labrador cross puppies for sale
Also called Barbone and Caniche, the teacup-toy Poodle is an intelligent and loyal breed. If you want a best friend who is big enough to keep up with your adventures but small enough to ride in your lap, this energetic dog may be a match for you. Affectionate, eager, and playful, they are ready and willing to do what it takes to make you happy. Their intelligence makes them relatively easy to train, and early socialization will help your pup grow to be calm and happy around pets, children, and unfamiliar people. They are a delightful all-around dog that has such strong qualities, it has been a parent breed for dozens of hybrid breeds. Their eyes are dark and brilliant and reveal their intelligence. Their nose is refined at the end of a long, narrow snout, and their teeth meet in a strong scissor bite. A miniature variation dictates that Teacup-Toy Poodles will have a squarely-built body with a deep chest and muscled shoulders. Their stance is elegant but sturdy, and their tail stands straight up. Their hair is typically dense, curly, and even wiry. Their coats come in many colors: White. Ask for Our 'Special Order' Option. Teacup Poodle puppies are one of the most impressive dogs in the canine world. Not only are teacup Poodles extremely friendly and affectionate to their owners, these loveable beauties vibe well with young children, strangers, and other dogs. Our delightful toy puppies are also incredibly clever and easy to train. After learning a few tricks, our adorable teacup Poodles will keep you entertained for hours with their playfulness. Are you ready to open your heart and home to your fur-ever friend? Have a look at our available Toy Poodle puppies for sale, or contact us for information about our upcoming litters or the special order option. Temperament: Poodles are highly intelligent and adaptable dogs that are known for their delightful temperament. They are playful, affectionate, and loyal companions that make wonderful pets for individuals and families alike. One of the most notable characteristics of the Poodle temperament is their intelligence. They are quick learners and excel at obedience training and other forms of mental stimulation. Poodles are also highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of living situations, from apartments to larger homes. In addition to their intelligence, Poodles are also affectionate and loving dogs that form strong bonds with their owners. They are known for being highly attuned to their human's emotions and can be extremely intuitive and sensitive to their needs. This makes them great companions for people who are looking for a loyal and loving pet. Poodles are also highly sociable dogs that enjoy spending time with their owners and meeting new people and pets. They are outgoing and friendly, making them great pets for families with children or other pets. Poodles also have a playful side to their nature and enjoy games and activities that involve interaction and engagement with their owners. Overall, the Poodle temperament is highly desirable, making them one of the most popular breeds in the world. Their intelligence, adaptability, and loving nature make them wonderful pets for a wide range of people and lifestyles, and their endearing personalities are sure to bring joy and companionship to any household. Available Puppies Appearance: Poodles are a distinctive breed known for their elegant and sophisticated appearance. They come in four sizes: standard, miniature, and toy, and teacup and have a variety of coat colors including white, black, brown, silver, apricot, and red. One of the most notable features of the Poodle is their unique coat. Poodles have a dense, curly coat that is hypoallergenic, meaning they are a great choice for people with allergies. Their curly coat is also water-resistant, which makes them excellent swimmers. Poodles have a long, narrow muzzle and oval-shaped eyes that convey a sense of intelligence and alertness. They have long, furry ears that hang close to their head, giving them a regal and elegant appearance. Poodles also have a long, slender neck that flows smoothly into their well-proportioned body. Another defining characteristic of the Poodle is their distinctive gait. They have a springy and energetic step, and their movements are graceful and fluid. This, combined with their elegant appearance, gives Poodles a sense of aristocratic refinement. Overall, the Poodle is a visually striking breed that boasts a unique and sophisticated appearance. Their curly coat, elegant body structure, and distinctive gait make them one of the most recognizable and beloved dog breeds in the world. Learn more Exercise Poodles are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being. While the amount of exercise they require may vary depending on their size and age, all Poodles need daily exercise to keep them healthy and happy. A typical exercise routine for a Poodle may include a brisk walk or jog in the morning and evening, along with some playtime or training sessions during the day. Poodles also enjoy playing fetch, running around in a securely fenced yard, or going on leisurely hikes with their owners. In addition to physical exercise, Poodles also benefit from mental stimulation. They are highly intelligent and require mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. Puzzle toys, obedience training, and other forms of mental stimulation can help keep Poodles mentally stimulated and engaged. It's important to keep in mind that Poodles can be prone to weight gain, especially as they age. Regular exercise not only helps to keep them physically fit but also provides them with mental stimulation and helps to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. Monitoring their diet and exercise routine closely is crucial to prevent them from becoming overweight or obese. Overall, Poodles are active and energetic dogs that require regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. With the right amount of exercise, attention, and care, Poodles can live long, healthy, and happy lives. Learn more History The Poodle is an ancient breed with a history that dates back several centuries. While the exact origins of the breed are unclear, it is believed that they originated in Germany, where they were known as the "Pudel," which translates to "splash in water. Their unique coat, which is hypoallergenic and water-resistant, made them well-suited for this task. Over time, Poodles also became popular as circus performers and were trained to perform tricks and acrobatics. During the 16th century, Poodles became popular with European nobility and were frequently depicted in paintings and artwork of the time. They were also a popular choice for the court of Louis XVI, and were often seen in his court as well as other royal courts in Europe. In the 19th century, Poodles were standardized into three different sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. This allowed for greater versatility in the breed, and they became popular as companions and family pets. Today, Poodles are one of the most popular breeds in the world and are beloved for their intelligence, affectionate nature, and distinctive appearance. They continue to be used as retrievers and are also trained for a variety of activities, including obedience, agility, and therapy work. Learn more Maintenance Poodles require regular maintenance to keep their distinctive curly coat in good condition. Their curly coat can easily become matted and tangled, so it's important to brush and groom them regularly to prevent this from happening. The frequency of grooming will depend on the length of the Poodle's coat. For example, a Poodle with a shorter clip may only need to be groomed every six to eight weeks, while a Poodle with a longer coat may need to be groomed every four to six weeks. Regular brushing is also important for Poodle maintenance. Brushing helps to remove any loose or dead hair from their coat, as well as prevent matting and tangles. Poodles with longer coats may need to be brushed daily, while those with shorter coats may only need to be brushed a few times a week. Bathing is another important aspect of Poodle maintenance. Poodles should be bathed every three to four weeks, or more frequently if they get particularly dirty or smelly. It's important to use a dog-specific shampoo that won't irritate their skin or strip their coat of its natural oils. Poodle maintenance also involves regular nail trimming, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing. Their nails should be trimmed every two to three weeks, their ears should be cleaned weekly, and their teeth should be brushed several times a week to prevent dental issues. Overall, Poodles require regular maintenance to keep them healthy, happy, and looking their best. Consistent grooming, brushing, bathing, and other forms of maintenance can help prevent common issues like matting and tangling, and keep them looking and feeling great. These tiny little pups are loyal and loving and can fit just about anywhere! Also intelligent, the Teacup Poodle will keep you on your toes and carries many of the same characteristics as their standard sized parents. This breed is selectively bred and is a variation of the Toy Poodle. The only difference between the Toy Poodle and the Teacup Poodle is their size, so we can look to the Toy Poodle for a lot of information about the Teacup. Breed Origin The Poodle is one of the most popular dogs in the world and is in fact one of the oldest pure bred dogs. These dogs originated in Germany and were originally bred to be a working and gun dog that made the perfect hunting dog. The Poodle has a waterproof coat and great retrieving talents. Nowadays, this breed is more known as a lapdog rather than a working dog. They are bred in smaller breeds so that more people can enjoy having a Poodle as a best friend. The Teacup variation of this breed has been selectively bred from the Toy Poodle and must be under 9 inches in height and less than 6 pounds in weight to qualify as a Teacup. Teacup puppies are normally born in litters of one to two, although occasionally there can be more. They weigh around 2 pounds when born and will only grow to around 5 pounds once fully grown. They also are always under 9 inches in height. This is because of the selective breeding process and the fact that there are fewer dogs in every litter. Although there are no official breed standards, the general rule of thumb is that a Teacup Poodle is 9 inches in height and they weigh less than 6 pounds, whereas a Toy breed is less than 10 inches. Their breed is very elegant looking, no matter the size, and they always stand poised. Their eyes are also small, dark and are always alert and they have a long muzzle with floppy furry ears. Coat Their coat is curled and thick and they do not shed any fur. This means they are a hypoallergenic dog and are perfect for those with allergies. Unlike other Poodle mix dogs who may have a mixture of different fur colors, this dog only comes in solid colors. This way, you can determine whether you are being sold a purebred Poodle or not. They are extremely loving and make great companions for everyone, including individuals, families and the elderly. Because of their size, too, they fit into many different environments and will do well in apartments and in city living and also in large homes in the country or in open-spaced environments. Their exercise needs are not great, although they do get bored very easily and do not like to be left alone. If they are left alone for too long they will begin to suffer from separation anxiety and exhibit destructive behaviors. Lifespan The life expectancy of a Teacup dog is relatively long. These dogs can be expected to live anywhere between 12 to 14 years. Some of these problems are similar to the issues that may be carried by their standard sized ancestors due to their genetic similarities. These include: Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA — this is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye. Dysplasia — this is normally seen in large dogs but can affect different joints in the body. Also, because of their selective breeding and small size, they are also prone to some other health issues. You should always check with the breeder you are buying from to see whether the dogs show any signs of these problems. The three most common are hypoglycemia low blood sugar , heart defects and patella luxation. Patella luxation is a common condition in smaller dogs and is caused when the patella is not properly aligned. This can cause lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, sort of like a skip or a hop. To ensure you identify the signs of any of these issues early, ensure you take your dog to the vet for regular checkups. Daily Life Fortunately, taking care of a Teacup Poodle in day-to-day life is not too challenging. They do not have as many needs as other sizes of the Poodle breed. Food And Diet Because they are small dogs , their food needs are not huge. Experts recommend that you feed your Teacup Poodle approximately calories per day, which is the equivalent to approximately 1 cup of high quality dry kibble per day. You should try them on a diet that is specially formulated for toy sized breeds, so you are ensuring that they get the right nutrients. You can also reward them with treats when they exhibit good behavior, as well as fruit snacks. Exercise The Teacup Poodle does not have great exercise needs, because of their size. Despite this, they still need to be walked every day. Exercising your dog can be a great way to bond with them and increase mental stimulation, as well as allowing them to experience new sights and sounds. Experts recommend you take your Teacup Poodle for no more than a 30 minute short walk a day. It is best that you split the walk into three so they do not over exert themselves. This way you could take them in the morning, in the middle of the day and in the evening and you could vary the locations to give your dog new experiences. Your dog will also benefit from toys at home that will increase bonding time with you. Keep in mind that a Teacup Poodle has trouble keeping warm because of their small size. If you live in a colder area, your Teacup will benefit from a sweater or jacket to keep warm! Family Compatibility Poodles love humans and make great companions for everyone, including families. Because of their size, Teacup Poodles can fit into any home, whether you live in an apartment in the city of whether you live in a large house in the countryside. They love to be around you, so they are not well suited to a family that is going to be out for most of the day. That being said, they are extremely loving and a great lapdog — and small enough so you might be able to take them with you! The Teacup may feel intimidated when being held by small children and therefore get a little cranky. Fortunately, with early socialization, this can be fixed. Training Teacup Poodles are easy to train, which is another reason many people love these dogs. They are naturally intelligent which makes your life a lot easier, especially if you have never trained a dog before. Teacups want to learn and want to please and they respond well to positive reinforcement. This includes verbal praise and treats. You will also need to socialize them, especially because they are small. They need to be introduced to other people and animals from a young age so they learn how to interact. You should aim to do this twice a week. You should also clip their nails and brush their teeth. To help prevent dental decay and disease, daily brushing is the normally recommended. Teacup Poodles certainly do well in a family environment and love to be around people. They can feel intimidated when they are around small children, so it is not usually advised to house them with young children. However, this can be fixed with socialization. They can live in both small apartments or in big houses, as long as you give them enough love. How much do Teacup Poodles cost? They are expensive because they can be difficult to breed and there is normally only one or two puppies in a litter. If this is too expensive for you, you may find a Teacup Poodle at your local shelter who needs a home. Summary Teacup Poodles are an adorable, friendly and loving dog. Ensure that you give them the right amount of food, exercise them every day and play games with them and they will love you forever! Teacup Poodles love to be around people and can make the perfect family dog. They are not difficult to train and walking is minimal, so they make a great pet to everyone! What do you think — is a Teacup Poodle the right dog for you? Search Dog Breeds.
I think starting your son off with an after school and weekend engagement at a local animal charity or shelter will be a great way to get him involved without him feeling overwhelmed by his duty to care for his own dog right now. A huge part of depression are the negative thoughts which make feelings of guilt so much more intrusive and paralysing. Becoming involved with helping animals and people, and "earning" a dog of his own will help you all to see where he is right now with regards to his emotional well being and level of adolescent responsibility. It also greatly helps with feelings of meaning and purpose, which directly negate helplessness and hopelessness. If you do decide a dog of his own is the way you want to go then I would recommend an older dog. Basically an older dog, specifically chosen so to exclude a highly anxious or serious history of abuse will pretty much give you a ready made package of dog enjoyment. Puppies are not fun. They are hard, hard work and shake most of us to our absolute core. My Harley is now 20 months and she is awesome. I can take her to classes, do training at home or decide to have a quieter day with less activity, maybe more mental stimulation. She is such a joy. I did not enjoy her as a biting, jumping and terrorising puppy. Thanks for the mention Xena Dog Princess , and I do work in private practice as a clinical psychologist we have way more fun than psychiatrists and Harley works in my practice with me. Actually mostly with teens. I believe, wholeheartedly, that animals improve our lives. But not to the detriment of the person or the animal. So both have to be mostly right for each other - there is no perfection. And it is unfair on your whole family if you aren't ready or able to have a dog at this point, but most importantly, it is crucial to not have your son in a position where he is under too much pressure and feels destined to fail that the expectation of being an animals provider. I am sure someone at your local shelter will be able to really help with finding your family a dog that will fit right in. Best of luck. Deciding on getting a Labrador puppy to raise as a home companion? But before you decide on getting a Lab or any puppy, you have to know your responsibility. You have to do more than just giving them their necessities. Any puppy is hard work. Puppies have a hard time tending to themselves, especially at a young age. Or else, your home will be filled with pee and poo. Plus, you should only let them out for a few minutes as pups get sick easily. Yet, unlike your own children, your dog is considered an adult by their first birthday. Once they mature mentally, your work is less hectic than before. But Why Get Puppies? If having a pup is hard, why not get an adult dog? But getting an adult dog is more difficult than having a pup. For one, they will have a harder time getting familiar with you and their new home. Puppies are easier to train as they learn quicker. Adult dogs tend to be more stubborn. Are You Ready for a Labrador Puppy? Before getting a Labrador puppy, ask yourself these questions: Do you have enough space for a medium-sized dog? Do you have enough time to monitor them? Do you have money for all their needs? First off, having a big space is preferable. But Labs are also known to thrive well in apartments. Secondly, Labrador retrievers have high energy. Not being able to give them proper exercise can lead to problematic behavior. They tend to become too hyper and even destructive. Third, pups have to be monitored. Besides their monthly food consumption, you also have to bring them to the vet. If you are, you have to be armed with knowledge. You need to be ready with their needs and wants. They should be weaned first before they can be separated from their mother. In fact, it should be done as soon as you can. According to AKC, crate training ranks the most used potty training tool. You can also bring them out once in a while to do their business. The repetition will help them know they should go outside if they need to pee or poo. Buy a Crate Crate training is important and can help with house-training your dog. It can even help with separation anxiety. But you have to ensure that the crate caters them well. You might need to buy separate crates from when they are pups until they are adults. Conclusion Labrador retriever puppies are adorable and cute, but definitely hard work. Still, all the hard work is worth it as they will reward you with their adoration and love. I was born into a dog-loving family and have been a proud doggy mommy ever since I can remember. I love sharing my dog knowledge and love being an active part of the dog-loving community. Related Posts. Are Lab puppies trainable too? They include intelligence, temperament, and genetic traits. As a rule, dogs that are highly motivated are also the easiest to train. Labradors are highly motivated by two things. But even more than that, they are are incredibly motivated by the promise of a tasty treat or two. One study actually found a gene alteration in Labs that gives them greater food motivation. This could explain why Labs have a reputation for always being hungry. Their origins can be traced back to the cross-breeding of working dogs in the s. From these modest roots, the ever-devoted and hard-working St. Life on Newfoundland revolved around fishing, and these able-bodied dogs were well-suited to the water. Working together in a cooperative way in this harsh climate forged a close bond between these reliable working dogs and their human companions. A study of Labrador Retrievers found that the working status of the breed impacted their trainability. The Labrador Retriever possesses a solid body and alert senses. This, combined with an innate work ethic, genial nature, and intelligent temperament, makes him an ideal candidate for a wide variety of service jobs. Search and rescue, detection, disabled-assistance, and therapy work are service areas that the Lab excels in. The fact that Labs have been found to be among the least aggressive breeds toward humans and other dogs also makes them suitable for these roles. However, intelligence alone does not necessarily denote trainability. There are breeds who are intelligent, but stubborn and less willing to learn. This natural obedience makes them not only trainable, but loyal and dependable. Are Lab Puppies Easy to Train? Puppy socialization and training is important in determining their future behavior. Labs are energetic dogs who grow quickly. The bigger they get the harder it is to control them. Puppies as young as 8 weeks old can begin a training routine. Coming when called, sitting, staying, and walking on a lead without pulling, are important skills, especially for a large dog. As their name suggests, the Labrador Retriever was bred to retrieve prey. Today the breed still retains the instinct to chase objects and bring them back to you. So be prepared for many rousing games of fetch. Training methods have changed over the last few years and positive techniques have become increasingly popular. Rewards are a key element when training a Lab. The use of treats and praise to reinforce proper behavior is one of the best ways to get them to respond the way you want. This type of training is referred to as positive reinforcement training. When Are Labs Hard to Train? No puppy understands how to behave in the human world without being shown. This loving breed is very social and loves to be around people. If they are kept isolated from companionship, they