large meal. You will need to commit to a minimum of two hours of engaging activity per day, which will require you to walk more than 11 miles per week at a minimum. Positive reinforcement training using rewards for good behavior is the best method to achieve results. Positive reinforcement means to give your pet plenty encouraging cheers and pets along with tasty treats when they complete a task. Another thing to remember when training is not to drag the session out or try too many tricks at once. Either way, it will require daily brushing to help remove shedding hair as well as keep the coat looking nice. The longer double coat may also require frequent trimming and detangling. Its floppy ears will need regular cleaning, and you will need to make sure they stay dry to lessen the chance of an ear infection. Minor Conditions. However, for a better understanding of the history and character traits of the Golden Boxer, a look into its parent breed would be most ideal. The Golden Retriever, which is a much more gentle dog than the boxer has its origin traced down to the 19th Century. It was first bred in Scotland in the midth Century for the purpose of hunting and retrieving during waterfowl hunting. The breeding goal back then was to breed a perfect hunting companion that would be unmatched in the field while still having the calm and gentle nature to be a family and indoor dog. The Golden Retriever became a well-recognized dog breed in Britain by the 20th century and in the year , it became registered and recognized by the American Kennel Club. The high energetic, playful Boxer was first developed in Germany in an earlier period than the Golden Retriever, the 16th Century. It belongs to the Mastiffs Tibetan Line. The boxer is an excellent guard dog and was originally used as a war dog by the United States just the bulldog and German Shepard. This fearless, loyal canine won a total of 17 battles in its time and it quickly became one of the most decorated dogs of the early s. The Boxer got its name from its fighting style, when it attacks, it uses its paws in a way that resembles the fighting style of a boxer. The Boxer breed became widely recognized in the year when it became a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club. When it comes to friendliness, the Golden Boxer is a bit, unlike its Golden Retriever parent. It might bark at new faces to alert its owners of their presence. This particular character trait makes the Golden Boxer a great watchdog. When left alone, the Golden Boxer is a rather quiet dog and could spend a huge part of its day in silence. With proper socialization, the Golden Boxer could make a perfect companion for kids as well as other house pets. Its large size could make the designer breed quite harmful to babies and toddlers, so, do be careful and ensure that they avoid roughhousing and basically any form of teasing. As we have already established, Early socialization is key for the Golden Boxer. A well-socialized Golden Boxer would have no problem living with a fun-loving family with kids and other pets. This could lead to a few destructive habits building up like chewing on furniture or other things in the house and barking continuously. Golden Retriever Boxer Mix As we have already established, the Golden Boxer cross breed is a cross between A Golden Retriever and a Boxer, and hence, it could be like either parent, what matters is the level of appearance dominance of each parent on the hybrid. If your Golden Boxer looks more like its Golden Retriever parent, it would have a round-shaped head with an elongated muzzle. However, if the Golden Boxer looks more like its Boxer parent, do expect a square-headed shape and a short muzzle. When it comes to its ear features, the Golden Boxer looks more like its Golden Retriever parent having doggy ears that lay down. The ears also look perky and this gives the Golden Boxer its inquisitive look. The eyes of the Golden Boxer are oval in shape, hazel or brown in color and its feet are medium-sized, round, and compact. Food Requirements of the Golden Boxer Both parent breeds of the Golden Boxer are very energetic and active breeds and for that reason require a lot of rich, highly nutritious food. For the Golden Boxer child, there really is no exception. The Golden Boxer breed requires food that is rich in protein. Feeding your Golden Boxer lean meats of high quality like chicken, lamb, fish, and beef are ideal. You can space out the meals, meals a day would be perfect, just ensure that they drink a lot of water after meals. Also, ensure that you feed your Golden Boxer at least an hour or two before you exercise them. If you are going to feed your Golden Boxer, processed food gotten from a store, do ensure you follow the guide written on the package for serving correctly. And avoid feeding your beloved dog food that uses non-meat or meat by-products as their main ingredients. Another important thing to note is, never overfeed your Golden Boxer, it has a tendency to become overweight and this is totally unhealthy for any dog breed as it could lead to terrible joint issues in the future. On average, 3 cups of dog food is okay for a day. Again, the high level of activeness and energy that the Golden Boxer inherits from both its Golden Retriever and Boxer parents means that the hybrid would require a lot of exercise to stay healthy and less destructive. Boredom for the Golden Boxer is a terrible thing, so exercise them daily. Setting an hour or two aside for long walks a day is a great start for the designer breed. Also, the appearance of the Golden Boxer has an effect on the level of exercise that would be required for the designer dog breed. If the Golden Boxer looks more like its Boxer parent, it would require much more intense hours of exercise than it would require if it looked more like its Golden Retriever parent. Regardless, the Golden Boxer requires a lot of exercise to stay less destructive. The best dog owner for the Golden Boxer would be an athletic or sporty person. Someone who loves to go on regular jogs, hiking, and other physically challenging activities. Taking your Golden Boxer companion on such activities would help them do away with all that excess energy that comes naturally to them. If you live in a property with a yard, then the Golden Boxer is perfect for you, however, if you stay in an apartment, it is still acceptable, as the Golden Boxer can adapt, you just have to ensure that you meet its exercise requirements daily and you both would be just fine. Plan your walks and other exercise activities with your dog properly. You could visit the dog parks for example, just ensure you keep your Golden Boxer on a leash when you do since it is a large dog. Socialization of the Golden Boxer is very important and the dog park is an excellent place to keep them socialized. By introducing your Golden Boxer pup to new faces, textures, and sounds and enrolling them in a training class for puppies, you help your Golden Boxer pup get more comfortable in new environments as well as easily adjust to them. A well-adjusted and comfortable Golden Boxer would easily get rid of aggressive behaviors and traits such as continuous barking, biting, and so on. Training your Golden Boxer should be an almost easy affair. This is because the Golden Boxer naturally loves to please its owner, and that habit or trait is why it would learn new commands with ease and high speed without you needing to repeat them. Try using positive reinforcement during your training of the Golden Boxer. Praise them when they have done well with gentle taps, nods and of course, treats. Be confident and firm when training them, but try as much as possible to avoid shouting or yelling at them when you train them. Your quick temper or show of anger could slow the process of learning for your dog. Keep each training session to a maximum of 30 minutes to 1 hour a day. Although, because the Golden Boxer is a people please it might want to stick out the full hour with you. Training the Golden Boxer yourself is a great way to establish a connection or bond with each other, so do not be quick to hire a dog trainer or a professional to train your Golden Boxer. Its great personality makes it an easy-to-train dog. If your Golden Boxer looks more like its Golden Retriever parent, it would inherit a thick double coat. However, if the Golden Boxer looks more like the Boxer parent breed, it would inherit a short but straight coat. Since both parent dog breeds are moderate shedders , then the Golden Boxer would also be a moderate shedder. You would be required to brush the coat of your Golden Boxer once a day with a sleek brush. This helps to keep the rich coat free from tangling, remove dead cells keep it healthy, and also keep any loose dog hair away from the car or home. For a Golden Boxer with a double coat that is long, it would require that you trim its coat frequently. During the shedding season, it is important to know that a Golden Boxer with a double coat tends to shed a lot more than normal, so the level of grooming that would be required would be much. Bathing your Golden Boxer should not be an everyday affair. In fact, you should only bathe it when it is necessary and do ensure that you make use of a good quality dog shampoo, to keep its fur protected. Also, the floppy ears of the Golden Boxer could easily get infected, so do ensure you keep it clean and dry always. Use a cotton ball or a damp cloth to clean its ears, do ensure it is thoroughly to avoid leaving debris. If your Golden Boxer drools more often than normal, it might be a sign of gum disease, so regular brushing helps you monitor the oral health of your Golden Boxer dog. You should also trim its nails often. Potential Health Issues of Golden Boxer A major reason for cross-breeding any dog species would be to create a strong breed or hybrid that is free from the health defects of its parent breed. In that regard, we can say that the Golden Boxer is a healthier breed when compared with its Golden Retriever and Boxer parent Selective breeding is usually done by most breeders to help eliminate certain health defects that are associated with its parent breed. This is why we always recommend that you do your proper research when getting any dog breed from any breeder no matter how reputable they claim to be. Demand for medical records, clearances, and certifications just to be extra sure, before taking the pup home. Here are some of the health conditions both minor and severe , that could most likely affect the Golden Boxer hybrid. Serious Health Conditions Severe health conditions like these could be fatal and threaten the life of your Golden Boxer, they should be taken with all seriousness. Cancer Cancer is a terrible health defect that could be passed down to the Golden Boxer from the Golden Retriever, as it is more prevalent in that parent breed. One in every five Golden Retriever breeds is affected by cancer, and the breed is susceptible to different cancer types, the most deadly and most common of which is hemangiosarcoma. It is therefore recommended that you take your beautiful Golden Boxer companion to the vet regularly for health checks and exams. Bloating Bloating is a terrible condition that is known to mostly affect dogs with a deep chest like the Boxer. If you notice that your Golden Boxer dog is constantly gasping for air, it might be suffering from bloat. The stomach lining could also get severely damaged. Ensure you keep your Golden Boxer on a high protein diet, and try to avoid fillers, in the form of excess dog treats. Bloating can be life-threatening to the Golden Boxer so do ensure you see a vet immediately if you notice anything weird. Minor Health Conditions Minor conditions could also be quite severe, but when spotted early, they can be treated. Some of these conditions are; 1. Joint Dysplasia This is a really painful health defect that is prone to most if not all dog species. It happens when the joints are incorrectly or improperly formed. This could cause the joints to rub and not move smoothly thereby wearing out the joints. It is quite painful and can lead to a dog being unable to bear its weight. Eye Defects Eye conditions such as cataracts are also quite common to the Golden Boxer. If you notice any irregularities or changes with the Golden Boxer pup ensure you call a vet to keep its eyes protected. Hypothyroidism When the thyroid gland of the Golden Boxer shrinks or gets inflamed, it could lead to Hypothyroidism. Other health conditions like cancer and hair loss and itchy skin can lead to hypothyroidism. This condition could lead to your Golden Boxer getting drooping ears or painful ears. However this is just the average cost, depending on each breeder, they could sell for a lot more, and with their increasing popularity, that might happen soon. Another factor to consider might be the expenses incurred in raising these little angels. The cost of neutering a Golden Boxer or genetically testing it could have an effect on the price that is set by the breeder. Also, you might need to factor in some other costs attributed to raising the pup such as purchasing a crate, a leash, microchipping the dog, purchasing a dog collar, visits to the vet, and other necessary expenses. And as your Golden Boxer gets older, It would require food, training, pet insurance, and vaccinations, so do ensure you consider the cost of all these before getting a Golden Boxer. Yes, the Golden Boxer hybrid is a great family dog, an awesome companion for you, and a best friend for children. Their playful nature makes them great for kids. However, this is only true if your Golden Boxer is socialized early and properly trained. They are clingy dogs that enjoy the company of their family, that is why they easily feel down and bored when left alone. When it comes to kids, the Golden Boxer makes a great friend and although they mean well, it is advised that you keep them away from toddlers and babies. This is because their large size might end up being harmful to them. Although, its large size could intimate smaller pets causing them to run which in turn would cause the Golden Boxer to chase after them. A socialized Golden Boxer would have no problem with this, their high intelligence and eagerness to please should help them in behaving well. Well, that is for you to decide. What really matters when it comes to the Golden Boxer is attention, Can you give the Golden Boxer the attention and care it requires? Answering that question with all honesty is how you know if the Golden Boxer is the right dog for you. The Golden Retriever Boxer mix is an excellent dog for a family home. Its playful, loving and affectionate personality could help bring the family closer together. But be careful tho, though this beautiful breed does get clingy so be sure to give it all your time. Ensure you keep your Golden Boxer on a rich protein diet while avoiding fillers, groom it regularly to maintain its rich luxurious coat, visit the local vet often for checks and exercise your dog regularly to keep them healthy and strong. Other Golden Retrievers Mixes. The puppies are called — adorably — Golden Boxer puppies! But before you are overcome with cuteness and rush out to find a litter of Golden Retriever Boxer puppies, it is wise to learn more about what your puppy might be like as an adult dog. In this article, we take a close look at the Golden Retriever Boxer mix dog so you can decide if this is the right companion for you! On one side, purebred dog breeders feel the breed lines should be kept pure. Any cross between two purebred dog breeds basically results in a mixed breed dog , or mutt. Conversely, canine biologists feel cross-breeding two purebred dog breeds together can have benefits to overall canine health. Since it is not possible to predict in advance which traits a puppy may inherit from either parent dog, the best way to try to imagine what your new pup might be like is to learn more about both the Golden Retriever and the Boxer. Origins of the Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever is currently the third most popular companion canine in the country. This gorgeous dog is of Scottish descent, with a long and honorable lineage as a working dog. This dog is just so friendly and sociable! Goldens make terrible guard dogs but wonderful best friends. The Golden Retriever, not surprisingly, takes its name from its long, lush golden coat. Origins of the Boxer The Boxer is currently the tenth most popular companion canine in the country. This dog, with its short coat and upturned ears, can easily turn heads. The Boxer is a truly ancient dog breed that can trace its lineage back to the time of the ancient Assyrians 2, BC. However, the modern Boxer arose in the s in Germany and soon migrated to the UK, where it became a favored working and pet dog. The Boxer gets its name from how it fights or boxes with its front paws — just like a prize fighter. What is the Golden Retriever Boxer mix dog like? The ability to predict what a Golden Retriever Boxer mix dog will be like has everything to do with the generation of puppies. The earliest litter, or F1 generation, will vary the most in size, weight, height, temperament, coat and other factors. These puppies are born from a pure cross of a Golden Retriever with a Boxer dog. The next litter, or F1b generation, will be more predictable in all attributes. These puppies are born from a cross between one purebred parent either a Golden Retriever or a Boxer with a Golden Retriever Box mix parent. Subsequent litters, or F2, F3, F4, and so on, will become more uniform over time. With longevity of breeding programs, what was once a hybrid dog breed may even become standardized as a new purebred dog breed! Males tend to be taller and heavier than females. Females tend to be about 15 pounds lighter and 1. From this, you can guesstimate your Golden Retriever Boxer Mix puppy will likely fall within the weight range of 60 to 75 pounds and stand .The Boxer, on the other hand, sheds very little and normally needs only a weekly brushing to keep coat and skin in tip-top condition. From this you can imagine how diverse the possible coat types in a litter of Golden Boxer dog puppies might be! You may find two pups with completely different coat types even within the same litter, especially if the litter is an F1 or F1b generation. Personality and Temperament of a Golden Retriever Boxer mix Even most non-dog-lovers know that Golden Retrievers are incredibly friendly. If they were people, they would be the ones planning the happy hours and pool parties. Boxers are bright, loyal, affectionate and loving. They are very patient and have natural protective tendencies that can necessitate extra efforts to socialize them in puppyhood. Both breeds tend to be exuberant and playful while young and can be stubborn at times because they are very smart. But both are natural people-pleasers and will take well to positive training methods. With two such positive, outgoing and people-pleasing parent dogs, you are quite likely to find that your Golden Retriever Boxer mix puppy has a lovely personality and temperament overall! Health Issues of Golden Retriever Boxer Mix dogs Both Golden Retrievers and Boxers, like so many purebred dogs today, can have certain genetic heritable health issues you will want to be aware of. Golden Boxer dog breeders who are serious about breeding healthy puppies will have their breeding stock parent dogs pre-screened and tested for all known breed-specific health conditions to avoid passing any preventable conditions on to the puppies. Commonalities in Health Concerns It is important to know that both Golden Retrievers and Boxers are prone to developing certain types of cancers. The ongoing Golden Retriever Lifetime Study was set up to better understand one of the most pervasive types of cancer in Goldens, hemangiosarcoma, as well as risk factors for other types of cancer and serious health conditions. The average life expectancy for Golden Retrievers is 10 to 12 years. The average life expectancy for Boxers is also 10 to 12 years. Socialization and training needs for Golden Retriever Boxer mix dogs Both Golden Retrievers and Boxers are bright, energetic, sociable and come from a long lineage of working dogs. This makes training both a necessity and, usually, a joy, since you will be working with a dog that really wants to learn, interact and please you! However, it is worth saying that smart dogs like Golden Retrievers and Boxers will only do well when trained using positive reinforcement methods. Is a Golden Retriever Boxer Mix a good family dog? Based on a study of the overall temperament and personality traits of the Golden retriever and the Boxer, respectively, the Golden Retriever Boxer mix dog is quite likely to make a great family dog. This is true even for families with young children. How to Pick Golden Retriever Boxer mix puppies Choosing a Golden Boxer breeder that is reputable, responsible and serious about breeding healthy Boxer Retriever mix puppies will be critical. This is a question that is very personal, of course, but for the right family or individual, a Golden Retriever Boxer mix dog can make a great canine companion! If you already have some experience with a mix dog like this, let us know in the comments! Houses with yards and families with children Temperament: Happy, clever, intelligent, protective, alert, watchful, and eager to please. It has increasingly become popular in the last years, with breeders developing more diverse species. The parent breed, the Golden Retriever, was developed in Scotland in the mids by Lord Tweedmouth. This dog was created as a solution for hunters who needed a dog adept at retrieving downed waterfowl. On the other hand, the Boxer originated in Germany back in the s. Bred as a guard dog, this dog was put in an exhibition in in Munich and later arrived in the U. S and Europe in the s. They were used as messenger dogs, attack dogs, and pack carriers during World War 1. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. Golden Boxer Puppies A post shared by Russell russellthegb Golden Boxer puppies are cute, cuddly, and full of energy, and this tends to stay the same even as they grow. They are very happy and love to spend time with their families. These dogs are unlikely to be found in rescue shelters and often come from breeders so we recommend you do your homework and ask all of the right questions before you begin to work with any breeder. Apart from paying for your new dog, you need to ensure you factor in other initial costs associated with bringing a puppy home, such as a leash, crate, dog collar, microchip, and medical costs if your dog is not neutered. These expenses are a necessity, especially if you are a first-time dog owner. Your dog will thank you for them all. They are intelligent and clever; therefore, they can learn quickly and love to please their owners. They are affectionate, loyal, and outgoing breeds that also love playing with and entertaining children. Golden Boxers tend to be very shy and reserved around strangers, but this is advantageous because it makes them fantastic watchdogs. However, they are not aggressive to strangers but will alert you about the presence of a new face. Golden Boxers are ideal for an active, fun-loving family. These dog breeds are also very patient and willing. Despite been very polite, this dog can be high-spirited sometimes like the parent breed, the Boxer. As a family dog, too much isolation can lead to depression or destructive behavior such as continuous barking and chewing items in the house. Are These Dogs Good for Families? However, they still need early socialization and training to bring out these qualities further. These breeds tend to bond very closely with the family. If you are always at work without a sitter or family member around, this may not be the best dog species for your family. They are great pets to have around children because they like playing with them a lot. They should avoid habits such as tail pulling, rough play, and teasing. They also bark a lot when they are upset but make good guard dogs for the house when the family is sleeping. The Golden Boxer adapts well to sharing space with cats and other dogs. However, when small cats run away due to intimidation, the prey drive might kick in, and your Golden Boxer might chase the cat. When socialized at an early age, this dog breed will co-exist with other dogs peacefully. It makes friends very quickly; therefore, it will engage with other animals or pets that walk stray into your compound. This breed needs lots of attention from the family; therefore, you need to provide all the necessities. Like any other dog breed, you need to know the diet requirements, training and exercise needs, grooming, and any health and medical conditions. You can include quality lean meats such as lamb, beef, and chicken. When planning the feeding schedule, the diet should be according to the size, age, and activity level. These breeds are highly prone to bloating; therefore, they should not be fed all the food at once. The meals should be spread out to 2—3 meals throughout the day together with water. In addition, you should feed the dog an hour or two before an exercise session. When feeding your Golden Boxer, avoid foods that use meat by-products or other non-meat as their first ingredient. Once you buy food from the stores, follow the instructions on the package to ensure that the meals are served correctly. This dog tends to become obese and develop joint issues. Apart from food, the treats should also be kept to a minimum. To avoid this, you should schedule one long daily walk or two hours of engaging activity. Because of their high energy needs, the ideal owner for this dog breed is an active person who can bring the dogs along for a jog, hike, or walks. This dog can adapt well to living in an apartment, but with enough exercise outside. This dog species is perfect if you have a yard. You can plan for activities such as walks in the dog park. These walks in the park are also suitable for his socialization process. It helps bring out the best qualities in your pet and makes things easier for you. Exposure to new people, places, and situations and puppy training classes will encourage your dog and make it comfortable. It will also discourage some aggressive behaviors because the dog is more comfortable. Because of this, it will also listen to commands much faster without requiring a lot of repetition. During the training, you should be firm and confident. Also, use positive reinforcement such as praises to encourage your dog to pick up commands much easier. Incorporate some treats to keep your puppy happy during the training session. You should also avoid shouting or yelling at your dog during training. The sessions should also not be very long. Shorten them to an hour or less each day to help with concentration. Because Golden Boxers are devout people-pleasers, they use these moments to show you how well they respond. In addition, this may also be a perfect time to strengthen the bond between you and the dog. These dogs are moderate shedders; hence will need regular brushing, ideally once a day. Brushing daily is good because it helps to keep the coat tangle-free and keeps loose hair away from your home or car. The breeds with a long double coat require frequent trimming. You can either do this at home or hire a professional groomer. You should bathe your dog only when necessary and ensure that you use dog shampoo to protect the fur coat. This dog breed also has floppy ears; hence, they should always be kept clean to avoid infection. It would be best if you also kept them dry at all times. You can also do this by wiping with a damp cloth or cotton ball. In addition, you should trim the nails and brush the teeth at least three times a week. Breeders always try to improve their health conditions by carrying out selective breeding. However, even with this precaution, some conditions might be passed down to the offspring. Therefore, you should always research the potential medical conditions your pup may be prone to, as well as ask the breeder for medical records before taking your dog home. Minor Conditions. If you ever wondered what you could expect from a golden retriever boxer mix, the answer is dynamite! The golden boxer is a dog who is full of energy, incredibly loyal, eager to please, rather large, and often boisterous. In the same litter, you can have a pale golden puppy with wavy hair and a brindle puppy with short hair. Read on to find out if the golden boxer is the dog for you… Parentage Of The Golden Boxer As mentioned, predicting the physical characteristics of your golden boxer can be difficult as the parents are two very different-looking dogs. However, learning about the parent breeds is still very helpful because it provides you with an idea of how your golden boxer will behave. The Golden Retriever The golden retriever , as we know it today, originated in Scotland in the mid to late s and early s. There were many retrievers in the UK at the time. Their jobs were to chase down the birds, hares, or rabbits their human companion had shot down and retrieve it bring it back. In addition to their soft mouth, the golden retriever was bred to have a double coat to keep them warm and long legs to help them climb over and through dense brush. The area in which they had to do the retrieving was often marshy, so the dogs were bred to be excellent swimmers as well. For a more detailed look at how the golden retriever came to be, check out our dedicated article on their history. Golden retrievers are dedicated dogs who are highly loyal and easily trainable, which makes them excellent service animals. This means they are reliable dogs if trained and socialized appropriately. It is important to remember the golden retriever is a very high energy dog, which requires a lot of mental and physical stimulation. They definitely pass this trait on to their offspring. The Boxer The boxer is descended from an ancient lineage of dogs that traces its heritage back to the Assyrian empire in 2, BCE. The boxer, as we know it today, was bred in the late s in Germany. The breeders took the formidable Bullenbeisser and bred it with smaller mastiff dogs to create the boxer. The Bullenbeisser was a hunting dog used to tackle large animals such as bears, wild boar, and bison. Breeding with the smaller mastiffs gave the boxer a slimmer build and more temperate nature. This temperament and build has allowed the boxer to do many jobs over its lifetime such as war dog, police dog, guide dog, protection dog, and athlete. The boxer gets its name from the way the dog plays or defends itself. The Golden Boxer The golden boxer is not a mix you would expect, however they are the best of both of their parents. The golden boxer is a large dog measuring at 22 to 25 inches in height and weighing 60 to 75 pounds on average. There is no guarantee of how your golden boxer will look, especially if it is a first or second generation puppy, because the two parent breeds are so different. Your golden boxer can be a variety of colors, from black or brown to fawn or gold and have a short or long coat. Whereas their appearance may differ significantly, their temperament is pretty predictable. The golden boxer loves being part of the family, they are intelligent and protective, and they are always full of energy. The golden retriever and boxer have fairly similar personalities even though they come in vastly different packages; this means the golden boxer will have a similar personality. Love The golden boxer is a sensitive dog who thrives on affection and attention. They need to be loved on and cuddled every day to avoid feelings of abandonment. Even though they are large dogs, they cannot be locked out of the house and left in a yard their entire lives. Fun The golden boxer has a boisterous nature and loves to bounce around playing games. It is essential their energy is directed into fun and games where you actively play with them. If their energy is not positively directed, they can become very destructive and neurotic. Family The golden boxer loves being around family furry or non-furry , especially if the golden retriever side of their heritage is particularly strong. Golden boxers are an excellent choice if you have children, particularly children who can run around and play with them. Golden boxers will happily engage with other pets too! Make sure they are properly socialized and trained from the time they are a puppy in order to restrain their strength around smaller pets such as cats. Protection Owing to the nature of the golden retriever and the boxer, the golden boxer is very protective of who they feel is its family. Both parent dogs are used as working dogs and guide dogs, which means they have a fierce sense of loyalty. The golden boxer shares this loyalty for family and will guard your home and family fiercely against perceived intruders. Trainability The level of trainability of golden boxers is good to moderate depending on a number of variables. The golden retriever is a dog who is easily trained, while the boxer can be a bit more stubborn and resist training. However, if you are committed and consistent with their training and socialization, then training your golden boxer, no matter how stubborn they are, is possible. An untrained pug is much easier to pick up and put in a separate room than an untrained golden boxer. Large, untrained dogs with protective natures like the golden boxer can also pose a risk to strangers in the home as your dog will become overwhelmed. And if they are undisciplined, then they do not have the safety net of training to prevent snapping at an unwanted hand. Health Concerns Mixed breeds enjoy better health than either of their parent breeds because they have more genetic diversity and any breed-specific issues are diluted by having been bred with another type of dog. This means the golden boxer should enjoy better overall health than either the golden retriever or the boxer. The golden boxer seems like the ideal companion: loyal, loving, healthy, and the perfect cuddler. Golden boxers are full of energy. They need a minimum of two hours of exercise a day. This is a lot to expect from any owner so you need to make sure you are ready to commit a large amount of your energy to your dog. The two hours of exercise is best split up into smaller sessions throughout the day. They are large dogs and need to be physically exercised regularly to maintain their muscles and healthy joints. Daily walks, hikes, or runs that are at least half an hour long are ideal. They can be physically exercised by playing games like fetch, chase, or working through an obstacle course. Going to a dog park is also an excellent idea, provided your golden boxer is trained and has a strong recall command. Mental exercise is essential. Golden boxers are intelligent dogs and become bored fairly easily. Using puzzles and games to tire them out mentally is an excellent way to enhance their exercise needs. Slow feeders , lick mats , snuffle blankets , puzzle toys , and daily training are all excellent ideas to give them adequate mental exercise. As said previously, golden boxers can be stubborn if their boxer heritage is particularly strong. This means it will take you longer than average to train your golden boxer properly. You will need to devote time every day to training. Using a puppy training service is advisable with golden boxers; however, the hard work is done at home as you will need to carry through their training and be consistent to see positive results. However, with proper training, exercise, and discipline, you can reduce the amount of destruction your golden boxer is able to do.

The dog requires some outdoor space to loosen up when bored. Not only does the dog typically captures the bodily appearance of a Chow Chow, but also has a curved tail that is unlike the tail of a German Shepherd. The dog is also seen to inherit the long muzzle of the German Shepherd parent dog side along with a black accent on its face and pointy ears. This makes the German Shepherd Chow mix resemble the facial appearance of a bear or a lion. This dog is a quick learner, making it easily trainable even as a puppy. Part of its personality that you should try to address while training your dog is its stubbornness which originates from the nature of its Chow Chow parent dog side. Obedience training should be your initial and primary training method on the dog. Unlike the stubbornness of a Chow Chow, the German Shepherd Chow mix find great pleasure in exhausting itself with constant play time and attention by its owner. Without any form or source of mental or physical stimulation, the dog can easily become bored and may end up acting more aggressively or destructively to release its restrained tensions. The dog is prone to chasing things that run by it, so make sure it is always kept on a leash once the dog is taken for a walk or any other outdoor activity. German Shepherd Mixed with Chow Chow Puppies for Sale Before buying a German Shepherd Chow puppy, you need to consider your budget and the costs involved after paying for its ownership. About more than a thousand dollars is required for purchasing the puppy and providing it with medicines and vaccinations. The typical price of a German Shepherd and Chow Chow offspring range from two hundred and fifty dollars to seven hundred and fifty dollars. The best way of looking for this puppy is by checking out dog breeders who specialize in breeding German Shepherd Chow offspring. Besides crossing out possible health issues from parent dogs, your other concern when looking for quality breeders is the price of their puppies. Another budget-friendly method is by looking at adoption centers or German Shepherd Chow mix breeders who are open to adoption. An excellent and responsible dog breeder is someone who makes as many background checks on the buyer as possible. Below are some adoption sites and dog centers to get a German Shepherd Chow puppy: Petcurious. You could also attend professional dog shows, contact or join dog clubs, or talk with a veterinarian who may know or refer a German Shepherd Chow mix breeder to you. Since the dog would appear like its Chow Chow parent dog, its long hair can result in excessive shedding. Having a vacuum around can help you clean up the mess in your surroundings. You should shampoo the dog only when necessary such as flea or skin problems or in cases when it starts to smell unpleasing using shampoo products made for long coats Chow Chows. This dog shampoo is formulated with a Sweet Pea Vanilla scent for a more pleasing smell on the dog. It is also specifically designed for Chow Chow coats and is hypoallergenic. This dog shampoo is a good alternative for skin allergies and infections. It contains Bentonite clay which helps in alleviating itchiness, dry skin, and hot spots. Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo. Also formulated as a moisturizer, this dog shampoo includes Aloe Vera extracts. Do not forget about maintaining the nails of the dog. Just like many dogs, the German Shepherd Chow mix also needs its nails trimmed once in a while using specialized nail clippers for dogs. This is a genetic illness that is common to many dogs in general. In other cases, obesity and improper nutrition and diet can contribute to the development of hip dysplasia as well. The hip joints of the dog slowly deteriorate and could result in skeletal malformation. Flea Allergy. Irritation can occur once ticks or fleas get into the coat of your dog. The long coat of the German Shepherd Chow mix can provide the perfect and warm atmosphere for the pests to breed and feed for their eggs. Scientifically termed as gastric dilatation and volvulus or GDV, bloat is the result of gas filling up in the stomach. As the stomach expanses, the diaphragm and blood vessels get squished and could cause breathing and heart problems to the dog. Eye Problems. Pannus or chronic superficial keratitis is a common eye problem with the German Shepherd breed. When it is left untreated, the dog may experience blindness. It is usually common for the dog at its middle to the old age of seven to nine years and above. Heart Problems. Vital signs that you should be wary of are breathing problems, behavioral changes, weight and diet changes, abdomen swelling, and weakness. There are several reasons for the dog to catch a heart problem but being aware of the signs and symptoms should help in treating it as soon as possible. The German Shepherd Chow mix does not necessarily have any health issues or illnesses that were specifically pointed out. Nevertheless, the sicknesses and health problems that were mentioned above can still be passed on to the offspring derived from the genes of both parent dogs. Healthy supplements including chondroitin, fish oil or omega three acids and glucosamine should help in preventing or reducing hip dysplasia problems. According to the American Feed Control Officials, a German Shepherd Chow mix puppy should eat protein at about twenty-two percent, while an adult German Shepherd Chow should consume only eighteen percent of protein. Protein from whole meats including beef, fish, and chicken are recommended in its diet. It features the following ingredients: salmon, chicken meal, menhaden fish meal, pea derivatives, sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, and parsley. It is made grain-free and packed with protein. Ingredients are as follows: duck, chicken meal, turkey meal, whitefish meal, egg protein, peas and chickpeas, sesame oil, and almond oil. It is another grain-free dog food with a hundred percent satisfaction guarantee. This dog food contains a variety of animal protein and healthy fat sources. Ingredients include salmon, chicken meal, menhaden fish meal, lamb meal, chickpeas, split peas, dried potatoes, and sunflower oil. It is a unique-tasting and premium dog food made of real beef, dried whole eggs, pork meat meal, beef liver, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, salmon oil, cauliflower, apples, green beans, carrots, blueberries, and other sources of antioxidants. This dog food is full of nutrients and proteins without containing wheat sources. The ingredients include turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, chicken fats, chicken liver, salmon oil, peas, and potatoes. Feeding your German Shepherd Chow mix should have a balanced diet just like any other dog. You should consult with your veterinarian about these dog foods and devise a holistic dietary plan. Too much protein is too much calorie for the dog and may result in too much weight. If you want to obtain the best food for your sweetheart, this is a place to start. Senior dogs have specific nutritional requirements and you should search for their food in the best senior dry dog list. In case you have welcomed a puppy into your home and the little munchkin is just getting used to a regular diet, take a look at the list of the best puppy food brands. Your sweetheart comes from two different parents, which makes your pups more likely to grow to love dry dog food for small dogs or best large breed dry dog food. The same is expected from its offspring too. Hence, the German Shepherd Chow needs a daily dose of mental and physical stimulation to stay on the right track of things. Aside from doing activities with the dog including running, hiking, jogging and cycling, training is also another way of stimulating since German Shepherd Chows enjoy pleasing their owners. Below are some activities that you should do with the dog: Swimming. Swimming is not only an exciting activity for both the dog and its owner, but it also burns a lot of fuel or energy from the dog. The German Shepherd Chow mix is a friendly dog to people, but it is equally essential for it to recognize other dogs and behave in the same manner towards them too. Dogs, in general, are curious animals, and you can keep their curiosity in check by teaching it how to be around and respect other dogs. The dog will eventually learn new social skills. Scenting or Tracking Games. The German Shepherd parent dog side of the German Shepherd Chow mix was tracking dogs that loved to hunt things. Some games include finding the treat, hide and seek, and find the toy. Obedience Training. There are many ways to train your dog, but it all boils down to giving it commands and following your orders. Any form of training should keep the dog mentally and physically engaged and exhausted too. The Chow Chow parent dog side of the dog is known to be independent due to its stubborn nature and may choose not to obey you when you tell it to do something. Here are some training methods that you could apply to the dog: Puppy Training. The most important part of training the dog as a puppy is giving it your time and company. This should teach your dog the value of your bond with it and will soon acknowledge you as its alpha. Let it play with toys that you give so that it learns that being with you is a rewarding experience. Positive Reinforcement. Rewarding your dog while teaching it commands can come a long way to its relationship with you. You give your dog a reward such as a treat or a toy whenever it successfully responds to your command but gives it nothing until it learns how to react correctly to your call. A German Shepherd Chow mix needs to be taught how to socialize and behave properly around both humans and animals. If the dog would live in a home with children, it should be exposed to them as early as possible so that the dog learns how to tolerate your kids and feel more comfortable around them. They are playful towards any member of the family and is also easy for anyone to get along with as long as the person is introduced to the dog properly and not spontaneously. It is generally a peaceful dog that barks less unless provoked or neglected of attention. Some traits that make German Shepherd Chows great family pets are loyalty, protectiveness, and loving. It is also a perfect watchdog because the dog when faced with a stranger or someone not belonging with the family, becomes wary and can show intimidation as a warning sign to potential intruders. This is not just an energetic dog, but it is also a larger dog breed in size. In terms of lifestyle, the dog does very well with owners who are also active outdoors. The family does not necessarily need to have an energetic attitude towards the dog since it can be stubborn too, but owners should set daily activities that include the dog in their routine. Overall, the German Shepherd Chow mix is an excellent dog breed and family pet to own. With the parents of two dog breeds that are geographically far apart, a combination of the German Shepherd and the Chow Chow seals the deal. This energetic hybrid dog breed is becoming increasingly popular. The Chow Chow German Shepherd is a designer breed. To create a new breed, it was bred from two different pedigrees. Designer dogs are more robust and healthier than their parent breeds. But, poor breeding can have the opposite effect and magnify any existing health problems. Before you buy or adopt a Chow Shepherd, make sure to do extensive research. Type of coat: Thick, dense coat lengths may vary. Shedding: Moderate to heavy with seasonal shedding Lifespan: Approx years Variations in Color: Tan, brown, chocolate, black, silvery grey, and red colors and patterns may favor one parent breed. Notable Features: Large ears and tufts, with ruffled fur around their necks may vary depending upon each dog , thick coat, and a face that resembles a German Shepherd Daily exercise: High exercise requirements, many hours of intense exercise daily Daily Food: You should eat one to two meals of kibble per day for medium-large dogs the recommended amounts will be in your dog food packet. A Chow Chow was first crossed with a German Shepherd by breeders to create a superior breed that could be a great herding dog and a loving companion. Chow Chows are the oldest dog breed. They were used for hunting in ancient China. According to some reports, a Chinese Emperor kept over 5, of these dogs. Queen Victoria loved Chow Chows and even took her beloved bet everywhere she went. German Shepherds are still working dogs today because of their intelligent and protective nature. You will often see them serving in the military and police forces. They are used here as guard dogs, search and rescue, sentries, drug detectors, or messengers. This breed can be a little wary of strangers due to their vigilant and watchful nature. The graceful and beautiful Chow Shepherd is a German Shepherd-like face with a long muzzle. The tail curves upwards and around, much like the Chow Chow. Because they are a cross between two parent breeds that shed, their grooming requirements are high. Daily brushing with a de-shedding tool is necessary for your German Shepherd Chow mix. If the seasons change, you should do it more often as he will shed more. You should also be ready to vacuum your home regularly. Dogs with healthy nails can grow very long if they are not taken care of. Chow Shepherds are loyal to their families and cautious of strangers. Chow Shepherds are similar to German shepherds and can be trained to guard their family members. They also have less separation anxiety than traditional Chow Chows. Chow Shepherds are stubborn, however. Chow Shepherds are intelligent and can make training challenging. Chow Shepherds can sense inconsistency and uncertainty in a trainer and will react accordingly. Chow Shepherds can be socialized with other pets, but it takes effort. Chow Shepherds may not be the right choice for families with small children and pets. Chow Shepherds need mental stimulation as well as physical exercise. Chow Shepherds are very social and love attention. They can be irritable if left alone. They may chew on and destroy furniture or cause damage to it while their owners are away. Purebred dogs are more expensive than mixed breeds. Shepherd Chow mixes can be slightly more expensive than other popular breeds but have had problems with dangerous breeders. Many puppy mills used unsafe breeding methods to produce the Shepherd Chow mix when it first became popular. These puppies were