are quite likely to develop behavior problems that make them harder to train. There are different ways to train your Labrador Retriever. This endearing, active dog only wants to receive as much love as he can give. Has your Lab impressed you with their good manners and how quickly they pick up commands? Is there anything you credit with their success most of all? Give your dog some praise, share what works for you, or ask for the support of our other readers down in the comments box. Their specific disposition not only makes them highly trainable — it also makes them excellent service and all-around work dogs. Begin early, use positive reinforcement, train in short sessions, and attend a puppy class or two. Are Labrador Retrievers Easy to Train? Many professional dog trainers and Labrador Retriever owners would argue that high intelligence and trainability go hand-in-hand, since they can learn more commands and tricks quicker and more accurately than other breeds. Male Lab Puppy vs. There are stark differences between the ways males and females tend to behave in the animal world. Although both male and female Labs are excellent companions, females mature faster than males and may be easier to train. They just might require a bit more attention, practice, and patience. Helping Your Labrador Train Well You already know that Labs are one of the most intelligent and trainable breeds, but there are instances in which they may be pretty challenging to train. Ultimately, this comes down to the way owners socialize and exercise their Labs: Labrador Retrievers are a very energetic breed. It could even develop into behavior problems that may be difficult to correct later down the line. This is when he learns the fastest, when he most readily masters new tasks and when he adapts most readily to new environments. The must-know basics are loose leash walking, basic commands, and crate training. You can begin as early as 8 weeks and see results shortly after. Luckily, these dogs are more than willing to learn from you. Start early, use positive reinforcement, train in short sessions, and consider signing your labrador retriever up for socialization classes when your dog has all of the core vaccines. Labrador Training Tip 1: Start Early The best advice that any owner or breeder can give new owners is to start early. Research shows that early training reaps tons of benefits, such as: Alleviating fear and aggression while in a new environment Developing a more profound and stronger bond with their owners By six months of age, almost all behavior problems are set in place. Therefore, early training can avoid issues and bad habits before they start or become more challenging to work with. Labrador Training Tip 2: Use Positive Reinforcement There are different training methods, the most common being positive reinforcement, clicker training, electronic training, and alpha dog training. Research shows that dogs trained using exclusively positive reinforcement methods have a more secure attachment to their owners. Florence Gaunet , the leader of the study that observed positive versus negative reinforcement training in dogs. Image Source Clicker training practices positive reinforcement with the help of sound: When a dog does a wanted behavior, the clicker clicks immediately following the action. Clicker training is an especially helpful tactic because it shows the puppy the desired behavior. However, the puppy needs to associate the clicking sound with a reward. This tactic can sometimes be challenging to try as a novice trainer, so many owners opt for puppy training classes where they can receive some guidance. Yet, this particular method is frequently used in service dog training sessions. Labrador Training Tip 3: Keep Training Sessions Short But Frequent Puppies are like toddlers: Their ability to concentrate is naturally short, requiring stimulation if you want to hold their attention. Otherwise, they may become distracted, get bored, and stop paying attention. Most dogs have an attention span of about 15 minutes before they get bored, tired, and begin resisting commands, so a good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 15 minutes of training every day in five-minute increments. Incredibly distracted puppies may need shorter sessions, like two to three minutes, a few extra times a day. Quick Tip: Train in every room of your house so that your puppy recognizes cues in different places. Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar recommends that your puppy meet at least people of different appearances, backgrounds, and abilities during his first month at home or at least three months. One of the best ways to do that is by attending socialization classes. Plus, class participation leads to a well-rounded, happy, and willing puppy which directly translates to ease of training. Simply put, certain traits are more likely to be shared by genetically-similar breeds. Therefore, they should all be registered with the American Kennel Club, offer full-replacement guarantees, conduct ethical breeding practices, interview prospective owners , and allow on-site tours and meet-and-greets with the puppies and their parents. Conclusion Labrador Retrievers are some of the smartest and easiest dogs to train, partly due to their genetics and partly due to the way they are raised. If you want a dog that is easy to train, start training your pup early and use positive reinforcement techniques like treats or clickers with short training sessions. Learn more about what we do at Snowy Pines, or come visit our Labrador puppies at our acre property nestled in the Ozark Mountains. Share on. Labradors were originally bred to assist their owners with many tasks, such as helping pull nets of fish in off the coast of Newfoundland, retrieving stray fish escaping from the nets, and doing all this all day in ice cold water. Later, they were used for water fowling because many of the same elements were present: the ability to work all day in cold water, and the ability to find and retrieve small animals. What does this mean for you, the modern day owner, who is likely as not, neither trying to pull in nets of cod through the winter nor duck hunting up in frozen Montana? It means you have a dog that was bred to WORK. He was bred to be active, smart, intelligent, companiable. Most of these attributes are what makes a Labrador a perfect family pet in this day and age…but the first one causes much trouble at the same time. Labs are meant to have a job. Because they are intelligent, they are easily trained, but if they are NOT trained, they become bored. And when bored, that same intelligence and activity level, remember that activity level conspires to find other things to do…excavate your backyard, redo the carving on your wooden mouldings, reupholster your favorite sofa, move the living room carpet into the den, tackle your underwear collection, and other similar projects. To cope with this, you must give your dog the physical and mental challenge he was bred for. But you do need to rearrange your daily schedule to spend time with him. He needs daily exercise, and daily training. Why training? Because that exercises his mind, which is nearly as good as exercising his body. Teach your dog tricks if you like. Given daily exercise and training, your lab should become much more tractable in other areas of your life. Labradors are known for having a long and delayed puppyhood and adolescence that completely disregards their physical maturity. A few labradors are quiet and sedate from early puppyhood onward, and a few others are bouncing puppymaniacs until well into old age, but by and large, you can expect to see mental maturation happening between two and four years of age. It is our experience that Labrador owners who understand this before they get a Labrador do much better in the long run than owners who were completely surprised by how much energy and work that cute little Labrador puppy was. So think carefully before picking a Lab! Many people get a Labrador Retriever because they are beautiful and because they have amazing personalities. One thing to question is if Labrador puppies are easy to train or if they are stubborn dogs. Are Labrador puppies easy to train? Labrador puppies are one of the best breeds for training. With their extreme knowledge and their easy to get along with personality, Labrador puppies are the right dog choice if you want a puppy that is going to be easy to train. Labrador Retrievers are dogs that are very motivated to please their owner. These dogs want to make sure that you are happy, and they are primarily motivated if they are given food treats. Labs are also known as very hungry dogs, so training them with food can help to motivate them even more than many other dog breeds. Labrador Retrievers are known for being bred to be working dogs. Since being working dogs, Labradors are considered to be hard workers and work hard to do what they need to do. Many Labrador Retriever dogs are known for being great hunters, fishers, swimmers, and retrievers. All of these traits happen because your Labrador is in tune with being highly trained and ready to make the right moves. Labradors are ready to work hard for their owner and want to make sure to please them and to be easy to work with. Another fantastic thing about Labrador Retrievers is their sense of smell and being alert to what is going on around them. With their hard work and their bright personality, they can work hard and accomplish things that other brands of dogs might not be able to accomplish. Since Labradors are not aggressive animals, they are easier to work with and do not get angry with their owner for pushing them hard and making them work. Labradors are one of the smartest breeds of dogs that exist. Even though they are smart, it does not mean that this is the only thing that is needed for them to be trained. One important thing to remember is that Labs not only are smart, but they also are not very stubborn, so they are willing to give themselves, and they are desirous to please their owner. Being smart is just an extra perk to owning a Labrador. Being obedient helps dogs to be easier to train. Dogs that are not aggressive and are not stubborn are easier to teach, and Labradors fit right in this social status. Once Labradors learn what you are trying to teach them, they try their best to please you and to follow your commandments. You must pick the right Labrador Retriever out of the litter when you are choosing a new dog. Looking to see if your puppy is highly sociable is essential. When picking out a Lab and you have a sociable dog, this is a good sign that your dog will be able to be trained. Labradors are considered hyper dogs, and they have a lot of energy. Sometimes, the bigger they get, the harder they are to control and so you must begin training your puppy at a very young age to make sure that he or she does not get too old and out of control. You can start training your puppy as early as eight weeks old. Giving them simple commands such as sit, come, or stay can be a great start for training your new puppy. There are other commands that you need to begin to teach your puppy, such as walking on a leash without trying to run away and learning to be quiet when people or strangers are around the area. If you have a Labrador that is happy at home and loves his or her owner, your Labrador will be more eager to please you and will be more willing to do whatever you ask them to do. People will always give you different ideas when trying to train your Labrador, and some are for giving treats while others are against it. Giving your Labrador puppy treats will keep your Labrador happy and more willing to please. You must have some type of training method in mind before you even begin training your puppy. Using rewards to appreciate your Labradors behavior can help you to not have to use punishment to get your Labrador to behave or to follow directions. When training your Labrador puppy, you need to make sure that it is going to be a fun time for your Labrador. Your Labrador will love to play, fetch, catch, and just overall have fun. Having a happy dog means that you have a dog that wants to spend time with you and wants to make sure to do everything that you want them to do. Traditional methods of training mean that the owner will be more dominate than using other methods. This means that your dog will not be having fun but will learn to obey their master. With this training, your dog will learn commands such as sitting and not getting on furniture. Traditional methods of training also mean that your Labrador will be pushed and forced to do what they are supposed to be doing. Labradors do not like to have physical punishment, and this can cause your Labrador to become aggressive or make your Labrador be afraid and not in love with you. Clicker Training Using a clicker is another method of training that you can use with your Labrador. This type of training helps with dogs that have a strong personality. Using a clicker helps to control the behavior of your dog and helps them to understand exactly what you want and do not want them to do. Your Labrador will take things more seriously if you are taking things more seriously as well. Practicing with your Labrador puppy will help them to know that you mean what you say and will give them time to get good results. If your Labrador practices, he or she will become great at all the tricks and rules that you wish to enforce. What is Balanced Training? Balanced training is another method of training for Labrador puppies. This type of training gives both rewards and punishments in order to get their puppies to train. It is important that you pick the right training method for training your puppy. Make sure that both you and your puppy are prepared to work hard and that you are prepared to stay on task and to work your puppy hard. Traditional methods of training still work, but it really depends on the attitude of your dog as to what kind of training will really work. Being friends with our puppy is one reason why we choose to get a puppy, but if you want to train them, make sure that you use as little punishment as necessary. If you slap or hit your Labrador, the chances are that he or she will not be as trusting of you, and this can change the relationship. Using positive rewards can continue to show your puppy that you love them and that you are willing to work just as hard as they are. In the past, people thought that their dogs were trying to be dominated and to take over control or be the leaders of the pack. After much scientific study, it has been found that most dogs do not want to be dominated but that they want to be trained and to please their owner. Labradors want to be loved, to get good food, to have fun, and to participate in many fun activities. Punishing your dog can make your dog be more aggressive and be hateful. Dogs that are beaten or mistreated will not have the love with you that you want to form. If you punish your dog too much, you will not get the results that you want to get. Your dog will become slower and will make more mistakes than a dog that has positive reinforcements. When punishing your Labrador, teaching them new behaviors or tricks can be hard, and most of the time, your Labrador is only learning from fear when you use this method. It is important that you begin training your Labrador at a very young age because as they get older, they will get bigger, and it will be harder to train them. You need to make sure that you give your Labrador a lot of praise during this time because it can help you to build a good relationship with your Labrador puppy right from the very beginning. The training should be short, and it should be fun for your puppy. If you bring your puppy home and you are trying to potty train them, take them to the bathroom, and if they use it, make it a big deal, talking happy to them, praising them and giving them a treat. This will show your puppy how proud of him or her that you are when they do the right thing. Using positive training will help your Labrador to see that when they behave they will be rewarded and praised. If you see your Labrador is not following the command, push their bottom down softly and then give them a treat. This will help them to learn to correlate a word with action and see it as a positive thing. This type of training can make your dog very aggressive and make them fearful of you. Using positive rewards is a much better idea than this. Rewarding Make sure that you reward your puppy for things that they do right. When you repeat a word and an action over and over again, the chances are that they will be able to understand exactly what you want them to do. Eventually, you will be able to slow down with the rewards, and they will still do the command. Using Food Treats If you really want to get your Labrador to do what you want them to do, find food for them that they love to eat, and treat them that way. Finding rewards that are exciting and delicious is a great way to get your puppy really doing what you want him or her to do When you give treats for rewards, it is important to only use them as a starting point and then being able to stop giving them treats just for doing the right thing. When you are training, try to give your Labrador less dog food so that they do not get too many calories and this could help them to not put on excessive weight Some people think that you should not give your Labrador food until they do the right trick. It is up to you as the owner if you think that this will help your Labrador to learn faster. Use Treats Sparingly Once your Labrador really starts learning what you want him or her to do, do not give as many treats. Try to mix up your treat giving and make it so that they do not know when they will receive an extra reward so that they will work harder and do more to please you. Increase the Training Once your Labrador is good at following simple commands, start giving them more commands and teaching them more things such as being able to do their commands when there are distractions happening. Once your Labrador learns to follow training even in distracting areas, their ability to be in control will increase, and you will be able to get your Labrador doing bigger and better things. Most pet shops have obedience training, and they offer these classes for lower prices than actual obedience schools. Not only can being in obedience school help your dog to learn to follow commands, but it can also help your dog to become more sociable and meet other puppies. Make sure that your Labrador has all of their shots and vaccinations before enrolling them in places that other dogs will be. You want to make sure that your precious puppy does not get sick or make other dogs sick. Use Research Use research to find out what kind of training techniques you can use for your Labrador. If you plan on doing your own training, figure out which is going to be the best for you and buy the appropriate items that you need in order to train them correctly. Always make sure that you have a leash, a collar or body harness, and plenty of rewards when starting your training program. If you are going to do clicker training, you must purchase a clicker so that your Labrador can be prepared from the beginning. Best Time to Train When you first start training your Labrador, try short training sessions so that your Labrador does not get distracted or lose interest in their training. Pick two times a day to train your dog, but try not to overdo it where your Labrador will get bored. Train during a time where your Labrador will have fewer distractions at first so that they will be able to concentrate on what is going on and give you their fullest attention. Take your dog out before they eat so that they can relate to doing their training with having a tasty treat when they get back home. Some people believe that your dog will get confused if you say long sentences, so try to make sure that you use one word commands and not whole sentences. Make sure that you are very firm and that you show your Labrador Retriever that you are the one that is in control. Remember that Labradors are very smart dogs and so they do not take well to being yelled at. Make sure that you use firm commands but that you are positive and kind in the process. Hand Gestures Hand gestures can help your Labrador to be able to understand more of what you are asking of them. Always try to use the same body language when you are giving your commands. Always Be the Same Make sure that you stay the same in all of your training. Enforce the training anytime that you are out and never let an opportunity go by where you do not take time to train them for their behavior. Make sure that all of the things that your dog does is rewarded even with just positive words. Let them see that positive behaviors are normal and that they need to always be following these behaviors. Following these behaviors will always help your puppy to feel secure in your love and in your training. It is very important that you get all of the family involved when you are trying to train a dog. Remember, for example, that if you are training your puppy to use the bathroom outside, if your family is not involved and they do not take your puppy out, the chances are that he or she will use the bathroom in the house and the training will take a lot longer. If you do not allow your Labrador to beg at the table, make sure that people that visit do not feed your Labrador from the table. These kinds of situations will cause mixed signals for your Labrador and will confuse him or her and might cause them not to be trained as quickly as you would like to see. Remember, we live in a world where nothing and no one is perfect, and it would be unfair of you to think that your Labrador will be perfect. All things make mistakes, and you need to allow room for your Labrador to be able to make mistakes once in a while. Expect that until your dog is fully trained, that he or she will likely make multiple mistakes. Show them love, anyways, and let them know that they are a good dog. Keep positive and have a positive tone until your Labrador is fully trained. One of the best ways for you to know what you should do to make your training fun and successful is for you to educate yourself not only on training methods but also on the breed of dog that you are getting. Even though this blog is all about Labradors, not all breeds are like Labradors. If you choose a different breed, make sure that you know their personality and their temperament before you begin your training. Make sure to pay special attention to their energy level and understand what kind of dog they were bred to be. The Labrador, for example, is very energetic and was made to be a hunting or working dog. This will change the way that their training will be performed. Make sure to be ready to understand what kind of help your breed will need with their training. Treat your Labrador like you would treat other dogs from that breed. Make sure that you treat them and train them based on what their breed says. For example, we know that Labradors love to eat. Try to use things that make them happy such as tasty foods, in order to get them to do what you want them to do. Try to think before you act and and take extra steps to really know your breed. Remember, with the Labrador, and they love to run, so try to train them outside some and take them on plenty of walks so that you can take opportunities to train them where they love to be. Make sure that you are doing things that will not cause your Labrador to fail or pick up negative behavior. Since Labs love to run and be outside, do not encourage them to behave but then lock them up without giving them the exercise that they need. Conclusion Trying to train any puppy can be a challenge, but training Labrador puppies can be both satisfying and rewarding. Make sure that you remember the important things about your Labrador, such as their kind personality and the fact that they love to please. It is also important to make sure that you remember that Labradors are highly motivated by food rewards and use these rewards to make training more engaging and interesting to your Labrador.