often sick or abandoned at the pound. Although price is not everything, it can be a good indicator that your puppy will likely suffer more from a lower price. However, it is important to do your research and get the license of the breeder before you buy from them. They can be socialized from a young age and will do well. However, it is better to have one of these breeds in your home to teach your children how to respect animals. They will get along well with teens and tweens and love to play together all day. Keep your Shepherd Chow mix on a schedule and keep them from eating too many treats. Usually, they will need only one or two meals per day. Ask your veterinarian what you should feed them each day. Grooming Needs Chow Shepherds require regular grooming due to their dense, thick coats. It is recommended that you brush your Chow Shepherd at least twice a week. Your Chow Shepherd will require more frequent brushing during shedding season. Chow Shepherds should not be used if you have allergies. After bathing your Chow Shepherd, dry it thoroughly. Chow Shepherds love playing in the snow and it keeps them cool in winter. Exercise Needs Chow Shepherds require a lot of exercise. Your dog will be happy and healthy if you give them at least one hour of intense exercise each day. Chow Shepherds are often unable to be left alone so make sure they have access to a safe area. For a Chow Shepherd to stay energized and healthy, running, hiking, and playing fetch and throw are all great options. Other German Shepherd Mixes. Any puppies that qualify as a German Shepherd Mix are a cross between a German Shepherd and another dog breed. In a mixed breed, you can get any mix of characteristics in the parent breeds. German Shepherds tend to be strong-willed, intelligent, playful, and loyal. To get a full idea of what to expect in your puppy, be sure to ask the breeder about the other dog breed in the cross and check out the mother dog in-person to get a general idea about size and temperament. On the German Shepherd side, you have an independent dog with high intelligence and a playful spirit. German Shepherds make great family pets and are born protectors. Because of their protective instinct, they can be suspicious of strangers. Socialization early and often can help curb this suspicion and make them more open to new people and situations. German Shepherds also tend to be loving and have a lively personality. The German Shepherd Mix can have any or all of these characteristics plus any characteristics from the other parent breed in the mix. Before buying a German Shepherd Mix puppy and bringing them home, be sure to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed. If the puppies are being family-raised around children, you should be able to get an idea of how they will do in a family setting that includes children. The German Shepherd is a moderately adaptable working dog that was bred to guard, work, and herd. They do not tend to do well in apartments and are best-suited for houses with yards. GSDs prefer to be with their families and do not like to be alone. They also tend to prefer cooler climates as they are sensitive to heat. With a German Shepherd Mix, you could get a moderately adaptable dog that is just like a purebred German Shepherd. You could also end up with a dog that is more like the other parent breed. Talking with the breeder about the other parent breed can give you a good idea of what to expect. German Shepherds can be prone to elbow and hip dysplasia. You will need to ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the cross to get an idea of any other health concerns to be aware of in your German Shepherd Mix. Health screenings, clearances, and the genetic history of the parents can help allay concerns about potential health conditions. On the German Shepherd side, training and obedience classes are highly recommended for novice dog owners. Although GSDs are highly intelligent, pick up on things quickly, and train fairly easily, they can be stubborn with an independent streak. Regardless of the other parent breed in the cross, you should be prepared to enroll in obedience and training classes with your German Shepherd Mix. The experience will be beneficial to both you and your puppy and will also offer some opportunities for socialization. You will still want to ask the breeder about the other parent breed in the cross to get an understanding of what to expect during the training process. Professional grooming a few times a year and the occasional bath is also recommended. Regardless of the coat type, your German Shepherd Mix will need to have their nails trimmed monthly and their teeth brushed regularly. Not every dog will allow you to do this, so try to get a tooth brushing session in at least a few times a week to reduce tartar buildup. This will help prevent dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, it will help cut down on bad breath! German Shepherds tend to have a high activity level. They were bred to run, herd, guard, and protect, so they are used to working and having a job to do. They are definitely not a lazy dog breed! Be sure to talk to the breeder about the other parent breed in the mix. You will still want to go in prepared for a high energy dog with the understanding that your German Shepherd Mix puppy may have an activity level closer to the other breed in the cross. If both are high energy dogs breeds, expect to end up with a high energy dog. A German Shepherd is a large dog breed that generally weighs between 55 and 90 pounds. They also usually stand between 22 and 26 inches tall at the shoulders. The other dog breed in the cross could result in a smaller or larger German Shepherd Mix. A German Shepherd generally lives for years. You should be able to expect a similar range in your German Shepherd Mix, but the other dog breed in the cross could affect this range. Featured German Shepherd Mix Article. Because of this, it is important to understand how these dogs were intended to be used before you decide to purchase one. This breed has a very long life expectancy and is not at all prone to being deformed or unhealthy in any way. People around the world tend to think that the German Shepherd is one of the smallest of large breeds. However, contrary to what many people believe, it actually stands up against the most well-known breeds like the Dachshund and the Yorkshire Terrier in terms of size. This is quite surprising to some people who consider the average size of these dogs. Some even consider them to be more slender than the Cocker Spaniel. The life expectancy of the German Shepherd is really quite astonishing. It has been found that in the last century, the lifespan of a male German Shepherd has been around seven years while a female has lived for nine to ten years. This is a very long life span for a dog that only weighs about twenty to twenty-five pounds. Unlike other breeds, the German Shepherd is very intelligent, especially when it comes to learning basic commands such as sit, stay, and come. Aside from the amazing health and longevity, German Shepherd Chow Mix Puppies for Sale also has another great benefit: they are extremely social animals. Since these dogs are social creatures, they are well-suited to live in small apartment homes or apartments. They can easily interact with other pets and humans because they are extremely social creatures. They are gentle and cuddly but can be extremely protective of their family. They will bark when there is an intruder in the house but they do this only when there is an intruder. This makes them ideal dogs for use in hunting. The German Shepherd is an excellent choice for anyone considering a dog of this type. They are very healthy and durable, very responsive to training, and extremely well-behaved. Chihuahuas are common and easy to find, but German Shepherd puppies can be very difficult to locate. A large number of German Shepherd owners prefer to adopt their dogs, but unfortunately, this breed has become exceedingly rare. There are a few things you can do to find German Shepherd puppies for sale. All of these tips will save you money. The first place most people look when they want to find German shepherd-chow mix puppies for sale is a breeder or rescue group. These groups have a list of dogs that have been screened for health problems and temperament so that the general population of dogs would be safe. You must do your homework before choosing a breeder or rescue group to adopt a German Shepherd. You should be aware of the expenses that go along with adopting a German Shepherd and be sure that you can afford the price before making an offer. Another place that can help you locate German Shepherd puppies is at your local animal shelter. Almost all local animal shelters have German Shepherds in their foster care programs. These dogs are there because their owners do not have the funds to purchase another pet. Because the shelters help animals, they tend to have very low-cost pets and German Shepherd mixes are no exception. Adopting a Chihuahua or any other breed of small dog from a shelter will cost you much less than it would cost to purchase a German Shepherd from a breeder. Many owners of German shepherd mixes choose to adopt their dogs from animal shelters instead of going through the time and effort to purchase one from a breeder. While there is nothing wrong with this, you need to be aware that there are several different German Shepherd breeders out there and not all of them will raise good quality dogs. There is also the possibility that shelter dogs could have been exposed to unhealthy conditions. It is your responsibility to research before choosing a shelter to adopt a German shepherd mix puppy from. All shelters should be checked out thoroughly by the proper authorities so as not to make the situation worse for the dog. If you decide to go through with purchasing a German shepherd-chow mix puppy, then you should understand that the breeding process can be very complicated. Not only does the mother have to be ready to take over the entire litter, but she also has to have proper pups to take care of. Although the German Shepherd breed has some excellent temperament, it is important to remember that these dogs were originally intended to be used as herding dogs. They were originally intended to be used for herding cattle. This means they were originally used for sheepherders and farmers. A good way to help you understand the history of the German shepherd is to do some online research. You can learn about the origin of the breed, the original breeding methods used to develop the current dogs, and how they are being raised today. Knowing all of this information will help you better understand the German shepherd mix for sale. The more you know about the breed, the more likely it is that you will make the best possible choice when purchasing one for your household. One thing to keep in mind when searching for German shepherd-chow mix puppies for sale is that many of the current owners of these dogs no longer want them. Part of this may have to do with the type of work that they are getting. Many of these dogs were used as herding dogs and had to be raised in large stables to help them exercise and live up to their breeding standards. Some of these dogs were sold because their owners could not keep up with the expenses associated with keeping such a large dog. TherSome lucky ones will up with a large enough purebred chow that they can maintain their current lifestyle while also making sure they are getting a great companion dog. German shepherd dogs mix puppies for sale come in a variety of colors and patterns and should appeal to the majority of dog owners. The large size of some of these dogs combined with their beautiful coats can make them a popular option for many households. Just remember that owning a German shepherd is not something to take lightly. You must take care of these dogs properly or they will not perform the way they were designed to. If you are willing to put the time and effort into finding the right German shepherd-chow mix for sale, your family and the dogs you bring home will benefit from the wonderful companionship you receive. Share this:.

With some simple knowledge and proactive care, you can help your Frenchie stay healthy and happy. What Is a French Bulldog? A French Bulldog, commonly referred to as a Frenchie, is a small breed of Bulldog that originated in France. This breed is typically stocky and muscular, with a distinctive bat-like look. They have a short coat that can come in a variety of colors, usually tan, cream, gray, or brindle. French Bulldogs have a friendly and personable disposition, making them an ideal companion for families. Frenchie owners should be aware of the potential for hair loss due to allergies, parasites, and endocrine diseases. Regular visits to the veterinarian for check-ups and vaccinations are essential for ensuring that your Frenchie stays healthy and free of any issues. Parasites, and endocrine diseases are some of the most common culprits. Allergies can be caused by environmental irritants, like pollen or household cleaners, or by certain foods. Like mites or fleas, can cause irritation leading to hair loss. Endocrine diseases are caused by a disruption of hormones in the body, leading to hair loss. There are steps you can take to prevent hair loss in your Frenchie. Make sure to keep them away from allergens, keep them up-to-date on flea and tick treatments, and have your veterinarian regularly check for any signs of endocrine disease. You should also keep an eye out for any signs of irritation or itchiness, as these can be telltale signs of a potential problem. Catching hair loss early can help prevent it from becoming a bigger issue. Allergies Allergies are a common cause of hair loss in French Bulldogs. Dogs can be allergic to food ingredients, inhaled allergens, and even contact allergens. If your Frenchie has an allergic reaction, they can experience skin irritation, hair loss, and excessive scratching. To tell if they have an allergy, look out for symptoms such as red and inflamed skin, excessive scratching and biting, and bald patches in the fur. If your Frenchie has any of these symptoms, it would be a good idea to take them to the vet to find out the cause and get the right treatment. Try to keep your pup away from any potential allergens such as dust, pollen, and smoke. You should also make sure that your Frenchie is on a healthy diet as this can help prevent allergies. This can involve changing their diet, using topical treatments, or taking medication. French Bulldogs can suffer from a wide range of allergies that can cause hair loss. Common environmental allergies that can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs include dust mites, mold, and pollen. Food allergies, such as wheat and corn, can also cause hair loss in French Bulldogs. You can tell if your Frenchie has an allergy if you notice that he or she scratches excessively or is losing patches or clumps of hair. A vet can test your Frenchie for specific allergies. Parasites can also cause hair loss in French Bulldogs. Common parasites include fleas and ticks, which feed off of the blood of your Frenchie. An infestation of fleas and ticks can cause your Frenchie to lose patches of hair. If you find any, take your Frenchie to the vet to be checked. Endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism can also cause hair loss in French Bulldogs. If your Frenchie has an endocrine disease, they may lose patches of hair, have dry and flaky skin, or have an abnormally slow heartbeat. A blood test can determine if your Frenchie has an endocrine disease. If your Frenchie is diagnosed with one, they may need to take medication or supplements to control the symptoms. Look out for common signs of allergies in your Frenchie, such as persistent scratching, redness, dry and itchy skin, hair loss, and hives. Pay attention to any changes in their behavior, attitude, and appetite. If your Frenchie seems uncomfortable, off its food, or is avoiding certain places or objects, they may have an allergy. Keep an eye out for changes in their environment or diet, as these could be causing an allergic reaction. If you see any of these signs, you should visit your vet to get your pooch checked out as soon as possible. Parasites Parasites are one of the most common causes of hair loss in French Bulldogs. Ticks, and mites are the most common parasites that can cause hair loss in your Frenchie. The best way to tell if your dog has parasites is to inspect their coat for any signs of flea dirt or bites, as well as to check for any unusual skin irritation or scratching. You should also keep your Frenchie up to date on their flea and tick preventative treatments, as well as perform regular checkups with a veterinarian. If you think that your Frenchie might have parasites, the best thing to do is to take them to the veterinarian for a diagnosis. Your vet will be able to determine if your dog has any parasites, as well as what type of parasite they might have. They may also recommend certain treatments, such as flea and tick preventatives or other medications, to help get rid of the parasites. Regularly inspect their coat, keep them up to date on parasite preventatives, and take them to the vet if you suspect they have parasites. These steps can help ensure that your Frenchie stays healthy and happy, and that their hair loss is kept to a minimum. Parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites can cause your French Bulldog to experience hair loss. While fleas are the most common, ticks and mites can also be a culprit. When fleas bite your Frenchie, it can cause them to scratch and pull out their hair. If you notice your Frenchie scratching more than normal and see bumps or red patches on their skins, they may have a parasite. To check for parasites, you should inspect your dog, paying close attention to the skin around their neck, head, ears, and back. You should also feel for any bumps or irregular patches of fur. If you find any signs of parasites, you should take your Frenchie to the vet as soon as possible. See also Can Bulldogs Climb Stairs? And How to Train to Climb! The vet may recommend a medication or shampoo to help get rid of the parasites and prevent further hair loss. Taking preventive measures can also help to keep your French Bulldog healthy and free of parasites. Ensuring your dog gets adequate exercise and a balanced diet can go a long way in keeping them healthy and free of parasites. The most common way to determine if your French Bulldog has parasites is to take it to the vet for a physical examination. During the examination, the vet will look for signs of parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and mites. They may also draw blood to test for worms or other parasites. If your Frenchie has parasites, the vet will usually prescribe medication to treat them. If you notice bald spots, scabs or dry patches, or if your Frenchie has excessive scratching or licking of their skin, these can all be signs of parasites. If you think your Frenchie has parasites, you should take them to the vet right away. If any parasites are found, the vet will be able to recommend the appropriate treatment for your Frenchie. Endocrine Diseases Endocrine diseases can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs, just like allergies and parasites can. Look out for excessive drinking, frequent urination, weight loss, poor coat condition, and thinning hair. Any of these signs should be reported to your vet immediately. Both of these diseases can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs, though there are other issues that could also be at play. Keeping your pup groomed regularly and bathed frequently with a hypoallergenic shampoo can help keep allergies and parasites at bay. If you suspect your Frenchie might have an allergy or parasite, take them to the vet right away to get the right treatment and help prevent further hair loss. Endocrine diseases can cause significant hair loss in French Bulldogs. To tell if your Frenchie has an endocrine disease, look for physical symptoms such as dry and flaky skin, thinning fur, and excessive shedding. Other common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and heat intolerance. Take your pup to the vet for regular checkups and blood tests. Blood tests can tell you if your Frenchie has an endocrine disorder. This is enough to prevent endocrine diseases and hair loss. Avoid exposing your Frenchie to environmental factors or toxins that can trigger allergies or skin problems. You should look out for symptoms such as weight loss, excessive urination and thirst, skin changes, and changes in behavior. With proper care and attention, you can help ensure your Frenchie stays healthy and happy. Prevention Prevention is key when it comes to keeping your French Bulldog healthy and happy. One way you can reduce the risk of hair loss in your Frenchie is to stay on top of flea and tick prevention. Regularly check your pup for any signs of parasites and, if necessary, consult your vet for the best treatment option. Keep an eye out for any allergies your French Bulldog may develop. If you notice any signs of hair loss, it could be due to an allergic reaction. In this case, your vet may recommend an antihistamine to help alleviate the symptoms. With regular vet visits and a careful eye, you can help prevent hair loss in your French Bulldog! Preventing hair loss in your French Bulldog is an important part of responsible pet ownership. You can take steps to reduce the risk of your Frenchie developing this issue. Regularly check your pet for any signs of parasites or other conditions that could cause hair loss. If you find any, take your pet to the vet right away so they can be treated. Be sure to feed your Frenchie a healthy diet that includes essential vitamins and nutrients. This will help keep their coat and skin in optimal condition. Keep your Frenchie away from any substances that may cause allergies. Taking these preventative measures can go a long way in helping to prevent hair loss in your French Bulldog. Conclusion Preventing hair loss in your French Bulldog is fairly simple if you stay on top of it. Parasites, and endocrine diseases are all possible culprits. If you suspect your Frenchie has an allergy, talk to your vet to get an allergy test or skin patch test. To tackle parasites, work with your vet to determine the best medication. Beyond that, there are a few things you can do at home. Make sure to feed your Frenchie a balanced diet to ensure their fur is getting the proper nutrients. Post Views: .Flea 2. Physiologically, a major contributor is excessive licking. Frenchie tends to resort to this when they are bored, stressed or anxious. When you allow your Frenchie to engage in this, the enzymes from the saliva they release can cause an irritation, which gives rise to a localized dermatitis and may become generalized over time. While a human being who is allergic may exhibit such symptoms as watering of the eyes, a runny nose or even itchy skin, Frenchies that are allergic show signs on their skin and ears. Basically, by excessive scratching due to the itchy skin or chewing of the hair in an effort to relieve themselves. Watch out for the following things that your Frenchie can be allergic to: i. Foods ii. Inhaled Allergens iii. Other materials One of the most common allergies in dogs, not particular to Frenchies is Flea allergy. So, check to see that your French bulldog is free of this. There are different species of mites what cause mange to Frenchie; it is the Demodex species which cause the Demodectic mange, or the Sarcoptes species which cause the Sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is usually localized on one spot of an infected Frenchie while the Sarcoptic mange is much more general on the body of the infected dog, it is also contagious to humans, unlike the demodectic mange. If these hormones get to a certain level, high or low, either by over-production or by under-production, it is considered to be abnormal and therefore can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs. One of the most common hormonal problems that can cause hair loss in French Bulldogs is called Hypothyroidism, which occurs when the canine thyroid gland is not functioning properly and thus produces hormones below the normal level. This hormonal problem can rapidly increase the rate of hair loss and cause the hair to become brittle and dry. For example, dogs with inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or who are undergoing regular chemotherapy, often have dull and thinning hair. Frenchie that have kidney failure can be observed to have unkempt, dull coats and may have a musty smell coming from their skin. For dogs with liver failure, they may have orange-yellow skin and nails that grow but are flaky and brittle. These are some common causes of Hair Loss for French Bulldog. Do you know more and you'll like to add to advance this knowledge? Please, leave us a comment below. Thanks for reading. Some hair loss cases