Life Span Did You Know? The Boxer is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. It has been recognized by the AKC since .Although the Boxer dog breed originated in Germany, their ancient ancestry can be traced back to the Assyrian empire war dogs of BC. The modern Boxer breed we know and love today was originally developed in Germany in the late s. English-bred Bulldogs and the Bullenbesiier were crossed to create an energetic and agile hunting dog to chase wild game. The Boxer is a popular family companion and a versatile working dog. As a member of the Working Group, Boxers can be found competing in dog sports like agility, obedience, and herding. They also make great service and assistance dogs, as well as therapy dogs, and can be found working as search and rescue dogs, drug detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs. The Boxer is a muscular and energetic dog that tends to have a happy, friendly disposition. They bond closely with their families and tend to get along well with children and other dogs. They can even do well with other pets despite their high prey drive if they are socialized and trained with them. As long as they are well-socialized, Boxers are generally upbeat, playful, and friendly. Although they have a natural instinct to protect their family from unwanted visitors, they do tend to warm up once introduced and are happy to make a new friend. They can be prone to barking a lot if you do not work on socialization and training your dog to stop barking early on. Boxers can be highly adaptable dogs. Although they have a lot of energy and are better suited to homes with yards where they can run, they can adapt to apartment living as long as they get the daily exercise, attention, and mental stimulation they need. As with any non-arctic dog breed, they are sensitive to very cold temperatures. Boxers are also a brachycephalic breed, which means they are even more sensitive to heat than other dogs. A Boxer is also one of the most affectionate dog breeds. Because they bond so closely with their families and get bored easily, they should not be left alone for long periods of time. Potential health conditions to be aware of in a Boxer include hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, thyroid issues , and heart conditions like aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy. Good breeding practices make a big difference and reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you are asking the breeder about the health and genetic history of the parents and about any health tests that have been done. Boxers are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Despite their energetic personality, they are one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and are highly trainable dogs. They tend to excel at almost any task put before them! Because of their open, friendly nature and high energy, they have a tendency to jump up at people in excitement and playfulness. Since they grow into powerful dogs, you will want to make sure you train your dog not to jump up. Boxers have smooth and short coats that will shed a little year-round and require minimal grooming. A brush-down once or twice a week and the occasional bath as needed will keep their short coat healthy and looking great. Nail trims once or twice a month are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Checking ears weekly and carefully cleaning as needed can help prevent ear infections. Checking and wiping their facial wrinkles weekly or a few times a week if your dog is prone to getting into things can help keep their wrinkles clean and free of irritation. Dental diseases, like gum disease, are the most common health issues in older dogs because dental care is often overlooked; and, it can lead to other serious health issues. Brushing daily, plus cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. The Boxer is a high-energy dog breed that needs plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. Due to their high prey drive and urge to chase, they should only be let off-leash in secure areas. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition, are excellent problem solvers, and are naturally exuberant. A fully-grown Boxer usually stands inches tall at the shoulder and weighs pounds. Boxers generally live years on average. In Germany, the Boxer was one of the first dog breeds chosen for police training. Featured Boxer Article. South African Boerboel Puppies Puppies are vet checked, dewormed with first vaccines and docked tails. They are between 56 and 60 cm high and weight between 40 and 45 kg. Both are very friendly with People, Children.Handsome, adorable male! This georgeous puppy is ready for his new forever home! Mom is a pitbull, dad is a boxer. Healthy, dewormed and has 2 shots. Very playful, active and sweet. Can provide papers from vet. Price is negotiable. Serious inquiries only please. Boxers are one of the most amazing family dogs and deserve a loving forever home. Kijiji constantly glitches and changes the date of birth. Born Aug 9th and can be ready for their forever home for Oct 4th. Mom is onsite. Looking for forever homes boxers are very lovable.These happy girls will come vet checked, first shots and dewormed. If you're looking for a sweet.Raised in home Tails docked First vaccines Dewormed Health book Super social and cuddly, the puppies are raised in our home. They are used to.Contact for more details. Best blood line. Crate and potty trained. Comes with initial stuff like crate, leash, collar, toys, Each comes with first vaccination, dewormed and vet check. Puppies are playful and used to being.I am looking to re-home him because my work circumstances have changed and I do.Mom is an American Bulldog and dad is a Boxer. Both parents have amazing temperments. If you like lots of snuggles then these babies are for.We have remaining: 1 brown female 1 brown male 1 brindle female 1 brindle male They come dewormed. Toronto Ready to go! I hope you're having a great day. Please take a moment to read through the information provided before asking.Born right on our front step, these sweet-hearts have been handled from day one. Friendly and playful, each.They come with a 2 year guarantee on hips heart and temperament. Vet checked and first shots. Tails and dew claws removed. Started to crate.There are 3 girls available. They will come fully vet checked with first and second shots, de worming and a clear bill of health.Please Contact Pocket Puppies Belleville I have a gorgeous litter of pocket puppies ready for their new homes. They will come fully vet checked with first shots, de worming and a clear bill of health from a.There are 3 girls and 2 boys available. Puppies will be ready to go home on August 11th. They will come fully vet checked
In , B2TR rescued bulldogs in need. We had adoptions, 64 were foster fails and 57 were previous adopters! We adopt to all U. We are based in NC. Please visit www. We are headquartered in North Carolina, in a pet supply store that is owned with the Rescue. We also have satellite offices in South Carolina, Alabama and we cover Virginia and Maryland as well. We are a c 3 corporation. We are in need of volunteers, donations, supplies and support. We rely solely on donations for the care and treatment of the rescued Bulldogs that are admitted to our organization. We provide our fosters food, treats, supplements, medical care, training and harnesses and leashes. Here is how you can participate: 1. Go to www. Create an account 3. You will receive an approval email from 32 Auctions with a link to acknowledge your account 4. It will take you back to the site 5. You can view some of the great items that will be in auction by selecting view items. During the Auction: When the auction is live you can bid on items through the online auction website. So… it will be harder for ninjas to outbid you without you knowing. You will receive an email with the items you won. You will then pay online via credit card or PayPal for the items you won. Your items will be mailed out to you in the next two weeks. FAQ: Q: Is there a shipping fee? A: Yes, there will be a shipping fee. A: Yes, you will need to create an account with 32auctions to be able to bid. We are excited for the support and partnership. Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. She is healthy and happy and loves to cuddle with her foster dog brothers and her human foster sister. She brings life and laughter into every room she walks into. She loves car rides and outings. She really, truly is a great girl. Like all puppies, Koumori is one part naughty, two parts lively, and twenty parts adorable. In true puppy fashion, Koumori is also a mouthy little thing—she will chew on fingers and the occasional electric cord if left to her own devices. Fortunately, this unwanted behavior can be successfully redirected to a toy. Indeed, Koumori loves her toys, and is particularly fond of her stuffed baby dragon. She can often be seen proudly carrying it down the hall, stopping on occasion to give it a good shake and a little what-for. Unleashed, she gets along famously with cats and dogs alike—she even lets the neighborhood kitty rub up against her! On-leash, however, Koumori becomes loud and pushy er, pull-y when she sees other animals. In any event, until Koumori makes some progress on this front, she is not a good candidate for the office, and care must be taken when she goes out for her daily walks. She'd be lots of fun in an obedience class, and that's a great way to bond with your dog! Koumori is making great progress with her housetraining, but she must be kept on a strict schedule until she masters the art of going potty outside. A person who works during the day would need to have a dog-walker or be able to come home at lunchtime. Applicants should be prepared for some housebreaking reversion until Koumori is used to your schedule and the new home. She adores people of all shapes and sizes, although she is particularly drawn to men. However, since Koumori is still learning that hands are not for nibbling, it is important that any children in her home are dog savvy and able to give her a toy if things get a little mouthy. If children come over, Koumori should be crated until her nibbling habit is broken. Koumori is in excellent health, albeit with some dry skin and dandruff. This condition has gotten better since she started eating a grain-free diet, and should continue to improve so long as she is given quality, grain-free food. Since she is a short, stout little nugget, Koumori is not a big fan of staircases, and would prefer not to navigate more than a few stairs at a time although she can also be scooped up and carried by grownups. First-time Frenchie owners would suit her just fine, although they must be willing to continue her training and not let her adorable self get away with things as tempting as it may be! If so, click on the link above to apply for Koumori. Be prepared to rev up the Batmobile for an East Coast road trip, as Koumori is having a wild rumpus in eastern North Carolina and will not be shipped. FBRN does not ship dogs as cargo. Except in rare or unusual cases, adopters are expected to pick up their dogs from their foster family. In rare or unusual cases, FBRN may be able to assist in transporting a dog to a volunteer near the adopter's home, but the expense of transporting the dog must be the responsibility of the adopting party. FBRN dogs are in foster care in people's private homes. For the foster families' safety, we do not disclose specific locations, and we don't set up meet and greets prior to applications. For detailed information about the dogs in our care, please read the extensive bios on each dog. Videos of Koumori:. Share A Story! French Bulldog Rescues In North Carolina A small commission may be earned on any purchases made via links on this page. Read our full affiliate disclosure. They are loyal and fun to have around the home. They are not as exerting as other dog breeds and they are happy with a daily walk. If you are looking for French Bulldog rescues in North Carolina, we have found a few rescue groups to check out. Most of these dog rescues are either breed specific or have had French Bulldogs in the past. Adopting a French Bulldog from a rescue in North Carolina offers you many advantages. The obvious reason is that it allows you to provide one of these dogs with a forever home. The Bulldog is in the rescue, most likely because the previous owner could not take care of them any longer. There are other benefits to adopting such as, you are no longer supporting a puppy mill or breeders who are simply breeding dogs for money. If you have decided to adopt a French Bulldog in North Carolina and you are on this page, thank you! You really are making a difference by adopting and we hope that our list makes it easier for you to find what you are looking for. Please be aware that not all of these rescues are French Bulldog specific. Some rescues will save dogs no matter their breed and many will have a French Bulldog come through their rescue at some point in time. If you cannot find the dog you are looking for, please contact the rescue to see if they have a waiting list or notification list that you can be put on. With more than two decades under their belt, this non-profit has made its mission to ensure that they find neglected animals and provide them with the love and care they need. This non-profit organization has spent many years rescuing animals from high-kill shelters and preparing them for placements in new homes. CARA depends solely on volunteers to function. These volunteers do their best to find, rehabilitate and rehome the dogs they rescue. They are always searching for new forever homes for the cats and dogs in their care. They are not strictly a French Bulldog rescue, but your new french bulldog friend might be at this rescue waiting for you. Their adoption process tries to be as straightforward as possible. The first thing to do is to go through their available dogs to see if they have a French Bulldog available. If you find one, and you think you can handle the responsibilities that their bio implies, you can apply for that dog. Their application is very thorough and long, so make sure you fill it out completely. You can find their adoption application here.
Retaining the calm and gentle nature that has made them the most popular dog in the world! Not hyper-active like so many plaguing the breed today! Our dogs are intelligent, loyal, protective, large and beautiful. We breed champion lines with a 20 year history of excellent health and are guaranteed for health and hips. My dogs are personal pets and are NOT kenneled. They run free with family and children on our 10 acres in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada. From a distance, you may think that all German Shepherds are the same. However, experts will confirm that the bloodlines of these masterful dogs along with the environment they are raised in makes all the difference. That is why the Perfect German shepherd dogs and puppies we have for sale are simply superior. The German shepherd is a caretaker; they lie down and watch the perimeter. They are one of the most intelligent dogs in the world with an I. Hyperactivity only confuses the poor animal, causing them anxiety and stress. This could bring about severe health issues from cancer to torsion and many more. It also diminishes every quality that the German Shepard has. Their calm and gentle nature is critical, not only to keep them healthy, but to allow them to distinguish between a perpetrator and a child. If live anywhere near Nevada City or Sacramento, California, and are interested in our German shepherd puppies , please call anytime, we prefer to speak with you in person. Goldfuchs 97 highest score in protection. My name is Thomas Sauerhoefer. I am a breeder of German Shepherds since in Germany. I came to America ten years ago from Germany. My goals are to help people obtain higher quality dogs through my breeding program and importing services and to offer the highest quality dogs for Schutzhund, show, family, and companion. I grew up with dogs all my life. When I was 10 our family got a wonderful boxer, and when I turned 16 we got a Rottweiler named Arko. A close friend of the family took him for schutzhund training because we needed a protection dog for our company. My interest and fascination with the sport of schutzhund took off. At age 18, I bought my first dog, a German Shepherd. I had fallen in love with the breed for their looks and intelligence. I started my career in Schutzhund and Marysville dog training with Vasko, a German Shepherd with working bloodlines. After I got her titles and breed survey, I bred Banja to Vasko and had my first litter of pups. I kept a male pup from this breeding and named him Kim. I trained Kim to a SchH 3. I bred three more litters with Banja, always with good results. One of the best training helpers in Germany was a member of my club and saw my love for the sport and talent for training dogs. He taught me everything about Schutzhund helper work. By the time I was 24, I started training dogs for other people, both working and show lines, because they also saw my talent for training. Now I do Sacramento dog training and breeding. I have excellent contacts with my friends in Germany to help you get the exact dog you are looking for at a very fair price. I have special connections with some great kennels in East Germany! To see dogs that are available now from Germany click on Show or Working. We offer Sacramento dog training for all breeds. Click here to see a video of Riggor vom Heidelberger Schloss, one of the top working prospect German Shepherd puppies that has come out of the Zwinger vom Heidelberger Schloss German Shepherd Puppy breeding program. More videos can be seen on the Progeny page of German Shepherd puppies and young adults that are progressing well in various working sports. These dogs make great family companions as well as show and prospects. Their bloodlines are full of top placing conformation dogs that perform well in working events as well. Sacramento German Shepherd Puppies and Training is available for all breeds. These dogs come from driven working lines and make phenomenal police and protection dogs. Schutzhund Training Sacramento dog training by the best! Thomas Sauerhoefer has nearly 30 years experience training, handling and doing helper work in Schutzhund. He has successfully titled over dogs in his 30 year career. Thomas has the experience to help with behavior problems as well. Call or email German Dog Training Center now, to decide what Sacramento dog training program you need. We have Sacramento German Shepherd Puppies for sale! We have answers. They may try, but the reality is that finding the perfect food for your dog right away is extremely difficult to do. Reputable German Shepherd breeders in Sacramento will always recommend that you contact a veterinarian directly if your pup is showing any signs of food allergies. In fact, it is much more likely that you will come across a smaller, backyard breeder or even a large puppy mill misrepresenting their business online. Puppy mills in particular often fall into the trap of inbreeding which can cause a lot of issues for future owners down the road! The breeders and businesses in our network are never working with the goal of producing the cheapest German Shepherds for sale in Sacramento. Rather, top-rated breeders tend to off a more boutique experience that involves exceptional breeding standards and even puppy transportation to the most convenient airport for both parties. Can I find a German Shepherd for sale in Sacramento near me? Of course. Our network is expansive and contains hundreds of the top rated puppy breeders from all across the country. No matter the color, size or location of the dog you are looking for, we definitely have you covered! How do I know that my puppy will be healthy? The top-rated German Shepherd breeders in the Uptown Network offer nose-to-tail health checks for all of their puppies, which includes a thorough examination of the entire dog and their health history! Is it enough to walk my dog, or do they need more exercise? Most dogs need more than a quick walk around the neighborhood every day to stay happy. For dogs, getting plenty of exercise can improve their daily moods, reduce destructive behavior and wear them out so that quiet time is easier to come by late at night. In order to ensure that our customers avoid all of the trouble that comes with backyard breeders we have employed an expert team to screen each and every application that is received! Because of the strict vetting process that our team has developed for filtering applications the breeders you will see below are some of the best in the country! Your new puppy could be just a few clicks away! What should I expect from my new German Shepherd puppy? You should expect an affectionate, loving puppy that wants to be around their family all of the time. What are some of the most intelligent and easy to train breeds? German Shepherds can be extremely intelligent! They were bred to be working dogs and have the memory to understand tasks and complete them alongside their owners.
We seek to match IrishDoodle pups of outstanding health, looks, and personality to wonderful forever homes. My older brother Dr. Nathan Crockett lives in Greenville, South Carolina. In addition to being an administrator and faculty member at Bob Jones University, Nathan has developed an outstanding reputation over the past many years for offering premium home-raised Goldendoodles and Labradoodles standards and minis. A few years ago, he decided to partner with some of the best doodle breeders in the business to form Crockett Doodles. It was a natural fit for us and our Irish Doodles. We have a few guardian homes in our area for Irish Doodles, Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, and Sheepadoodles. This means that a few weekends a year we have the joy of watching a forever home united with an outstanding doodle puppy. We never ship puppies since we think that gives a terrible start to a puppy in its new home. We have people from all over the U. Our Partner Crockett Doodles is a network of premium doodle breeders. Crockett Doodles partners consistently have the best reviews of any doodle breeders and have tens of thousands of Facebook followers. Crockett Doodles has established a reputation as a network of breeders who focus on family-raised pups of the best quality. Very few breeders have developed the same reputation that we have. You can read more about us at our website CrockettDoodles. Currently we have at least one Irish Doodle guardian home in each Crockett Doodle location except San Francisco and Detroit see locations below. Click here to apply. Hypo-Allergenic All of the crosses are not the same level of hypoallergenic and non shed due to the amount of shedding and allergens associated with each of the parent breeds. Please be sure to let us know what your level of allergies are as some of our crosses are designed for the more severe sufferer and others for non to low. Puppies For Every Family We only breed dogs that have great dispositions and health and ones whose pups will be good with even the youngest child! If a dog can deal with kids of any age, they will go even better with adults! That said, good discipline and training set the foundation for a great experience for both dog and family. Experience Matters We have been breeding since and have developed a great reputation for beautiful, healthy, laid back pups that have enhanced the lives of many. Our Story. It all began with a hair-brained idea that the kids and I should try our hand at dog breeding as a hobby and fun experience together… I purchased our first stud, Spanner, from a professional groomer and brought him home. It was not what Jim or our 5 sons were expecting! She was the most chill and laid back dog with incredible intuition with any given situation! One time she was standing beside me as I watched a couple of our poodles decide they were going to head out for the forbidden part of the property. She watched this happen and was watching my face. I called out to them but I was frustrated. Well, she took matters into her own paws. Very smart and very in-tune with their people and any who crossed their paths as well as all other animals! The demand was great. Did I mention incredibly cute? Since then we have added new dogs, and new breeds to give families with allergies, and those without, more options as far as what they could handle. It has been full of excitement, wonder, hard work and broken hearts, but it has been worth every minute! It has been quite a ride! Puppy Shepherds. Both Jim and I were raised on farms growing up so we have a deep love of all that is living and lovely, as well as a sure sense of the things required to keep them that way. After going away and getting our degrees we have found ourselves back on the farm doing what we love best in our later years. He is always patient and loving with them and they respond in kind. Full Time Hobby. I took on breeding as a hobby 18 years ago and have been amazed to see how it has flourished and grown. I have done it all along the way, including the all night whelping sessions, the runs to the repro vet, all the correspondence and planning of litters and future breeders, and the one on one with all the families. It is a team effort in every way but it is also a labor of love! With a delightful blend of intelligence, friendliness, and low-shedding features, Mini Irish Doodles have quickly become a favorite amongst dog lovers seeking a companion that is both affectionate and hypoallergenic. This breed, known for its social nature and eagerness to please, forms strong bonds with its human companions. Being adaptable and versatile, Mini Irish Doodles make excellent companions for various types of households, including families with children, couples, or single pet parents. They possess a body size that is conveniently manageable, thanks to their Miniature Poodle lineage. These pups usually stand between 15 to 25 inches tall and weigh approximately 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown, making them a perfect fit for any size home. The charm of the Mini Irish Doodle lies in its unique coat that is typically wavy or curly, reflecting its Poodle genes. Their coat colors can vary, including shades of red, cream, black, or any combination thereof. One of the most appealing features of these puppies is their hypoallergenic coat, making them an ideal choice for individuals with allergies. Their expressive eyes, often in shades of brown or hazel, convey a warmth and intelligence that is hard to resist. Coupled with their sturdy build and athletic disposition, Mini Irish Doodles are as pleasing to the eyes as they are delightful companions. They effortlessly win hearts with their intelligence, sociability, and their unyielding desire to please their human companions. These traits make Mini Irish Doodles excellent family dogs, who are both playful and gentle with children. This breed thrives on human interaction and enjoys participating in family activities. They also get along well with other pets, owing to their social nature. While they are friendly dogs, they can be somewhat reserved with strangers initially, but they quickly warm up once they get to know them. A standout trait of the Mini Irish Doodle is its intelligence. These pups are quick learners and love mental stimulation, making training a rewarding experience for both the dog and the owner. Their diet should be nutritious and portion-controlled to maintain a healthy weight and overall well-being. As a breed that enjoys activity, Mini Irish Doodles need daily exercise to keep them physically fit and mentally stimulated. Regular walks, playtime in the yard, or a good game of fetch would keep them happy and content. When it comes to grooming, their unique, wavy, or curly coats require regular brushing to prevent matting and to keep their coat looking their best. Despite being low-shedding, professional grooming sessions every few months are recommended to maintain the coat's health and appearance. Training a Mini Irish Doodle is generally an easy task, thanks to their intelligence and eagerness to please. Positive reinforcement methods work best with this breed. They respond well to rewards-based training, making the process enjoyable and effective. It's important to begin socialization and training at a young age to ensure they grow into well-rounded and confident dogs. As you prepare for this new addition to your family, it's crucial to understand that the early days will play a significant role in your puppy's growth and development. We're dedicated professional breeders, and each puppy's well-being is our top priority. We ensure they grow up in a nurturing environment that prepares them for a seamless transition to their forever homes. Before you welcome your new puppy, ensure your home is puppy-proofed, and you have all the essential supplies such as food, water and food bowls, a comfortable bed, toys for stimulation, and grooming tools. It's also important to identify a good vet in your area and schedule regular check-ups to maintain your pup's health. Training should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home. The intelligent Mini Irish Doodle is quick to pick up commands and tricks, making the training process a delightful bonding experience for both of you. One of the most significant advantages of choosing one of our Mini Irish Doodle puppies is the peace of mind our year health guarantee brings. We stand behind the health of our puppies, and this guarantee reflects our commitment to their lifelong well-being. When you choose to bring home a Mini Irish Doodle, you're not just getting a pet; you're gaining a loving, loyal, and delightful family member. We're here to support you every step of the way in this exciting journey. How big do Mini Irish Doodles get? Mini Irish Doodles are small to medium-sized dogs that typically weigh between 20 and 35 pounds and stand at 12 to 17 inches. Are Mini Irish Doodles hypoallergenic? F1b Mini Irish Doodles inherit the Poodle's curly and hypoallergenic coat and are good for owners with allergies. How long do Mini Irish Doodles live? The average lifespan of this dog breed is between 12 and 15 years. Are Mini Irish Doodles easy to train? Mini Irish Doodles are very smart dogs that love to learn and to please their owners. They inherit their intelligence and eagerness to please from both parent breeds. Do Mini Irish Doodles shed? Mini Irish Doodle dogs shed very little. F1b Mini Irish Doodles in particular, shed less than their F1 counterparts. What is an F1 Mini Irish Doodle? What is an F1b Mini Irish Doodle? Is the Mini Irish Doodle good with other dogs? Mini Irish Doodles are very friendly with other dogs. They are a sociable breed that thrives in a home setting with multiple dogs and pets. Are Mini Irish Doodles good with kids? This breed is very playful, caring, and non-aggressive. Kids and these mini doodles make excellent playmates. What colors do Mini Irish Doodles come in? Their most popular color is reddish-brown, but they can also come in colors such as white, black, grey, cream, and other colors that are typically seen in Poodles. How much will my Mini Irish Doodle weigh when fully grown? They can weigh between 20 and 35 pounds. F1b are typically smaller than F1 Mini Irish Doodles. How tall will my Mini Irish Doodle be? Mini Irish Doodles reach a height of 12 to 17 inches at maturity. F1b Mini Irish Doodles can be as small as 11 inches when fully grown. These sunny pups exude joy with every paw step and are sure to fill your life with love and friendship. They are a mix between an Irish Setter and a Miniature Poodle, which means they are intelligent, hypoallergenic, and perfectly perfect. Their looks are cuddly and glamorous, and their disposition is caring and happy. We are an hour and a half away from St. Feel free to call or text us with questions. Why would an Irish Doodle or a Goldendoodle be a good fit for your family? Whenever our family is out and about with Merry, we always get compliments about how stunning her coat is. Merry is content just sitting next to me or on my lap, as much as a large breed dog can sit on your lap! In fact as I write this, Merry is laying on my feet. Rosy is a loving girl who thinks she is our kid's mom! She also has a beautiful red coat, and we are excited to see her puppies! See our About the Breeders page for more information about us. What makes Rosy's and Daisy's puppies so special? Because of the genetics of the poodle, Rosy's Goldendoodle puppies, Daisy's Irish Doodle puppies, and Tinkerbell's Irish Doodle puppies have hypoallergenic coats. This makes these puppies perfect for people with allergies. Daisy, Rosy, Tinkerbell, and Sebastian are high quality dogs, stunning dogs with great genetics. In other words, a quality dog that is ready to offer many great years of companionship. Hybrid vigor is the outcome when two different breeds of dogs are bred, which results in the stronger traits from each of the parents. If one breed commonly has issues with hip dysplasia and the other breed does not, the offspring are far less likely to develop these issues. As you can imagine, this produces a genetically superior dog when compared with purebreds. See our Puppy Testimonials page and our Puppy Updates page for how the last litter of puppies fit into their new adopted homes. Why buy from us? We are not a large kennel; Rosy, Daisy, Tinkerbell, and Sebastian are our family dogs. Rosy, Daisy, and Tinkerbell have had several litters, and are established breeding dogs. Daisy, Tinkerbell, and Rosy and their puppies sleep in our bedroom, which allows them to get proper socialization as well as ensuring proper care of the puppies. The puppies are handled daily. Rosy, Daisy, Tinkerbell, and the puppies are fed Blue Buffalo puppy food. Merry was born on Christmas Eve, hence her name. For the first few years of her life, she was a family pet and a breeding dog for Windstruck Farms under the care of Niki W. After an accident leaving Niki unable to continue breeding these high quality dogs, Merry came to live with us. She is a sweet dog, and enjoys chewing on rawhides and curling up with her family. She is a wonderful mom, who attentively cares for the needs of her puppies. She is now retired. What is Rosy's story? Rosy was a gift for my birthday. Both of her parents were OFA certified for hips and elbows. Rosy absolutely adores kids, and she is so loving and sweet with our son. She has a gorgeous red coat, and her puppies are beautiful! What is Daisy's story? Daisy is a beautiful Irish Doodle F1 that was born shortly after our son. She is our sweet baby girl who loves to be held and absolutely loves her toys. She loves to run and play, and she loves playing with Rosy and with our son. She has a stunning red coat, and her puppies are gorgeous! What is Tinkerbell's story? Tinkerbell is a beautiful red Irish Doodle F1 that we got shortly after we got Sebastian. She is our energetic and playful girl who loves to be pet and absolutely loves her toys. She loves to run and play, and she loves playing with Sebastian and with our sons. She has a stunning red coat with white markings, and her puppies are gorgeous!
Mini Labradoodle vs Mini Sheepadoodle Comparison Two dog breeds, one purpose: to make your life a joy-filled journey powered by strong bonds, friendship, and unconditional love. Meet the Mini Labradoodle and the Mini Sheepadoodle. Two very adorable and friendly dogs with upbeat personalities, the Mini Labradoodle and Mini Sheepadoodle make the perfect addition to any lucky family. Your way of life, hobbies, and work schedule are all important factors that can help determine which of the two dog breeds is a good fit for your lifestyle.Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting time filled with joy, cuddles, and a few inevitable challenges. One of the most common questions new puppy owners ask is, "When can puppies go outside? They are fun, easygoing, and gentle. Mini Labradoodles enjoy canine games like chase, fetch, and Frisbee, and thrive on cuddles and love. Energetic, friendly, and full of life, the Mini Labradoodles make wonderful jogging and hiking companions. They are known to enjoy a good swim, a long stroll, and are very fond of adventures. The Mini Labradoodle puppies are happy, energetic, and bright bundles of joy. They are loving and eager to please, love to play and cuddle, and are excellent training students. A cross between Labrador Retrievers and Mini or Toy Poodles, the Mini Labradoodle may take after one parent breed or the other in appearance or they may have their own unique look with an added bonus of a hypoallergenic coat. We raise high-quality Mini Labradoodles as well as a few other breeds. We also have partnered up with several other reputable breeders that raise mini labradoodle pups that meet our strict genetic criteria and testing. So we usually have a good selection of very high-quality puppies. View Our Available Puppies! F1B Mini Labradoodle Puppies are a second-generation cross or hybrid. The father is a Mini Poodle and the mother is an F1 Labradoodle. The F1B Minature Labradoodles usually have soft hair that is usually wavy or curly. Thes puppies are considered semi-hypoallergenic since they shed minimally. These puppies can be a good fit if a person that has mild pet allergies. Once F1B Mini Labradoodles reach 6 months old they require to be groomed once every 8 weeks or so to keep their fur healthy and to stop matting. Adult F1B Mini labradoodle dogs range in size from 14 inches in height and pounds in weight. The average life span is typically years of age. The F1BB puppies usually have curlier coats and will be totally hypoallergenic. Once the F1BB pup is 6 months they will need regular grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. F1BB Puppies are usually slightly smaller than F1B puppies and range from 12 inches in height and pounds in weight. Mini Labradoodles are known for their intelligence and the ability to be trained very easily. They make amazing family pets and love to participate in family activities like swimming, hiking, camping or just playing tag in the yard. This breed is also a good choice for people who live in apartments as long as they get at least minutes of exercise a day. So if you live near Sioux Falls South Dakota and are looking for a healthy and beautiful Mini Labradoodle puppy that can be delivered to you then check out our available pups now by Clicking Here. Below are some Mini Labradoodle pups that have been adopted. We are a foster home based rescue. Please fill out the online adoption application by clicking on Adoption Info under the Navigation bar on the left side of the page. Fill out the online form by clicking on the picture of the computer screen with our logo on it. Molly is a breeder release, who soaking up her new lease on life! She is a local adoption only until she is spayed and has her dental. Pending spay and dental date September .She will require a fenced yard as she is still a bit skittish, but daily we are seeing progress! She is learning to run around the yard and enjoying the playfulness of the other pups! She is doing well learning to use the restroom outside, we still have accidents if she isn't kept on a schedule. She would be best with another calm dog in her forever home! She has the cutest way of asking for love, she puts her little paws on your leg and looks up to you! She is living in a foster home with cats and other dogs wiener and 55 bulldog and is doing well. She doesn't like being separated from her packmates and will vocalize her distaste, but does settle. She sleeps in a kennel at night without an accident or barking. For her safety, she is kenneled while we are gone, but we don't believe she would be destructive if she was left out. If you are a couch potato, we have the perfect binge watching partner for you! She is a lap puppy! She has come out of her shell a lot in the last 3 weeks; she has been practicing with a harness and leash, but still needs a lot of practice. Mostly due to her unsureness of all the new sounds and such making her skittish. She is a mini-poodle and will require grooming. She is waiting on her spay and dental mid-Sept then will be ready for her forever home. Visit this organization's web site to see any additional information available about this pet. September 14, , am Small right facing arrow Search for a Labradoodle puppy or dog Use the search tool below to browse adoptable Labradoodle puppies and adults Labradoodle in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We have answers. What are some fun facts about Labradoodle puppies for sale near Sioux Falls? Labradoodles are an adorable, fun-loving mix of Labrador Retrievers and Poodles. They are highly intelligent, loving, and loyal to their family. They typically have a non-shedding coat, making them a great choice for those with allergies. They also have an easy going and affectionate nature that make them great companions for both families and individuals. Some fun facts about Labradoodles include that their coat comes in various colors including brown, apricot, cream, black, and red. Will Labradoodle puppies for sale in Sioux Falls cause me to have allergies? Labradoodles are a hypoallergenic breed of dog, so they are unlikely to be the cause of your allergies. While no breed is completely hypoallergenic, due to the mix of two hypoallergenic parent breeds, Labradoodles tend to cause fewer allergic reactions. However, it's important to keep in mind that all dogs may cause some degree of an allergic reaction even a Labradoodle. The allergen in dogs that causes allergic reactions is pet dander, generated from urine, saliva, and oil secretions from the skin. What should I not feed Sioux Falls Labradoodle puppies for sale? Labradoodles should not be fed table scraps, bones, sweets, candy, or snacks, as these can lead to obesity. Additionally, human food is not always ideal for a Labradoodle's digestive system. Strictly avoided food items include chocolates, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins. High fat and high sugar items can also cause health problems. It is recommended to stick to a complete and balanced commercial dog food specifically formulated for a Labradoodle's unique dietary needs, as these foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and protein. How do I prepare to adopt Labradoodle puppies in Sioux Falls? Preparation is key when welcoming a Labradoodle into your life! Before bringing your new pup home, there are a few things you should do to ensure your pup's transition is as smooth as possible. Start by researching the breed, as this will help inform the training and care that you will need to provide. You'll also want to make sure that you have all the necessary supplies, like food and water bowls, any necessary grooming products, and a few toys. Additionally, you'll want to establish a sleep and mealtime routine and begin the housebreaking process. How big do Labradoodles for sale in Sioux Falls get? Labradoodles are a hybrid breed that can easily vary in size, depending on which of the parent breeds Labrador Retriever and Poodle they are descended from. Generally, they range in height from 14 to 24 inches tall and in weight from 15 to 65 pounds, with a life expectancy of around 10 to 15 years. Like all dogs, their health and size is also dependent on diet and exercise, and they groom and shed differently depending on the coat type. Do Labradoodle puppies near Sioux Falls like to swim? Labradoodles are known for their intelligence, affection, and friendly demeanor, among other traits, making them a great family pet. Swimming is also a skill many Labradoodles possess! This medium-sized hybrid breed is a mix of a Labrador Retriever, which are renowned for their love of the water, and the Poodle, a breed already known to be fantastic swimmers. Are Labradoodles in Sioux Falls good for first-time owners? Labradoodles are generally an ideal breed for first-time owners. They are loyal, friendly, and generally easy to train. They are also energetic and need exercise, but they require less of an intense workout than some other breeds. Labradoodles have a moderate energy level so they are not prone to barking, chewing, or other nuisance behaviors, making them a great fit for first-time pet owners. Labradoodles often get along well with children, strangers, and other animals. How many minutes per day do I need to train Sioux Falls Labradoodles for sale? Training Labradoodles requires dedication and consistency, so the amount of time spent in training will vary depending on the individual needs of the dog. As a general rule of thumb, it is recommended to dedicate at least 30 minutes per day, or days per week, to training your Labradoodle. This time should be broken up into smaller segments of 10 to 15 minutes to avoid boredom and distraction. With this consistent effort, you should begin to see positive results in your Labradoodle's behavior and obedience in just a few weeks. Shipping costs vary depending on the destination and weight of the puppy, as well as the size of the crate. Please discuss shipping needs with us well in advance so we can be as open and up-front as possible about all shipping costs and procedures. Another great day hunting. He's turning into an amazing bird dog! About Us Our philosophy here at South Dakota Labradoodles is simple: we want to provide you with your new best friend. Our puppies make excellent companions, hunting dogs, service dogs, therapy dogs, and friends. We want them to become a part of your family, and we want you to become a part of ours. Our puppies are cared for as if they were our own pets. We hug them and hold them, they are bathed and toweled off in our house, our cat shares meat scraps with them, they play with toys and chase their tails, and they follow us around during our daily chores. As they mature, we work on house-training with them, but we prefer to leave the rest of the training up to you. They also receive standard veterinary care including routing checkups and vaccines. Here, animals outnumber people and everybody knows everybody. Each of our litters enjoy the comforts of rural life. We take pride in our simple, calm lifestyle and enjoy home-cooked meals, clear blue skies, and the view of farmland as far as the eye can see. Contact Us Fill out the form to the right or below to send us an email. On Social Media Like and follow us on social media — you can also message us there and we are very responsive!
Sometimes called a Goldenpoo or Goldenoodle, the Miniature Goldendoodle is created by crossing a miniature or toy Poodle with a Golden Retriever. The result is a mild, friendly, family dog that looks like a teddy bear come to life. Their energy level matches the Poodle genes while their gentleness and willingness to please is reflective of the Golden Retriever. They are devoted friends who crave cuddles and will follow you around just to be near you. They are smart dogs with a silly streak. They are loving and loyal and gentle enough to make good playmates for kids. Their intelligence makes them easy to train. This breed has a happy disposition and a friendly, affectionate nature. They crave close contact at all times, and they can develop separation anxiety if you leave them alone too long. They typically get along well with other dogs and other pets. They are eager, excitable, and enthusiastic about outings of all kinds. Their heads are rounded and their ears are floppy and wide-set. Their eyes are large and expressive and noses are typically black. Their muzzles are short to medium with a scissor bite. They have long and fluffy or feathered tails. Mini Goldendoodles have wavy to curly hair and they do not have an undercoat, making them a great choice for people with allergies. While they are considered hypoallergenic, some allergy-sufferers may still experience symptoms. They can be: Black. Cancer Progressive Retinal Atrophy The primary recommendations we make when someone is shopping for Miniature Goldendoodles are fairly standard. Getting your dog the right amount of exercise and keeping them at a healthy weight can prevent many chronic problems and make them overall happier. In addition, taking your dog in for regular checkups, and to stay current on all shots and vaccinations, encourages health as well. One other reason that puppy parents trust Keystone Puppies when looking for Mini Goldendoodles for sale is that we make dog health our top priority! Not only do we only work with responsible breeders that prioritize healthy practices, but we also offer a no-hassle puppy health guarantee. Because they are bred to have the coat qualities of a Poodle, these pups are a popular option for owners looking to adopt a hypoallergenic dog. Their curly coat should be soft to the touch. The signature coat of pretty curls is one of the places where the Poodle ancestry truly shines through. To keep the coat looking its most beautiful, make sure to brush it two to four times per week. Not only is brushing a nice bonding experience for the pup and their person, but it also prevents tangling and matting. Owners can maintain a healthy Goldendoodle coat by bathing them every other month. Meet Mini Goldendoodles for Sale. So many families were trying to avoid shedding coats and the Goldendoodle was proving to fill that need. We started this venture with a mini Poodle instead of a toy Poodle as we felt that was the best step in downsizing to achieve the mini Goldendoodle dog breed. Our goal was to create adult Goldendoodles with the average weight of about 35 lb. Our first litter arrived on January 11, providing us with 5 males and 5 females, all with wavy coats. This litter was an F1 litter , but was the beginning of the many future generations of Goldendoodles and the foundation for the multigen Goldendoodle. Fox Creek Farm retained two of the females in this litter for future development of the mini Goldendoodle breed. Pebbles whelped the first litter of F1B mini Goldendoodles in .We still have dogs in our breeding program that trace all the way back to Pebbles as documented in the GANA database. You can view photos of the entire litter below and some feedback provided by each family who raised one of these little teddy bears. Fox Creek Farm followed each and every puppy throughout its life to learn about temperaments, health, trainability, coat care, and longevity. We made some lifelong friends with these families who had trusted us to provide them with a puppy unlike any other breed they had met before. Not only were the reports always positive, just about every family has since come back for one or more mini Goldendoodles from Fox Creek Farm. The first of this litter to pass of old age lived to be .The last of the litter to pass was just a month shy of 17 years. On average, the mini Goldendoodles in this litter lived to be 15 years of age. We found this to be in part due to the hybrid vigor and in part due to the health testing certifications performed on the parents. This proves the importance of health testing dogs before they are bred. Listen to me, do I sound like a proud Mama or not? Amy, Triscuit has been a total joy in our lives. Then along came Triscuit. Triscuit, John and I look forward to a reunion with his siblings one day soon. I was so fortunate to have Triscuit come visit with me this past summer. He is an old soul, a great companion, full of life and loves everyone. Harry is the first of this litter that has passed away at the age of .Rest in peace my friend. Nelson Nelson is such a great dog. Her collar has smiley faces on it because it so fits her personality. To her everyday is a good day! She loves everyone. She thinks they all love her as much as we do!! She loves to swim, play in the snow, take walks, and sleep on laps. We love her so much! Hard to believe they are 9 yrs old. I am so glad to hear that her siblings are healthy and doing well. She was the runt of the litter, so proof that runts are healthy dogs! Buddy Buddy is a treasured member of our family. He still plays like a puppy, he loves the snow, playing fetch, and a good romp in the surf at the beach. Everyone who meets Buddy falls in love with him and he is known town wide as he spends hours siting in our driveway, butt to butt with our other dog, Scout, watching the cars go by. Golden fur aside, we swear that he is part human. Patricia Roscow Bonsignore Buddy passed away in August, at .His family misses him dearly. Libby Libby is a happy and healthy 9 year old, snoozing right next to me as I type. Roxi My Doodles are awesome!!! They are healthy, happy, and full of energy. Rusty Rusty is still a great dog, mellow and friendly to all! He is very tolerant of his crazy family, who still like to dress him up! He still loves to eat anything he can and likes to play in the snow. I am sad that he is already 9 years old! He still acts young, in his usual lazy manner! Thanks so much for keeping in touch. Casey A few words about Casey: He is very lovable and compassionate. He enjoys hiking though all seasons and is a great trailblazer leading the pack with his nose to the ground, stopping at any fork in the trail to be told which direction to continue in. Many times he will fall asleep with it under his paw. Casey has some funny and entertaining quirks that make me laugh out loud. He loves digging in the sand at beaches and on every July 4th he hides in the bathtub during the fireworks as loud noises scare him. Pebbles I have lots of dogs being a breeder. She produced 3 litters before retiring from breeding. She is my constant companion and seems to read my mind. All the other dogs have learned that when Pebbles says it is time for a bath, they have to drop whatever they are doing and let her clean their eyes and ears. Lucy Lucy produced many wonderful litters for Fox Creek Farm. She is the mother of Chester, one of Fox Creek Farms fabulous studs. She is living out her retirement with Debra Wachter. Lucy outlived all her brothers and sisters. She joined them all for a romp in the skies in early December, just a month shy of 17 years. Sign Up for our Newsletter First Name. Sept 14, Happy Thursday! Thanks so much for visiting our site! We think that our smaller golden doodles are the perfect family addition! We absolutely love the temperament of golden retrievers, but not so much the size and the shedding. Our goal is to give you a puppy with a great temperament, in a smaller size, without all of the shedding. We would love to help your family adopt one of our mini or toy Goldendoodles. We want to make this process as much fun as we can! Our deposits are refundable for any reason for up to two years. After 18 years of raising mini golden doodles, we have learned that the daily personal interaction with our dogs and the puppies, leads to a more well rounded and well adjusted puppy. We raise F1 mini doodles, F1b mini doodles and F1b toys. For those with more severe allergies, this may be the way to go. .Our minis average pounds and our toys average pounds full grown. You can visit our photo gallery to see pictures of our past and present puppies! There are hundreds and hundreds of pictures in the photo gallery so get comfortable!!! Reach out to us anytime! Our farms have lots of room to run and a creeks to play in! With our kids, our nieces and nephews and extended families, the puppies get lots of love, playtime and socialization. This allows them to be more well adjusted little puppies when they go to their new homes. We have Mini Goldendoodle Puppies Available! Sept 14, We have puppies!! Puppy Picks happen on the day that the puppies get to go home. This is so that families can better see the temperaments of the puppies, making it easier for them to choose the right puppy for their family. Some families are looking for a couch potato, some for a more active doodle to run or hike with. We will for sure help you during the picking process, whether in person or with FaceTime. Families can send a refundable deposit to hold their picking spot on a litter, then come on Puppy Pick Day to choose and take their puppy home. We post new photos in the photo gallery every weekend, so check that out! We wait until that day so that the puppies are old enough to be able to see their little personalities. The deposits are fully refundable for up to 2 years. If families would rather wait on a future litter… they will go on the waiting list. Your puppy can then be driven to you or we can meet you somewhere in between. We can also ship your puppy via American Airlines if the temperature is between 20 and 82 degrees, or we can recommend a flight nanny to fly with your puppy in cabin. You can of course remain on the waiting list longer than two years, if you want to keep passing on litters. .Be sure to contact us for our current pricing. Our mini goldendoodle puppies come with a 2 year health guarantee against genetic issues. Should something arise in those 2 years, we will cover the cost of treatment up to the cost of the puppy. We know that parting with a family member would be impossible… All this said, our mini golden doodles have been so incredibly healthy. Our vet is a HUGE fan of mini doodles. I post fun and exciting things…. You can like our Facebook page where lots of our families are posting great pictures and videos of their puppies in their new homes! There are links to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at the top right corner of this page!! We welcome families to come visit our farm to meet us, the parents and of course the mini goldendoodle puppies. We love to show off how we raise our puppies and how our moms and dads live here, and they of course love meeting new people! Besides that, we know that getting a puppy is a huge deal and getting to see where they come from is very important! Be sure to visit our photo gallery to see hundreds of pictures of our puppies in their new home! You can see the different coats and colors of our puppies and who the parents are of each puppy. Knowing which of our earlier puppies you like helps us to know what you would like your puppy to look like. Be sure to like our Facebook page too! Life Span Did You Know? Although this breed is very popular, it is not currently recognized by the American Kennel Club. As long as they are well-socialized, Miniature Goldendoodles tend to make excellent family companions. They tend to get along well with children, other dogs, and other pets. Although they will alert you of strangers at the door, they tend to warm up quickly as they are more interested in making friends and receiving attention. Mini Goldendoodles are highly adaptable dogs. Their smaller size makes them a great fit for apartment living or for bigger homes with yards where they can run. As long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention, they can adapt well. These little dogs tend to do well in just about any climate. However, like any dog, they are sensitive to heat. Due to their smaller size, you may need to gear up with some dog-friendly winter gear when temperatures start falling. Because this dog breed is loyal and people-oriented, they love to be in your company and do not like being left alone for long periods of time. This means they can be prone to developing separation anxiety if you do not work with them on it early on. Instead, make sure your new Mini Goldendoodle puppy has an active role in your life. If you do need to leave them alone for a bit, make sure they have some comforting toys or challenging puzzles to keep them from getting bored. Reputable breeders will screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. Make sure you are asking about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests and clearances that have been done. The Mini Goldendoodles is a highly intelligent dog that picks up on things quickly and is eager to please. They tend to be sensitive to tone of voice as well. As long as training is consistent and focused on positive praise and reward, a Mini Goldendoodle will strive to be obedient and impress you and tends to excel at almost any task. These traits make the Mini Goldendoodle one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners and a good fit for owners of all experience levels. Daily brushing is recommended to remove tangles and prevent mats. Bathing is occasional and can often be relegated to the dog groomer that is recommended you visit every weeks. The groomer can help handle some of this during visits, but you will still need to do some maintenance at home between visits. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Weekly ear checks with careful cleanings as needed help prevent ear infections. Daily brushing, plus cleanings at the vet as needed, is good dental care for dogs and can help prevent painful dental diseases later in life. Although the parents of this breed have a lot of energy, a Mini Goldendoodle tends to sit in a more moderate activity range. Daily walks plus some playtime and time to run are usually enough for them. But, they are also likely to match their energy level to yours, so be prepared for some bursts of energy as well as plenty of cuddling on the couch. Fully-grown Mini Goldendoodles usually stand inches tall at the shoulder. A Miniature Goldendoodle puppy can vary in size based on the generation of the dog. The result is generally a dog that will range from pounds. Looking at the size of the parents for an F1 or F1-B puppy can be a good indication of what size to expect in a fully-grown Miniature Goldendoodle. Mini Goldendoodles generally live for years on average. Featured Mini Goldendoodle Article. We offer a personal touch to breeding and raising our puppies, ensuring that every customer feels like a part of our family. If you have any questions or concerns, we are just a phone call, text, or email away. About Our Miniature Goldendoodles Our Miniature Goldendoodles are an exceptional hybrid breed, resulting from a purebred Golden Retriever and a miniature poodle cross. At maturity, they typically average 25 lbs. Our mini puppies embody the best characteristics of their parent breeds, including the amiable temperament of the Golden Retriever and the intelligence and low-shedding coat of the miniature poodle, making them ideal allergy-friendly pets. While our puppies are generally low shedding, some shedding may occur when the puppy coat transitions into the adult coat. Our female, Paislee, has abstract pups. Our puppies are wormed at weeks 4, 5, and 6 and receive their first puppy vaccine at 6 weeks. Before leaving our possession, each puppy undergoes a veterinary check to ensure their health. If any issues are detected, we will assist you in moving your deposit to another litter, if you choose to do so. If you wish to purchase a puppy for the purpose of breeding multiple litters, the cost is double the pet price. Our Happy Clients Our puppies have found loving homes all across the country. Take a look at the map below to see where our Mini Goldendoodle puppies have been placed and join our community of happy puppy owners! We got our mini golden doodle here and had a great experience. Neely was amazing and so helpful in answering all my questions. Highly recommended! They have been more wonderful than we could have ever imagined. They are the sweetest and smartest puppies ever! I highly recommend Cheryl at Walters Mini Golden Doodles if you are looking for the perfect addition to your family! The team would send me weekly updates and provided the 1st round of vaccines for us. I would recommend using this breeder and would purchase another puppy from them again! This is Benny, whose parents were Mars and Bella. He just turned 2 in April and weighs 37lbs. I would highly recommend her services. We had the opportunity to bring our precious little puppy home on .Teddi Belle is such a joy to have and our family is blessed to add her to our addition. First, and all subsequent vet check-ups were excellent. Our niece has also purchased a Mini Goldendoodle from Walters and is experiencing similar enjoyment. I would recommend this breeder to anyone who asks me. Do not hesitate to consider Walters Mini Golden doodles as your breeder. We are here to help make your forever home complete with a happy and healthy Miniature Goldendoodle puppy.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Imagine you knew how to discipline a German Shepherd puppy the right way so that your bond with your dog grew instead of fell short! Learn how to communicate with your pup and get the behaviors you want using these simple and easy methods for training a German Shepherd puppy. They may become frightened of you or fear your presence, depending on how severe your discipline is. Anxiety may even develop with too much punishment or useless corrections. Training a German Shepherd puppy at 8 to 12 weeks old? Yes, you can! A GSD pup of 8 to 12 weeks of age or older still needs positive reinforcement for the best behavior changes. Disciplining your GSD should not involve hitting, kicking, slapping, intimidation, or yelling. Do you want your German Shepherd puppy to stop their unwanted, bad behavior and turn into the sweet angel you want them to be? You can easily learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy if you work smarter… Not harder! Start early and remain consistent with your expectations. Training a German Shepherd means knowing what to do when your puppy acts up. Shepherd pups are one of the smartest dogs on the plant and learn quickly what you expect of them. But the best way to learn how to train a German Shepherd puppy at home is to work on your own behavior first. You should show them what behavior is unacceptable in your house. This means that you must stay consistent when responding to their behavior. For example: If your pup jumps on you and you redirect their attention to a toy to chew on instead. But, then your pup jumps on your friend and your friend lets them and you say nothing. This makes it likely that your dog will jump on whoever they feel like in the future. Use reward-based training. Use reward-based German Shepherd training techniques to get the quickest results. Reward-based training helps your puppy recognize when something is a bad choice source. When your pup performs what you ask, offer a tasty treat and words of praise. For example: Have your pup sit when you are by the front door getting ready to go for a walk. This teaches them that when they behave, they are more likely to get what they want. The best way to train your German Shepherd is by following a fun, engaging program that teaches not only the basics but covers problem behaviors, too. Sound difficult? It teaches you how to get your pup to learn positive behaviors. You can also have fun right at home with these games for German Shepherd puppies. Offer your puppy another option when they begin jumping on you for attention. Think about what your puppy is trying to get when engaging in jumping and bad behavior to determine when to ignore them. When your pup jumps on you when you come home, they probably want your attention. Withholding your attention when they are acting out shows them they need to act differently to get your approval source. Instead, offer them pets and praise when they have all 4 paws on the floor. You can also place them behind a puppy gate until they learn not to jump in order to avoid them scratching or nipping house guests when they arrive. After you teach them their basic obedience, ask them for a competing behavior like a sit or down when they begin to jump. Always remember to reward the behavior you want to see again! Ultimately, your puppy learns that good behavior earns your affection and attention more quickly. Your dog soon understands that they get nothing from you when they act badly. Here are some great commands for a German Shepherd that you can work on training. Redirect bad German Shepherd puppy behavior. Does your puppy jump, nip, chew, bite, or dig and you want to know the right discipline? The noise and disapproving tone distract your dog from bad behavior source. Showing them a favorite toy. Offering them another option you would like that is more constructive. You want to remember to watch out for: If your dog chews inappropriately on a pair of expensive shoes, get their attention by making noises or calling them to you and immediately offer the correct approved chew item. If you know your dog tends to bite you during play, have a toy nearby you can show them that you want them to bite instead of your arms. If you know they get wild and crazy in the evenings, have a list of these easy German Shepherd brain games to distract them and funnel their energy. Use time-outs appropriately when training a German Shepherd puppy. When your dog engages in bad behavior, remove them from what is causing the unwanted behavior. Put them in a different environment that is more calming and quiet instead. Respond immediately to the bad behavior and use the same routine every time to maintain correct discipline. Time out should: Not be done with force or yelling. Not be in a closet or other dark, scary area. Work to calm your puppy down, not frighten or stress them. Give your puppy a break from over-excitement. Not be a long punishment. Timeouts are generally recommended for only 1 to 2 minutes for puppies. Also, remember that closed doors can cause anxiety in dogs, so use a reliable pet-safe baby gate so that your puppy knows that you are still nearby. Remember, when training a German Shepherd puppy: Time out should not last over minutes. Watch for when your puppy is calm and quiet for a very brief period seconds long of calm. Then let them out quietly, without scolding them. This can cause anxiety. Remember to use a pet gate to separate them from the excitement that caused the unwanted behavior, while still allowing them to see you and not feel trapped. Ignore the unnecessary barking. German Shepherd puppies bark, but there are positive ways to help train them to bark and whine less. When they finally quiet down, even if only for a few seconds, reward them with a treat or praise. To have success, wait until they are quiet and stop barking, even if only for a few seconds in the beginning source. For example: If your puppy barks at joggers out the window every morning pull the blinds or curtains. If the behavior continues, place your dog in another room for a couple of minutes and repeat the previous time-out procedure every time they bark at the joggers remember to use the pet safe baby gate and to not shut a puppy behind a solid door because it can give them anxiety. If they are whining and crying at night, this could be a warning they need to potty. Make sure you read this post to know how to potty train a German Shepherd before you ignore all whining, barking, and crying. If your puppy barks during play they might be too excited and you can offer them a chew toy instead or cut your playtime short to allow them to calm down. Puppies bark for a number of reasons. But it does get easier to train your GSD over time as they learn what you expect. Keeping your pup from nipping and chewing. Puppies have sharp teeth, especially German Shepherd puppies! Puppies are energetic and must learn their limits for playing too rough source. Puppies view you jerking your hand back quickly as part of a game and could also tear your skin. And physical punishment should never be given! Show them what they can chew, instead, such as their favorite chew toy. Have plenty of safe chew toys to grab nearby to give your pup when they get wild and decide to bite you. Always use toys that your puppy can chew and bite to play with — pick from this list of German Shepherd Chew Toys to Prevent Boredom so you have a safe puppy toy that can take their bites. When they stop biting or nipping reward them with verbal praise and pets. Return later to try playing with your pup again and repeat the procedure. Read this information for more helpful tips to stop your German Shepherd puppy from aggressively biting and nipping you. Catch your dog being good and reward them out of the blue. See your puppy acting the way you want? Reward them out of the blue! Keep small bits of treats in jars around the house out of reach of your pup or in your pocket or a treat bag on your waist and use any opportunity your catch your pup doing good to reward them. If they sit and wait at the door, instead of dashing out ahead of you, reward them! Aim for one of these healthy treats that are the best for German Shepherds and pick carefully to ensure your dog stays athletic and fit. Food-based rewards are very motivating when training and disciplining a puppy. Avoid physical punishment and harm. Your German Shepherd is your companion for life. Research shows that physically punishing your dog for example hitting, kicking, growling, or staring them down increases aggression in your dog study source. Never use physical punishment to correct undesirable behavior. Not only can this punishment injure your puppy, but it also ruins your relationship and causes anxiety. It means setting expectations that they understand and staying consistent. Physically hurting your German shepherd will ruin your relationship with them. They will lose their trust in you and begin to avoid you. In the worst case, your dog could develop anxiety disorders, health issues, or even more problem behaviors. You could even accidentally injure your dog and they need vet care! Use the right tone and body language to communicate. Different commands and body language conveys information for training to your German Shepherd. The different tones of your voice and body movements are better understood by your dog. The actual command words are of less importance to your puppy. Use a direct tone and body language that matches what you want to say to your dog. Even pointing to a missed treat on the ground is body language your dog learns to understand. Still not convinced? Try out your training with this extensive list of helpful German Shepherd commands and watch how much your dog is capable of understanding. Shepherd pups want to please and have order in their home. To do this, stick with your training. Begin with a plan in place and disciplining your GSD will go smoother from the start. Persevere with your training and discipline. Remember that your German Shepherd is highly intelligent and needs your help to get the best from them. If you feel like giving up, take a break from training for a day or two. In order to avoid training frustration, remember that just like you a German Shepherd needs time to learn the rules of the house and new commands. This is true especially of puppies or rescue dogs. If you want to take a break from training and have fun, then include a few days a week of puzzles. German Shepherds are one of the smartest dogs in the world, so training them generally takes a short time. Never discipline a German Shepherd puppy for having accidents during potty training. Whether your German Shepherd is potty trained or not, never push their faces into their potty accidents. Your dog is counting on your leadership to show them the rules in a positive manner. Work on setting a consistent schedule with feeding and walks to avoid potty accidents indoors. German Shepherds are easy to train given the right attention. And they need to understand their schedule by having you teach them using consistent patterns, rather than receiving punishment or discipline. Keep a potty schedule posted nearby so all your family can see it and help prevent your puppy from having an accident. Use your bond with your puppy to your advantage during recall training. Use your positive bond with your German Shepherd puppy to work on early recall training. Especially when there are so many natural pleasures to see and explore outside. When you call your German Shepherd, its obedience simply depends on whether the motivation to obey your commands outweighs what your dog is focused on at the moment. Use this to your advantage! Tips for great German Shepherd puppy recall training: Begin calling your puppy in as many locations inside as you can. Give them a tasty reward or play a game with their favorite toy when they come. Work your way up to a perfect recall by having others try to distract your puppy while indoors. Next, move to your back or front yard with your dog on a long leash like this so they stay safe nearby and do the same. You can disciple them by showing them your tasty treat and walking backward a few steps to encourage them to move toward you. Train the come command in all situations, including the home and outdoors, from the time your puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old to avoid discipline problems later on. Need to train your German Shepherd on their recall? Calm older dogs are good for this one. Most importantly for German Shepherd puppies, it will give you a chance to work with them around other people, and different dogs from a young age. Settle on a mat German Shepherds are incredibly curious, which can make it difficult for them to relax while out and about. Leash walking — no one wants a large breed of dog pulling them down the street, so be sure you teach loose lead walking and how about some heelwork too? Recall games — Play a game of tennis with your pooch! Calling them from person to person with treats on either side. Get started with grooming and brushing sensitive areas — In long-haired German Shepherds, this is typically the case with the face, legs, and ears, which become tangled the most and may hurt when brushed. Remember to brush carefully, do a little bit of brushing on a sensitive area while feeding them treats or letting them have a lickimat, and then brush an easier to brush area. For socialisation, start working on items that are vital to your lifestyle this week, such as if you have a horse and want your puppy to be comfortable with horses, or if you enjoy sailing, having them near water will be important to you. Getting your puppy exposed to new experiences early on can help them accept them much more easily. Socialization exercises to do this week Training to do this week Husbandry Tasks to do this week — Go to the pub — you deserve it! Remember that settle training you did before, take your mat and get your German Shepherd puppy to settle on it with a nice stuffed kong. Alone training: increasing time alone is important for your puppy. It gives them essential coping skills. Recall — Practise this outside, using a lead, and lots of rewards. Lead walking — Take this outside. Make sure you keep a strong pace going, since German Shepherds enjoy walking quickly, and praise often to keep your puppy interested. Pretend Nail Clips — simply holding a claw, pretending to clip , and rewarding your puppy with a treat is enough. Following on walks — Bring special toys, like the Tug-E-Nuff Pocket tugger, with you on walks to ensure your German Shepherd puppy enjoys hanging out with you. Playing with them will make you irresistible! Week 7 — Training your German Shepherd puppy The 7-week itch! Nah not really. I bet your German Shepherd puppy is doing wonderfully and growing rapidly! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — How about taking your German Shepherd to a city farm, letting them watch from afar and rewarding them for being such a calm puppy? Teach your German Shepherd puppy to stay — this will be a great one to show off at the park, trust us. So, first, take a walk with a dog that your German Shepherd puppy has already met. At first, it may be difficult for your puppy not to get distracted, so keep the rewards coming and try to keep them interested in you, rather than the other dog! Recall — off the lead Make sure you do this in a secure and confined area and bring plenty of smelly treats, a fun toy to play with, and your silly high-pitched voice so you can call your German Shepherd puppy back regularly. Remember, German Shepherds enjoy learning! Tick 3 things off your personal socialisation checklist — maybe take your German Shepherd for a swimming lesson? Practice exercises in different locations — how about a train station, or in a shopping centre or mall? Teach a hand target — This is a favourite among pups and their owners. Hand Targeting or touching is the foundation for additional trick behaviours like leg weaving and closing doors. Introducing nose work to your puppy — We mean it when we say your German Shepherd puppy has a better nose than you! Play a game of hide and seek with their favourite toy to bring out those excellent search skills. Looking for more great puppy training tips? Check out our overview of when to start teaching your puppy anything , next. It will be fun they said. We go the extra mile for you. If you want a stress free puppy experience, get this downloaded! Worth every single penny! This app is very helpful. It helps you to understand and gives you a path to follow. The coaching support is excellent and super speedy. Download the app now. Although any German Shepherd dog is trainable, they are very strong and powerful animals. If you start out with a puppy, you have the opportunity to shape and mold its personality and develop your relationship early. German Shepherds can be very protective of their family members, so you want to socialize your puppy early in puppyhood. This will get them used to interacting well with a wide variety of people and animals, which is essential. This will be a big dog, and you want to prepare the dog when they are young and small for future grooming and veterinary visits. They may need nail trimming, ear cleaning, temperature taking and other procedures. These procedures will be difficult to accomplish should your full-sized adult German Shepherd dog object. You will need to train them to sit, stay, and heel, in addition to house training them. Your puppy will not understand your commands immediately. Have patience with your dog when they don't do exactly what you ask right away. German Shepherds love to learn and they are highly motivated to follow your commands if they are rewarded with treats. Pet your puppy while they're eating, as long as they do not stiffen and stop eating when you are petting the puppy. If the puppy stiffens, stops eating or growls, you have to deal with this aggressive response immediately. Do this by removing the food bowl and feeding the dog by hand. There is no bowl to guard. Make the bowl no big deal. If a piece of food is dropped inside, let the puppy take it and praise them. Then feed nearby again. The bowl will not always have food inside. Gradually increase the amount of food you drop in the bowl as you stand or sit there with the puppy. You can also add high value treats like roasted chicken breast into the bowl if your puppy seems to need more reassurance that you bring goodness to the food bowl. Resource guarding can be a very serious symptom of fear aggression and, if you are seeing this in a puppy, it needs to be addressed ASAP so it does not escalate. You can gradually ask the puppy to look at you to get more food, then sit and wait for more food, etc. .The humans controls the resource of food and rewards the puppy for good behavior. You still praise your dog, just not offer a treat each time. If you are working to modify a command to create a faster response, add in treats again to shape the behavior until they have it down. Then start using treats to reward truly outstanding performance. Do not yell at your pet. Learn to recognize when you are losing patience and stop the training session on a happy note. Your dog can sense your frustration in your body language and tone of voice. Try another day when you are both fresh. If you continue to have problems, get a professional trainer involved. Typically, as puppies are first learning commands, one adult family member will be responsible for training. Later, when the puppy is consistent and understands the basics, other members of the family can participate in formal training. It is important for the dog to understand that not only one person in the household is to be obeyed. Your puppy should be weeks old and started on their vaccine series for this first class. There are puppy preschools designed for puppies who have not yet finished receiving all of their vaccines. The school will have certain requirements for enrollment and you will likely have to provide proof of vaccination. To train a German Shepherd puppy dog you must be consistent, kind and clear. German Shepherd dog puppies are divinely cute and for a reason! Just like babies are cute, puppies will win your heart even after destroying your favorite pair of shoes or that expensive carpet! Making sure you use them will start you on the right side of training and pave the road for you to get an obedient dog. The good news is that you do not need any special equipment to have an obedient GSD puppy. All you need is love and treats. The most important German Shepherd puppy training tip is socialization. Some vets will tell you to keep the pooch inside until the full set of vaccines is completed. Unfortunately, if you do keep your pooch safe inside until he is months of age, his socialization period will have closed forever and your chance to raise a friendly and confident dog drops significantly! That said, it is ultimately your decision whether you want to take the risk to take him outside or not. Most large US cities do not have too many disease problems and taking your puppy to a class where the trainer checks that every puppy has had the first set of shots is mostly safe. However, if you leave in a rural area, make sure there is not an outbreak of a disease that can affect your pooch. Of all the German Shepherd puppy training tips, I suggest you really think this one through. As a dog trainer, I recommend you find a safe puppy socialization class because this developmental period is critical to prevent behavior problems in the future. Apart from that, you also need to socialize your puppy daily on your own, this link will explain the process and give you a list of things to check as you go! Tip 2: Teach your German Shepherd puppy to use his mouth properly. You may have noticed that your German Shepherd puppy likes to chew on your shoes, toys, boxes, carpets, pillows, your hands…well, pretty much everything! Before you loose your mind and all your precious possessions let me tell you that this is normal puppy behavior. At this age dogs explore everything with their mouths and even though annoying, it is a great time to teach your pet what is appropriate for his mouth as well as how to soften the bite. The reason German Shepherd dog puppies have sharp teeth is because they are capable of learning how much or how little pressure to apply when biting different things. This is good news! To train a German Shepherd puppy to do this follow this link! Tip 3: Potty train your German Shepherd puppy the right way. Right around now you are also probably dealing with potty training, the best German Shepherd puppy training tips for potty training are outlined below. You should know how many times, and when to take you puppy out. I am sure you have heard all sorts of things against the use of food for training. To do this, you need to find the things that your dog likes most and use them as rewards. Food will be one of them, so use it. But also use anything else, like walks, petting, play time, toys, etc. So, of all the German shepherd puppy training tips here, I don't want to hear any excuses for this one! Done the right way, your pooch will respond to your command even when empty handed. Hope my website is helping you better understand and train your dog. Do you want to help? Be a modern philanthropist through Patreon. This is a hard concept to understand for us, clever human beings. When we learn something new, we can very easily generalize the concept to any situation, that is what makes us creative creatures. Fortunately, you have a German Shepherd puppy, they are clever and chances are they will need less repetitions than the average breed. To help you out on this matter, this link will take you to a step-by-step guide to train a reliable command. Tip 6: Train your German Shepherd puppy to ask for permission. Dog commands and fun and useful and you can probably find hundreds to teach your GSD. This one though - Ask for permission - is technically not a command, because you will not ask your canine to do it every time, instead you want to teach him to do it on his own every time the occasion requires it. Take time to do this with your puppy, it will be worth it! This is another one of the most important German Shepherd puppy training tips because a dog that asks for permission is an obedient and safe dog. To prevent a dog from jumping on people it is imperative to teach that same dog not to jump when he is a puppy. If he jumps again, then ignore again. When I say ignore, I mean it! No eye contact, no pushing or kneeing…nothing. Keep turning around if you have to. Pulling on the leash is another of those dog behaviors that people think come out of the blue, but actually they happen because there was never formal training done. To prevent pulling on the leash all you have to do is make sure your puppy understands that he gets rewarded food, petting, attention, verbal praise, keep on walking, etc. Pay close attention to what he does during those first few walks together and make sure you reward him for staying close to you! Got any German Shepherd puppy training tips to share with us? Tell us about them here! Those ideas came from research done in wolfs in captivity and have now been debunked by new research done in wolfs in the wild. The new research says that you need to be a good leader, kind of like a parent. Alphas are most often the parents of the group. Provide shelter, food, safety and limits. This article tells you more about it! Tip The best German Shepherd puppy training tip is… Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. This rule is amazing and will work wonders, besides it is really easy to apply, all you have to do is pay attention to your German Shepherd puppy and reward the good things he does. You need to figure out what the reward is and remove it. For example, when a dog is laying down, it is harder to bark. This Form cannot be submitted until the missing fields labelled below in red have been filled in What is your DOG's name? Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
labrador cross puppies for sale - Labrador Retriever Stages of Development Labrador Retriever Stages of Development If you are new to the Labrador Retriever world and you have a new puppy, you may be wondering when Lab puppies finally calm down. First, for those that do not know, the Labrador Retriever breed is not for those that want to lay back on the couch and toss back a few beers. Labs are people dogs meaning that they are very sociable and do not like to be left on their own all the time. They have a great deal of enthusiasm and energy. That is why it is important for this breed to get plenty of exercise and social interaction. We did a lot of research about the breed and found that many people have their own ideas on the age of maturation. In all honesty, there are differing levels of energy that the Lab will go through during its life and from the age of about 10 weeks old to 5 years old, the energy level can remain quite high. Stage 2: Toddler — This stage starts around weeks old and goes until about 5 months old. The energy level is quite high at this time as the puppy is learning all it can about the world and go through many biological changes. It tests its environment with its mouth and as it gets towards the end of this stage, it begins to chew on everything it can to try and get relief from teething. It is usually to have some terry cloth towels that have been soaked in water and sitting in your freezer, waiting to be gnawed on! Stage 3: Adolescent — This is a tough stage and starts around 5 months old and go anywhere up to a year, depending on the dog. Some would call it the terrible twos because all of a sudden, your sweet Lab baby has forgotten everything you have taught it and has the manners of any human teenager out there! Sure, they know not to go on the couch but they will test you again and make sure you meant it. This is when you need to reinforce all your training because if you let them get away with it now, it is harder to break them of it later! Stage 4: Maturing — Usually this starts around a year old and goes until the 5-year old stage. The level of energy is still high and is equal to a college student or young twenty-something adult. They get more comfortable with their surroundings and take a little more time to enjoy life and the company of their owner and family. This is more of an enjoyable time with your family Lab! Stage 5: Senior — Around 5 years and up, the little puppy you once knew with all the energy level of an energizer bunny is there in spirit but the body is slowing down more. They still have a good amount of energy but nothing compared o stages 2 and 3! Life is good and comfortable. So, when does a Lab puppy start to calm down? Well, generally it is around stage 4 but can happen before that stage. The one thing people with Labrador Retrievers, or any dog for that matter, need to understand is that each dog is different. Yes, there are certain traits in the Lab breed for which we eagerly welcomed them into our home, but just as human identical twins can have opposite personalities, so can your Labrador Retriever. For example, if you are in stage 2, there is housebreaking and teething to deal with. Your puppy also needs help with getting rid of some of that pent up energy it has and it is your responsibility to give it safe and structured ways to expel that energy. Short walks work well on soft surfaces for young pups as well as schedule play times. Whatever you choose to do, high energy levels in Labs are normal during certain stages — just remember to enjoy them while you can because your Lab will only be a puppy once. Post navigation. Puppy training development after 6 months It is very tempting to get carried away with puppy training. Your young do is so willing to please and such fun to be around. It is important to go at a happy pace for you both. Positive reinforcement training is the right choice for your puppy because there are no negative consequences to getting something wrong. But you can still both suffer from burnout and frustration if you try to reach the later puppy training stages without totally aceing the earlier developments. Your Puppy Training Schedule This may not be exactly the same for each puppy, especially with retrieving which is more Labrador specific. However, it gives you a rough idea. Constantly changing direction. Stopping frequently for cuddles and rewards. This means I blow the recall whistle whenever the puppy runs towards me, no compulsion, and no whistle unless the recall is already underway. Socialisation: Lots almost daily of outings to different places rural and urban carried Visits to family and friends. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow mouthing. Working with food: Learning how to take food gently without snatching or grabbing at the treat pot. I still give the puppy lots of encouragement by running away as soon as I blow the whistle. Socialisation: More socialisation, at least twice a week to busy public places. Bite inhibition: Discourage hard biting, allow gentle mouthing. Retrieving: Encourage chase and pick up retrieve drive. Hand touch: I teach all new puppies to touch my hand with their noses. This is a great foundation for other skills. Recall: Puppy recall continues, reduce my run to a walk, avoid any distractions. Still frequently blow the recall whenever the pup runs towards me of her own free will. Socialisation: From ground level after vaccination. No other leash walking at all Bite inhibition: No biting, gentle mouthing allowed. Retrieving: Continue to build drive. Positions: I introduce three positions — sit, stand, down. What to expect from your 3 month old puppy Most three month old puppies will be sleeping through the night. And will be having less potty training accidents in the house. There are a few potty training problems that arise at this age, and they are all covered in 15 potty training problems solved. Biting is a big shock and a big problem for many new Lab puppy parents so do check out our complete guide to biting , and join the forum for help and support. Help encourage your puppy to stay in their bed while you are eating. I have a pot of dog treats on our kitchen table, and whenever we sit down to a meal, the puppy gets a treat each time she steps into her basket. Just a treat for stepping in there. What to expect from your 4 month old puppy Your 4 month old puppy will be pretty much potty trained, but accidents still happen if they are left alone too long. Biting is usually starting to subside now, and many four month old puppies will be able to mouth at your hand without hurting you. At this point I start to discourage all mouthing. I teach every puppy to let me touch her face or approach her with my hand, food, a leash etc while holding eye contact and not grabbing at me, or at what is in my hand. This is the age at which people often start to push forward with training. Your 4 month old puppy is capable of quite a lot. There is nothing wrong with teaching your puppy different cues and even some tricks. I recommend you still avoid long duration activities at this point as they are a common stumbling point with puppies young enough to have a short attention span. A ten second sit is ample. Add mild distractions Recall: Fade additional cues. Begin to whistle the pup and stand still. Add mild distractions. Clicker train to polish this in more mouthy puppies. No commands are needed for this. Gradual introduction of distractions. Advanced puppy training begins in earnest This is where I start a programme of sporting training with my Labs. You can begin raising your standards and expectations, asking for longer and more complex behaviors. Teaching your puppy to walk to heel nicely for longer distance and past all kinds of distractions and temptations. Or teaching your puppy to sit and stay for longer periods of time, and even while you go out of sight or while other dogs play nearby. What to expect from your six month old puppy Six months is a common time for people to have a lot of questions and to be struggling with a few challenges. This is now a very bouncy, quite powerful and rapidly maturing young dog. And you may need to patch up a few holes in his training or manners. We have a great article for owners of six month old Lab puppies. Labradors go through different stages of development, which are easy to identify with a trained eye. These growth stages — newborn, juvenile, adolescence, and adulthood — all come with marked periods of development. You may notice that your dog looks lanky or slimmer during the latter half of this period. During adolescence, they will complete skeletal growth. They will then begin to fill out until they reach their full adult weight and height. As your Labrador Retriever enters adulthood, you will notice a slow in physical growth and weight gain, as well as a calmer demeanor. Labs officially reach their final size around a year to 18 months considering all the different growth stages. Labs are a highly active breed that requires training, plenty of exercise, and a balanced diet. This helps prevent problems with weight gain, which can lead to more dangerous health conditions as your dog continues to age. As puppies pass adolescence and settle into adulthood around two years of age, Labs start to calm. Another sign that your dog has stopped growing. What Factors Contribute to a Labs Growth? An average male Lab will stand around inches and weigh roughly pounds. Female Labradors will grow to inches and pounds, respectively. Several factors can affect how large a Lab can be. Many of them are related to elements controlled by the owner rather than the dog. Food and Nutrition As with any pet, healthy food and nutrition are essential to ensure that your Lab grows appropriately. A balanced diet for a Labrador Retriever is a must. Ensure your pup gets the right amount of fats, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All these aids in a healthy growth curve for your dog. It may be tempting to feed a hungry dog, but overfeeding your Lab can cause problems in their early development. When you give your young Lab too much food, you may encourage excessive growth that can be taxing on their skeletal structure. When bones grow too fast, it leads to orthopedic issues in the breed further down the line. Related: Spaying and Neutering Spaying and neutering can have one of the largest impacts on the optimal growth of your Lab. The extended period of growth is due to the interference of estrogen and testosterone levels. This can result in a bigger dog and lead to health issues. Long bone growth and delayed joint development can cause many orthopedic issues in the breed. The main contributor to health problems is hip dysplasia. Just be aware of the timing and delay operations until crucial skeletal development is complete. General Health and Genes The final and most significant factor in determining the size of your fully-grown Labrador is a general health and genetic history of your dog. If you purchased your puppy from a lineage of larger Labs, you could assume your pup will be slightly larger than an average-sized adult dog. The same can be said for Labs will family lines that veer towards smaller percentiles. Overall, what is most important to consider in the growth of your Labrador Retriever is that they have a balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. A healthy, well-attended puppy will inevitably lead to a well-developed adult dog. Also See:. But those first weeks of puppy development are very similar whatever the breed, and these landmarks are good general rules for any dog. Puppy development week by week, changes quickly. Newborn Puppies Newborn puppies are born at the end of nine weeks of pregnancy, with their eyes and ears tightly closed. They already have a fur coat but they cannot yet control their own body temperature. They are dependent on their mother or another heat source to keep them warm. Newborn puppies may cry if cold. But they do not have the strength to cry for long. Newborn Labrador puppies snuggle together to keep warm when their mother is away How Helpless are Newborn Pups? Although they rely on mom for a lot at this stage, newborn puppies are not completely helpless. They can use their front feet to drag themselves towards a heat source or their milk supply. This means their mom, not milk alternatives like cow or goat milk. Newborn pups have no teeth yet. But they can move their heads about to search for a nipple, and they can latch on and suck strongly. Their mother leaves them only to eat, drink and for bathroom purposes. While she is away, the puppies will crawl together to preserve their body heat, as you can see in the photo above. They may also crawl under a heat lamp source to keep warm. In every other respect newborn puppies are completely dependent on the care of their mother. Newborn pups have little control over the rear end of their bodies. The mother dog washes them and licks their bottoms to encourage elimination, licking up and swallowing anything they produce to keep her babies and their nest scrupulously clean. In fact, he may even double his birth weight! One week later and the puppies have doubled their birth weight. Changes are taking place under his eyelids to prepare them for