can be severe and will require both medical diagnosis and treatment. While a French Bulldog losing hair rapidly can be alarming, the best thing that a dog owner can do is be prepared to know what they are looking for to best treat their pet. So Why is my French Bulldog losing so much hair? The most common reason for hair loss in dogs is parasites and allergies. While stress and some other health issues may cause hair loss in dogs, these are typically issues that occur in older, larger breeds. Hair loss due to Allergies Your French Bulldog losing fur could be caused by an allergic reaction, the most common trigger for hair loss in dogs. Like humans, dogs can be susceptible to several allergens, each producing its effect. Most dogs are allergic to flea bites, with the severity varying in each dog. Hair loss from allergies can also be caused by shampoo or other topical solutions; rashes and hair loss that occur from such a reaction usually show up within hours of exposure. Food allergies or environmental allergies may also cause your French Bulldog to develop unhealthy, itchy, or irritated skin, resulting in a shorter or thinner coat. Your Frenchie can develop an allergy to a food or environmental condition over time, so such an allergy may be difficult to discern as it occurs. Beyond fleas, lice, ticks, and mites are other external parasites that can cause hair loss as they irritate your Frenchie and cause biting, itching, or scratching. Ringworm is a particularly contagious external parasite that causes hair loss in your dog and can spread to humans. The infection presents itself in a ring or circle patch of hair loss. A French Bulldog losing fur can also be attributed to internal parasites, as an infection of this manner often causes malnutrition in dogs. The primary internal parasites dog owners should be aware of are roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and giardia. Dogs that experience hypothyroidism may also be prone to losing fur and having bald spots. These are more serious conditions that require medical attention and diagnosis. Stress is another possible contributing factor to your French Bulldog losing hair. Travel, environmental changes, or any other significant life change or alteration may cause such stress in your French Bulldog that it begins to shed or lose fur at a concerning pace. What are symptoms of hair loss in my French Bulldog? A dog presenting serious hair loss may also have itchy skin that appears scaly or even discolored. You may notice that your French Bulldog losing fur is shedding more than usual, and the fur may even appear dry or brittle. Dry or brittle fur is especially common in a dog suffering from ringworm which causes the fur to fall out as the fungus spreads. If your French Bulldog is experiencing a more severe case of hair loss, the texture and volume of its coat will most likely see these changes. If your French Bulldog is losing hair or fur, behaviors to watch out for may be increased itching or biting of the skin. A dog going through the discomfort of a condition that is causing hair loss may also begin to groom more frequently, to the point of causing damage to the coat and skin in some cases. For a French Bulldog experiencing hair loss due to increased dryness and itchiness, several topical solutions are available to dog owners that are easy and cheap to perform. Suppose you believe your French Bulldog losing hair results from an external parasite. Fleas and other external parasites such as lice, ticks, and mites may find this mixture to be toxic or unpleasant; however, dog owners must be careful not to use this mixture on any open cuts, wounds, or sores that may be present on irritated skin as this will hurt your dog. This remedy aims to make your dog skinless appetizing parasites such as fleas, ticks, mites, or lice. What can my vet do? A veterinarian will need to evaluate your Frenchie to determine its symptoms and proceed with treatment. Suppose your French Bulldog losing hair is being caused by an allergen or external parasite. In that case, a veterinarian can provide medicine or topical solutions to treat the allergy reaction or rid your dog of the allergenic parasite. The resolution to assisting your Frenchie in dealing with an internal parasite causing hair loss will be similar. After examining your Frenchie and determining that your dog has an internal parasite, an experienced veterinarian can offer medicinal treatment with clear follow-up instruction and direction to get rid of these parasites. Surgery is also another option to resolve health issues related to these conditions. If you notice that your French Bulldog is experiencing abnormal hair loss, the best course of action is to be aware of the many potential causes. Whether your Frenchie is losing hair due to parasites, both external or internal, or is suffering from some other condition, you have the power to help them. However, you choose to help your Frenchie with unusual shedding or hair loss, which will vary depending on several factors. The most important factor will be that your Frenchie is in the care of an invested and loving dog owner. Scaled skin Hair loss Your vet should have no trouble diagnosing mange since the symptoms are obvious. The good news is, the condition can be treated. Your Frenchie will receive oral antibiotics, a topical cream, and a special shampoo — and get better real soon. This area is easily irritated and prone to bleeding. However, you must address the behavioral and psychological causes of this condition, too. It can be over-production or under-production of a particular hormone, such as estrogen, testosterone, or thyroxin. In such cases, a dog can have dull, thinning hair or an unusual smell or color of the skin. These infections can be: Parasitic Fungal These infections are often caused by an immune system disorder. The most common infection in dogs is called folliculitis. The treatment should address the underlying causes as well as relieve the symptoms. The latter is generally achieved through the application of topical creams and antimicrobial shampoos. Being highly contagious, ringworm is a common occurrence, as well. Dogs commonly pick the ringworm up while digging in the dirt — especially if they already have a minor injury on their paws or head. The condition is treated with an anti-fungal shampoo and topical medications. It usually takes a couple of weeks. Important Note About Hair Loss Treatment If you think your French Bulldog might have any of the listed conditions, visit a vet for a proper diagnosis and timely treatment. Do not try to treat any medical conditions on your own! Once you get the correct treatment course from a licensed vet, be sure to follow through with it. If left untreated, some of these conditions could even be fatal. Final words Frenchies have a short, fine coat that they shed a couple of times a year. Regular grooming and brushing can help, though. Luckily, this is regular seasonal hair loss — and thus, no cause for concern. As for problematic, out-of-the-ordinary hair loss, you must address it as soon as possible. If you notice any patches and bald spots in isolated areas, take your dog to the vet immediately. The sooner you start treatment, the less room there is for complications. When not writing, he enjoys hiking and time in nature with his pets. This is a pretty scary situation to be in. Try not to get too afraid, though. Here is some information about the hair loss that you should take note of. Some breeds will naturally shed more than others. Some kids are going to shed very little. French bulldogs don't shed very much, but they do shed their undercoat twice a year. Since french bulldogs don't shed that often, you know that seeing patches of hair falling out is very abnormal. Here are a few things that may have caused this hair loss: 1- The Hair Is Falling out Because of a Lack of Nutrition According to Royal Canin , most dogs will begin to lose their hair if they are not eating a well-balanced diet. It is very similar to what would happen to humans if they weren't eating the right foods. Most dog owners care about the health of their pets, so they try to cook the dog's meals and make foods as natural as possible. Going the homecooked route is an excellent alternative to generic kibble. However, it is a method that should be used with caution. You must make sure that the diet is equal, consistent, and well-balanced. Generic kibble is quite dull, but it does the trick as far as making sure there is a balance in the ingredients. If you are making it yourself, you should try to include the same components if not better. Most dog owners trip up on this and cause more harm than healing. Your veterinarian might try to see if anything else contributed to the hair loss first. If you find that the hair loss is due to the diet, work with your vet to come up with a proper one. The most common problems stem from Hypothyroidism and having a low thyroid problem. Most people mistake the two and cause a misdiagnosis. However, it is true that those problems cause significant hair loss. Diseases can cause hair loss, as well. Cushing's disease would be another one. Cushing's disease happens when the dog is producing too many hormones. The overproduction of hormones suppresses the body's ability to grow hair properly. According to The Honest Kitchen , Cushing's disease can also cause skin thinning and hyperpigmentation. Your veterinarian will most likely prescribe the dog a thyroid medication to control the overproduction. Your dog may also have to undergo some testing to ensure that nothing is leading to a bigger problem. Environmental means that the dog is allergic to something in the environment. It might be a fragrance or a certain spray that you use or a certain plant that is in the room. Any of these allergic reactions can cause major hair loss. The dog might also be very itchy and scratchy. Hair loss won't be the only symptom of an allergic reaction. In some cases, you can probably get an over-the-counter drug to treat some reactions that your dog has. Wag Walking recommends that you keep track of all events of hair loss so you can make a detailed report to the vet. Sometimes there can be more than one reason why the hair is falling out. Bacterial infections and yeast infections are sometimes a side effect of another infection or disease. In that case, avoid self-diagnosing at all costs. Contact a professional for a proper evaluation of the problem. Your vet will probably give you some antibiotics to treat the illnesses. If your dog has ringworm, you will most likely get some type of cream or ointment. There are two versions of the mange disease. Demodectic mange cannot be transmitted to any humans. Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to other people. This parasitic mites that come from this disease will thrive in the hair follicles. Since they are biting at the roots of the hair, it will begin to fall out. Sarcoptic mange is very itchy as well. After a while, you may notice that there are scabs and sores on the skin from the bites. It is best to avoid freaking out if this situation ever occurs. Just talk to your vet and be patient. This type of disease can be taken care of with the same products used to eliminate fleas and ticks. Metastatic cancer is paraneoplastic that is common as well. Paraneoplastic means that it is an internal disease that manifests itself onto the skin of the dog. In order to find out if your dog has this type of cancer, your dog will have to get diagnosed through a biopsy at the veterinarian's location. Your dog will most likely be treated through medication and some form of chemotherapy. This type of alopecia is most common in English bulldogs. It can happen to french bulldogs , but it is pretty rare. When it happens, the hair will be dark, and it won't cause any itching. Most dog owners don't have to medicate this problem because the hair will grow back on its own. If you do go to the vet for this, you might just get a melatonin medication. Hills Pet suggests that if you live in a moderate climate, seasonal shedding will be minimal. Remember to consult a professional before you get any medication or try to diagnose the problem on your own. One symptom could be the result of multiple problems and vice versa. Take a look at this YouTube video for more information on how you can treat and prevent hair loss. Shannon Cutts As a freelance pet writer and blogger, Shannon is passionate about crafting knowledge-based, science-supported articles that foster healthy bonds of love and respect between people and animals. But her first and very most important job is as a dog auntie and cockatiel, tortoise, and box turtle mama. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to this site. Pin 0 Shares All breeds of dog shed their hair, and even short-haired breeds like Frenchies can shed a lot, more so depending on the time of year. I put these notes together for you to act as a primer before you talk to the vet — which of course, you should do any time you notice hair loss patches and unusual bald spots on your Frenchie. I will explain in as a helpful a way as possible all I know about French Bulldog hair loss and what I have learned about Frenchie alopecia. Why is my French Bulldog losing so much hair? Once you rule that out, you can then explore the possibility of bald spots and alopecia due to entirely different reasons. You can see what it looks like in a video on our French Bulldog YouTube channel. Why Frenchies lose their hair by shedding Frenchies will lose their undercoat hair about twice a year; replacing their thinner or thicker coats for summer or wintertime. However, if your Frenchie is losing more hair than is normal, then it could be a sign of a skin condition , allergies or another medical condition. The bottom line is, you should always talk to your vet for a professional opinion, but there are some tell-tale signs that your Frenchie is losing hair for a different reason. It could be that you see bald patches and bald spots that were not there before? But why is your French Bulldog losing so much hair? Is there anything wrong? And is there anything you can do about it? There are many reasons your French Bulldog could be suffering from hair loss, all of which a vet would check for during an appointment. These include: 1. Allergies Like humans, Frenchies can also suffer from a range of allergies to different materials, environmental factors, or food. This can lead to skin irritations, causing them to scratch , bite and chewing on their fur, leading to hair loss. Common allergies include plastic and latex materials, dyeing agents, cleaning products, plants, antibiotics or certain ingredients in types of dog food. Acute moist dermatitis is often caused by moisture and dampness in folds of skin, especially around the neck area. You might see your French Bulldog losing hair on sides of the mouth and neck area bald spots. Mange Mange can be a scary word for many Frenchie owners, conjuring images or scabbed and furless dogs, but it is actually quite a common condition, being highly contagious between dogs. Sarcoptic mange or canine scabies is the most common of the two and is highly contagious. It causes intense itching and, as a result of scratching, dogs suffer open sores, scabs and hair loss. The good news is, that mange is easily treated using oral antibiotics and topical creams and shampoos. Your vet will be able to diagnose mange within seconds of seeing your Frenchie, hair loss being one of the obvious signs. Stress related hair loss When a dog is anxious, restless or just bored, they can find a release of some of that excess energy through licking themselves and things around them. Handy Hint: Often Frenchies will create bald patches due to licking when stressed with separation anxiety. Often found on the lower parts of their legs, it results in a red patch of furless skin, which can often become irritated or even begin to bleed. If you see French Bulldog alopecia on their flanks, this is what the hair loss could be. The dermatitis and infection can be treated with antibiotics, anti-lick strips and topical medicines, whilst the behavioral and psychological cause can be helped through training, more interaction with the animal and longer walks to relieve their excess energy. Hormones Just like humans, Frenchies can suffer from hormonal imbalances, such as the over-production or under-production of oestrogen, testosterone, thyroxin or other hormones, which can cause hair loss among other symptoms. One of the most common causes, however, is hypothyroidism, caused through a malfunction in the canine thyroid gland; this can be treated with an oral hormone replacement medication, such as thyroxine. Hormonal imbalances can result in hair loss patches and bald spots on areas such as the back, tail, around the mouth, sides of the body, and around the eyes. Abnormal organ functions While it is rarer, other things that causes hair loss in French Bulldogs can be problems with their internal organs, such as kidneys, liver, and intestines. Health issues like bowel disease, kidney failure, and liver failure can cause dull, thinning hair liver failure also causing orange-yellow skin, and kidney failure is accompanied by a musty smell to their coats. Bacterial infection French Bulldogs can also lose their hair due to parasitic infections like as ringworm, or bacterial and fungal infections like folliculitis. Sometimes caused by previously mentioned forms of dermatitis and immune system disorders, folliculitis shows itself through a collection of red swellings around the hair follicles but can be treated with topical creams and antimicrobial shampoos as well as treatment to any underlying cause. Ringworm appears in lesions on the head, ears, and paws of a dog, and if often picked up when your dog is digging around in the dirt where the fungus resides. Ringworm is easily tested for and can be treated with an anti-fungal shampoo and topical medication over the course of a couple of weeks. If you are concerned that your dog may have any of the above conditions or are just worried about possible causes of French Bulldog hair loss, always visit your vet for a proper, medical opinion and diagnosis before taking any steps to treating your pet yourself. How to treat hair loss in a French Bulldog Some of these conditions, when left untreated, can cause harm to your Frenchie. In more serious cases, hair loss can often be the sign of a fatal disease so needs to be checked out by a professional. Once you have a diagnosis from a licensed vet, they will often prescribe a medical hair loss treatment for your Frenchie, ranging from topical creams and hydrocortisone shampoos to hormone treatment and antibiotics. Change their diet If your Frenchie has an allergy to a particular ingredient in dog food, then the obvious remedy is to change what you are feeding them. Natural topical remedies There are some common kitchen ingredients that you might already have that can help relieve the itching from dry skin conditions. By relieving the itching, you can reduce the hair loss and bald patches from scratching and licking. Some dog owners say lemon juice helps. It contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, as does apple cider vinegar, which can also help to boost the immune system. To use it, simply dilute the lemon juice or vinegar in warm water, before dipping a cotton ball into the mixture and applying it to the affected bald patch. Regular brushing will help to keep the hair healthy and could lead to a reduction in how much hair your French Bulldog loses each day. Use a humidifier Room humidifiers can really help a dog with dry and itchy skin, meaning less scratching, thus reduced hair loss. More about French Bulldog bald spots French bulldogs with hair loss behind ears Mites are a common cause of hair loss in Frenchies, even those with shorter fur, and one of the common symptoms of a mite or tick infestation in your dog is fur loss behind their ears. Ear mites are an extremely common and highly contagious species of mite in cats and dogs, causing scabbed skin around the back of their ears, as well as lesions from your pet constantly scratching to relieve the itching sensation. These open wounds can also lead to bacterial infections, resulting in crusting and discharge of pus, which may have to be treated separately. It is important that the mite infestation is treated, as it is the root cause. Once the mites have been got rid of, the scratching and skin lesions will often resolve themselves with a little topical treatment. After a few weeks you might then see the hair loss behind the ears grow back to what it used to be before the mites took hold. However, it can also be a sign of allergies. Often, allergies or skin issues can begin around the eyes and ears of your dog, before spreading outwards around the body. Common signs of discomfort around their eyes include rubbing their faces against things, excessive scratching of a particular area, eye-watering, sneezing and a runny nose. If your Frenchie is losing patches of hair around their eyes, be sure to check for any open sores and raw skin which can be a sign of dermatitis , as well as lesions and scaly skin in localized areas a symptom of ringworm. The definition of French Bulldog alopecia While it may sound like a terrible skin condition, alopecia is actually just the name for seasonal baldness. Often found in breeds of French, American and British Bulldogs, this type of hair loss is completely natural and is caused by changes in the seasons. Shorter periods of sunlight during the day triggers their hormones to regrow their fur into a thicker coat, ready for the approach of winter, and then back again for a thinner summer coat. Because of this, French Bulldog baldness and hair loss does not result in any skin conditions, dryness or itching, and is purely just a change in outward appearance and over time the hair will grow back. When seasonal baldness comes into effect, you may notice these bald patches are far darker than the rest of their skin, resulting from hyperpigmentation. This is usually seen around their flanks and hind legs, but after a while, the hair will regrow and cover the area. Conclusion Despite Frenchies only having a very short, fine coat and only losing their undercoat a couple of times a year, they do produce a lot of hair. This will often be mistaken for problematic hair loss — which instead is typically when you see patches and bald spots in isolated areas rather than uniform hair loss with natural shedding. But just like any other furry friend, they also shed. Dogs normally shed hair to get rid of extra or damaged hair and to cool down during the summer months. However, if you notice that your Frenchie is shedding more hair than usual, they might be suffering from a skin condition. Is it normal for a French Bulldog to lose hair? As I mentioned in the intro, hair loss is a common process for all dog breeds as they shed. Why is my French Bulldog losing hair? There are several different reasons as to why a French Bulldog loses hair. Here are the primary ones: Food irritants — know what you are feeding your dog all the time and avoid foods that may cause allergies. Environmental irritants — pollens and other airborne irritants can cause skin conditions for Frenchies. Hot spot or acute moist dermatitis — a condition that is common to all canines but especially Frenchies who develop moisture in their skin folds. Chronic dry skin — caused by too much bathing. Dandruff — hair dandruff caused by allergens inside your house. Skin allergies due to food and environmental irritants are the most common reasons why French Bulldogs lose hair. You will know if your Frenchie is having an allergy issue if they start licking or chewing their paws constantly, rubbing their face for no reason on the ground, or scratching non-stop at their ears Because of the folds in their skin especially on the lower jaw, French Bulldogs also develop lip-fold pyoderma, a bacteria, and yeast infection due to the constant moistness in the folded area. A severe lip-fold pyoderma can cause their skin to redden and it can spread and lead to hair loss. To reduce the chance of hair loss on your French Bulldog, give your furry friend these three things — routine care , good diet , and enough exercise. Routine care — Treat your Frenchie like your own child. Be sure to brush their hair regularly, check their wrinkles for moisture or yeast infections, and keep them away from typical food or environmental irritants as much as possible. Good diet — Feed your French Bulldog a lean diet which is free from typical food irritants that cause allergies. If they are acting strange and scratching their skin constantly, check with your veterinarian. Wrapping up There is no need to wait for your dog to start having hot spots and dry patches before visiting a veterinarian. If you think your French Bulldog is shedding more hair than usual and has been vigorously scratching, start checking for possible causes. If you are not feeding it anything out of the ordinary, check the environment your pup is playing in.