opening. And usually begins during the second week of life. Ears open at this point too, so your puppy will begin to hear. The Labrador puppies in this picture are two weeks olds. Two weeks old and the puppies eyes are now open! You can see that their eyes are now open and the puppies are beginning to look a little more dog-like. The breeder will be handling the puppies more now. And most puppies are wormed for the first time at two weeks old. Most 3 week old puppies can stand and sit, and are beginning to totter about. They are also starting to develop their individuality. No longer are they just a row of identical little fat furry sausages! This little three week old puppy :- Can easily be distinguished from his brother: Teething and Further Development At 3 weeks old, this is also the point at which puppies start teething — cutting their first deciduous baby teeth. Obviously the teeth are appearing for a reason! Some breeders will start to offer the first tastes of solid food at this point. Especially if the litter is a large one and putting a strain on the mother dog. It is lovely to watch a litter of 3 week old puppies beginning to interact with their brothers and sisters. They are running, playing enthusiastically, and have started to wag their little tails. The puppies will start to show bowel control as they move away from the other puppies to defecate. And solid food is becoming a major part of their diet. These little pups are tucking into some puppy food. Four week old puppies having their dinner in the fresh air If the weather is warm enough, puppies will be spending some time outdoors now. Mealtimes are a messy process, so feeding puppies out in the yard can be a good idea. Breeder Involvement Some mother dogs will lose interest in cleaning up after their pups at this point or soon afterwards. And many puppies will be wormed again this week. Vocalizations are becoming stronger at this puppy development stage. The litter will greet their mother noisily when she returns to them, and try hard to follow her out of the whelping box whenever she leaves. The puppies themselves are now eating solid food several times a day and gradually being weaned of their dependency on her milk. Puppies will still suckle ravenously when their mother returns and she will now often feed them standing up and only for a short time. She will also be teaching the puppies not to bite too hard. So, they should be increasingly spending time with humans and learning to be familiar with the sounds and sights of a human family environment. Puppies being raised in kennels must be brought into a home environment regularly from now on to ensure they develop into confident, friendly dogs. Six weeks old and full of mischief Puppies Still Have a Lot to Learn at 6 Weeks In some countries, puppies are taken to their new homes at this age. But this is not a good idea, and can result in a puppy that has poor bite inhibition and is challenging to manage. The puppies are learning not to bite too hard from the reactions of their mother and siblings. Growth is not quite so fast now. But the puppies will still grow strongly for the next few months. Many puppies will be wormed again this week. All that remains is for plenty of great socialization experiences to be packed into this week, with final checks on health. Many breeders will arrange for each seven week old puppy to have a vet check this week. And though some vets advise against it, some puppies are also given their first vaccinations before they leave for their new homes. Some breeders will now have the puppies trained to pee and poop on puppy pads or newspaper. And some will have been whistling to the puppies at meal times to get them used to coming to a human signal. Potty training is now underway and puppy socialization plans are being made. At this point, many of you will be thinking about training your puppy too. The next four weeks are vital in puppy development stages. Your main job is socializing your puppy. This means taking him to lots of new places and exposing him to lots of new experiences. So, life will be starting to get back to normal. Most puppies in the U. In the U. So, not all puppies will get their vaccinations at the exact same age. Socializing your puppy is still the most important job for you at this age. But, you cannot put your puppy on the ground outside until they have received their final vaccination. So, make sure you know exactly when their final jab is. And carry on introducing them to as many new people, things, and experiences as possible throughout this puppy development stage. Some people can suffer from the puppy blues at this stage too, as your life has completely changed! But, that does not mean socialization can stop. Puppies who are isolated at this point will soon lose that friendly fearlessness. You have an important job now, building on what has been achieved so far, and introducing your puppy to the world at ground level. This part of his education can begin once his vaccination cover is complete. He should be fully immunised at around this point. But check with your vet for confirmation of the actual date. Three months also marks the point at which many puppies will drop down from four daily meals, to three. This can cause problems for some puppies because the portions are larger If your puppy gets an upset tummy when you make this change, just go back up to four meals again for a few days, and give smaller portions for a few days when you try again. But, many will need another month before they can cope without frequent bathroom breaks and the occasional accident. Your puppy will begin to lose his baby teeth. This can also be a time at which biting can be most challenging. And try not to worry, this stage will soon be over! A few will need another month or two to complete the process. Remember, no two puppies are the same. That puppy fluffiness will have gone. For many puppies, five months is an awkward, gangly time. A five month old puppy may have shed the last of his soft puppy lines and be looking quite skinny. By the end of this month most puppies will have finished teething but an urge to chew may continue for another few months in some breeds, Labradors included. Some female dogs will have their first season during this month. But, for many, it will be another three or four months before this happens. This is a major milestone for your puppy. He is now looking very much like an adult Labrador. Still a Puppy Because he looks quite grown up, people expect a lot of their 6 month old puppy. But inside, he is still very much a puppy. The beginnings of adolescence and with it an increasing independence of spirit can bring its challenges, but also a whole lot of fun. Image from Pixabay Labrador Puppy Behavior and Growth Stages Labrador retriever puppies do plenty of growing, learning, and maturing in a short amount of time, especially when compared to humans. Labs also change quite a bit, both mentally and physically from even birth to 8 weeks, which would be around the time you would bring your new puppy home. They are dependent on their mother for most things and although they have fur at birth, their mother keeps them warm because their internal thermostats have not begun to work yet. Their mother only lets them alone for bathroom trips and to eat and drink while the puppies huddle together for warmth. Two Weeks Newborn puppies cannot see or hear but by 2 weeks their ears and eyes should begin to open, allowing for hearing and sight. Handling should begin with the breeder for their first introduction to socialization. Puppies will receive their first worming. Three Weeks Puppies will begin teething as teeth come in and some solid food will be introduced gradually. Puppies can sit, stand, and trot about, a little unsteadily, at this time and even play with littermates, each developing their own personalities. Four Weeks Labrador puppies are becoming a lot more vocal and they are looking and acting more like dogs, wagging tails and playing with enthusiasm. Their mother who has kept everything clean until now is beginning to grow weary, so clean-up will now fall to the breeder. Puppies will receive their second worming. Mothers also teach pups not to bite so hard when feeding and playing. Six Weeks Worming will take place for the third time. Puppies are eating all solid food about six times a day and are totally weaned. Their mother still works with them in regards to biting and gives them a sharp bark, or reprimand, when they play too roughly with littermates. Seven Weeks Puppies will be socialized more, often with breeders beginning initial housebreaking. Usually, puppies will be checked out by a veterinarian before leaving their mother, brothers, and sisters for their new home at 8 weeks. Potty training and socialization should continue. Even though your pup was checked out by a veterinarian, you will need to make an appointment to begin the necessary vaccinations. Before bringing your new puppy home, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies for the pup such as bed, blanket, crate, toys, dishes, food, treats, collar, and leash. Keep in mind that this is the first time puppy has been away from their mother, littermates, and their familiar home. Have patience and give them reassurance and love. They may cry or be shy or fearful until they feel comfortable in their new home. Nine Weeks Your Labrador puppy should feel more familiar with its surroundings. Keep on top of housebreaking, taking them out every 20 to 30 minutes, especially after meals. Work on some basic training but keep sessions short. Socialization will be your biggest task now. Take them to as many places as you can so they can see situations as an adventure, not something to be feared. Ten Weeks Your puppy will need more vaccinations and their veterinarian will check them out and their weight to ensure that they are growing properly. Keep working on socialization. By this time your pup should be properly socialized, but continue to take them to as many places as you can. They may act independently and test you by ignoring certain commands that they are very familiar with. Be firm. Five Months Your puppy may be totally housebroken by this time and able to be left alone a little longer without accidents. Some pups take a little longer just as children may for potty training. They are beginning to be stronger and when they become too weighty, pulling on the leash will be a chore if not properly trained. Six Months Between 4 and 6 months your pup may try to challenge you or other family members. You and others must be the dominant forces in the family. Your pup is also looking more like a dog, but keep in mind, they are still a puppy at heart. Meals can now be reduced to two times a day. You will need to continue with training and obedience classes can be a huge benefit. Your pup will be quite a lot of fun at this time with lots of energy, stamina, and exuberance but will also show some characteristics of a rebellious teenager which may be frustrating. Be patient, yet firm. They may have the appearance of an adult Labrador but are without the maturity of one. When is Do Labs Stop Growing? Keep in mind that just as humans are individuals, so too are dogs and some may be full-grown at a certain age, while others may add a few more pounds after this time. Their full height, however, will be reached by nine months of age. A full-grown Lab will range in weight from 55lbs — 75lbs for females and 64lbs — 85lbs for males. Your Labrador retriever may grow to be large or be a smaller version. This helps to ease your mind. Enjoy every moment with your Labrador puppy as they grow through the stages. Recent Posts. Save to Pinterest The Stages of Puppy Growth and Development Month by Month The following are the stages of puppy growth and development, starting at birth and ending when your dog reaches adulthood. The Neonatal Stage 0 to 2 weeks This is the newborn puppy growth stage that lasts until two weeks of age. At this developmental stage, puppies are blind and deaf. Expect puppies at this point to sleep almost constantly and their mother will take care of everything, keeping them warm, feeding them, and keeping them clean. The Transitional Stage 2 to 4 weeks At this puppy growth stage , they will start to open up their eyes and respond to sounds, light, and movement around them. You will also notice a puppy at this point starting to get more mobile, although they will still tend to crawl instead of walking. They do, however, have enough strength to stand up, but will stumble a lot. A puppy in this developmental stage will just be starting to recognize their siblings and mother. Lab puppies open their eyes at about two weeks old. By this time, Labrador puppies will have their eyes fully open and most will be at least partly open. Ears open at this point too and your puppy will begin to hear. Period of Awakening of Senses 3 to 4 weeks At this period , a puppy develops various senses rapidly. They start to get fully alert and aware of their environment and may recognize you and other humans that are frequently around. The Socialization Period 4 to 7 Weeks Once a puppy is around four weeks old, they start to learn the most important things in life-related to social development. They will learn to not bite all the time and how to interact with their siblings. Interactions with humans are especially important between five and seven weeks. This is also the time they will start to understand discipline thanks to their mother. She will start weaning her puppies and teaching them manners, like acknowledging she is in charge. As the owner, you can start introducing food to your puppy when they are around four weeks old. Start small and begin to give them more food as the mother continues to wean them. You should also continue handling the puppy every day. However, be sure not to separate them from their siblings or mother for over ten minutes each day, since this can lead to issues with training and socialization. Dogs who are separated too soon may also be nervous and more likely to bark and bite. During this period, let the mother dog take care of discipline; you should not correct the dog for mouthing or housebreaking mistakes until later in life. To help ease them through this process, avoid traumatic events, loud voices, or harsh discipline. You should also make sure your pooch has plenty of human contact during this stage. If you want, you can start leash training and even teach simple commands such as sit, down, stay and come. In terms of development, you will notice that your puppy can sleep through the whole night and starts to develop better control of its bowels and bladder. Most vets suggest that new outings should wait until they are fully vaccinated. We rub the Calmeroos Puppy Toy on littermates and mom to get their scent. When we get home the Calmeroos Puppy Toy helps our puppy feel comfortable and adjust more quickly to his new environment. Many puppies will go to their new homes at around 8 weeks old. We recently put together a blog post on our sister site detailing what you can expect from an 8-week-old puppy. The Juvenile Stage 3 to 4 Months At this point in development, a puppy can be compared to a juvenile. They will be more independent and may ignore the basic commands that they know very well. If this happens, firmly and gently reinforce the commands and other training. You may also notice your pup starting to test your authority by play biting or similar actions. You can also redirect your dog to a toy that they can bite. Either can end up teaching your pooch that it is okay to fight with you and challenge your authority. The Ranking Period 3 to 6 Months When your puppy is between four and six months old, you should expect them to be somewhat bratty, showing more willfulness and independence. They are more likely to test your limits and may try to show dominance over children or other family members. If they fail to listen to you or come when called, it can be dangerous as it puts them at risk of injury when in public. It can also hurt future responses to you, making them less likely to listen. This is also when your dog will be teething, so give them toys like frozen dog Kong toys to relieve pressure and pain. Chewing behaviors will also start growing at this point so look for some safe chew toys to keep your dog entertained. This is when hormonal changes start to occur and is the ideal time to spay or neuter your pup. UC Davis published a study comparing the long-term health effects of neutering in Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Adolescence 6 to 18 Months After six months, your pup is already in the final stage of puppy development but is still young. This is a fun and exciting time for your pooch since they will be learning, full of energy, and exuberant. During this time, it is important to remember that even if your puppy now looks like a grown-up dog, they are still a puppy, at least in its mental capacity and emotional maturity. Work to slowly increase training and other activities. You can even work on advanced training such as agility or herding. Another option is to simply keep training them to ensure they interact in a non-aggressive and non-threatening way with other animals. It is also possible that your dog will go through another fearful period of time at some point after they reach six months. You can speed up the process with counter-conditioning and desensitization. It fits very well and is quite apt! Final Thoughts With the knowledge of how and when your new puppy will develop, you are better able to meet their needs. Provide socialization at the appropriate times and be sure to give your puppy plenty of social interactions with their siblings as well as humans and any other pets in your home. Your dog should reach maturity at some point between one and two years old with plenty of variation based on breed, Labradors are considered mature at between 2 and 2. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist. Colby Colby Morita has been raising and training guide and service dog puppies for over 13 years. Colby has been writing to the PuppyInTraining. Almost Home Campaign Puppy Developmental Stages and Behaviour To have a well-adjusted and social dog, you need to ensure his needs are met during each phase of development. Building the foundation for a great dog starts with appropriate training at each stage of development and establishing appropriate guidelines so that that your puppy is properly integrated into the family. You will see many behaviour changes during the life stages of your pup. Knowing how to handle your pup through each developmental stage will help to shape your puppy into a lifelong family member. Puppy Developmental Stages The puppy development process covers five distinct stages. However, puppies grow through these stages at their own pace and these timelines can vary. Stage 1: Neonatal Period 0 — 2 weeks This is the first stage of puppy development and begins at birth. At this age, puppies only have the sense of taste and touch and rely totally on their mother. Stage 2: Transitional Period 2 — 4 weeks Sensory development continues with hearing and sense of smell. Puppy teeth start coming through and their eyes will begin to open. Puppies will interact with their litter mates, wag their tails, stand, walk a little and bark. It is vital to understand this stage as most puppies go home to their new parents between 7 — 12 weeks. During this period, changes start to occur rapidly. Between 3- 5 weeks puppies start to become aware of their surroundings and have the ability to develop a relationship with people This is the period where puppies get familiar with the day-to-day noises of a regular household such as TVs, vacuum cleaners, telephones, etc. At this age puppies are just learning to interact with each other and beginning to play. They are also learning their doggie social skills and exploring their ranking status within their pack. Their curiosity is developing, as are their biting skills. Nipping behaviours begin as they practice biting behaviour with their mother and litter mates. At the weeks stage, they will have full use of all their senses and will be ready to go home to their new owners. Bringing your pup home usually between weeks is right in the middle of his socialization period. Therefore, it is vital that you introduce your puppy to as many new dogs, people, objects and surroundings as you can. BUT, make sure you do so in a controlled manner and never put your puppy in a dangerous situation where they can be injured, scared or contract disease. This is a great period to begin crate training, for a variety of reasons. Puppies are old enough to start getting used to being left alone to avoid separation anxiety from developing and are capable of being house-trained. Even though your home is likely puppy proofed, it also saves your possessions. During this phase of development, puppies are developing their reactions to things much more consistently. They are also likely to focus more on different types of people and should be friendly and approachable to strangers. During this time they are also going to continue to practice their biting skills a whole lot more! It is important to learn how to manage this behaviour early on. You may also notice that they are more curious and will probably look to explore their environment more. Be prepared for this and keep your puppy close to you and leashed. Stage 4: Testing Period 3 — 6 months This is the time your puppy starts to test their boundaries within their world. They will test the limits with their owners and other animals. At this age many adult dogs will start to enforce manners. Problematic behaviours can begin to arise in this period. At this age your puppy is going to go through teething and chewing is a common side effect. Make sure he has plenty of chew sticks and toys. Use commercial sprays or gels that dissuade your puppy from chewing your belongings. Try soaking a cloth toy in chicken stock and freezing it if your puppy is experiencing pain while teething. Once frozen, this can be given to your puppy as a chew toy and will help to relieve sore gums. Puppies are usually finished teething by the age of 6 months when the upper fangs canines come in. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour. Dogs go through adolescence much earlier than people; for small breeds, is can be as early as six months old while larger dogs starting at nine or 10 months of age. Adolescence in larger breed dogs continues until they are two or three years old with smaller dogs reaching maturity at about 18 months. Typically the larger the dog, the slower the development. Signs of Puberty in Canines Here are the typical signs to watch out for to tell you that your own puppy has hit puberty: Males.
Similar services:
labrador cross puppies for sale - Below, I will mention a number of reasons why your German Shepherd might bite your feet or ankles and the signs to look for. It wants attention The reason why it bites your feet could be that it wants your attention. This would be more likely to be the reason if it starts biting your feet when you have not been giving it attention for a while. It would also be more likely if it does it when you had just left it alone for a long time perhaps because you were at work. If that is why your German Shepherd bites your feet then it would help to give it more attention in the form of exercise, training and playing games such as tug of war in addition to training it not to bite your feet. Related post: How to tell if your German Shepherd loves you It is teething If your German Shepherd is a puppy then the reason why it bites your feet is likely to be that it is teething. When they are teething their gums will be painful and biting and chewing on things helps to soothe their gums. This is why they tend to bite and chew on things a lot as puppies. Another reason why it might bite on your feet is that German Shepherd puppies explore and interact with the world with their mouths and noses as much as they do with their eyes. As a result, it will bite on your feet a lot because it is interacting with it and your feet likely have strong smells to your German Shepherd. If your German Shepherd is still a puppy then it is very important to take the time now to train it not to bite your feet and to behave the way that you want it to. You can do this using the tips mentioned below. You can do so by following the tips given below. You have inadvertently been reinforcing the behavior It could be the case that you have been inadvertently reinforcing the feet biting. If your method to get it to stop biting your feet is to give it things that it wants such as toys or a treat then it could have learned that biting your feet results in it getting things that it wants. This would be more likely to be the reason if it is older than 6 months old and it is no longer teething. Instead of giving it things that it wants, when it bites your feet, a better option would be to withdraw your attention and to not allow it to bite your feet by leaving the room, for a few minutes, if necessary. Then after waiting for a few moments, you would go back to giving it attention and withdraw your attention again whenever it starts biting. Excitement The reason why your German Shepherd bites your feet could be that it gets excited and it is trying to show its excitement. It would also be more likely if it tends to show other signs of excitement when biting your feet. In this case, something that you could try would be to stop it from biting your feet by leaving the room and not giving it attention. You would then reward it when it shows signs of behaving the way that you want it to. Doing this will teach it that biting your feet does not get it what it wants. It is exploring Dogs interact with the environment using their mouths and their noses as much as they do with their eyes and even more so when they are puppies. This would be more likely if it is a puppy. Even if this is the case it will still be important to get it to stop by training it not to bite your feet. Things to consider Before getting your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet it would help to know exactly why it is doing it. Below, I will mention a few particularly helpful things that you can consider. When it started doing it It would help to consider when it started biting your feet. Whereas, if it started to do it suddenly it would be more likely that there is something else causing it. Some things to consider would be: If you moved home If someone was aggressive towards it If someone moved away How old your German Shepherd is If your German Shepherd is still young then it would make it much more likely that it bites your feet naturally because it is teething. If it is an adult then it would be more likely that it never learned not to do it. How aggressively it bites your feet It would also help to consider how aggressively your German Shepherd bites your feet. If it does it aggressively by showing its teeth, growling and its hair stands up then it would be a more serious problem and you should seek the advice of a vet or a certified dog behaviorist. When and where it bites your feet Considering when and where it bites your feet would likely help a lot in determining why it does it. If it tends to bite your feet when it is time for it to get a walk then it is likely trying to remind you of that. How to get your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet There are a number of things that you can do about your German Shepherd biting your feet that I will mention below. Train it not to The first method that you can try is positive reinforcement training. This is where you reward the behaviors that you want to see from your German Shepherd so that it learns to give them a positive association. To use it to get it to stop biting, you would: Stand up and prevent it from biting your feet by leaving the room if necessary. Wait a few moments and then go back to giving it attention and then prevent it from biting them again if it starts biting Repeat the above until it learns that biting causes it to lose your attention Reward it with a treat when it does particularly well You can watch the video below to see more on how to get your German Shepherd to stop biting your feet with positive reinforcement training along with more tips. Avoid reinforcing the behavior If you tend to give it things it wants in order to get it to stop biting your feet, it could be the case that it has learned to do it more in order to get more rewards. Instead, of rewarding your German Shepherd with things when it starts biting your feet, you can try the positive reinforcement technique mentioned above. Give it other things to chew on If your German Shepherd feels the need to bite things then it would likely help to give it some things that it is ok for it to chew on. Some things that you could give it would be bones, dog chews or toys. Be consistent It is unlikely that you will be able to completely get it to stop biting your feet in one training session. However, you will be able to make larger improvements if you are consistent with it over the course of weeks and months. If you want a happy and obedient German Shepherd, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Knowing how to discipline a German Shepherd for biting and nipping will not only help save your hands and legs from tiny razor-sharp teeth… But teaching your GSD puppy to stop biting can also help you with valuable training skills! How do you discipline a German Shepherd for biting and nipping? Follow these steps to discipline your German Shepherd for biting or nipping you. If they still continue to bite and nip, calmly get up and walk away to let them calm down. You can also get your puppy to stop biting by working on their impulse control. Never use physical punishment, yell at your dog, or cause them to fear you. Instead, use reward-based training to teach your GSD what behavior you want them to do instead. There is also extra information you need to know about disciplining your German Shepherd for biting, such as: Why your puppy bites and nips you How to avoid biting and nipping in the first place And what not to do! You might find it cute that your fuzzy little German Shepherd puppy biting your hand or ankles is cute but… Think again! Imagine your dog all grown up as a nearly 90 to pound athletic powerhouse — full of large, adult-size teeth. Some people incorrectly assume that discipline means punishment. This is your essential guide to learn how to discipline your German Shepherd for biting and nipping. Why is my German Shepherd puppy biting and nipping? Is your sweet puppy biting and nipping you all of a sudden? Read below to find out why. When my adorable German Shepherd puppy came home to me her antics were so much fun! I loved to move the toys to play her favorite games and keep her entertained. But, my hands looked like I had accidentally adopted a baby tiger after our playtimes! There were scratches, puncture wounds, and she could even draw blood! German Shepherd puppies love to play and do so by barking, play growling, and nipping their little brothers and sisters. But now, you and your family are the littermates! Puppies quickly learn that if they bite too hard their littermates stop the play, and the fun ends. This is a valuable life lesson for living with people and families. And even studies show that removing a German Shepherd puppy before they are 8-weeks-old could negatively affect their behavior as adults source. Your new German Shepherd must continue to learn bite inhibition skills when you first bring them home. Is yours? German Shepherds get their razor-sharp baby teeth around 2-weeks-old. The baby teeth have usually all grown in by 6 to 7 weeks of age. So, when your pup comes home, around 8-weeks of age to live with you, all 28 of their baby teeth are ready for nipping and biting. When the adult teeth grow in they can irritate the gums and cause your dog discomfort. This leads to your pup looking for things to chew to help soothe their teething pains. You might find tiny teeth on your carpet or on the ground, but most of the baby teeth are swallowed by your pup. Chewing is a natural way to help the pain go away and is very normal. During these times a frozen Kong filled with a mix of treats helps to cool the inflamed gums and soothe their aches. Keep a few frozen Kongs on hand during the teething stage to offer your German Shepherd puppy to stop them from chewing and biting everything in sight! Your German Shepherd comes from a long line of working dogs that were originally bred to herd sheep. These instincts still remain with your dog to this day. German Shepherds bite and nip your ankles due to this natural herding ability and powerful prey drive. This need to herd is in their genes and, unfortunately, your ankles will have to do when there are no sheep to round up! Absence or Lack of Mental Stimulation A bored, mentally understimulated German Shepherd might act out and need brain games. German Shepherds, even puppies, are highly intelligent dogs with a never-ending supply of stamina. Mental stimulation exhausts their minds and bodies! A pup that lacks proper mental stimulation finds themselves looking for ways to keep their brains busy, which generally means getting into trouble. Too Tired or Lack of Sleep A wild German Shepherd probably needs a long nap to help them become their sweet self again. Did you know that puppies sleep 18 to 20 hours a day source? A German Shepherd puppy who is nipping and biting a lot might just be cranky from lack of sleep, and not willfully acting out. Begin teaching them by using body language, hand signals, voice commands, and showing them the right behaviors you want from them. If they continue aggressively biting you, place them in a short time out. Always use positive training and avoid harsh punishment and corrections. You can practice these techniques by following the steps below for disciplining your German Shepherd for biting. Teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition during play. You can teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition to help deter their nipping! There might come a time when your dog is in fear, pain, or discomfort and they put their mouth on you. If your German Shepherd has learned bite inhibition during their play, then they understand to not bite down hard and avoid injuring your skin. You can play these fun games with your German Shepherd while teaching them to not bite you. Slowly move your hand or leg away from them. Try to relax your hand and body so that your puppy is less interested in holding on with their teeth. Stop all play and interaction for five seconds. Then resume activity, but remember no interaction means no talking, no eye contact, and no petting. Sometimes, those sharp puppy teeth are too painful or break the skin! Show your puppy that biting or nipping ends the play. If your German Shepherd is aggressively biting you, show them that this behavior ends the play. But hard bites that draw blood or break your skin mean no more playtime. How to show your German Shepherd that biting and nipping ends play If your dog hurts you painfully during play, quietly and calmly turn away and stand up. Walk away from your puppy, preferably into another room of the house. Leaving play when your GSD becomes too rough is a way to calm them by withdrawing your attention from their rough behavior. Place them in a short time out for continued biting. Sometimes, a short time-out is required for hard nipping and biting. There will be times when your puppy is acting out so badly you might need to place them in a short time out. Time outs are not meant to be punishment, but a moment of calm. Do NOT let them become worked up or stressed if your separation is too much for them. Give your German Shepherd the right things to chew. Help your German Shepherd stop biting you by giving them something else to chew on. You already know your German Shepherd is biting you, so anticipate the biting behavior and substitute a toy for your hand or ankles. Even better… Keep a few small toys in your pocket to offer them as they race around the house. What toys do German Shepherds like to bite and chew? The key to using this toy is to roll it away from yourself when your puppy is aggressively nipping and biting you. Read this hand-picked content… just for you! Instead of letting your dog chew on whatever they want, find appropriate toys to reduce their boredom and give them a place to put their teeth. Redirect biting ankles and legs by using a food lure. A tasty treat comes in handy when your GSD bites at your legs and ankles. Your legs and feet are also enticing since they move and change directions frequently. When your German Shepherd bites your ankles or feet, calmly take a treat out of your pocket and hold the treat near the side of your leg. This disciplining technique also has the added benefit of teaching your dog the first steps of walking nicely on a leash with you. Train a gentle mouth when taking food from your hand. Teach your dog that only a gentle mouth gets its reward. Training your German Shepherd to take treats or kibble with a gentle mouth is extremely easy. Teaching your GSD puppy what is acceptable pressure with their mouth helps to avoid their sharp teeth from damaging your skin or tearing your clothes accidentally. Training a soft mouth with your German Shepherd When feeding your dog a treat, keep the treat pinches between your fingers slightly. This is so your puppy has to lick or nibble at the treat to get it. Instead, pull your hand back slowly. Now, offer your puppy the treat again. When he switches to just licking or using a soft mouth to nibble the treat out release the treat. Withdraw your hand. Wait a few seconds before offering your hand with the treat again. Practice teaching a gentle mouth at least 3 to 5 times daily in short sessions only about 2 to 3 minutes long. Pay attention to the types of items your German Shepherd prefers to pick up and chew. Is it something hard? Then, replace it with a hard, tough chew toy. Is the item soft? Try replacing the item with a furry toy instead. If you want a rock-solid leave it, then use this guide to train your German Shepherd the leave it command. Enroll them in a training class. A structured training class helps your German Shepherd learn to listen to you. But, think about this… Using an online program helps give you confidence in your skills as a trainer and will help train your little play biter to offer more polite responses in the future. If you find it cute that your little German Shepherd puppy is biting your hand, think again! GSDs grow-up to become strong and muscular dogs. However, once a GSD pup grows , its biting habits are not cute at all. Trust me on this one. Little pups that bite on hands or chew on toys are doing so because they are developing teeth. Recently, we got a new addition to our GSD family, a cute male named Bobby, and surely Bobbly likes to bite everything. We did order a set of tug ropes for him and it is working. Here is the model that we ordered from Chewy. They chew on toys because their gums feel irritated and to make the pain go away, they bite and chew on things. This behavior during the teething period is very normal and not much of a problem. Another reason that GSDs bite a lot is that they did not receive proper training as pups. When people start to appreciate or encourage GS biting or nipping, they are making it develop this into a habit. Your dog will start to bite at visitors and household items. This is a problem that needs to be controlled right away or else someone will end up getting hurt. If you let your GSD bite and nip, you are letting it take over. Biting and nipping is also a play game for GSD pups. They like to bite other pups in the litter, and this is usually harmless. However, when a pup gets hurt unintentionally, it makes a loud sound. This sound is an indication for the pup that it is hurt, and it is time to stop. There are several ways you can train your pup not to bite or nip. If your pup is biting because of teething, it is not a problem. The first step is to tell your dog that biting is not acceptable. You will do this with the help of voice commands , body language, and hand signals. When you stop playing with your pup the moment it bites, it will associate no play with biting. Repeat this practice whenever your GSD bites or nips. It will help your GSD learn that biting and nipping is not appreciated. Put your other finger lightly beneath its chin. Your pup will not be able to bite you and in this uncomfortable situation, it will try to get your fingers out of its mouth. This is an effective technique that will make the puppy feel uncomfortable and it will avoid biting you. Remember, you will have to repeat this technique several times until your pup completely hates taking your hand in its mouth. Pull your hand backward and pinch your pup in the neck. Do not pinch too tightly. This will make the pup associate pinching with No, and it will soon stop biting you. Be Consistent in what You Teach If you are trying to train your dog to behave and stop biting and nipping, make sure you are doing it with consistency and repetition. While training a GSD, you will need to repeat your technique several times until it starts to learn. Your GSD needs to know that biting and nipping is not acceptable and will upset you. You will also need to become the leader of your dog, not a friend of the same level. When the dog accepts you as a leader, it starts to follow the rules you set and the commands you give. Do not let your puppy bite on your hands during the training process. Reward Good Behavior If your dog is doing well and following your orders, do not forget to offer it a treat. Food treats are a kind of reward that you offer your dog only when it learns something. Make sure you have enough treats with you when you are training your pup. This way your GSD will learn that no biting means a yummy treat. You can also sign-up for our newsletter to get an expert opinion on GSD behaviors. Puppies Have you ever reached down to play with a German Shepherd puppy, only to have that adorable little fur-ball pierce your skin with its razor-sharp puppy teeth? When I brought Allie into the family, she was fully in the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — so that first month was tough! Unfortunately, biting is an inevitable phase of puppyhood — it comes with the territory when you decide to be a puppy parent. My goal with this guide is to get you through the biting stage with as few battle scars as possible. Why do German Shepherd Puppies Bite? Up until this time, your puppy was with its littermates, and playtime meant lots of mouthy, nipping fun. Accordingly, this is the only way your GSD knows how to play! A German Shepherd puppy also uses their mouths to explore different things like toys — or hands, ankles, furniture… pretty much anything they can get their mouth around. Your puppy could also be teething, which can increase their mouthy behavior. Just be patient as you work through the German Shepherd puppy biting phase — give your pup time to learn to be gentle when playing or seeking your attention. Nothing is worse than an ankle-biter! I was very lucky not to have this problem with Allie. Why does your German Shepherd puppy target the ankles? Because your GSD is a working dog trying to do its job — herd you around the house like livestock. German Shepherds were originally bred for herding flocks of sheep. Your furry pal may also think heel nipping is just a really fun game. Using a toy as a distraction and keeping your pup active will help nip ankle nipping in the bud! Because she was too busy biting hands! There are lots of reasons why a pup may decide to start biting your hands. For one, good things treats, toys, love, attention come from hands. Also, hands are almost like swinging toys from the perspective of a playful pup — too enticing to pass up! How to Discourage Biting Behavior While the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is a rite of passage, there are some ways you can discourage bad biting behavior without harsh discipline. This is one of the most effective ways to teach your German Shepherd bite inhibition — or how to be gentle with her teeth. Think about when your pup was rolling and playing with their brothers and sisters — if your GSD was too rough, their sibling would let out a yelp. This trick worked great with Allie! Just make sure to be consistent until your pup gets the idea and learns to master the power of her jaws. Puppies will be puppies! Redirect the biting to an appropriate toy. For example, when your fuzzy friend latches onto your ankles, give a little puppy-like yelp, and then whip out a toy and encourage your dog to chew on that instead. Tug-of-war is the perfect game for the puppy biting phase. Socialize your puppy as much as possible. Other dogs are great at teaching your puppy that they playing too rough and biting too hard. Try a deterrent to prevent your dog from chewing or biting. If all else fails, there are lots of products designed to deter your dog from bad biting behavior. How do they work? Well, they taste awful. But if used correctly, they can definitely work. This is still attention — your puppy bites, your puppy gets attention. Otherwise, your pup may see this as a fun new game, kind of like tug-of-war but with your hands or feet as the toy. You want your furball to love playing with you! The goal here is to encourage your German Shepherd to play as much as ever but to play gently. As a pup, Allie thought she should greet everyone by jumping in their face and nipping — kind of like a kiss hello, but with teeth. And as she got bigger, it was harder to control. But trust me, it got old quickly. Be proactive. If I knew someone was coming over, I would put Allie in another room or in her crate. Once our visitor was in the house and the initial excitement had passed, I would let her out. By keeping her from greeting people right when they walked through the door, I could minimize her overzealous behavior. This is a simple command that teaches your dog to stay in her place until you give a release command. This is another way to allow the initial excitement to pass and your German Shepherd to calm down a bit before greeting anyone. Redirect attention to a toy like I talked about earlier. Fold your arms and turn away. Keep turning until your GSD stops jumping, then praise them and use a treat as a reward. What to Do If Biting Becomes Aggressive Although puppy mouthing is normal, there can be cases where biting can signal problems and possibly even aggression. Look for physical differences in your pup. If your puppy is having a moment of aggression, their body may stiffen when snarling, and bites will typically be more painful than during regular play. Also, if your GSD puppy is biting out of fear or frustration, you may need to take action. These types of behavior are not something your pup will just grow out of. While the biting phase will inevitably end, you may find yourself asking the infamous question — when do German Shepherds calm down!? I asked myself and our vet this question more than once! It honestly just depends. Sure, she had her calm moments thanks in part to her training , but she was still very hyper especially in more excitable moments. The type of German Shepherd dog is yet another variable that plays a role in its energy levels. So when do German Shepherds calm down? It really depends on your individual German Shepherd. Final Thoughts Unfortunately, the German Shepherd puppy biting phase is something all GSD puppy owners will go through, but it will pass. Try the tips above to help keep your sanity during this phase. Or any tips to help the rest of us? Please share! Check Price on Amazon 4. Use Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement means giving something pleasant to your German Shepherd when they perform what you want them to do so that they learn to associate the correct behavior with the reward. The more this is repeated, they will remember and do it more often. The reward is a reinforcing motivation. In the above example of redirecting your GSDs biting to a chew toy, once he accepts the toy and starts to chew or play with it, you then offer lots of enthusiastic verbal praise and reward with a treat. Again, timing is important, and this must be done instantly so that your German Shepherd will recognize or associate his behavior with the correct action. You can give other rewards, but these may be more suited to older pups, adolescent dogs, or adults. Alternatives could be giving them a special toy, playing their favorite game, such as fetch, or taking them on their favorite walk. Always use lots of verbal praise in parallel to the reward you choose. You will, no doubt, soon get to learn where your dog prefers to be pet. Go here for more guidance on where to pet your German Shepherd. This is also useful when your German Shepherd starts to put his mouth around your possessions or furniture, ready to have a good gnaw! Using a time-out can effectively discipline a German Shepherd for biting and other undesirable behaviors. A great way to do this is to grab their collar, push their bum down, and make them sit. The idea is that your German Shepherd will quickly learn to associate that the fun stops when his nipping starts! As always, timing is critical, so your pup learns what he has done wrong at the precise moment. For very young puppies, you should only put them in time-out for a few seconds, between 7 and 10, and no longer than 30 seconds. At the end of the time-out, redirect your pup back to play and use lots of verbal praise or offer a training treat for good onward behavior. You must time the click at the exact moment your pet is doing what you want to reinforce. If you quickly reward your dog with a positive experience such as a treat, he will soon learn to associate the noise of the click with great things. The idea is that you condition your German Shepherd so that when he hears the sound of the clicker, he knows he has done something to please you. In the case of puppy biting, we are simply rewarding the puppy for choosing not to bite. You can achieve this by using the distraction technique described above. When the puppy makes the right choice and starts to bite on his chew toy, he hears the click and gets his treat. Look out for other symptoms such as drooling more than usual, bad breath, loss of appetite, or sneezing. If you are consistent and patient with your methods, you will achieve great results. Be firm but fair, which also helps to strengthen the loving bond between you and your dog. It leads to fear, avoidance, hurt feelings, guilt, stress, anxiety, and lack of trust. Owners should use positive reinforcement methods as much as possible. In another year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that using confrontational or aversive methods to teach aggressive dogs did not work. The dogs continued to be aggressive until the training methods were changed. The same study found that punishing techniques and dominance-based training, such as hitting or kicking, growling, or yelling at your dog, can cause aggression, as stated by Meghan E. An even more recent study in companion dogs suggests that using even mild punishments like yelling and leash-jerking can stress dogs out more than dogs taught using reward-based training. This stress causes negative consequences and poorer welfare. Alpha rolling is a controversial and outdated technique that physically puts your dog on his back or side in a submissive position to show that you are dominant or the Alpha. This old-fashioned technique is a form of positive punishment and was often used to house-train pups. Many people will have used this method decades ago without success, but at the time, they believed it was the right thing to do. For a positive punishment to work, the problem is that it has to be administered during or immediately after the act within 2 -3 seconds ; otherwise, the dog will not make the connection. Sometimes puppies naturally get over-excited and overtired. When this happens, instead of using the crate as a punishment, lure him into the crate with a treat offering lots of praise and letting him go down for a nap. If you feel sorry for your German Shepherd after disciplining him, you must never reward him out of guilt. Again, this only confuses your dog. Remember to be firm but fair. While a muzzle can prevent your dog from biting, it is not a solution to the underlying behavior issue. Muzzling your German Shepherd without addressing the root cause of their biting can lead to further behavioral problems and may even make the situation worse. Is it ever too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting? It is never too late to discipline a German Shepherd for biting, but it may take more time and effort to modify their behavior if the biting has become a habit. Start with identifying the root cause and then take the guidance of an expert to set boundaries and train better to eradicate unwanted behavior. Final Thoughts Puppy biting is natural in all dogs. However, you now know the importance of disciplining your German Shepherd as soon as he starts to exhibit biting, nipping, and chewing behavior and how to do it. This is especially important with the German Shepherd breed as they quickly grow into big strong dogs. That could end in disaster for all concerned. No matter what you are teaching your German Shepherd, try to train him when young; 8 weeks old is a great time to start. Make sure you properly socialize him and give him lots of exercise and training will be much easier. Related Posts You May Like:.