Aug 3, Share German Shepherds tend to have between five and nine puppies in a litter. Eight is the average. According to the AKC , the largest litter registered was 17 puppies. This litter size is significantly larger than some other breeds. German Shepherds are larger dogs, so they are going to have more puppies than smaller breeds. For instance, Dachshunds only have one to six puppies on average. The largest litter ever came from a Neapolitan Mastiff, a breed that can reach pounds. When it comes to litter sizes, size does matter. It is impossible to tell how many puppies that a particular dog might have until she gets further into her pregnancy. These factors may help you make a good guess, however. This is most obvious when comparing different dog breeds. In turn, small breeds have small litters. However, the exact size of the dog also matters. Smaller German Shepherds will have smaller litters on average than larger German Shepherds. If your dog is larger, she may end up having a larger litter, or she might not. This will reduce the overall size of the litter. Even if you feed her excellent food and take care of her, underlying health problems can cause puppies to perish before they are fully developed. Diabetes is an excellent example of this. However, improperly fluctuating blood sugar can have a massive impact on growing puppies. Without the proper blood sugar levels, many puppies will not develop properly. Short-term conditions can also cause some puppies to develop improperly and be reabsorbed. For instance, infections can cause one or more puppies to stop developing altogether. Most miscarriages go unnoticed without any clinical signs, especially if only a few puppies are lost. Only late-term miscarriages usually get noticed. This seems to happen most commonly in purebred dogs, according to the vets at High Street Steeping Vet Clinic. Purebred dogs may have more genetic abnormalities than mixed breed dogs because they inherit traits from a smaller genetic pool. The odds of them inheriting something harmful is higher, simply because there are fewer genes for them to inherit. Many purebred dogs are also inbred, including the German Shepherd. Middle-aged German Shepherds tend to have larger litters than younger and older dogs. German Shepherds typically have the largest litters around age 5. After that, they may decline in size. However, this decline is more rapid and apparent in some dogs than others. Many older dogs have health problems, which likely affects their litter size too. Some of these health impacts may go unnoticed and therefore, be wrongly attributed to age. Season There is evidence that the season that the dog gives birth affects the litter size. However, other studies found no correlation between when the litter was born and the overall litter size. There may be a regional component to this, though. In areas with more significant seasonal changes, the season may make more of a difference. In the tropics, it may not. However, more studies are needed to determine this possibility. Heritability Studies have found that dogs may inherit their litter size potential. Dogs that are born to bigger litters tend to have bigger litters themselves. If there is another factor at play, it will likely take precedent. Plus, much of this heritability may be linked to the size of the dog. Many dogs are going to be a similar size as their parents. Nutrition Image Credit: Monika Wisniewska, Shutterstock There are a few nutritional components that can affect litter size and the overall health of the mother and her puppies. When a mother dog becomes pregnant, her nutritional needs change. Protein is essential for pregnant dogs. This is similar to what puppies need, so many pregnant dogs are often fed puppy-intended dog food. Fatty acids may also play a role. Dogs with lower levels of serum glucose in their amniotic fluid tend to have smaller litter sizes. Therefore, feeding them a diet higher in omega fatty acids may be helpful. Image Credit: J. Feeding your canine a better diet may result in a bigger litter, for instance. If your dog is sick, it is paramount that you treat them before attempting to create a litter. However, these factors have to be adjusted before the dog gets pregnant. Once the dog has conceived, it is impossible to increase their litter size, though you can prevent losses. There are also many factors out of your control. While there are a few things that you can do to reduce the risk of these issues, you can never prevent them entirely. Even if your dog lives in a clean environment and is healthy, infections can still occur. You should be feeding her food suitable for puppies as soon as you plan on breeding her or at least as soon as you find out that she is pregnant. Choosing which dogs to breed also impacts litter size and can be controlled to a certain extent. However, some dogs may have small litter sizes but may otherwise be great breeding candidates. In general, to increase your dog's litter size, we recommend doing the following: Regular testing for infections Regular vet checks for reproductive tract disease Final Thoughts The average German Shepherd litter size is about eight puppies. However, there are many factors that can go into this. Keeping your dog healthy is essential to maximizing litter sizes. But many factors are outside of your control. If a puppy inherits specific genes, they are less likely to develop correctly and make it to birth, lowering the overall litter size. Related Reads:. All Rights Reserved This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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Register other orgs Recommended breed health tests We have established, through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Health Information Center, the following recommended health tests for our breed December 27, services , breed education , health , health testing , OFA One of our goals as a custodian for the WSSD breed, is to ensure the future health of the breed by maintaining a health database of breed stock and determining applicable health testing to be done by breeders to ensure healthy progeny. This means keeping track of known abnormalities in the breed, as well as abnormalities in the breed that we share common ancestry with, the GSD. This breed is overall a healthy one, but no breed is completely free of health concerns. Our breed standard calls for a very balanced structure, with no topline slope desired. Excessive front and rear angles, which are found commonly in the GSD, are serious faults in competitions of conformation beauty in this breed. PennHIP results will be considered final for any dogs tested at the age of 8 months or older. OFA hip testing will assess the overall formation of hips, however this method have no ability to actually assess the laxity of the hip, given that their evaluation is based on a single view. PennHip on the other hand, gathers its information from three views: distraction view, compression view, and hip-extended view. With these three views PennHip is able to measure the percentage of laxity by taking an actual measurement of movement within the joint by comparing the multiple views. The more laxity, the looser the joint. The looser the joint, the more likely that injury, arthritis, or dysplasia will present. In our opinion, any WSSD with a. Given the occasional incongruence of results between the OFA hip and PennHIP evaluation, it may be beneficial to test using both methods in order to obtain the most data. There is no PennHip equivalent test for elbows. Elbows can develop dysplasia just like hips, and breedstock should be tested prior to being bred. Issue with elbows can arise in several ways. Injury can easily occur to an elbow joint, that is completely unrelated to genetics, due to the fact that much of the joint actually does not harden into bone until 6 or 7 months of age. This makes elbows and relatively fragile in young puppies. In a nutshell, a dog can be forced to grow too fast if its diet is not proper for the dogs specific needs at the time. Too much protein or incorrect ratios between the various parts of the diet. A diet designed for large breed puppies will prevent joint issues due to overnutrition if the puppy is kept in proper weight. The third way elbow joint can have a problem is through genetics. A poorly structured and weak elbowed parent, will contribute its DNA to its offspring, and pass on a negative trait. A good breeder will monitor all possibilities, and weed out dogs that are passing on weak elbows genetically. MDR1 Multi-drug Resistance 1, is a gene mutation that is found in many herding breeds, including this one. It is not a disease per se, but gene is responsible for the production of P-glycoprotein, which is normally responsible for transporting certain drugs out of the brain. Dogs that have a mutation in the MDR1 gene, which inhibits their ability to remove certain drugs from the brain and can lead up to a buildup of toxins, may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs, including seizures, tremors, disorientation, blindness, lack of muscle control or even death. Higher doses generally times higher than the heartworm prevention dose have been documented to cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation. Loperamide ImodiumTM; antidiarrheal agent - At doses used to treat diarrhea, this drug will cause neurological toxicity in dogs with the MDR1 mutation. This drug should be avoided in all dogs with the MDR1 mutation. It can cause central nervous system depression in dogs with the MDR1 mutation at standard doses. DM Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination ataxia in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag the feet. In the GSD and our breed, it has become known that the current test for DM is not necessarily accurate in determining whether a dog will get DM or not. There are cases of dogs with the mutation never getting DM, and cases of dogs without the mutation actually getting DM. This is likely because DM is either a polygenetic disease or has an epigenetic component not yet discovered. Due to the genetic history of our breed being tied to the German Shepherd Dog, who has a higher than normal instance of this disease, we encourage dna testing for this mutation. Hemophilia A This is another disease that we recommend testing for that possible due to common ancestry with the German Shepherd Dog. This disease consists of a tendency to uncontrollable bleeding at the slightest trauma. It is a sex-linked inherited deficiency of the blood clotting Factor 8 F V.The FV gene lies on the X chromosome and any male with a defective X chromosome will be affected by the condition. All confirmed published data on German Shepherd Dogs suffering from hemophilia in the European countries can be traced back to one dog: Canto von der Wienerau. Canto was born in and lived only 4 years, however reportedly sired over litters. All his daughters were carriers and half of their offspring would be affected males or carrier females. How to have genetic, soft tissue, and radiographic tests done Forms for submission of health tests of for our breed are to get submitted to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals OFA. OFA is where you will submit all test results. Genetic health testing is an integral part of a sound dog breeding program. When using genetic health testing it is important for breeders to educate themselves about concepts such as modes of inheritance, penetrance, prevalence, and phenotype for a specific variant mutation in your breed in order to apply test results. Breeders also need to know which variants are causing health concerns in their breed, and which health conditions currently have no genetic test available. This handy search function by breed or by health condition can show breeders which DNA tests Embark provides. The health condition percentages based on clear, carrier, and at-risk status presented on common, rare, and very rare genetic risk factors are based on a subset of dogs within the Embark database and do not necessarily represent all dogs of this breed. While we are not able to provide specific population numbers at this time, we believe the data provided here to be sufficient to inform on current trends within the North American population of German Shepherd Dogs. Because the nerves that control the hind limbs are the first to degenerate, the most common clinical signs are back muscle wasting and gait abnormalities. Its role is to make the plug stable by adding fibrin to the clot. Dogs with CSS have platelets that cannot signal in response to stimuli to induce platelet activation or death. The mode of inheritance is codominant. Cone cells not only register color, they allow the dog to adjust their eyes to bright light. Dogs with this disease constantly feel like us when we step out of a movie theater. Night vision remains completely unaffected. This mutation causes the normal activation of white blood cells and platelets in response to an injury or infection to fail. Dogs with this disorder can bleed spontaneously into their chest, abdomen, or joints. They will also develop significant bruising and profuse bleeding following a trauma or surgery. The gene is F8 and the mode of inheritance is x-linked recessive. In most dogs, uric acid is converted to allantoin, an inert substance that is then excreted in the urine. Dogs with HUU have defects in the pathway that converts uric acid to allantoin. As such, uric acid builds up, crystallizes and forms urate stones in the kidney and bladder. Uric acid is an intermediate of purine metabolism. While hyperuricemia in other species including humans can lead to painful conditions such as gout, dogs do not develop systemic signs of hyperuricemia. When the lysosome cannot recycle waste properly, the waste accumulates and causes the cell to die. Mucopolysaccharidoses MPS are defined by abnormal buildup of glycosaminoglycans, large sugar-protein molecules that are important for skeletal and joint function. The gene is GUSB and the mode of inheritance is recessive. The gene is FLCN and the mode of inheritance is dominant. This developmental condition can cause a scanty hair coat, malformed teeth, and few or absent sweat glands. The gene is EDA and the mode of inheritance is x-linked recessive. Citations: Casal et al With 10 known conditions in German Shepherd Dogs, this is evidence that genetic disorders are of concern within the breed and other conditions are likely to be identified in the future. Canine Health and Breed Resources. They are so helpful, knowledgeable people and particular with their breeding program. Their dogs are beautiful, intelligent, solid, and very healthy. They train dogs and offer many training classes from beginning to advanced. Best place to go when looking for the best German Shepherd dogs or where to train your dog of any breed. I Highly recommend Vom Haus Audax. Masters of their craft. And are exceptionally organized in how they run the business, breeding, board and train etc. Very clear upfront cost, transparent process, and a emphasis on great communication. You get all of this when doing business with them. Our journey: We got our little gsd boy Mamba from Kim and Jason. And the process was nothing short of amazing. Still is amazing. Yes, we loved it from a process stand point and we have learned a TON from Kim and Jason, but we have also come to feel like part of their pack. Part of the family. And we have appreciated that as new puppy owners. They truly care about every puppy they breed and every home those pups go to. If you are looking for a puppy, and get a dog from them that they bred, you are getting the highest pedigree of a GSD. Every part of the journey has been so refreshing and makes us feel like adding our new member to the family was the best decision ever. And we KNOW, we will always have a great support system. Overall: So if you are looking to add a gsd to the family Kim and Jason are your people. You will not regret it. These are the folks you want in your corner. So glad we met them, they are family now to us. Temperament, health, and of course handsomeness was paramount in choosing a puppy - all of our criteria was met. Our puppy enrolled in puppy class then later he graduated to obedience training. Under the thorough, knowledgeable, and patient instruction of Kim and Jason, our dog blossomed into a fine family pet. Everyday our wonderful dog brings us immeasurable joy. We cannot thank Kim and Jason enough. They go above and beyond in all they do and truly understand dogs and their unique behaviors. We will usually produce 2 litters a year, occasionally 3 if the timing and other circumstances allow, but because we personally train and compete in a wide variety of venues with all of our dogs and spend countless hours socializing, playing with, and observing each litter, to produce more than that would be counter productive to the goals and high standards we have for our breeding program. Because we do compete with all of our dogs and spend so much time with each litter of puppies, we know and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each dog and puppy and can and will happily discuss them. Early Training and Socialization From the moment they are born, our puppies are imprinted with human contact. They are identified with colored collars so we can track their weight, health, behaviors, and personalities as they grow. Every week, the puppies weights are recorded, their nails are trimmed, and photos are taken. As they grow and develop, we introduce the pups to many different stimuli. Different surfaces are put down for them to walk and play on such as tarps, plastic, wood, cardboard, metal, textured fabric items, dirt, grass, cement, tile. Also, while taking safety into consideration, they are introduced to unstable surfaces like wobble boards, rolled around on wheels, lifted up and down on a hydraulic table, driven around in a vehicle, suspended in air with hands or harnesses, and weather depending they are introduced to water and swimming. The puppies experience various noises including radios, vacuums, television, and audio tracks of other noises like thunder, gunshots, children, dog show noises or other sounds they may encounter during their life. We use several types of interactive toys and food games to build and encourage drives in our puppies. Our puppies are accustomed to wearing collars, have been introduced to spending time in a crate, and have been started in potty training. It is extremely important to continue socializing and training once the puppy has gone to a new home. Matching the Right Puppy to the Right Person or Family We believe that matching a family with the correct puppy is very important and is a team effort. Puppies are sold on limited registration to begin with, but that will be lifted to full registration at no additional cost to the new owner upon the puppy officially receiving passing hip and elbow certifications through the SV or OFA PennHip is also accepted for hip certification and earning an advanced performance title or working certification of some kind. Prior to going to their new homes, all of our puppies are microchipped for identification purposes. Veterinary Care Our breeding stock are all fully health tested and current on their routine veterinary care prior to being bred. Nomograph tests are performed on all females to determine the length of time the antibody they pass to the puppies through their colostrum will protect the puppies, and the puppies will not receive their first vaccination until the suggested time given by the results of the nomograph test. This helps to insure that the maternal antibody does not block the vaccine, rendering it ineffective. Puppies are de-wormed as necessary. However, if you do choose to spay or neuter your dog, we strongly recommend waiting until they are fully mature. This formula contains no chicken or chicken bi-products wheat, soy or junk fillers and is formulated for all life stages so is suitable for growing puppies, adolescents and adults alike. Guarantee We guarantee that our puppies are healthy when they go to their new homes. We also offer a written guarantee for 26 months against genetic hip and elbow dysplasia. Our relationship with you as the new puppy owner does not end when the puppy leaves our care. If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding your new puppy, we are simply a phone call or email away. If ever you are unable to keep your new puppy, no matter at what age, we will gladly take that puppy or dog back and find it another appropriate home. We do not ever want to find one of our puppies in a shelter or rescue! Cloud, MN dedicated to breeding outstanding show, performance, and companion dogs. Breeder, Dr. Our breeding program is based on our core values: Soundness, Performance, Beauty, and Style in that order. Our dogs are protective, not aggressive. They are motivated to perform, but are not endlessly demanding. Show, performance, and companion puppies will be available in the winter, spring, and summer of .The puppy contract includes a health guarantee. Applications, and deposits from approved buyers, are being accepted now. See the Puppies page on our website for the puppy application and for pictures of the sires and dams, along with litter pedigrees of planned litters. Please submit the application as directed on the website, before contacting me about puppy availability. We will have solid black, and black and tan, puppies available sired by Select Excellent Ch. Two additional breedings are underway, with a second litter to be homed in April and a third projected for June-July .All are sired by Arnold. See pictures of Arnold and Sara below. I am happy to mentor seriously committed beginners, juniors, and owner-handlers. There is an expectation of involvement in at least one AKC sport including, but not limited to, conformation, scent work, obedience, herding, therapy work, agility, and rally to the first titling level out of respect for the breed as a working dog. A RiverRock puppy is more than a pet: it is an adventure! Additional Info. Hip Dysplasia Hip Dysplasia typically develops because of an abnormally developed hip joint, but can also be caused by cartilage damage from a traumatic fracture. This breakdown of the cartilage will eventually result in pain with any joint movement. No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. Severity of the disease can be affected by environmental factors, such as caloric intake or level of exercise. There are a number of dysplastic dogs with severe arthritis that run, jump, and play as if nothing is wrong and some dogs with barely any arthritic x-ray evidence that are severely lame. Screenings for Hip Dysplasia are performed by a veterinarian with x-rays Elbows Dysplasia Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow. Three specific etiologies make up this disease and they can occur independently or in conjunction with one another. These etiologies include: Pathology involving the medial coronoid of the ulna FCP Osteochondritis of the medial humeral condyle in the elbow joint OCD Ununited anconeal process UAP Studies have shown the inherited polygenic traits causing these etiologies are independent of one another. Clinical signs involve lameness which may remain subtle for long periods of time. No one can predict at what age lameness will occur in a dog due to a large number of genetic and environmental factors such as degree of severity of changes, rate of weight gain, amount of exercise, etc. .Subtle changes in gait may be characterized by excessive inward deviation of the paw which raises the outside of the paw so that it receives less weight and distributes more mechanical weight on the outside lateral aspect of the elbow joint away from the lesions located on the inside of the joint. Range of motion in the elbow is also decreased. Degenerative Myelopathy Degenerative Myelopathy is a debilitating disease that causes gradual paralysis in many dog breeds. It is caused by a degeneration of the spinal cord that onsets typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It presents first with the loss of coordination of the hind legs. It will typically worsen over six months to a year, resulting in paralysis of the hind legs. If signs progress for a longer period of time, loss of urinary and fecal continence may occur and eventually, weakness will develop in the front limbs. An important feature of Degenerative Myelopathy is that it is not a painful disease. Temperament Test Results of Temperament test performed at a club Optional Testings Cardiac Evaluation - Congenital Cardiac Exam, Advanced Cardiac Exam Autoimmune thyroiditis - evaluation from an approved laboratory - recommend yearly testing Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter DNA-based testing With the advanced technologies, scientists are able to provide breeders with unique results of DNA-based traits of their dogs. We find these a great plus in aiding us to make better breeding choices. However, it is very important to understand how genetics work and not just complete the tests. Health Testing Why Health Testing Your German Shepherd Is Important Responsible breeders are well aware that hip dysplasia and other inherited diseases can be controlled or even eliminated through selective breeding practices. What is a phenotypic evaluation? These are graded based on breed, sex, age and the physical appearance and condition of different anatomic areas of the joints. Other examples of phenotypic evaluations are thyroid panels to test for hypothyroidism and the trypsin-like immunoreactivity TLI test used to screen for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. There are also a number of genetic test kits that can be purchased to help breeders identify whether their dogs are effected, carriers or clear of breed-specific conditions and diseases. These tests cannot however, accurately determine if an animal will develop a particular disease, but the information can help breeders avoid doubling up on genetic issues known to plague the breed. What are some of the health issues associated with German Shepherds? Like many breeds, German Shepherds are predisposed to a number of genetic health conditions, many of which can be emotionally and financially devastating to both breeders and owners. The number of affected dogs in the German Shepherd population is no more or less than that found in many breeds. Though daunting, the list below serves as a reminder as to the importance of health screening and why our efforts to improve the health of our dogs—and reduce risks to future buyers—is so important. Through the decades, numerous health issues have been introduced into the German Shepherd gene pool through animals carrying diseases including hip and elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy DM , digestive disorders such as irritable bowel disease IBD , small intestine bacterial overgrowth SIBO , exocrine pancreatic inefficiency EPI , bloat gastric dilatation and volvulus , panostetis PANO , chronic superficial keratitis CSK or pannus, cataracts and corneal dystrophy. Various forms of cancer such as hemangiosarcoma and osteosarcoma are also common. By health testing your puppy or young adult German Shepherd, you gain valuable time in diagnosing and treating potential health conditions. Many disorders can be successfully treated or controlled before they cause serious problems. Do you need to have your pet German Shepherd tested? The reasons for screening your pet German Shepherd are two fold. Even though your puppy will not contribute further to the gene pool, it is essential for your breeder to collect health information on your dog. Both parents can test clear for a particular disorder, yet still pass the disease onto their offspring. By testing your pet German Shepherd, you provide your breeder with valuable health information about their breeding dogs. Test results on your German Shepherd, along with information on other close relatives, allows puppy buyers to apply greater pressure on breeders to produce normal, healthy puppies and adult dogs. If puppy buyers stop buying puppies from untested adults, breeders will be force to either stop breeding their dogs or start health testing them. A win-win for everyone. For example, there are surgeries that can be performed—and supplements given—to greatly improve the quality of life for dogs diagnosed with crippling hip dysplasia. Some of these surgeries however, are only effective if performed when the dog is very young. If treated early, eye diseases such as pannus can be treated to prevent blindness. Screening your German Shepherd for major health concerns is no different than screening yourself for diseases running in your family. Which tests should be performed? Most dog owners are familiar with hip testing because hip issues are common in many breeds. Though the level of testing desired for breeding prospects is extensive, pet owners are strongly encouraged to do their part to help breeders improve the overall health of all German Shepherds. Breeding dogs, at a minimum, should be screened for hip and elbow dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy DM. It is best to also screen for heart issues as these, too, are predisposed to German Shepherds. Breeders and owners can have OFA advanced cardiac screening performed at a reasonable cost. This simple screening can help to identify serious, underlying conditions. Additional screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI , pannus eye conditions and thyroid panels are important in securing clean breeding lines in your dogs. Ideally, pet owners should also screen for hip and elbow dysplasia and cardiac issues. She was young, vibrant and exhibited no symptoms. We can attest that there is nothing more devastating then having a young dog run happily up to you and drop lifelessly at your feet. This type of heartache could be prevented if more GSDs were screened for heart conditions prior to breeding. Sudden cardiac death is becoming an increasingly devastating occurrence within the breed as young dogs are being found deceased in their crates or are collapsing on the field—even at world-championship competitions. Testing for DM is also valuable because knowing if your dog is effected can help you to make decisions throughout its life that might help to lessen or delay serious illness. All German Shepherd lines carry varying degrees of risk for serious genetic disorders. There are no exceptions. Education yourself about the diseases known to exist in the lines of the dogs you are considering and quiz your prospective breeder. If they cannot, or will not, discuss with you the levels of risk—find another breeder. Learn to be a discriminating buyer. Lowering your risk as a buyer is to a great extent, up to you. If a German Shepherd breeder tells you that their dogs do not need testing because they are free of genetics defects, they are either not knowledgeable about their breeding stock or the breed , or they are not telling you everything you need to know about your puppy's lineage. Once your receive any test result, provide the information to your breeder. Responsible breeders appreciate and value the information you provide and use it to make better breeding decisions. The health information on your dog should also be made available to the public when possible so other owners and breeders can make better decisions about their future prospects. Even though the German Shepherd gene pool might appear large, it is not. Many dogs are closely related and the health of one line can greatly impact the health of others. All breeders and owners need to know if your puppy has great hips. Additionally, when having health screenings performed through OFA, remember to indicate on the form that you wish the results to be made public so all German Shepherd breeders and future owners can benefit from your efforts. If you do not select this option, your valuable data is lost to everyone. NOTE: Not all breeders are created equal. Some breeders work very hard to refine their lines and improve the overall health of the puppies they produce. Some try to produce healthy puppies but are not knowledgeable or diligent enough to be successful, and others are simply not the least bit concerned with the health of their breeding stock or the health of the puppies they produce. Health data is only useful if it is shared and made easily available to the next breeder and the next puppy buyer. A reputable breeder will encourage you to publish your health results and be glad to share the data you provide—good and not so good. A reputable breeder will also have pedigrees and health information on their dogs and their progeny available on their websites. If a breeder does not have health data on their dogs or asks you not to share your findings—run. Check out Reebok's blog for additional articles coming soon on the subject of health testing. Become a part of the GSDLiving experience. Upload a photo, pay tribute to your best friend

Is the Lhasapoodle the right dog for you? These old breeds have passed down many positive qualities to the Lhasa Apso Poodle mix. The Lhasapoodle gets its natural protectiveness and sharp bark from the Lhasa Apso. The Lhasa Apso has been bred to serve as interior guard dogs at Tibetan monasteries, using its keen hearing to detect the presence of intruders and warning monks using barks. This Lhasa Apso Poodle mix is using its bark for different reasons, though: The Poodle, on the other hand, gives the Lhasapoo its intelligence and playfulness. Whether Standard , Miniature, or Toy, Poodles are well-known for their love of playing games, especially with young children. Like Poodles, the Lhasa Apso and Poodle hybrid dislikes being left out of family activities. How big do Lhasa Poo dogs get? As mentioned above a full-grown Lhasa Poo is only 9 to 13 inches 22 to 33 cm tall and weighs anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds 4 to 9 kg. These puppies are most likely bred from smaller versions of the Poodle, namely Mini Poodles and Toy Poodles. Does it look more like a Lhasa Apso or a Poodle? This hybrid dog has a sturdy body like the Poodle, with a small round head, almond-shaped eyes, short legs, and floppy ears. Most Lhaso Poodles have a soft coat of wavy or curly hair. The hair comes in black, brown, tan, white, or a mixture of these colors. What is the temperament of a Lhasa Poo? This crossbreed is sweet and loving, with a tendency to form close bonds with one person. The Lhasa Apso Poodle hybrid has a playful, friendly nature, so it gets along well with kids and other pets. Given its Lhasa Apso heritage, this crossbreed can also be suspicious of strangers. It will be protective of you and your family, barking to warn you of potential threats. Its vigilant nature makes the Lhasa Apso and Poodle mix an excellent watchdog. It may even bark at guests in your home or at strangers it encounters on the street. Fortunately, you can train your Lhasapoo and control its barking. How do I train a Lhasa Poo? Lhasapoos are intelligent and eager to please, thanks to their Poodle parentage. These crossbreeds are easy to train, quickly picking up commands and non-verbal cues from their owners. These hybrids can be willful, especially if their temperament leans more towards their Lhasa Apso parent. The Lhasapoodle also benefits from early socialization, which ensures that the crossbreed can get along with other dogs and behave properly around people. Is the Lhasa Apso Poodle mix an active dog? This hybrid will enjoy brisk walks around the neighborhood or just some one-on-one playtime indoors. Lhasa Poos also love to swim, like their Poodle parents. Hide and seek and treasure hunts are great indoor games that you can play with your Lhasapoo. Chew toys will also help your dog work off its energy. This crossbreed is athletic enough to participate in dog sports like obedience, agility, and rally. These activities are a good way to physically and mentally stimulate your dog to keep it happy. Lhasa Poo care: how difficult is it? Make sure to divide this amount of food into at least two meals to keep your dog at a healthy weight. How to groom a Lhasa Poo This is where you need to put in the effort. Lhasapoodles need to be brushed every 2 to 3 days to prevent mats and tangles from forming in their fur. Due to the length of its coat, this crossbreed needs to be bathed more often compared to other breeds. You can take your furry little pal to a professional groomer or do the trimming yourself with a pair of clippers. Give your Lhasa Poo a puppy cut and clip its hair to an inch or two all over its body. A puppy cut makes it easier for you to brush your Lhasapoodle and keeps shedding under control. Are Lhasa Poo hypoallergenic? Most Lhasa Apso Poodle mixes are considered hypoallergenic because these dogs shed less fur compared to other breeds. This crossbreed may also inherit the low-shedding qualities of the Poodle. The Lhasapoodle is a great dog to consider if you or a family member suffers from allergies to dander. What health issues do Lhasa Poos suffer from? Health issues commonly seen in Lhasapoodles include eye problems, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and kidney problems. However, with early health screening, regular visits to the vet, and a proper diet, as mentioned in the first paragraph the Lhasa Poo has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. How much does a Lhasa Poo cost? Like other designer dogs, the Lhasa Apso Poodle crossbreed tends to be on the expensive side. You can check out these marketplaces if you want to buy Lhasa Poo puppies:. They are adaptable by nature and seek for attention and love from its family. If socialized from puppyhood, they would be good to other dogs, pets and children, provided the kids are also well-behaved. Care Exercise The dogs are so small by size that they need just an average exercise daily. Take your Lhasa poo out for a routine walk every day, out of the apartment as refreshment, and keep it close to yourself since they just love it. Grooming It is important to brush the coat of your lhasa poo at least twice a week, if not every day, and get it trimmed by professional hands once in months to avoid careless hair growth that might lead to tangling, which happens mostly in moist and snowy conditions. Clip their nails when long, check for rashes and infections in their inner ears and skin and brush their teeth frequently. Training Set rules clearly and affectionately and teach them tricks since the time the puppies are brought home from breeders, and they would pick up easily. Feeding Feed your lhasa poo according to its weight and age. For their moderate exercising habits, they need optimum carbohydrate and fat along with ample protein may be in the form of chunks of meat in their regular dog food, but occasionally. At times, you can also feed them with snacks like kibble and chews. Up to age one year, the dog should be fed with Puppy formula after which they can be switched to Adult dry dog food. Bad food generally bad for dogs and human foods might give them serious stomach and liver disorders. Interesting Facts Among other pets, the cats are especially friendly with lhasa poos. Lhasa poo older than 3 years of age is said to be a good companion to retirees. We live in Massachusetts. Looking for a young male or female. We had to put our 12yr old boy down and the ouse is so empty. We are semi retired ad have a beautiful fenced yard for someone special to play in. We would even consider a rehome dog. It has been so hard in the state we live in. Can anyone help us? Lhasapoo Highlights Lhasapoos are mixed breed dogs. They are not purebreds like their Lhasa Apso or Poodle parents. Lhasapoos come in a very wide variety of colors, including brown black, white, grey, apricot, and cream. Sometimes their coats may be solid, but more often than not, they have a mix of these colors. Their coats will require daily brushing to prevent the hair from becoming matted. Because the Lhasapoo is a small dog, they can easily be injured by small children during playtime. Lhasapoos would prefer to be around older children or children that are shown how to properly handle a dog and play gently. Lhasapoos can get along with other animals if introduced at a very young age, and in a slow and gradual manner, but they may prefer to be the only pet in the household. Lhasapoos are protective and eager to please. They tend to inherit a bit of yappiness and may bark at strangers. Food rewards and positive reinforcement go a long way in training these dogs. Lhasapoos have moderate energy levels. Make sure your dog gets at least one-hour long walk per day with a few games of fetch or a trip to the dog park, as well. Lhasapoo History The Lhasapoo dog breed may have existed naturally over the years, but designer dog breeders started intentionally mixing Lhasa Apsos and Poodles about ten to 20 years ago, likely in North America. Breeders wanted to mix the two parent breeds to minimize the breathing problems due to the short snout of the Lhasa Apso, and to create a breed that is perfect for those suffering from allergies by adding the coat of the Poodle. They continued to create Lhasapoos as the demand for these adorable pups climbed. Even though the Lhasapoo got their start as a designer breed, some have ended up in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. Consider adoption if you decide this is the right breed for you. Check your local shelters, look up Lhasapoo rescues, or check with breed specific Poodle or Lhasa Apso rescues, as they sometimes take in mixed breed dogs and find homes for them. Lhasapoo Size As the Lhasapoo is still a relatively new mixed breed, there are few standards when it comes to size. That said, as a cross between Lhasa Apso and Poodle parents, you can expect Lhasapoos to be on the small side. The Lhasapoo is most often a mix with a Miniature Poodle parent , but if the Lhasa Apso is mixed with a Toy Poodle, the pups may be even smaller. Most weigh in at ten to 15 pounds and range in height from nine to 13 inches at the shoulder. That said, many can be smaller or larger, and males can tend to be larger in size than females. Lhasa Apsos were historically used as guard dogs, so these pups tend to inherit a bit of that yappiness while performing their duty as your protector. While they enjoy their time laying on the couch, they also ares very agile little dogs who love to run and play outdoors, as well as participate in agility games once trained. As the Lhasapoo is very protective, they can be rather skeptical of new people and strangers entering your home. Lhasa Apsos can often times be slightly aggressive if not introduced calmly and slowly, and the Lhasapoo may get this trait. Early training can also help to curb this possibly unwanted behavior. These dogs have moderate energy levels and a strong desire to please their owners, so the Lhasapoo often appears in agility courses. While they have a stubborn streak, Lhasapoos are very smart and food reward driven, so a good way to burn off that puppy energy is to teach your pup new tricks and provide toys made for mental stimulation as well. Since they develop such strong bonds with their owners, they are unfortunately not ideal for those who will be gone for extended periods of time. Lhasapoo Health The Lhasapoo breed is predisposed to some of the same conditions that the Lhasa Apso and Poodle also face. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few health issues, which is why it is important to maintain good care and regular veterinary checkups. Some of the more common health problems Lhasapoos suffer from include: Hip Dysplasia. Lhasapoo Description The Lhasa-Poo is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle. The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up all breeds in the cross and know you can get any combination of any of the characteristics found in either breed. It is very common for breeders to breed multi-generation crosses. She loves to play, she loves to cuddle, she loves to eat and she loves to bite at your ankles!!! Her housetraining is going well, however she does have the occasional accident when we are not paying enough attention to her signs. She is very smart; whenever she goes outside to do her business, and comes back in the house, she runs right into the kitchen and sits in front of the refrigerator, looking up. We keep the container of treats on top of the refrigerator. Once she has her treat she is on her way! Definitely she is not a first-generation hybrid, because her dog-dad and dog-mom are already both Lhasa-Poos. I have no idea about her grandparents, so I can't really say what generation she is of a Lhasa Poo hybrid. But she has streaks of straight hair too, like on her tail and on her head, that's why we can't give her a proper "Poodle-look" crown or afro on top of her head. We do shave her face though, as in Poodle cuts and we maintain her body hair on "summer cut," most of the time using grooming blade 7, because her hair grows very fast. Her soft, cottony undercoat is also very prone to matting. Awit is a non-shedder but she has very sensitive skin. Alternately, the word "awit" is also being used to translate the word "psalm" in the Bible. She loves walk time and play time. Play time means she runs and dares our other dogs to chase her around the house. She can also jump note: her agility makes her look like she can actually fly from the floor to the sofa, to the bed, from one bed to another, and back to the floor with ease. Yes, and she gets one 2" chew bone per day or a doggie biscuit that she can munch to her heart's delight. I tried to do clicker training on her, and she easily picked up the cues "sit" and "down. He is great with kids and tries to sing along with the neighborhood kids that often want to sing the nursery rhyme song "There Was a Farmer, Had a Dog and Bingo Was His Name.He wants to be with me every second of every day and goes with me everywhere that it is feasible to take him. If he thinks he will be left behind he exhibits definite signs of separation-anxiety. He will whine, cry and even try to sit on me to prevent me from leaving. Needless to say he loves being in the car and makes a great travel companion. He is very smart and easy to train. She's just about full grown in these photos, weighing in at about 7 pounds 3. Her owner says, "Her temperament is very sweet and she's super smart—she could sit, speak and shake hands after I'd had her for only 2 weeks. She's also very athletic and a terrific jumper. Often she makes tremendous leaps around the living room from the furniture. It's kind of her game to not touch the floor. Lhasapoos are perfect for families, but they need proper training and socialization before living with small children. They have a mild temperament and only require moderate daily exercise. As long as they receive enough exercise, Lhasapoos are ideal for apartment living. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. They have a reputation for excessive barking and quickly sound the alarm when strangers approach your property. However, they tend to calm down after a few years and welcome visitors with joy when they recognize them. They are extremely intelligent, so they should be easily trained to be around other animals and people. The stubborn, defensive behavior comes from the Lhasa Apso side of their family, but you can minimize the trait by enrolling your puppy in obedience training. The dogs are extremely intelligent a trait from the poodle side , and they love interacting with humans. Leaving a Lhasapoo alone for more than a day can upset the animal, and you may have to wait a while after you return for the dog to warm up to you again. Are These Dogs Good for Families? They enjoy playing games with the family, but they establish a firm bond with one person. Taking them for a walk and playing games in the yard will keep them healthy and fit. Because of their size, you can play games with them indoors and marvel at their ability to leap onto furniture. When they interact with young children, you should supervise them closely until they become more accustomed to the little ones. Compared to other dogs, Lhasapoos are easy to train and learn commands quickly. Lhasapoos are more vulnerable to ear infections than other breeds, and you should inspect and clean their ears weekly to prevent an infection. Collecting information from a shelter is more difficult, but some people provide the shelter with documentation when they put the animal up for adoption. Taking a Lhasapoo for a checkup at least twice a year ensures that any medical issue is addressed before it progresses. Minor Conditions: With a short muzzle, Lhasapoos sometimes have trouble breathing after exercise and can develop brachycephalic airway syndrome. Other minor conditions include cataracts, hip dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, and dental problems. Regular brushing can prevent decay and reduce bad breath, but you should consult a veterinarian for dental hygiene tips. Some animals react wildly to brushing, and you may need another person to assist you in the process. Minor Conditions. You may also have seen advertisements for mixes of these breeds for sale. You may be wondering whether getting a mix produced by these two dogs is a great way to get the best of both worlds. What is a Lhasa Apso Poodle mix? They can have straight or curly hair, weigh between 10 and 30 pounds, and may be very friendly and eager to please or a bit more reserved and stubborn. A mix of two purebred dogs can be full of surprises. Combining the regal-looking Lhasa Apso and the intelligent, curly-haired Poodle is bound to produce some adorable puppies, but are there specific traits that can be expected? Take a look at what you may wind up with in terms of coat, size, personality, and health in a Lhasa Apso Poodle mix. Predicting Characteristics in a Mixed Breed Dog Dogs have been bred for hundreds or even thousands of years to have specific physical and behavioral characteristics. When dog breeds are mixed, the resulting characteristics vary dramatically in the resulting puppies. Nonetheless, it has become increasingly popular to breed purebred dogs together to create deliberately mixed breeds known as designer dogs. The Lhasa Apso Poodle mix is such a dog. These breeds have a number of things in common, which mixed breed puppies may be likely to inherit. They also have some key differences which puppies may or may not inherit. By looking at the likely traits in both the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle, we can make predictions about the probable characteristics of the puppies. It evolved to withstand the harsh cold of Tibetan winters. They have double coats, which are very heavy and dense. The outer coat tends to be quite hard and the inner coat is softer and warm. The coat is straight, is neither silky nor woolly, and grows nearly to the ground. The Lhasa Apso can come in any color. Poodle Coat The Poodle coat is very curly. The texture is harsh and dense. The coat can either be clipped short, combed out to create poofy fluff, or corded into tight cords. This level of grooming is possible because of the dense, curly nature of the hair which can be scissor cut into practically any shape. Poodles are supposed to be solid in color by the breed standard, although parti-colored dogs are popular as pets. The colors that are acceptable are varying shades of white, apricot and black. Within these colors, you can see gray, silver, blue, and cream, but the color should be more or less solid. Lhasa Apso Poodle Coat When the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle are mixed, the resulting coat may be anywhere between entirely straight and very curly. It may have two layers or one, and either layer may be stronger or weaker than the other. That means that you may have a thin outer coat that looks like wires sticking out of the fluff or a stronger outer coat that lies flat over the body. Depending on the makeup of the coat, it may be very prone to matting. You may find that this coat type may result in a coat that does not respond well to either being brushed out or corded. Any variation of color may be possible in a Lhasa Apso Poodle mix. However, these dogs may be a bit more prone to solid coloration since that is the standard for Poodles. Size Poodles come in three sizes, with each dog identical in conformation. Miniatures should be under 15 inches at the shoulder and toys should be 10 inches or less. Generally, when Lhasa Apsos are mixed with Poodles, they are mixed with either toy or miniature Poodles. Lhasa Apsos weigh between 12 and 18 pounds, with females tending to be slightly smaller than males. Your Lhasa Apso Poodle mix will vary in size depending on what size of Poodle was used, but expect around 10 to 15 pounds for toy Poodle offspring and 15 to 30 pounds for miniature Poodle offspring. Behavior and Personality Poodle Personality Poodles are among the most trainable and intelligent of all dog breeds. These dogs excel in the work they were bred for — retrieving. Still, they are also excellent at agility, obedience, tracking, scent work, and as service dogs. It is hard to find a breed more eager to please than a Poodle, but you can expect that you will need to occupy that busy mind if you expect to have a happy, well-adjusted pet. While Poodles tend to be sensitive and may be a bit reserved with strangers, they are generally extremely friendly with everyone and adjust well to being in groups. Lhasa Apso Personality Lhasa Apsos are much more independent and committed to following their own minds than are Poodles. They are very intelligent and can learn just about anything you try to teach them, but you will have to find a way to motivate them properly. Find tips for motivation here. They do not respond well to repetitive training and may become extremely stubborn if you try to force them. These dogs functioned as alert dogs in their native Tibet, and they are still a little bit reserved with strangers. Lhasa Apso Poodle Mix Personality These two breeds vary dramatically in personality and trainability, so you may experience quite a range of possibilities in your puppy. Your dog may be a happy-go-lucky charmer and love meeting new people or he may be slow to warm up to your guests. Health Both the Lhasa Apso and the Poodle tend to be very healthy dogs, but there are some problems that may crop up in either breed, and they also may show up in your mix. Both breeds are prone to this condition. Eye Problems The large, luminous eyes of both of these breeds can result in some problems for them. Poodles are prone to issues with their optic nerve and general eye issues, which require an ophthalmologist evaluation for all breeding animals. Lhasa Apso are prone to corneal ulcers and may also develop cherry eye and progressive retinal atrophy. Specific Genetic Conditions Both of these breeds have some serious genetic issues that occur, although they are not common. Lhasa Apso are prone to hereditary kidney dysfunction in mild to severe forms. There is not a reliable test to determine whether a breeding dog carries it. Misconceptions About Mixed-Breed Dogs The increasing popularity in designer breeds is partly due to some prevailing misconceptions about mixed-breed dogs. They Are Healthier Mixed breed dogs may be less likely to inherit recessive traits that are predominant in a certain breed. However, if both of their parent breeds have a recessive trait, they are just as likely to get it as the purebred dogs. Because the physical makeup of mixed breed dogs is less predictable, they may actually be more likely to suffer from problems like joint issues. They Are Smarter A mixed breed dog may inherit the intelligence of either of his parents. Unless the two dogs that are bred are both of particularly intelligent breeds, there is no reason to think a mixed breed dog would be more intelligent than a purebred dog of average intelligence. Related Posts:. Life Span Did You Know? Although a mixed breed can take on any combination of traits from the parent breeds, Lhasa-Poo tend to be friendly, affectionate, and playful dogs that are loyal to their families. This designer dog breed is a small dog with a big heart. They tend to be social and bond closely with their families. They tend to have a sweet, friendly disposition and a playful, energetic personality. They tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Because their small size makes them susceptible to injury during accidental rough play or falls common to younger children, they are a better fit for older children who know how to interact appropriately with a dog and can handle them gently. As with any dog breed, socialization and training early on are important and the same is true for the Lhasa-Poo. They do make alert watchdogs, but they tend to be friendly dogs, so they do not tend to make good guard dogs. They can be prone to barking, but training early on can help curb this behavior. Lhasa-Poo are highly adaptable dogs. Their small size makes them a good fit for apartment living and they adapt just as well to larger homes. They do well in most climates, but may need to bundle up in the winter to keep warm. Having some basic winter dog products on hand is a big help when the temperatures drop. These small dogs are also sensitive to heat as with most dog breeds. Because these dogs thrive on attention and bond closely with their families, they do not like to be left alone. A mixed breed can inherit the genetic conditions of one, both, or neither of the parent breeds. Reputable breeders will screen their stock to avoid passing genetic conditions to puppies. Both of the parent breeds tend to be eager to please and highly intelligent. Although they tend to be easy to train, they can sometimes have a stubborn streak. So, your Lhasa-Poo can be highly trainable, but may have a stubborn streak, which can be challenging for first-time dog owners to navigate. For this mixed breed, it may be a good idea to be prepared to enroll in puppy training and obedience classes. Aside from the training, these classes can help further strengthen the bond you have with your puppy and are also a great opportunity to socialize a puppy. Lhasa-Poo tend to have a long coat that can be wavy or curly and can be clipped short. Although they do not shed much, they do need a lot of grooming in order for their coat to stay healthy. Because their fur is prone to tangles and mats, you will need to brush them daily. If their coat is clipped short, you can likely get away with brushing a few times a week. Bathing is on an as-needed basis, but your Lhasa-Poo will need professional grooming every weeks. In addition to coat care, you will also need to handle nail, ear, and dental care for your Lhasa-Poo. Nail trimming on a monthly basis is usually sufficient to keep them from growing too long. So, professional grooming sessions may take care of it. This can help prevent ear infections. Although they are small, Lhasa-Poo tend to have a moderate activity level and can sometimes have bursts of higher energy. Daily walks plus some playtime are usually enough for this dog. Try out a bunch of different activities to see what your dog likes to do best. They may enjoy taking an easy hike with you, going for trips to the dog park , or even swimming. A fully-grown Lhasa-Poo usually stands inches tall and weighs pounds. A Lhasa-Poo generally lives years. The Lhasa-Poo coat is a coat of many colors. They can have a white, cream, apricot, black, brown, or combination colored-coat. Featured Lhasa-Poo Article. Lhasa poos are the cross between a miniature or toy Poodle and a Lhasa Apso. They are cute, small-sized dogs that are highly trainable and apartment friendly. They even get along with kids and other pets. This Lhasa Apso Poodle Mix breed has a long lifespan but finding puppies for sale in Australia can be challenging. They are certainly among the cutest poodle mixes and their non-shedding coat makes them one of the most popular poodle crossbreeds in the world. So, if you are looking to add this sweet little designer dog to your household, then this guide is for you! What is a Lhasapoo? Also known as Lhasadoodle, the Lhasapoo is a cute designer dog obtained by crossing a miniature or toy Poodle with a Lhasa Apso. The Lhasapoo are among the smallest-sized, hypoallergenic poodle mix breeds that do not shed. Before we learn more about Lhasapoos, let us check out some facts about its parent dog breeds. The breed is held in great veneration in the Orient and was even given as gifts and considered a symbol of good fortune. Lhasa Apsos are not a new breed at all; they may have existed since AD. Tibetans believe that the souls of lamas or priests reincarnate as Lhasa Apsos. Today, Lhasa Apsos are extremely popular as house pets mainly due to their compact sizes as well as their hypoallergenic coats. In terms of grooming, the Lhasa Apso requires regular weekly brushing and combing to maintain their coat and prevent knots. They also come with the added advantage of longevity and most Lhasa Apsos have an average lifespan of years. Poodles Poodles originated in Germany, where they were bred to assist fishermen and hunters. Their excellent swimming capabilities combined with a quick-drying and water-resistant coat aided them in their work as water dogs. Research has shown that Poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds in the world. They rank No. Their high intelligence also makes them easy to train. This trait combined with their low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat, makes them one of the most popular dog breeds. Doodle Dog Breeds The popularity of designer dogs is on the rise because it is trendy to own compact-sized hybrid dogs. Moreover, there is a belief that crossbreed dogs are usually healthier than purebred dogs and often inherit the best traits of the breeds involved in the cross. Given that the Lhasapoo is a small-sized, non-shedding, hypoallergenic poodle crossbreed, they are very popular in Australia. The best poodle mix breeders conduct thorough health testing including DNA tests and hip scoring. Cross-bred dogs enjoy the benefits of increased genetic diversity and purebred dogs suffer reduced fitness from inbreeding depression. Poodles are one of the best dog breeds to cross because of their high intelligence, easy trainability, and their low-shedding and hypoallergenic coats. One such dog was the Lhasadoodle or the Lhasapoo. Physical Features of Lhasapoos — small size hypoallergenic and non-shedding The full-grown size of a Lhasapoo is a weight of around 15 pounds 6 to 7 kg and about inches 22 to 33 cm tall at the withers. There is no standardisation in Lhasapoos since they are not recognised by any major canine club. Also, breeders may use miniature or toy Poodles in their breeding programs, so the height and weight of Lhasapoos tend to vary greatly. Breeders most commonly cross a toy poodle stud with a female Lhasa Apso to create Toy Lhasapoo puppies. Similarly, some breed a Miniature Poodle stud over a lhasa apso female to create Mini Lhasapoos which are slightly bigger than Toy Lhasadoodles. In either case, your Lhasadoodle puppy is bound to be low-shedding and suitable for families where one or more members could have pet allergies. You could see these puppies in brown, white, merle, black, red, apricot, golden, sandy, honey, or combinations of these shades. If the Lhasapoo is a small-size hypoallergenic poodle mix breed that is non-shedding; Are they Easy to Groom? Moreover, they tend to attract debris and parasites. Lhasapoo are a small-size hypoallergenic poodle mix breed that is non-shedding, therefore they are a breed that requires a moderate amount of maintenance. Investing in a suitable brush and comb makes grooming a poodle mix breed significantly easier. Even if your puppy has a short, curly coat, it could develop skin issues if it is not brushed regularly. It is especially important that you take your Lhasapoo for professional grooming to get its hair trimmed every 6 weeks or so. Too much coat can cause a dog to overheat on a hot day. As with the physical characteristics, the temperament of a Lhasadoodle is not standardised. In general, we can say that these dogs are smart, confident, affectionate, and incredibly loyal. They have a light comical side that makes them excellent family pets. On the downside, Lhasapoos do need plenty of puppy training to make sure they behave properly. They have a strong will which can pose a challenge while dog training because they think they know best. Furthermore, most Lhasapoos suffer from small dog syndrome, meaning that they need plenty of socialisation with other dogs to prevent that incessant barking. Your Lhasapoo will quickly learn how to get what it wants, so you must make sure to train appropriate behaviours and prevent the rehearsal of bad behaviours such as barking for attention. Many Lhasapoos are also known to have a high prey drive. So, if you have rabbits, hamsters, or other small pets, do make sure your pet will not terrorise them. Also, when you walk your dog outdoors, you need to keep it on a leash otherwise, it might try to run off and chase small animals. They also have loud barks! Their barking at strangers can be annoying to neighbours close by so you will need to train calmness and impulse control with your Lhasapoo puppy. Providing environmental enrichment such as stuffed Kongs, long-lasting chews and raw meaty bones can also help prevent separation anxiety and stop barking. Crate training is also invaluable for preventing common behaviour problems in poodle crossbreeds. Lhasapoos are confident dogs. They are also curious and love to explore everything. They also love being a part of family activities and hate being left alone at home. Due to this reason, many Lhasapoos suffer from varying degrees of separation anxiety. Some tend to void indoors, tear up slippers or bed linen, or chew up furniture. You might consider bringing another dog to keep your Lhasapoo company or hire a pet sitter to watch your pet. You could also enrol your dog in a doggy daycare. It pays to exercise your dog well and provide passive calming activities such as long-lasting chew treats; since tired dogs usually do not have the energy left to indulge in negative or destructive behaviour. Given that the Lhasapoo is a small hypoallergenic poodle mix breed that does not shed, they make an excellent companion dog for kids and the elderly. They know this fact and take their job seriously. Intelligent dogs like Lhasapoos are prone to boredom and they need plenty of mental stimulation to prevent it. Obedience training can be one aspect of keeping your pet mentally active, but you must keep the training sessions fun. How Much is a Lhasapoo? Always research the Lhasa Poo breeder thoroughly before buying your puppy. Ask about the health checks they have conducted on the parent dogs. This is important to ensure getting a healthy puppy. Some unscrupulous backyard breeders and puppy farms advertise their puppies for sale at cheap prices. It is best to steer clear of such breeders as they are breeding for profit and rarely health test their breeding dogs. Cross-breeding can be done ethically and the best poodle mix breeders utilise science-based health testing. Most Lhasapoo owners prefer feeding kibble or dry dog food as it is convenient. These small dogs tend to have dental issues because of their tiny jaws — they make it difficult to clean the back side of the oral cavity. Always select high-quality dog food with premium ingredients. Avoid dog foods that are packed with fillers like corn, wheat, and soy. Many Lhasapoos have sensitive digestion and might need grain-free and hypoallergenic foods formulated especially for sensitive dogs. Your vet nutritionist can guide you in this matter. Health Issues and Lifespan of Lhasapoos Like their parent breeds, Lhasapoos have a long life compared to many other dog breeds. Most Lhasapoos live for years. Their long lifespan combined with the fact that Lhasapoos are a small-size hypoallergenic, non-shed poodle mix breed, makes them popular family dogs. Some of the health concerns in the breed include hip and joint issues, eye problems, dental diseases, renal disease, and intervertebral disc disease. These are diseases seen in the Lhasa Apso parent. Good breeding practices can ensure that these designer puppies do not inherit these genetic conditions. Lhasapoo puppies for sale and Breeders in Australia Although the Lhasa Apso x Poodle is among the best poodle mix breeds, it is also an extremely rare poodle mix breed in Australia. Most small, cute, cuddly and hypoallergenic poodle mix breeds are popular family dogs. Subscribe for poodle mix breed information, exclusive offers and access to our community of reputable breeders. Share this.

Breeder of Poodle Puppies for Sale in Illinois Welcome to the most well respected breeder of red and apricot poodles in Illinois! We specialize in breeding and selling red, apricot, cream, and black poodle puppies, varying in size from toy, miniature and moyen. Unlike many other dog businesses, who have multiple different breeds, we specialize specifically in breeding poodles. For more information, either contact us or visit our facebook page! We have well over followers on Facebook and most of the posts on our page are from previous owners showcasing the poodles they have purchased from us. We encourage you to scroll through all the tabs and learn even more about us and our puppies! A little about me… My name is Frank Reliford. I am a husband, father of 8 children, grandpa to 4 grandkids, Christian, retired school principal hence, the name , and full-time poodle whisperer! Okay, well, maybe not that last part… However, I have been in the poodle business for roughly 20 years and have learned a thing or two! I love the poodle breed. Poodles are so well respected that so many other breeds are mixed with poodles trying to get the favorable qualities that poodles have into their mixed puppies. A little about my business… As previously mentioned, Poodle Pups with Principal is a family-ran business, with many of the family playing an important role! All of our puppies are kept indoors until the begin to wean. The most common feedback we get from our buyers is how social and adjusted our puppies are. From day one our puppies are handled regularly by members of our family, especially kids and grandkids! We back that up with a written two-year health guarantee on all of our puppies. Some congenital issues are guaranteed for life! Frank Reliford owner. Beneath the curly, hypoallergenic coat is an elegant athlete and companion for all reasons and seasons. All three varieties have the same build and proportions. At dog shows, Poodles are usually seen in the elaborate Continental Clip. Most poodle owners prefer the simpler Sporting Clip, in which the coat is shorn to follow the outline of the squarely built, smoothly muscled body. All Poodles can be trained with great success, as they are highly trainable and very intelligent. They do have a weaker bone structure than some other small breeds, but are still a tough little dog. They make wonderful pets because they love people so much! A distinct breed with the right mental stimulation can properly interact and is loved by young children. Their short coats look like velvet against your hand when you stroke them. There are many new colors coming out with advances in breeding and DNA technology. Some breeders will only breed traditional colors, whereas we breed for more specialty and exotic colors. Our main stock is health tested and cleared and the pups make excellent pets. There are quite a few champions in the pedigrees and they're laid back compared to some bloodlines. The Standard Poodle began its development as a retrieving water dog more than years ago. With a crisp, curly coat as protection against the elements, superlative swimming ability, and off-the-charts intelligence, the Poodle was, and still is, a magnificent retriever. Hunters wanted their dogs to have free range of movement in the water, but they also wished to protect vital areas of the anatomy from the cold. They shaved the legs, neck, and tail but left the chest, hips, and leg joints coated. The rounded tufts on the legs, hips, and tail tip are called pompons. Note the spelling: Cheerleaders have pom-poms; Poodles have pompons. Elegant Poodles of the Standard and Miniature varieties found favor among the nobles of France and, eventually, all of Europe. An excellent nose brought the Poodle additional work as a truffle hunter. The Standard was bred down to the Miniature. The Toy was first bred in America, in the early 20th century, as a city-dwelling companion dog. Well-bred specimens of each variety are exact replicas of each other and are bred to the same standard. After a puppy is reserved its is our goal to make the update within minutes with few exceptions outside holidays and unforeseen events. You can be confident the available puppies and their pictures shown are accurate and up to date. Charles, IL. We believe that breeding poodles is an honor and a privilege. All of our breedings are carefully planned using fully health tested adults before they are bred. Our personal dogs are all family members and live with us in our home. We take pride in matching the right puppy with your family. As you browse through the pages, our wish is that you will not only enjoy our beautiful Poodles, but also appreciate the honesty, transparency and dedication we have in presenting you healthy and lovingly cared for poodles. We begin nurturing their wonderful spirit from the day they are born, so that they pass from our home to yours with the best possible start in life. Please do not contact me if you want any type of "doodle". If you are looking for one of these "designer" dogs, please look at your local shelter. Located in St. Celeto Poodles St. Anyone that is interested in one of our puppies please take a look at our puppy page to learn how our puppies are raised and where you can find the link to the Prospective Puppy Buyer Application that must be filled out and sent to us. You can also see past litters. Written permission must be obtained to use any contents of this site. We take great pride in raising stunning red standard poodles that are intelligent, elegant, and incredibly affectionate. With a meticulous selection process and rigorous health testing, we aspire to provide the healthiest quality offspring. Experience the joy and elegance of a curly, red-haired four-legged companion by welcoming one into your life from Sunset Maple Poodles today. Explore our Available Puppies page and find your perfect Red Standard companion today. We have carefully created a go-to resource to answer your questions about our poodles and puppies. Discover valuable insights and essential puppy care tips. Learn what to expect when bringing a Red Standard Poodle into your home. Delve into our thorough procedures and protocols designed to ensure the health and well-being of our beloved puppies. Visit our puppy page today and find a trove of information to help you determine if our Standard Poodle puppies are suitable for you and tips and educational material on best caring for your new puppy. Our passion stems from the incredible personalities, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty that these dogs possess. And as a result we take great pride in our careful selection of breeding pairs, prioritizing lineage that promotes the health and well-being of our puppies. By diligently considering their genetic background and lineage, we strive to ensure the continued vitality and robustness of our beloved Red Standard Poodle breed so that the breed may be enjoyed by many for generations to come. Our utmost delight comes from witnessing the growth and development of our puppies, as they bring happiness and love to countless families. To learn more about our backstory and how we came to love the breed visit our About Us page. Sign up here for our monthly emails about upcoming litters, available puppies and more!

Your new furry friend has a lot of growing to do, and you probably have a lot of questions. Your Golden Retriever puppy will go through a number of developmental stages throughout their first twelve weeks. Male Golden Retrievers generally weigh between 65 and 75 pounds and stand from 23 to 24 inches tall. Females are generally smaller weighing between 55 to 65 pounds, and will grow to stand .At 4 months, your Golden Retriever puppy will reach about half their adult height. When it comes to mental development, it can take even longer than that before the Golden Retriever is fully mature. However, every puppy is a unique individual, and these are merely milestone guidelines. Disparities exist between the working and show Goldens, as well as between males and females. Golden Retriever puppy growth can also be quite sporadic. As an overall average, many Golden Retriever puppies will weigh just approximately 1. Golden Retrievers are classified as a gundog breed, and these dogs are often divided into those bred for show and those meant for work. However, the body of the show Golden is typically larger, taller, heavy-boned, and fuller in the chest. Small Parents Like people, puppies inherit physical traits from their parents. And even puppies from the same litter can vary in size. Neither of these scenarios is healthy for a puppy. Larger breeds like the Golden Retriever are more at risk for growth disorders than small breed dogs. This article will give you a lot more information on how much to feed, what to feed, and how often to feed a Golden Retriever puppy. Illness and Puppy Growth If a puppy has been seriously ill for a prolonged period, it may affect their ability to grow normally. However, once the puppy is free of worms, they should continue to grow at a normal rate. The best way to determine if your puppy is too thin or too fat is by how he looks and feels. When looking at your puppy from above, he should have a noticeable waistline. Another way to tell is by putting your hands on either side of his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs using a gentle pressure. But if his ribs are visible, he could be underweight. Obesity is a huge problem for many dog breeds. Although there are ways to make your puppy grow bigger, this is not something you should attempt. It could also mean you end up with a fat puppy. One of the best ways to ensure your puppy has a long, healthy life is to ensure he stays at an optimal weight. Hip and elbow dysplasia and other musculoskeletal disorders are associated with excess weight in larger breeds. Having your dog neutered at a young age can also cause them to grow taller. The problem is, this can also cause abnormalities in joint formation. Neutering also makes Golden Retrievers more at risk for certain types of cancers. Typically it will take approximately 18 months for your Golden Retriever to become an adult dog. Even though they can reach their full height at anywhere from 9 to 12 months, it will usually take them longer to fill out to their full weight. Remember that there are wide variations in size within the Golden Retriever breed. If this is the case, you should contact your veterinarian to seek advice. Beginning the puppy development stages before birth Puppy development stages week by week Amazingly, in a way the puppy development stages begin before your dog is even born. Your puppy spends approximately 9 weeks developing inside his Mom. The mother dog has a womb or uterus, that has two long tubes, and the puppies grow in a row along each tube rather like peas in a pod. The puppies are joined to their mother by a placenta which provides all the nourishment they need for those few weeks. To begin with, the puppies have plenty of room to move but they grow fast and as the time for birth draws near they are packed in quite tightly. The one week old puppy Your puppy is born fully furred but with his eyes and ears closed so he cannot hear or see. His front feet are strong and he can pull himself towards his mother with them. He can cry if he is uncomfortable and his mother will respond to his cries by moving him towards her and licking him. Your puppy spends most of his time sleeping or suckling. He cannot regulate his own body temperature and needs his mother for heat, or an artificial heat source. In the first week to ten days of his life your puppy grows rapidly and will double his birth weight. His forelegs are getting much stronger. She licks the puppies bottoms to stimulate a bowel or bladder movement and eats the result. There is no cleaning up for the breeder to do yet. The breeder will begin to handle the puppies more though, and get them used to human contact. She will worm the puppies for the first time at the end of this week. Puppies begin to get their personalities. Your puppy can stand and sit up by the end of the week. Tails can be wagged, ears will be completely open and puppies start play growling and interacting with their littermates. Your puppy can regulate his body temperature more effectively and will start to cut his first teeth in preparation for weaning. The front teeth, canines and incisors are cut first. Toward the end of the week he may have his first tiny taste of puppy food. They also start to move away from the sleeping area to empty their bowels and bladder. They may try to climb out of the whelping box. If she lives indoors, she may rejoin the family for more of each day. Your puppy will cut his back teeth and the breeder will get weaning underway this week and by the end of it, your puppy will be getting quite a bit of his nourishment from puppy food. She will also worm the puppies a second time. If the mother is allowed near the puppies after she has been fed, she may regurgitate her dinner for them. This is completely natural and normal. He is a proper little dog. Rolling around with his brothers and sisters and playing with toys. Teething toys, puppy Kongs, balls and rope toys are big favorites with puppies. He can bark too and some puppies can be quite noisy at this age! He chases after his mother whenever she appears and suckles hungrily, but she is starting to get fed up with it, and may be reluctant to feed her brood for very long. His mother is teaching him not to bite too hard. If he lives in outdoor kennels he should spend part of each day indoors with the family. By the end of the sixth week, most are fully weaned, and eating five or six little meals of puppy food each day. Socialization must begin in earnest. He is now two months old and ready for his new life. It is the time during which they become fearful of anything unfamiliar and need to be thoroughly socialized. This is also the time during which most puppies get to grips with house-training, learning to wait before eliminating and start sleeping through the night without a potty break. It is a busy time for new puppy owners. Your puppy will have his vaccinations during this month. Biting can be a big problem during this stage and you need to be patient and consistent in order to teach the puppy not to hurt people when he plays. Provided you use force free methods, this is a great time to get puppy training under way, and especially to teach a puppy recall, and to get your puppy used to working with food. So, for a 2. You can do the same calculation for medium pups at sixteen weeks and large breed pups at 20 weeks — just divide his weight by his age in weeks before you multiply by .Medium to large pups will reach about half their adult height by the end of the month. If the weather is warm you can get your puppy swimming now. He should be able to come when he is called, in and around your home, provided there are not too many distractions. It all depends on what you have taught him. He may still be chewing a lot and biting too. Use frozen Kongs to help him and give your furniture and fingers a break. Puppies can go for short walks now. By the end of this month your puppy could have a twenty minute walk each day. He may also enjoy fetching a ball and playing with other dogs, but take care to stop before he gets very tired. Less dependence This is the month during which some puppies start to become less dependent on their humans for security. Keep your puppy close to you outdoors by changing direction frequently so that you puppy has to keep coming to find you. And engaging him in games. The foundations of a great recall are often build or spoilt during this month. If your puppy knows how to sit or lie down at home, start some simple proofing exercises with him in public places. A healthy puppy can usually manage on two meals a day from around six months. During this month a Retriever, Spaniel or GSD puppy will reach around two thirds of his adult weight. A Great Dane and other large breeds will have reached about half their final weight and little dogs will have almost completed their growth. Some female dogs will come on heat for the first time during this month, or the next, so keep an eye open now for swelling of her vulva and any discharge. Your dog will become increasingly confident over the next few months so practice, practice and practice that recall! Make it a habit he cannot break. And be generous with your rewards. Small breed pups may now be more or less mature. Your puppy will enjoy half hour off lead walks now, and should be able to walk on a loose lead for short periods with plenty of encouragement and rewards. Keep practicing that recall! These help to slow his growth further and to build his confidence. Make sure you practice good outdoor management on walks to maintain the good recall you have built and work hard on thoroughly proofing all his obedience skills. Read up on neutering before you take this important step, for dogs of either sex. Once your dog is a year old he can participate in more strenuous activities and sports. Now is the time to think about the kinds of activities you would like to do with him — go jogging together for example — and if necessary, to start to get him fit. Puppy development stages — Summary There is huge variation in the way in which dogs develop and mature. The puppy development stages and ages outlined above are a rough guide. We hope you enjoyed them and found the information interesting. When it comes to training, you get out what you put in. Your progress depends as much if not more on you rather than your puppy. If you train your puppy five times a day, six days a week he will learn many, many times faster than a puppy that is trained once a day at the weekend. Enjoy watching your puppy grow and develop. And have fun! One look and an instant calm will probably wash over you. Stress simply melts away. Because Golden Retrievers are notoriously loyal and obedient. They can look silly with their big goofy grins. Or they can look stoic and wise beyond their years with their striking, deep brown eyes. CutenessOverload Everything they do is adorable Just watching your pup go from an adorable average of 10 pounds right when you get them at 8 weeks old to a sizable 70 pounds at the year mark is cuter than anything you can imagine. Or falling asleep in your lap. Or busting your pup discreetly chewing on your brand new pair of sneakers in their new closet lair is the cutest. There are too many cute things! Everything will be adorable and glee-inducing if done by a Golden Retriever pup — even the behaviors that, by all logic, should annoy you to no end. This is a good thing because a puppy this adorable is definitely going to be a popular one. Golden Retriever puppies make friends with kids , adults, and other animals while keeping their trademark smiles on their faces. They are so friendly, in fact, that they may not be the best bet when looking for guard dogs. A Golden will usually greet any stranger, including during a break-in, with a welcoming smile on their face. But they will love you best Again, the loyalty of a Golden Retriever pup cannot be stressed enough; it is strong. At the end of the day, your athletic, big-pawed, adventurous, silly, and loving Golden pup will only have eyes for you. Remember, you can find just about any breed of dog you are looking for at a shelter or rescue. At this stage, nipping bad behaviors in the bud is more important than imprinting positive ones. Instead, just redirect them to positive behavior and reward them accordingly. By this point, your puppy should have already been given their distemper and parvovirus vaccinations. By this point, they should be fully housetrained or close to it. Your dog will be likely to gnaw and bite on anything they can get their chompers on—including you. Stay calm and redirect their attention to appropriate objects like chew toys. Your Golden should be fully accustomed to their new kibble at this point, and you should feed them three to four times per day. A 3-month-old dog should also get a DHHP booster, which protects them from parvo, distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus. You can play with your pup as much as you like, but take care not to put too much stress on their joints. Avoid a bunch of running and jumping, especially on hard surfaces. Your dog can transition from four meals per day down to three at this point, but the meals should probably be larger. This can cause digestive issues until your dog gets accustomed to it, so be prepared to clean up a few messes. Training should continue, although your primary focus will likely be convincing your pup to chew on something besides your shoes. Your dog will need another DHPP booster at this point, as well as a rabies vaccination. Other optional vaccines include Bordetella, Lyme disease, coronavirus, and leptospirosis. This could cause a brief burst of intense biting and chewing, so power through it. Make sure your pup has plenty of chew toys available to them. Stairs in particular should be avoided. Your pup is likely to start asserting itself at this stage and may start to mature sexually if not spayed or neutered. There are no vaccinations required at this point. Everyone knows how much fun it is to raise teenagers, right? This can lead to undesirable behaviors like aggressiveness, increased tendency to roam, and destructiveness. As a result, you may think that your dog is too skinny, but resist the urge to increase their rations. While most breeds have a puppy coat that they eventually grow out of, Goldens do not. Instead, their puppy coat becomes their undercoat, so you may notice your dog becoming increasingly fuzzy. The teenage rebelliousness should be wearing off by this point, and your dog is ready to begin training in earnest. You should still be feeding them twice daily, and they should stay on puppy kibble for at least another 6 months. Goldens reach their full height between 9 and 12 months old. Females tend to get there faster, but males will be taller in the end. You may also need to cut back on the amount that you feed them. It depends on the individual dog, but females generally reach maturity first. Spaying or neutering your dog has its pros and cons. The pros are fairly obvious: less marking, reduced misbehavior, and zero chance of getting an unexpected litter of puppies. Spaying and neutering can also protect against certain cancers. You may want to wait until your dog is at least 12 months old before getting them fixed. This also leaves the window open longer in which they can suffer skeletal damage, though, so be careful about how active you allow them to be. However, stunted growth and growing too quickly can cause serious health problems, so you should check with your vet to make sure your dog is growing on schedule. Stunted growth is usually caused by malnourishment or a medical problem. You should have your pup tested for parasites like hookworm or ringworm, and consider switching them to a higher-quality, calorie-dense food. If left untreated, malnourishment can lead to weak bones, muscles, and immune system. As you might expect, growing too quickly is often caused by feeding your dog too much. American and British Goldens are similar. However, American Goldens tend to be less stocky and muscular, instead having a leaner appearance. They may weigh a bit less as well. They tend to be taller as well, often standing an inch or two higher than their counterparts. Conclusion Golden Retrievers make excellent pets, and we understand how hard it is to resist the temptation to bring a puppy home. If you do, though, you should understand what to expect from your new dog. Steady growth is what you want to see, without too many peaks or valleys. This sets your dog up for a long, healthy lifespan. Every dog develops at their own pace, so as long as you feed your pup an appropriate amount of high-quality puppy kibble and get them vaccinated regularly, you should be fine. See also:. Christina Donnelly is a small animal expert focusing on dogs and writer with over 12 years of experience in animal welfare. In fact, golden retrievers have snagged the third spot for most popular dogs in the United States for the last several years! These pooches are on the larger side females range between 55 and 70 pounds, while males weigh in between 65 and 75 pounds and require lots of exercise, which may make some families shy away. But don't let their size—or high energy—deter you. Golden retrievers are highly intelligent, easy to train compared to other breeds of dogs , and incredibly friendly. Whether you're already a golden puppy parent or considering adding one to the family, read on to learn some fun facts and see some seriously cute photos! One even surmises that goldens are descendants of Russian circus dogs! These alternate theories were debunked, however, when the personal records of Lord Tweedmouth of Inverness, Scotland were made public. Lord Tweedmouth was an avid waterfowl hunter who wanted to breed a dog with some serious bird retrieving skills. So, in , he bred a yellow retriever named Nous with a liver-colored Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. The result? A pack of puppies with the exact hunting skills he was looking for, which he dubbed golden retrievers. Golden retrievers were later brought to North America—sometime during the s—where they became hugely popular for their beautiful looks and sweet personalities. Then, in , they were officially recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club. Continue to 2 of 9 below. They can range from a very light, snowy white, to a yellow-gold, to a dark, coppery red. No matter the color of their coat, however, it's important to never cut your golden retriever's hair—doing so can put her at risk of skin cancer, among other health issues. Their coats are made up of two layers—the long, silky, waterproof outercoat and soft, warming undercoat—and act as insulators against all types of weather. So, if you think to trim your golden's coat in the summer to keep it cool, think again! It'll be much cooler and its skin will be protected from the sun with its coat intact. Continue to 3 of 9 below. Bred to fetch waterfowl, golden retrievers love a good swim session but would be just as happy with long walks, games of fetch, or even agility games. Aim for about one hour of exercise each day, but keep your dog's age and activity levels in mind—you may have to adjust accordingly. Continue to 4 of 9 below. If taken to a rescue site, for example, they can quickly learn how to perform search and rescues to help those in need. In addition to their smarts, golden retrievers' downright sweet demeanors make them the perfect pick for therapy dogs. They can bring a lot of comforts—and joy—to people who have experienced traumatic events, are living in hospitals, or are stressed out during college exams. Continue to 5 of 9 below. Their love of food can cause health problems like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease , so it's important to feed your golden the right amount of food for her weight, age, and activity level. Not sure how much is right for your dog? Talk to your vet about a healthy diet. And take it easy on the treats! It's true that goldens love to eat, but they like to carry non-food items in their mouths, too. Their mouthy nature makes everyday stuff such as sticks, shoes, or even the remote control a highly prized possession. Because golden retrievers have very gentle mouths, challenges such as the golden retriever egg challenge—in which a golden is tasked with holding an uncooked egg in its mouth without breaking it—have popped up all over the web. Continue to 6 of 9 below. Tons of major movies, such as the "Air Bud" series, "Homeward Bound," "A Dog's Purpose," and even thrillers such as "Poltergeist" and "Friday the 13th" have goldens in the credit roll. What's more? There are a few golden retrievers in presidential history, too. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford had goldens during their presidencies. Golden retrievers are often considered the all-American dogs, so it makes sense, right? Continue to 7 of 9 below. Todd, the sweet golden pictured here, is one of those puppy heroes. During their hike, Paula nearly stepped on a rattlesnake—and when the snake lunged at her, Todd jumped in front of her to protect her. Although Todd was bitten on the nose and had severe swelling in his face, he's expected to make a full recovery. Because of his heroic deed, the internet has hailed Todd as a very, very good boy. And believe it or not, Todd has found a way to be an even better boy: He has a GoFundMe page to help other heroic doggies who have suffered from the same injuries. Continue to 8 of 9 below. Even in their senior years, it's not uncommon for older goldens to keep up with their puppy counterparts. Continue to 9 of 9 below. And for good reason! Not only are they adorable, but they prove goldens are some of the sweetest puppers around, too. January 24, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? What does it take to be considered ideal for a family dog? How do you know if the Golden Retriever is the right fit for you and your family? A Brief Background on Golden Retrievers! Bred in the highlands of Scotland by Lord Tweedmouth in the mid to late s, Goldens are a cross between a Yellow Retriever and an extinct dog breed, the Tweed Water Spaniel. Lord Tweedmouth wanted the ideal gundog to accompany him during fowl hunting and be able to withstand the rugged terrain and rainy conditions. Aside from being able to retrieve fowl, Lord Tweedmouth wanted an even-tempered dog to have at home when not hunting. And so, the Golden Retriever was born. Later in the s, they soon became a popular breed amongst American families when President Gerald Ford had a Golden named Liberty as his family dog. Golden Retrievers, like their name states, are golden! Their luxurious coats come in a variety of light to dark shades, ranging from light like the white Golden Retriever or English Cream to dark golden colors, even close to chocolate. Their coats feature feathering down their backs, chest, belly, hindquarters, and tails. Goldens have soft expressions combined with floppy expressive ears that give them a puppy-like appearance even as adults. Another thing to note of the Golden Retriever is that those fluffy coats are actually what are known as double coats. A strong water repellant coat on top coupled with a dense undercoat to regulate their body heat. This all means these pups can be heavy shedders! What are Golden Retrievers Personalities like? There is something to be said about being named a perfect family dog. The Golden Retriever breed is loyal, affectionate, playful, and gentle. If brought into a home with children, your Golden Retriever puppy will be a great addition for help introducing your new Golden Retriever pup to your kids and how to play together, check out our blog! But being a great family dog doesn't mean they are easy! Goldens have lots of energy which can come out in more jumping and being more mouthy, especially as puppies. Check our training tips for raising a well-mannered Golden at the end of this blog! Two to three daily walks are a must, and throw in fun activities like hiking or going for a swim, your pup will stay golden! Golden Retrievers are eager to please type of breed. They generally have happy go lucky demeanors which lends itself to affection and friendliness, including toward strangers. If you wanted a pup that could eventually become a service dog, a Golden Retriever is a great choice and make for excellent working pups! As a high-energy breed, Golden Retrievers do best in a home that will provide them ample access to romp around. Homes with fenced in yards or access to a park or field on a daily basis where they can run and fetch to their hearts content are the best environment for Goldens! These pups, with consistent early socialization, can adapt and thrive to living in a home with other dogs, or pets, and children! They love to play and make great playmates. That being said, their social nature can lead to dependencies on their owners and family. Golden Retrievers may develop separation anxiety if left alone and not properly trained from an early age. Golden Retrievers may also contract heart disease called subvalvular aortic stenosis SAS that with early diagnosis and treatment can allow for a regular life-span. When you are looking to add a Golden Retriever puppy, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder that cares for the health quality of the dogs they breed. Take advantage of that natural drive and eagerness to please by setting foundations at home. Start your puppy a regular daily puppy schedule to create structured routines in the home. Include consistent feeding, nap, play and obedience training times throughout the day to help your Golden pup learn what to expect and build confidence at home. During their puppy training focus on their obedience commands to help your puppy learn to look to you for guidance, build their communication with you, and solidify a trusting relationship! Since Golden Retrievers love to work, positive reinforcement and food rewards will be valuable motivators to get your puppy focused and listening. In-person and online puppy training programs will walk you through how to teach the commands, exercises to help your puppy learn them, and troubleshoot when your puppy needs it! Teach Your Golden Retriever How to Greet New People and Dogs While their open friendly disposition will help your puppy make new friends where ever they go, make sure to teach your puppy the right way to do so! Some overly energetic and friendly pups can get excitable around new people and dogs. That can result in some unwanted whining, lunging, and jumping. When done correctly, socialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on those common over-excited behaviors when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer or join an online puppy training school to help set you up for the best success! Do Calming Obedience Exercises With all their high-energy and high-drive, teaching your Golden how to be calm in everyday scenarios will help tame that wild side! Great calming exercises include having your puppy learn to wait for their food bowl and in thresholds each time you enter or leave a space. This also extends to activities like fetch. Goldens are a natal for this! This can be done simply by having your pup drop the toy when they return and pausing for a few moments giving them a chance to settle before throwing it again for them to retrieve. Teach Them to Walk Nicely on Leash Many high-energy pups have a tendency to lunge toward exciting new things! Couple that with a social nature, and you may encounter that your Golden Retriever puppy will start to pull on leash. Focus on teaching them proper leash manners including how to walk in Heel position and how to pass other people and pups without lunging, jumping and excited whining, barking or nipping at them! That can greatly help possible bad encounters with strangers and other dogs while teaching them great habits! Did you recently bring home a Golden Retriever puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This was the first time we had a chance to chart puppies from birth until 8 weeks old. We tried to take as many pictures as possible so we could have a journal of our Golden Retriever puppy growth week by week. When raising guide and service dog puppies we usually bring home our puppies at around weeks old. On occasion we are allowed to see puppies before 8 weeks of age, but they need to stay with their mother and siblings during those important early weeks to get milk and antibodies from mama and learn how to interact properly with siblings, learning important behaviors like bite inhibition. During our days as a foster we raised two litters of puppies , but both were already weeks old by the time we got them home. We actually own the Puppy Culture DVD and Workbook which includes charts, lists, worksheets and other great information for raising your litter. Keep your eyes and ears open and absorb it all like a sponge! Birth To 1 Week Old Guess what? This was the first litter we ever whelped!? We got a lot of advise, but we were largely on our own. Large Puppy Dish — great for feeding the puppies when they moved to solid food. Whelping Mats — we ordered 2 of these mats and washed them several times a day. Whelping Box — We have a homemade whelping box built by my father-in-law, but if we continue raising litters I plan on purchasing an EZWhelp Whelping Box. Our homemade box lasted three litters. We ended up purchasing the Magnabox which was hellu expensive but if you plan on raising multiple litters we highly recommend it. We recently put together a whelping checklist with all the supplies we gathered together to help out with our second litter of Golden Retriever puppies. Check out our whelping supplies checklist here. However, none were overly huge and none were extra small. No runts and no beasts. It was my understanding that when the cord was chewed down to the base of the belly it was sometimes difficult to get it to stop bleeding. I took the hemostat and pinched the umbilical cord about 2 inches from the base of the pups belly then cut the cord rather than let Raven chew it off. I kept the hemostat on the cord for about 2 minutes to let it clout. The umbilical cord dries up quickly and then within a day or 2 it falls off. Raven was a good mama and took care of her poops. Puppy eyes and ears are closed at this stage and puppies army crawl around the whelping box looking for a teat to suckle. We did everything we could to make sure our pups stayed warm by adding a watt heat lamp to the whelping box and portable heating unit in the puppy room. As I mentioned Raven stayed in the whelping box most of week 1 and of course… the puppy piles! One thing I learned is if I had a puppy on my lap then do not let Raven lick those areas or be prepared for a little accident on your lap. While caring for Raven and her litter Raven was really blowing out her coat that first week, but as time went on it slowed down. I heard from other friends this is common and that Raven blew out her coat much less than other mama dogs. We got Probiotics for Raven before her first litter, but forgot to order them for her second litter. After an upset stomach for the first week or so we realized our mistake, got Probiotics, and no more upset tummy. Week 2 — Pups eyes are opening starting to waddle. Week 3 — First bark! Week 7 — The great puppy escape artists! Week 8 — Our golden puppies head to their new homes. Have you ever had a litter of Golden Retriever puppies? Tell us about your experiences with puppies in the comment section below. Are you about to raise a litter of puppies? Not raising a litter, but getting ready to bring home your first Golden Retriever puppy? Puppies for Dummies will give you the basics on how to raise and train your new puppy. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining.