rottweiler bulldog mix puppies

rottweiler bulldog mix puppies - For the complete list please see our main page page. Why Use Dog Breeders? There are many reasons why people decide not to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue and instead go to a breeder. Other people may be looking for something more specific, such as a puppy that is bred with the intention of being trained to become a service animal for someone in need. Yet others may want to buy a dog from a breeder as a way of supporting the humane treatment of animals. When it comes to purebred dogs you should always expect to pay more than what you would pay for a mixed breed or rescue dog. A purebred dog will have a better chance of growing up to be healthy and may have fewer behavior problems than a dog who is mixed with unknown breeds. Some questions you might want to ask include: How long have you been breeding German Shepherds? Do you have any health guarantees for your puppies? What genetic tests have you had done on your dogs? What is the average price of your puppies, and what factors affect the price? When meeting with a breeder, be sure to ask lots of questions and inspect the facilities where the puppies are being raised. The puppies should be clean and well-socialized, and the parents should be friendly and healthy. Finding a reputable breeder is an important part of finding a healthy, well-adjusted German Shepherd puppy for your family. Visit Your North Carolina German Shepherd Breeder in Person Before you bring home a German Shepherd puppy, we highly recommend that you visit the breeder in person to see where and how the puppy was raised. This will give you a much better idea of what type of temperament to expect from your dog and whether or not it will be a good fit for your family. Also ask plenty of questions about the breeding process, genetic health tests performed on parents, and overall care provided to dogs involved in the breeding. Visiting your breeder in person will also give you a better idea of their personality which can help you determine if they are the right kind of breeder for your family. This will give you a better idea of the quality of puppies they produce and how well they take care of their dogs. References can be a valuable tool when determining whether or not a breeder is right for you and your family. References are a must when looking for a German Shepherd breeder in North Carolina. This will give you a clear indication of the quality of puppies that breeder provides and how satisfied their past customers have been. Meeting past customers is a valuable way to determine whether or not a breeder is right for you and your family. Make sure to ask your North Carolina German Shepherd Breeder plenty of questions about their policies, breeding practices, and overall care of dogs before purchasing a puppy from them. This is important because the breeder will need to get regular health checks on the parents and puppies. A good relationship with a veterinarian is an important part of being a responsible breeder. You should also ask your North Carolina German Shepherd Breeder for copies of all health certificates and genetic tests that have been performed on the parents. This will give you peace of mind that your puppy is healthy and has a clean bill of health. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Sadly, not all breeders care for their dogs and puppies the way they should be cared for. They will also be able to provide documentation that proves the puppies have been health checked by a veterinarian. Responsible breeders will always take the time to answer any questions you have about their puppies. The American Kennel Club AKC is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to upholding high standards in the breeding and showing of purebred dogs. If your breeder is registered with the AKC, it means they are committed to following these high standards. A good way to determine whether or not a breeder is responsible is by checking to see if they are registered with the AKC. Here are a few things you should do: Set up a crate and put a bed inside of it. Buy a few toys and treats to keep your puppy entertained. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They will need to get checked out and begin their vaccinations. Start training your puppy as soon as possible. It will make life much easier for both of you in the long run. Potty Training your New German Shepherd Puppy One of the most important things to do when you bring home a new puppy is to start potty training them. Here are a few tips: Take your puppy out every hour, on the hour. Reward them with treats and praise when they go potty in the right spot. Simply clean it up and continue to take them out regularly. By potty training your puppy, you will be saving yourself a lot of headaches down the road. Most of the time, a wire dog crate with a foldable metal frame will do just fine. However, keep in mind that every dog is different and some might require a plastic or wood kennel instead. I love animals and love helping people adopt a pet. It all started when attending Missouri State University and I began volunteering at an animal shelter. Messages are NOT coming through to my email account right now. As a Graduated Vet tech, I have seen the misery of a poorly bred dog. Reviews: I can honestly say this is one of the best dog breeders I have ever talked to before. Billie and Mr. Pete are very knowledgeable about their animals and dedicated to providing them with the best care no matter the conditions. After a ton of e-mails, visits, phone calls, etc.I finally found Ravenhill. Before I get into the quality of dogs they have, let me start by saying how much I like Billie and Peter. They are honest, respectful, kind, and willing to help. The first time I called Billie we spoke for over an hour and she gave me so much useful information. She tells you what you need to hear! We visited Ravenhill in early December. We spent a couple hours with Billie, Peter, and their German Shepherds. She had all ages to look at, my favorite being Echo who was 9 weeks at the time. All her dogs are friendly. The quality of our puppy is amazing. This pup is beautiful, smart, and has a very good temperament. We are very happy we selected.Billie is very protective of her dogs. At first we thought it was kinda rude, but if you think about it, she is just a awesome dog breeder! She likes to keep her pups safe. Me and my family are very happy with the pups we got! If you are looking for a great breeder, with great dogs! Most of us read that book back in the 70's and know how this order takes problem dogs and uses very creative ways of correcting temperament issues, either created by breeding or the people that own the dogs. They also breed German Shepherds. I have had several people over the years that HAD dogs from that order, that have bought my dogs, because our philosophy was so similar. People that breed dogs should always try to put the highest quality on the ground with their breeding, not JUST because they have papers, but because they come from well bred dogs. Honor the breed, breed true to the standard, in both confirmation, temperament and health. Don't fall into the trap of "bigger is better" or "German Shepherds are always guard dogs". These are companion dogs, with herding and protective instincts, and should always be bred for balance, both in disposition and confirmation. Titled dogs have proven their ability to be trained to the highest level, they must pass a physical screening hips and elbows before they are trained, and trained before they are bred in the kennels of working and working showline dogs with the European breeders. Some can be "reserved", some lines are more friendly, both are acceptable. Always meet the parents, and siblings and ask lots of questions about your breeders experience, expertise and time they have put into the breed. So, I pass that quality on to my buyers, who want a well bred companion dog that can be trained, or carry the instincts of devotion to people. I had both import and American lines when I started, but focus on dogs from titled import show and working lines. Pups coming from titled dogs means that the dogs behind my dogs are bred by real GSD breeders, hips and elbows are checked before they are titled, and the imports all have their 1st title before they are ever bred. These dogs are sound, intelligent and are ideal companion dogs as well as personal protection and working dogs. I am very selective about the lines I have and the temperament associated with those lines. Dogs are either OFA'd through American testing or import testing, microchipped, at least 4 wormings and shots at appropriate ages. I became involved with the breed while in Vet Tech school in .I became involved with the Jack Russell terriers in .My dogs hailed from England, the country of origin. Most of what I had at the time were the smooth working lines but later became involved in showing in UKC. Puppies from my lines are clean breeding no inbreeding but I do line breed and genetically cleared breeding pairs out of English country of origin and Australia, often referred to as country of development lines. Actually both countries were developing dogs to suit their region and vermin problem, so there are several types, and in any given litter it is good to have all 3 coats represented. Shows more variation in the gene pool. They are born in the house and only let out side after 1st shots. They are family pets, Earthdogs, Barnhunt dogs, stable dogs, agility dogs.All coats should retain a "double coat". Ideally the ears tip, but occasionally they will be small enough and light enough that an ear will prick. This is fine for pets, not acceptable in the show ring however or as Earthdogs as dirt can enter the ear canal. Tails are NOT cut short like they were many years ago but left natural or "tipped" when the dew claws are removed to ensure that they are not too long and can be damaged if the dogs are used as "Earthdogs" and go underground. Pups can be held with a non-refundable deposit transferable to another litter with approved purchase. ALL the German Shepherds are bred to be family, personal companion and protection dogs. When placing a dog, I try to match temperament 1st, sex then color. My 4 Import showline males have good "drive" as well as great functional conformation for movement and athletic ability and breeding them to my working line females, makes the pups more manageable and easy to train, and not so hyper that they are harder to handle by older adults and children alike. Once brought into the family group, outsiders will be viewed with caution until they are cued otherwise. Ironically, her dam and granddam and sire all showed in the American venue quite successfully, one grandmother showed at Westminster several years back. But at home.Easy to handle, very focused, easy to train, all of my dogs exhibit trusting loyal temperaments, adaptable to a caring, loving, home. All want to please, but are NOT unmanageable!!! Good temperament is critical for training and socialization. A shy or overly aggressive dog is never a good fit for a family and is harder to train. They have to WANT to please you and will try to earn your praise. Fear biters are a liability and overly aggressive dogs have their own agenda. And although these dogs have a good strong bite and a good prey drive for training, they are not police or military hard. Review I was appreciative of getting, thank you. My wife wanted a German Shepherd for many many years. We began looking and came upon Ravenhill Russells and German Shepherds. .Without a shadow of a doubt we felt like this was the place to get our puppy. When we went to visit the potential mother, all dogs were well taken care of and very healthy. Billie was patient with our questions and guided us along the way. Our puppy is now almost 5 months old and we couldn't be happier. We have her in training and our instructor says she is one of the best puppies he has seen. He also can't get over how beautiful and well bred she is. We are always stopped on the street by people asking where we got her and without hesitation we recommend Ravenhill Kennel. Thank you Billie for a beautiful, loving and family friendly dog. This is what it's all about. Hi Billie, Thank you for taking the time and meeting with me and Woody Tuesday. We have named our little girl Sassafrass Sadie Belle Belle as a nod to her mother. We are calling her Sadie. Sweet, loving and playful and none of the skittishness behavior in my last Russell. Our Newfie is scared to death of her! He probably remembers Maggie and how she terrorized him. Once again, thank you! Deena M. We encourage all prospective puppy owners to do their research and be prepared with questions to ask the breeder. I don't sell show dogs. But people deserve to have a quality pet as well. So my dogs are breed from some of the best and proven foundation lines proven sound and of quality generation after generation. .People often say, I'm not looking for a show dog, I get that. But I will NOT breed anything less than my standard and respect the standard of the breed. All dogs at some point had a function. NOT just to not shed,even lap dogs kept royalty safe tucked in their sleeves and hands warm.I am sure they have other attributes. Rendell Beatty. We are a small family operated kennel located in the Northern Piedmont area of North Carolina. I only have dogs with excellent temperaments, good minds, strong character and nerves, nice structure and willing to please attitudes. Puppies will all have plenty of drive for training and working, but not over the top prey-monster types. Some will have more drive than others and will be very suited to sport, police K9, and other working endeavors. While other puppies will be a bit more laid back and fit in well with families as companion dogs. Over these years Janette has evaluated many hundreds of puppies and has become very adept at pegging what an individual puppy will be like as an adult. Robert Oglesby and Janette Oglesby have been involved with German Shepherd Dogs, puppy care, and training for many years. In her previous life Janette was a veterinary practice manager, veterinary technician, and kennel manager. During the past 15 years she has been evaluating, working, training, titling, and breeding these fabulous dogs. Robert, now retired, has been in veterinary practice for over 32 years and maintains the successful website www. He is responsible for the veterinary care of the dogs. A Little About the German Shepherds Our male and females are often purchased titled or started prospects from Europe after a thorough evaluation. We also use quality outside males for genetic and color diversity. More recently we are breeding, raising, training, then titling our own dogs. Occasionally some of these older puppies or young green dogs are available. Our goal is to be able to offer your family the opportunity to welcome into your home your new best friend and family protector. Coldwater German Shepherds.

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rottweiler bulldog mix puppies - Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 49, times. Pugs may be little, but what they lack in size, they make up for in personality. They are fun loving, loyal, and affectionate dogs that love to make their owners smile. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Crate training will keep your pug protected from household hazards, help with house training, and give him a place to retreat when he's overly excited. An ideal crate size is 24 inches long x 18 inches wide x 21 inches high 61 cm x 46 cm x 53cm. Place a blanket on top of the crate so it feels like a cozy den to your pug. Leave the crate door open at all times during this part of crate training. This will allow your pug to explore the crate at his leisure, without fear of you closing the door behind him. For crate training to be effective, your pug must learn to be comfortable in the crate when its door is closed. Gradually, have your pug wait up to 10 minutes after a meal before you open the door. You may need to leave your pug crated for hours at a time during the day, and maybe overnight. Sit with him briefly, leave the room for few minutes, then return to the crate. Work up to leaving the room for 30 minutes. Reward him with a treat each time he responds to it correctly. Practice leaving the house when you crate him. Do not get your pug worked up when you leave home or return; this could build up a lot of anxiety and anticipation in your pug. A common concern with crate training is whether to respond to whining, especially with overnight crating. Just be prepared for the whining to get worse before it gets better. Pugs aim to please, but can get sidetracked by a short attention span. When your pug stays focused on your finger on your nose, immediately give him a treat. Lengthen the time he watches your finger before you reward him. When your pug learns the basic commands, he will have the proper foundation to behave well and learn even more commands. Basic commands include sit, stay, come, and heel. If his short attention span is making training difficult, consider enrolling him in a local dog obedience class. Use plenty of positive reinforcement verbal praise, treats, extra petting each time your pug correctly follows a command. The more excited and positive you are, the more your pug will try to please you and behave properly. Pugs love to chew. Teaching your pug to 'leave it' will help keep him from chewing something inappropriate e. If you cannot stay with your pug all day and take him outside frequently, gate off an area in your home for him to stay during the day. Place some pee pads in the corner of this space where he can eliminate. When your pug urinates, the urine would go through the grass into the underlying tray. Place his water bowl and bed in the gated area. Without knowing when he should eliminate, your pug may have accidents in your home more often. A consistent bathroom routine is very important for puppies, since they cannot hold their bladders for very long. If you have a pug puppy, take him out first thing in the morning, 15 to 20 minutes after eating, after naps, and before bedtime. As he gets a little older and has better bladder control, you can start leaving his water in the crate overnight. The indoor gated area lessens the need for frequent outings during the day. However, it may take longer to house train your pug if he gets used to eliminating on pee pads or in the litter box. Your pug should learn to eliminate in the same area each time you take him outside. If you have a backyard, take him out on a 6-foot 2-meter leash, stand in one area of your yard, and let him pick a specific spot within a 6-foot radius of the leash. Examples of this body language are sniffing around, looking for a private place, going to the door, and whining. Give him a treat and verbal praise when he eliminates so he makes a positive association with eliminating outside. When you reward him for eliminating, he will also be learning how to respond to your command. It can take time—up to 20 minutes—for your pug to relax enough to eliminate outside. If you become impatient, you may experience what many other dog owners have experienced: elimination as soon as the dog gets back inside. Twenty minutes can feel like an eternity, so bring something with you e. If you pug has an accident and he probably will clean it up promptly with an enzymatic cleaner that will erase the urine smell. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source If your pug smells the urine, he will likely go back to that spot to eliminate. Do not punish your pug, whether you catch him in the act or not. Doing so will make him fear you, rather than teach him not to have another accident. Your adult pug may have had some previous training, but it may not have been completed or consistently reinforced. Ask the rescue group or animal shelter from where you adopted your pug about what types of additional training he will need. Be patient with your adult pug during the training process. If your adult pug was mistreated by his previous owner, he may be extra sensitive to yelling or harsh punishment. If you have other household members, have them all train your adult pug. How To Discipline a Pug The following are some examples of constructive methods to discipline a pug: 1. Create clear rules for the pug to follow Rules, limitations, and boundaries are the first things you think about when thinking of how to discipline a pug. Draw up a list of pet-related house rules and post it someplace everyone in your family can see it to avoid giving your pug inconsistent messages. Examples of rules include: Kitchen cabinets will not be jumped on. Outside of the potty area, there is no going potty. It is not a good idea to beg for food. There will be no leaping from the tops of television stands. The furniture will not be scratched in any way. There will be no skipping of meals. No food shall be eaten on the floor. Because pugs are intelligent and demanding, this will always be perceived as an invitation to take command. You may stamp your authority and address undesirable habits by combining your emotions and actions with stated directives. Your pug has to realize that you are serious about obedience and will not beg for it. Develop a stop sign or word Using and developing a clear stop word or stop sign can make things easier when thinking of how to discipline a pug. Make sure that your pug understands and associates your stop word or sign with the cessation of their undesirable activities. Changing mindsets or action plans may help in the long term, but consistency and focus yield speedier results. Positive conduct should be acknowledged frequently in order to encourage your pug to seek out solid ties in the future. Use positive reinforcement regularly Striking or yelling at your pug gives off negative vibes and fosters bad behavior. Positive reinforcement, such as giving your pug an enjoyable activity to complete, should be used instead of correcting bad behavior. This change will allow you to rectify undesirable behavior while also fostering new, more desirable conduct. Educating your pug as quickly as possible might help it make the link, but the rule may take a few repetitions to sink in. Put your pug on a time-out If your pug is being hyperactive, harassing another pet, or disobeying your commands, give it a 60 secs time-out. It may be essential to repeat the approach several times until your pug recognizes its turn has arrived as a result of certain behavior. Ascertain that your pug knows how to respond to different voice tones and what each tone signifies. Therefore, if you want your pug to stop doing something, use a firm voice and a stop word. This is particularly useful for pugs that are aggressive toward humans and may bite or grip your arm or leg. Reward all submissive behavior Keep in mind that encouraging submissive behavior will benefit both you and your pug. Teaching your pug to respect you as the alpha should be a pleasurable experience. Grooming and praising your pug is one way to show him that you care. Never punish your pug by plunging its mouth into his or her own excrement or urine. Do not scold or hit your pug as a form of punishment. Never leave your pug alone in the house for too long as a punishment. Euthanizing your pug for whatever reason is never a good idea. Post navigation. How to Discipline a Pug Overview It would be nice if our Pug puppies and dogs would automatically listen well at all times, however this certainly is not usually the case. While there are some things that a dog can instinctively know, many things do need to be taught. And part of teaching a puppy or older dog is the chosen method that is used for discipline. Whether your Pug is biting, nipping, destructively chewing, barking, excessively licking you or having bathroom accidents… the way that you correct your Pug will play a huge role in how well you can teach him right from wrong. In this section we are going to cover: Commonly used methods of disciplining a dog and exactly why these techniques do not work The 3 things that a Pug needs to truly learn something The most effective way to discipline your Pug for fast success Discipline Methods that do NOT Work and Why There are many ways to discipline a dog; however the problem is that many of the commonly used methods rarely work. If you use any of these techniques, things can backfire. In addition, new issues can arise. Timothy Photo courtesy of Diane Darch Never do physical intervention, slapping the Pug's bum or tapping the nose- Some owners will slap a puppy's rear end or thump a dog's nose as a way to 'spank' a dog and let them know that they did something wrong. Whether you use your hand, a newspaper or another item that you deem 'safe' this is a form of physical abuse since there is no clear line of what hurts and what does not. Having the intention of hurting a dog is a cruelty to animals. And if your intention is to simply startle the dog into listening, this will not solve that the original issue that you are trying to correct. In addition, dogs that are hit in any fashion may have eventually have increased aggression. Never yell - When things seem out of control, it's easy to lose your cool. Yelling at a Pug will often scare him and this may appear to work at first. After all, a dog that is screamed at will stop what he is doing…however he will have no idea why you are yelling or what you are saying. Being shouted at will increase his anxiety and stress level, which decreases his ability to focus and learn. Never give timeouts in severe isolation - There are two types of isolation discipline methods: physical and social. Physical isolation involves placing the Pug into a small area such as a crate that is away from other family members both human and animals. This does not work, because when a dog is punished in this way, he will often become scared and anxious. He will have no clue as to why he has been 'locked away'. A Pug will be under duress during this time and will only be focused on getting free, not on learning what was expected of him. Social isolation is a different type of discipline and we will go into that ahead. Never take away a toy - Dogs have very few possessions in comparison to us humans. They have their beds, their food and water bowls and their toys. Beds are for comfort, food and water of course is for survival and toys are a dog's most prized possessions as they can become very attached to them. Can you make a Pug listen by taking away a favorite toy? This does not work because one of two things will happen: 1 If the Pug cares about what just happened, it moves the dog into a mindset of wanting to have his toy back, when this time could be better spent actually teaching the Pug what he did wrong and what he should be doing instead or 2 Some Pugs will take this in stride because there are other toys to play with and if you take away all of his toys, he may very well think you are just playing some sort of odd game. Again, there are better ways to discipline your Pug that actually work well. Never rub a Pug's nose in his feces or urine - Far too many people think that this works when a dog has a bathroom accident and this may be due to copying what they saw their parents or grandparents doing in the past. Before the wonderful invention of computers and the transition of having them everywhere yeah, there was a time like that! Sure, some dog owners would purchase training books, however the majority of them just did what they saw others do due to a lack of knowledge regarding proper training methods. This is an old-fashioned punishment that can scare the heck out of a dog or confused him and it does not work. While it may make perfect sense to you that your Pug should only pee or poo in a designated outdoor area, your puppy or dog will not know the difference between that spot of grass and the carpeting in your living room unless he is clearly taught. And while it may seem logical to you that your Pug should not chew on the leg of the kitchen table, he has no idea why that is wrong, but chewing on a toy is okay, unless it is clearly taught to him. The reason why all of the above listed punishments do not work, is because while they may startle a dog, or scare him or even make him know that he misbehaved, they do not show him what he should do instead. Bubloo, 9 months old Photo courtesy of The Krish's Family In addition, for a Pug to be well-behaved, he needs to respect his leader, which will cause him to want to listen. If a dog is punished in a way that causes fear, he will be afraid of his leader which is not the same as respecting him. If a Pug has full run of a house and access to everything in it, he will have so many choices that he's bound to do things wrong. With 4, 5 or 6 rooms to possibly pee or poo in, if he has to go, surely he will not automatically wait until he is taken out or go right over to pee pads. If he has access to laundry piles thrown on the floor, how will he know that those are not 'toys' left out for him? This should be placed in well-lit room that is commonly used by the family such as the kitchen or living room. In cases of a Pug moving the pad onto his bed some do this as if it is a blanket or chewing it up, it can help to 1 duct tape the pad securely in place works with hardwood or linoleum floors or 2 forgo the pad and simply place the gates in the kitchen where the floor is easy to clean or on top of an appropriately sized cut-out piece of linoleum this can be purchased at a home supply store. Keep in mind that housebreaking is a temporary phase and by the age of 9 months or so, a puppy can hold his needs for 8 hours or so while you are at work. If not, how else is he to learn right from wrong? However, this should be done with the owner as his guide and along with discipline methods as shown ahead. An email from an owner comes to mind that let us know that his young Pug puppy that was in his teething phase, kept chewing his shoes. He had a collection of running shoes that he liked to place in a row near the front door for easy access when he'd leave the house. Any time that he turned his back on his Pug, the puppy would scamper over to the shoes and start chewing on them. The question was: how to discipline the puppy to stop doing that. While he could have put a lot of effort into teaching the lesson between those shoes and toys and it would have eventually worked… it was a lot easier to simply move the shoes to a shelf or onto a stand-up shoe rack where they were no longer accessible. The lesson here is to choose your battles wisely, especially with a teething puppy. Not only should the house be puppy-proofed, all objects that can be tucked away, should be. Leaving a Pug with tons of chewing options aside from toys is the canine equivalent of letting a child loose in a candy store. Non-movable objects such as furniture legs, that dogs for some reason love chewing on, can be sprayed with a safe deterrent spray; apple bitter works well for this. Velvet, 10 months old Photo courtesy of Abby 2 Stop. You do want a method to stop your Pug from doing an action that is wrong. There are 2 ways to do this. In some cases, an effective discipline method is to clap loudly. This works well for house training and chewing issues. Clapping is usually enough to startle a Pug momentarily, which is all that you need as long as you are ready for the next discipline step. You can add a firm 'No! For nipping and other such behavior , if a clap does not work, simply standing up from a sitting position may be enough to stop a Pug, since you are limiting his ability to reach you. If the puppy is really out of control, this would be the time to instill the social isolation discipline that we touched on above. This involves placing him in his playpen for a short while. In either case of standing or putting him in his pen, part of this will involve ignoring him. You may wonder how in the world ignoring a dog will teach him anything. To a dog, his humans and any other animals in the house are his 'pack' and being part of the pack is everything… It is his safety, his security and his family. When a dog is ignored, he will start to worry that he is being banned from his pack and this will cause him to rethink his behavior. You do not need to do this for very long… some Pugs notice right away and others take much longer to figure out that they are not being spoken to, etc…. A dog will never learn what he is supposed to do, unless it is shown to him. While words such as 'No' can cause a Pug to pause, the most important part of discipline is to clearly show your Pug what you expect. Just as important, a dog needs to understand why he should do it. Give a Pug motivation and a reason to follow the rules, and you'll find success every time. It's really that easy: Show what to do and why to do it. Once he has noticed that he is being 'temporarily banned from the pack' as described earlier, and you let 5 minutes go by, allow him access to you again. If he nips again right away, he is ignored again and this time for the maximum of 10 minutes. If he behaves well, after just one minute of good behavior reward him with praise and a small treat if he needs extra motivation. Say a word that he can learn to associate the action with such as "Bathroom"… and as he is peeing, give praise that includes the affirmation of what he is doing by saying "Good, bathroom. Good boy, you're going to the bathroom! Immediately offer him a tempting chew toy. As soon as he mouths it, praise him in a happy voice as if he is doing the most wonderful thing in the world. While it may seem a bit silly to act so happy that a dog is playing with a toy, when you are teaching right from wrong, Pugs learn best if an appropriate action is met with tons of enthusiasm and delight. Once the dog has had a few weeks to learn what is expected, you can tone things down and give 'normal' positive reinforcement with a simple 'Good boy' or 'Good girl'. Do make a note to apply apple bitter spray or other safe deterrent on any non-movable item that seems to be too tempting to your Pug for him to leave alone. You have a new member of your family and you choose the right method of disciplining and training your Pug. Using inhumane methods can also lead to hurt feelings, lack of trust, and anxiety. However, there have been several studies that have shown that dogs learn faster using positive reinforcement training. Discover the Pug training secrets that dog trainers everywhere use for all dogs, regardless of breed. What Is Positive Reinforcement Training? Pugs respond best to positive reinforcement training. You do so by using force-free, reward-based or clicker training that lets your Pug know when they have done something correctly. This method of canine training has been widely used on the training of police dogs, guide dogs, sniffer dogs and more because it works for discipline and developing a well-behaved dog. Just like people like to be rewarded when they do something correctly, so do dogs. I did, and it took me a while to fully understand what positive reinforcement really meant, or how to get started with it. Just make sure that you use small amounts as Pugs are prone to obesity. Give Them Physical Attention — A belly rub or hug goes a long way with this breed. Well, dogs are no different. There have been several studies that have shown that reward-based training can result in good outcomes. You can correct erroneous behavior by simply using treats or praise. Whereas using punishment such as leash jerking, hitting, scolding, slapping, or using a shock collar can have more negative effects. This form of discipline is associated with feelings of avoidance and negativity causing your pooch to become anxious or scared of you. Successful punishment or redirection is necessary to stop unpleasant and undesirable behavior. Punishment should only take place while the behavior is occurring, so your pet learns which behavior is NOT wanted. With consistent disciplinary methods, your pet will learn to cease the unwanted behavior or avoid the situation. That being said, you should avoid using physical or direct interactive punishment as it may cause your pet to become fearful of you or people in general. A dog may also become defensive when being punished, which may lead to aggressive behaviors. Punishment vs. Discipline When done correctly, punishment can be humane. Disciplinary methods that are considered to be positive and do not have any negative effects on dogs are: Taking their toys away Time-outs Ignoring or avoiding contact with your dog when they misbehave Using your voice to redirect and stop unwanted behavior, instead of using physical punishment for your dog. All the methods mentioned above are both humane and highly effective to help you turn your terror dog into a well-behaved member of your family. Here are some other methods you should avoid when training your pooch. Your first instinct is to yell. Yes, they will stop doing whatever it is they are doing, however, they will have no idea why you yelled at them. It will only increase their stress level and can cause anxiety. When you use a newspaper, stick, or your hand to discipline your four-legged friend, it is considered a form of physical abuse. Pugs are small dogs and while you may think you lightly tapped them, you can do some serious physical damage to them. Plus using this form of behavioral training may end up backfiring and cause your dog to become aggressive. Avoid The Alpha Dog Approach Some people prefer to take the alpha dog approach to show their dog that they are the boss. These methods will not work and will only cause your Pug to become scared of you and may lead to anxiety. This brachycephalic dog breed has trouble breathing, to begin with, and using an apparatus like that can just lead to more health issues. Misbehaving On A Walk Pugs can be stubborn, especially, if they have not been properly leash trained. Once they start listening and doing what you want them to do, make sure you reward them and let them know you approve. When you find your puppy chewing on your slippers or socks because they are fuzzy and they smell just like you do. Your first instinct might be to yell, but instead, remove the slipper from her mouth and redirect her toward a toy. Always encourage and praise her once she moves on to the toy you just gave her. Going Potty Indoors This is a very common problem among new dog owners, especially, when you just bring your puppy home. You will only scare them and they will just cower away from you when you approach them. Instead, interrupt what they are doing and take them outside. When she does her business outside, praise them and let them know they did a great job! You can even give her a small treat to show her that you approve of what she just did. Get up immediately and put them in their playpen and avoid speaking or making eye contact with them. If she does it again, repeat the process, but this time increase the time out to 10 minutes. Whenever you see your Pug on the couch or trying to get on the couch, gently pick her up and take her to her bed. Tell her to stay and give her a toy or a treat. Keep repeating the process over and over until she learns that she is not allowed on the couch and to use her canine bed instead. You should start disciplining your puppy as soon as you bring them home. Puppies tend to learn quickly and the sooner you can teach them which behavior is unacceptable, the happier you both will be. Nope, it just takes patience and consistency as this breed is a little more stubborn than other breeds. However, they are a member of your family and they need to learn and follow the rules. The time you spend training her properly, will not only improve their overall behavior but will strengthen the bond you share. Just remember to be patient and give your dog time to learn what you expect of them. It takes time to properly discipline a dog and Pugs can be stubborn! Elgier, Alba E. By: David Codr Published Date: October 10, For this Los Angeles dog training session we were called in to train a dog 5 year-old Pug Graceee to behave at the door, stop getting excited and put an end to her nuisance barking. When I asked the guardians what Rules Graceee had, they exchanged bewildered looks at one another before saying there were none. While this was going on, Graceee excitedly ran around the room looking for anyone who would pet her. As a dog behavior expert, I learned a long time ago that anything your dog is doing when you pet it is what you are rewarding or enhancing. This includes excitement, aggression, anxiety, etc. I made sure to point out that by petting Graceee when she was excited was actually rewarding her for being an excited dog. I showed the guardians a number of dog behavior tricks and tips to help them reward her for displaying desired behaviors instead of those they wanted to stop. I also went over new ways to communicate and disagree with the dog. When I made the sound I use to disagree, Graceee was taken aback and it had a profound effect on her behavior in a positive way. You can watch this door behavior training video below. By increasing the distance and training the dog to behave at the door in small individual steps, I was able to get Graceee to behave, not get over excited which allowed her to calm down faster. Another activity that got the dog excited, was going for a walk. Because Pugs have large heads and small necks, I fitted Graceee up with a Martingale collar, then went over the 5 rules for a structured walk I like to use with a Martingale. Using the Martingale and helping Graceee learn she had to be calm before we started our walk made all the difference. Instead of an excited dog running all over, her guardians had the dog walking next to them in a nice heel. By the end of the session, Graceee was following he new rules and structure we introduced the session. Her guardians were reading her body language and communicating with her in a way that she understood, respected and responded to. We wrapped up the session by shooting a roadmap to success video outlining all the positive dog training tips I shared with her guardians during this LA dog training session. Share this:. If you put the hard work in with them early on, the way you train and raise them will lead to positive behavior for the remainder of their lives. Pugs can be very stubborn and have a character that can naturally lead them into trouble! Good training and discipline should never be confused with physical punishment and loud shouting. No dog reacts well to aggressive behavior, and in fact can mirror back anger with barking and possibly even biting. You can punish a Pug, but not in the way you think. Instead you use discipline without anything that will hurt or scare them. And this is exactly what I will explain today, with a guide that shows you how to discipline a Pug, leading to a well behaved and happy dog. There is no physical punishment involved, and it never should be with dogs. How do you discipline a Pug puppy without punishment? As you know, Pugs are stubborn little characters meaning it can be a struggle to get them to behave well at the right moments. But, with patience, perseverance, and a consistent approach to discipline it is possible to reduce unwanted behavior, You will need to: Only ever discipline your Pug at the point the problem occurred to help them relate the two actions. Always use positive reinforcement after they have done something positive. Be consistent with the way you discipline your Pug including your body language and a firm tone of voice. Never resort to shouting and hitting as this will get the opposite response to the one you want. Pug discipline tips Use the following tips with your Pug and you should never need to physically punish them. Not that you should ever hit a dog anyway! You might come home to find paperwork shredded, furniture torn, and shoes chewed up. Pugs do have good memories, but no dog will be able to reconcile you punishing them for something that they did earlier that day. Instead you need to act in the moment and discipline your Pug at the time with firm words and body language which are described in tip 2. Use firm body language and tone of voice Dogs will pick up on the most subtle of changes in your body language and voice. This is an effective way of disciplining a Pug as they will hear the change in your voice and see the change in your face. Disciplining your Pug in this way will help to cement your position in the household as the alpha dog and pack leader. If you end up shouting and hitting all you are doing is becoming a threat to the dog, making them more anxious. This can only exacerbate the behavioral problems you wanted to eliminate. Handy Hint: Your dog should respect you as the leader in the house. Here are the signs you can look for to make sure your dog considers you the alpha. Then on Saturday your Pug jumps up to stranger and puts his dirty paws all over their trousers… and you tell them off. Your Pug is getting mixed messages. This mixed approach to training is one of the biggest mistakes you can make with your Pug. When our dog was a puppy I would play fight with him in our lounge, encouraging him to nip at my hands. I should never have started this game though… When my puppy got to 5 months old, the teeth were sharper and his jaw a lot stronger. But he still wanted to play the same game, but it was now a problem as you can imagine. You need to be very consistent with any Pug discipline. If you stick to the same approach each time, results will come a lot quicker. Use positive reinforcement After you have disciplined your Pug and are heading towards the behavior you desire, always reward them with positive reinforcement when they do well. Dogs can be trained to respond to a treat or the promise of a treat. Dogs also respond well to just words of encouragement and praise each time they get something right. Take breaks and give them a timeout You can also teach your Pug good behavior by using verbal hints and time outs. After doing this a few times, you can teach your Pug that if they bite you or do something naught during play, then the fun stops. Time outs are brilliant ways to punish Pugs; 5 minutes probably feels like 5 hours! Try using a squirt bottle or water pistol Some Pug owners use a water pistol to discourage bad behavior. Use distraction methods As a last resort, you can use distraction to stop a Pug doing something bad. For example, my dog loves sticks. I used it last week when we were at our local park and my dog went to steal a sandwich from a young couple having a picnic. Never shout at your Pug. Never hit or hurt your Pug. Never drag or jerk your Pug on their leash. Never chase after your Pug. Never use electric shock collars with your Pug legal in the US still. Conclusion Many Pug owners will know how hard this breed can be to train. But if you stick with at it, it will be worth in the long run and save you a lot of problems in the future. That can make it harder to get them to rectify any bad behavior, instead making them scared when shouting and hitting is used. Instead use timely discipline and positive reinforcement. This is the best way to discipline a Pug puppy and will result in a very happy dog… and owner! You might also like…. Ways To Discipline a Pug The following are some common ways to discipline a pug the right way: 1. Create house rules and stick to it One of the best ways to discipline a pug is to never allow any unwanted behaviors around you and your pug. The easiest way to do this is to make a set of house rules that your pug should follow. Without house rules, you will have trouble living with pets, especially pugs who have dominance issues. Here are some things to keep in mind: Always keep your dog on a leash when in public. Clean up after your dog. Do not leave your dog alone in the house. Do not let your dog roam free. Train your dog in obedience. This will encourage him to keep up his end of the bargain and continue doing things right. Remember to make your corrections when your pug is doing what you dislike and not after his done. Choose a word of praise to associate with good behavior Choose a word of praise to associate with good behavior, also make sure your pug gets used to the word. This is especially important if your dog has been using naughty words and bad manners because you want to allow her to associate positive things with those words and behaviors. Ignore bad behavior Sometimes you will get better results if you ignore bad behavior in your pug. It is important not to become angry with your dog because this only encourages him or her to repeat the same behavior again. Instead, ignore their bad behaviors and try again later on when things have calmed down a bit more after having been corrected the first time around which should happen eventually. Yelling is not effective when trying to teach an animal a lesson—they can sense when someone is upset and scared. So they will react accordingly by being more aggressive or stubborn than normal. Hitting dogs sends mixed signals about how serious things are; hitting sends mixed signals about what kind of behavior brings on physical punishment. Always use positive reinforcement One of the most important things you can do for your dog is to provide positive reinforcement training. This means rewarding your dog when he or she does what you want them to do. This can be done in a number of ways, but the most important thing is to make sure that the rewards are appropriate for your dog and that they are given frequently. One of the best ways to provide positive reinforcement for your dog is to use treats. This can be as simple as giving your dog a biscuit after he or she has done something you want them to do. Or as complex as setting up a special game where your dog gets a treat for getting a certain result. Give your pug a 60 seconds time-out Give your pug a second time-out if it is acting hyperactively, bothering another pet, or violating your commands. It could be necessary to repeat the strategy multiple times before your pug understands that its turn has come as a result of particular conduct. Give your pug a timeout while they are still acting inappropriately rather than after they have finished doing inappropriately. Be consistent when disciplining your dog When disciplining your dog, be consistent with your rules and punishments. This will help your dog learn that behavior is not always tolerated. You should also make sure your punishment is appropriate for the offense. For example, if your dog is barking, it may be best to use a verbal reprimand instead of a physical punishment such as a swat. Be consistent with your training. Make sure you are consistent with your training. Be consistent with your methods, rewards, and punishments. Learn more about the most important pug training tips. Never make your pug suffer by forcing its mouth into its own feces or urine. Avoid yelling at your pug as a form of discipline. A time-out for your pug should not last longer than 60 seconds. Avoid yelling at or punishing your pug physically. The tail of your pug should never be pulled. Never punish your pug by leaving him home alone for an extended period of time. No of the circumstances, euthanizing your pug is never a wise idea. Related Questions How can I discipline my Pug without being too harsh? Avoid using physical punishments and instead use positive reinforcement training techniques. For example, rewarding good behavior with treats or toys can be an effective way to encourage your Pug to repeat this behavior. Learn more about socializing your pug. What are some behaviors that I should not tolerate in my Pug? You should also discourage destructive behavior, such as chewing on furniture or shoes. Learn more about pug behavior problems. Is it okay to use a shock collar to discipline my Pug? No, using a shock collar or any other type of aversive training method is not recommended as it can harm your Pug physically and emotionally. Positive reinforcement is a safer and more effective way to train and discipline your Pug. Learn more about the common citronella dog collar side effects. Should I discipline my Pug for accidents or mistakes? Accidents and mistakes happen, especially with younger Pugs who are still learning. Instead of punishing your Pug, focus on preventing accidents by ensuring they have easy access to a designated potty area and are let out regularly. When accidents do happen, use positive reinforcement to encourage your Pug to go in the designated potty area instead. How can I stop my Pug from barking excessively? Excessive barking can be a problem with Pugs , but punishment is not the best method of dealing with it. Instead, try to identify the cause of the barking and address it. For example, if your Pug barks at strangers, you could socialize them to help them feel more at ease around people. Can I discipline my Pug after the fact for something they did wrong earlier? Instead, focus on preventing unwanted behavior in the future by using positive reinforcement to encourage better behavior and redirecting them when necessary. Always praise them when they do something good or ignore their misbehavior altogether so that they know what behavior will bring rewards or avoid punishment. I love researching, writing, and teaching other pet owners how to care for their pets. Learn all about behavior modification and get great results in your Pug training. Plus, you and your Pug will love it. We do this by giving him something or taking something away. Punishments are anything that decreases behavior. Positive means to add or give something. Negative means to subtract or take something away. People have been using behavior modification for dogs since domestication started. Like most things in life, people can use it for good or harm. The theory is that if this occurs enough times, the dog will stop doing it in the future. Here are some examples: Spanking your dog after he pees on the floor. Tapping his nose when your puppy nips at you. Yelling at your dog to get off the furniture. Using a citronella collar to spray citronella when your dog barks. Holding your dog down in a dominant position until he calms down. Does Positive Punishment Work? A tap on the nose probably does not hurt your Pug. But it scares him. What do you think happens the next time Friday night pizza comes around? Is he going to remember getting tapped on the nose and not try to swipe that piece of pizza again? The answer is no. The smell and sight of that pizza are too rewarding. All he can think about is getting a bite of that pizza. You want to train your Pug, not hurt or scare your Pug. If I yell at them every time this happens, you would assume that the barking would stop. My yelling adds to the frenzy of the whole thing. That delivery person always leaves and never breaks into their territory. Is it my tail wagging, is it my barking? You yell and put her outside. You taught her to go to a different room to pooh. The Risks of Using Positive Punishment Using positive punishment can create fear, stress, and aggression. Often dogs will become more aggressive because they are afraid of you. They will be more vigilant about watching for cues that you are going to hurt him again. Causing harm makes them very cautious. You may think they are getting more aggressive. He may be trying to protect himself even more so now that you have become aggressive. This is not a good way to train your Pug. When he would see me roll up that newspaper, he would transform himself into a flying ninja. Across the room, he would fly at me, bite and tear-up the newspaper. So, between my parents and my dog, I learned to stop rolling up the damn newspaper and swatting him on the butt. The flying ninja dog once again became our sweet family dog. Number 2. For example, maybe he pushes his brother. The parent sees what happens and takes the toy away. Parents take things away all the time with teenagers. If their grades drop, they take the cell phone away. Then they take the cell phone away. All your other grades are good. The teenager needs to know they have to seek out a tutor or talk to the teacher for a better understanding of the work. She needs to apply effort when doing his homework, not just sit in his room thinking about how unfair his parents are. You turn your back on your Pug, withdrawing your attention. The idea is that he will be less likely to jump on you in the future. You forget all about turning your back on him. He has seen that you may give in. His jumping may increase for a while. Does Negative Punishment Work? Negative punishment can work if used correctly, consistently and immediately. This is a pretty tall order. Consistently means you train your Pug this way all the time, not just during Pug training sessions. You can pair negative punishment with positive reinforcement. Your Pug dog jumps on you, you move away, and you turn your back on him. We know our Pugs are the smartest of them all! But, this may take him a while to figure out what is going on. If you want to train your Pug dog to learn faster, turn your back when he jumps and turn back around when he stops. Then ask him to sit. This gives him more information on what you would like for him. When he politely sits, reinforce him positively with praise and attention. This is not a one-time event. It may take weeks to get them to stop jumping and sit instead, but in the end, it will be worth it. Do you want your Pug dog to jump all over you for the rest of your life? Or do you want a few weeks of hard work, followed by some excellent Pug politeness behavior? Number 3. Train your Pug Using Positive Reinforcers Positive reinforcers are when something good comes after a particular behavior. For example, if your child gets an A on her math, you take her out for ice cream that evening. Praising your child is another form of positive reinforcement. When your puppy goes pee outside, you praise her and give her a treat. She wants the food and praise, so eventually, she will learn to pee outside. Using treats is a good way to train your Pug to do her business outside. Does Positive Reinforcement Work? Praising and giving treats to your Pug dog helps them learn quickly. Once my Pugs learned they received a treat for sitting, they started sitting on their own when I was there. They see me go into the pantry where their cookies are; they sit and look attentively. This helps them learn that this is what is getting them treats. Proper timing is critical with positive reinforcement when you train your Pug. We were trying to increase the spinning behavior. Another said we should click or say yes when the dog had completed the spin. And then give the treat. I decided to go with when the spin was complete. I had no other reason than this is what Pat Miller teaches. Her training methods make sense to me. It works with my Pugs, and, most importantly, and enjoy our training sessions together. Check out Pat Miller to train your Pug. Number 4. Reinforcers are anything that increases specific behavior. It means the unpleasant event goes away after they do a specific behavior. Some dog trainers use choke collars. Some trainers say that if the dog is pulling on the leash, he will stop pulling to make the pain of the choke collar stop. All he has to do is top pulling, and the pain goes away. Is this true? Should you use negative reinforcers to train your Pug dog? Look at this image. It looks like the dogs have been pulling on the choke collars for some time. When he stops pulling, the pain goes away. However, when your Pug sees a squirrel or another dog walks by, he will not feel the pain as he is pulling. The motivation to pull is greater than the pain. Our Pug dogs may not be aware of the pain due to the excitement of seeing the squirrel. A brachycephalic dog may damage his windpipe before he realizes the pain that he is feeling. Do you think he will stop pulling on his leash? Highly unlikely. Choke collars are not a good way to train your Pug. Getting to that dog has a higher emotion than the pain occurring around his neck. He does not notice the pain. This is not how you train your Pug. What about when a big dog walks by during your afternoon walk with your Pugs? Going after a large dog is going to have a significant emotional response. Again, pronged collars are not a good way to train your Pug. What is going to have a more significant emotional response to get your dog to pay attention to you and not the big dog? In other words, how do you train your Pug so he pays attention to you? Become a Treat Dispenser Treats! When a large dog walks by, you want to turn into a treat dispenser. But generally, their feet stay next to their owner with the treats. I have tried this myself, and it works. When big dogs come around, we get lots of treats. In any event, it does keep them close to my side, not pulling on their leashes. Can you and I phase out the treats when a big dog walks by? In everything I have taught them, I have been able to phase out treats. I have replaced those treats with praise and attention. And the Winner Is … Positive Reinforcement!! Positive reinforcement great because your Pug dog gets treats and lots of praise! Also, it is the most effective method to train your Pug. They get treats! You see positive results! Positive reinforcement creates a stronger bond between you and your Pug dogs. They feel proud when they learn a new trick! There are still people who believe that it is not a good idea to train with treats. They think your dog will only perform if the cookies are in hand. I have never had a problem phasing out food rewards with Mimi and Lulu. And believe me, they are big chowhounds. When I phase out the treats correctly, they continue to show the requested behavior. However, we need to phase them out. You and I need to replace the treats with something else they desire. Start phasing out the treats when your Pug has generalized the behavior. That means he completes the behavior in different locations and different circumstances. This includes the collar on, off, inside, outside, on a walk, etc. High-value treats are expensive, soft treats, or any kind of meat. You want to mix it up in the beginning; half high value treats and half kibble. Move the treat from the hand you usually give the treat from, to the other hand. Then hold it behind your back. Have him maintain the sit for longer and longer periods before giving the treat. Amp up your verbal praise when you give the treat. Start to replace your food reward with verbal praise and a big pet. Praise is a great way to train your Pug. If your Pug dog has a favorite toy or game, replace the treat with a toy or a game of fetch. Intermittent Reinforcement Make the treat rewards unpredictable. Intermittent reinforcement is when the rewards are unpredictable. Decrease giving treats over a few days until your Pug dog sits whenever asked. Your Pug the star of the show, and he will think you are too with those random yummy treats. Think about casinos. Why do people keep putting so much money into those slot machines when they lose more time than win? It may feel to the person play the slots that they are winning here and there, and the big win is just around the corner! These are all programmed to give out a small cash reward on a schedule. People get hooked because of the timing of the little rewards and jackpots. The customers get rewarded enough to keep coming back, but not too much, so the casino loses money. Treating our Pug dogs like Casino slot machine patrons may feel wrong. You simply want to train your Pug to stay at a healthy weight and not spend the rest of your life dispensing treats. Conclusion There are four basic types of behavior modification. Some of these behavior modification interventions harm your dog physically or emotionally. We want to be sure to avoid those. These are Positive Punishment and Negative Reinforcers. These interventions hurt and scare our Pugs. Negative punishment can be useful. Negative means remove something, and punishment means to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment works best when paired with Positive Reinforcement. With negative punishment, we may turn our back on our dog who is jumping on us. This is why we add Positive Reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the winning intervention. Give your Pug something good yummy chicken , and Pug dogs learn to do the behavior we are looking for more often. It could be a sit, high five, or whatever fun trick you would like to teach. This is the fastest way to train your Pug. Some people get too hung up that the dog will never perform without the treats. Not true. Our Pugs are emotional creatures. When we have a positive relationship with him, he wants to please us. We can replace those treats with verbal praise and other rewards. Not only is Positive reinforcement the kindest method of them all, but it is also the most effective.

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rottweiler bulldog mix puppies - How does the Labradoodle growth chart work? The following numbers are estimates based on the litter of a Labrador Retriever crossed with a standard Poodle. If your pup's Poodle parent is a toy size, then they are likely to be significantly smaller than these estimates. Their health is what matters most, so if you have questions or concerns about your puppy's development, reach out to your veterinarian. At what age is a Labradoodle fully grown? Labradoodles typically need 12 to 18 months to reach their full size, especially if their parents were on the heavier side of the average weight spectrum. Large breeds grow slower and take longer to reach their full size compared to small and medium-sized dog breeds, which usually reach maturity within nine to 11 months. How big should a 6-month-old Labradoodle be? A 6-month-old Labradoodle may weigh anywhere between 40 and 55 pounds. As a general rule, male Labradoodles weigh more than their female counterparts. In terms of height, a 6-month-old Labradoodle puppy will stand around 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulders, but this varies based on their genetic makeup. Pro Tip: Download our new puppy checklist for tips on how to set up a vaccination schedule, essential pet care supplies, and more. How much bigger will my Labradoodle get? There are a few ways you can estimate how much more your Labradoodle may grow. Most Labradoodles need anywhere from 12 to 18 months to reach their full size. If your pup is younger than a year old, they are likely still growing. Refer to our Labradoodle weight chart to estimate how many more pounds they might put on as they mature into adulthood. If they look oversized compared to their limbs, then they're probably still filling out. Oversized paws are a classic puppy feature indicating that your pup still has more growth underway. Lastly, if you purchased your puppy from a breeder, you can contact them about your Labradoodle's weight. Alhough the breed varies greatly in size, knowing the weight of your puppy's parents and those of previous litters can help you predict your Labradoodle's adult size. What is the size of a full-grown Labradoodle? As a hybrid dog breed, Labradoodles vary significantly in size based on their geneology. Per Agape Labradoodles , adult Labradoodles typically weigh over 45 pounds, with some Labradoodles weighing as much as pounds. However, most Labradoodles will weigh between 50 and 90 pounds. In [terms of height], Labradoodles stand 21 to 24 inches tall when measured from paw to shoulder, or approximately two feet excluding their neck and crown of the head. How do I make sure my Labradoodle is healthy? Our Labradoodle puppies are important, cherished family members who we want the best for. One of the best ways to help your Labradoodle thrive is by taking them to regular veterinary appointments to have them routinely checked out and evaluated. Prevention is always better than treatment, and regular veterinary exams provide your veterinarian with the opportunity to screen your Labradoodle for disease. Your puppy will need to see the veterinarian several times in their first six months of life for core vaccinations against things like Rabies, and then at least once a year as an adult for annual health check-ups. Like their parents, Labradoodles are also more susceptible to hip dysplasia , a common orthopedic condition that occurs when the hip joint forms improperly. Hip dysplasia can lead to pain in their back legs, impaired mobility, and even lameness if not treated - fortunately, the condition is treatable with surgery. When over 20, pet parents were surveyed, only .As loving pet parents, it can be devastating to think that our four-legged friend could develop a painful disease that requires expensive treatment. This is where pet insurance comes in. Most pet parents opt for accident and illness pet insurance plans as they cover both injuries and most illnesses, such as hip dysplasia or eye diseases. Pet wellness plans can be added to your insurance coverage to help you pay for preventive veterinary care, like your regular vet exams, x-rays , dental cleanings , vaccinations, and more. Like humans, dogs are living longer, which creates an even bigger need for excellent veterinary care so that our dogs can live their happiest and healthiest lives. Pet insurance helps alleviate the financial strain that's often caused by vet visit costs. If your Labradoodle puppy gets sick or hurt, you and your veterinarian can work together to provide your pup with the best treatment plan - without worrying about how much it might cost. Key Takeaways Adult Labradoodles weigh pounds on average. The parent Poodle breed has toy and standard size variations that impact the size of the offspring, along with other genetic factors. Most Labradoodles grow until months of age. The breed is known for several congenital health disorders, and is especially prone to hip dysplasia. Pet insurance can protect your puppy and provide a financial safety net for vet costs throughout their life. Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Is your Labradoodle chewing on the brand new sofa set? Labradoodles are fluffballs of energy and can seem overwhelming to control. They are naturally known to have an optimistic and passionate outlook towards life. In their early stages as a puppy and adolescence, their energies are the most heightened and at their peak. A Labradoodle is not considered fully grown until around there years of age, and this is when you can expect them to calm down. But, when they begin to grow up, mainly between the ages of two and three, and enter adulthood, they tend to calm down and become relatively in control of themselves. However, if their erratic and crazy behavior is not looked into, they might continue being active and overly excited into their mature, senior years. Puppyhood The first five months of your Labradoodle are their puppyhood phase. This is probably the most adorable stage of their life when they are still getting used to all the attention and affection. They begin to form strong associations with people and objects, which is a prime reason why you might often find them active and hopping around in glee. This is also the best time to expose your babies to new experiences, train them through positive reinforcement, and bond with them. Adolescence Do you remember your adolescent years when you were either sleeping on the couch or were caught making mischief? The period of adolescence for a Labradoodle lasts for about two years, usually starting when the dogs are about 5 to 6 months of age. At this stage, your Labradoodle is either bored and sleeping or hyperactive — there is no in-between. And, because this is the time when their hormones kick in, they are always jumping around, chewing everything that comes in their contact, and basically having the time of their lives. A Labradoodle running on the beach 3. Adulthood Your dogs are finally fully grown and mature when they enter adulthood. This stage usually begins when the dog hits three years of age. At this stage, the most crucial aspect to look into is their diet and weight. If not correctly taken care of, your Labradoodle can become fat and unhealthy in no time. If you trained your friend adequately during the first two stages of their life, you would start to observe a noticeable change in their behavior. Because they grow both mentally and physically, they are likely to become more calm and composed. Middle Age You should expect your dog to enter into the middle-age phase when they are about seven years old. Your dog will have both active and inactive days. They have transitioned into a mature stage of their life, so a drop in their excitement level is to be expected. As a pet parent, you must ensure to start taking care of their health and well-being a little more cautiously. They will become prone to developing common ailments and will require extra care and warmth. Senior Age When your dog hits the ripe old age of 10 to 12 years, they will enter the last, most crucial stage of their lives — old age. You will observe that your dog will considerably slow down and will develop habits that will be challenging to take care of. However, this is also the stage when they need your most attention. This is the time for you to return all the years of unconditional love they have given you, and more. Do you have a standard, miniature, or toy cross? The smaller breeds will mature quickly but live longer. And the older breeds will live a relatively shorter period. Puppies of any breed are expected to act crazy and excited. They have a lot of pent-up energy and excitement inside them, and they are always finding ways to release that. Labradoodles are considered more intelligent than most other dog breeds. They are very sharp and have excellent hunting abilities. This is one primary reason why they seek to learn and discover new things right from a very early stage. They are curious creatures that love being out in open spaces. Now, if they are to be suddenly confined within the four walls of your house, they will obviously look for ways to release their energies inside the home. This often tends to make them more hyperactive and agitated than usual. If your labradoodle is a rescue dog, it is likely for them to be coping with past traumas or because they have been conditioned or bred to behave in this manner by their previous owners. Labradoodles tend to jump around in excitement when they are trying to grab your attention. The issue of hyperactivity in Labradoodles can stem from a lack of proper stimulation. If your dog gets bored of their daily routine and has nothing new and exciting to look forward to, they can become hyperactive and often display destructive behaviors. Lack of social interaction with other dogs and people around them can also make Labradoodles hyperactive. They might suffer from hyperkinesis or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Signs Of Hyperactivity In Labradoodles If you want to hit the dog-parent jackpot, it is crucial that you keep your eye open to the following signs of hyper activeness in your furry friend before they turn into more serious implications: Even in familiar situations, you will find your dog overly excited and unable to relax. They will have a short attention span and will be unable to pay attention or concentrate on the smallest of things. They will display bouts of impulsiveness in their behavior. They will lack the ability to socialize with other people and pets around them. They will frantically move or fidget around. This includes running madly in circles, trying to catch their own tail. And an excellent way to display your love for them is by dealing with them with care when they are hyper and a little more excited and naughty than usual. Here are several tips that you can follow to control your dog when they engage in uncontrollable behaviors. This is where exercising comes into play. Walking You cannot keep your dog locked in the house the entire day. One walk per day is the least they require. You can take them to a nearby park or for mountain hikes; they will equally enjoy both. Swimming Labradoodles are water babies. They are bred from Poodles and Labradors, and both these breeds are excellent swimmers. Therefore, Labradoodles leave no chance to enjoy and play around in pools. Play a game of fetch, a nose-work game, or the old and classic hide and seek — outdoor games add the element of fun to exercising, something your dog will be excited for every day. Many of these collars are packed with essential oils that help to calm a dog down when they are anxious. Plush toys The motive of plush toys is to eliminate the risk of separation anxiety that tends to develop in a dog. They are the ultimate cuddling buddies for your pets that provide comfort, aid, and keep them calm. Calming beds Lack of sleep tends to make dogs anxious and hyperactive. If you want to create a soothing environment for your Labradoodle where they can relax and calm themselves down, a calming bed would be a great choice. These beds are specially designed to provide your pet with a sense of security and safety. Training Training a dog is no joke. It is the best way to instill good behavior in your Labradoodle, both physically and mentally. Teach your dog to carry themselves well and be in control of their emotions through reward-based training. Discourage their hyperactive behavior, but never punish them for the same. Understand that being hyperactive is a part of growing up. If you punish them and instill fear in them, they may never bond with you or emote themselves properly. Whenever you feel your dog is calmer than usual, make sure you encourage their behavior. Reinforce calmness in them by showing them affection and love. Reward them with their favorite treat every time they show good behavior. Some Additional Tips: Maintain a set routine for your dog. Having a specific time set aside for eating, walking, or playing will help limit their energy to certain times of the day. Before you try to calm your labradoodle, make sure you manage yourself. Never yell, shout, scream, or show any anger or aggression toward your Labradoodle. This type of negative behavior will only make the situation worse. A rich Apricot coat Labradoodle at the groomer. So Why Choose A Labradoodle? Even though handling a Labradoodle may feel like a lot of work, there are so many reasons why I believe Labradoodles are one of the best dogs to have. The joy of being a Labradoodle parent is unexplainable, and you can only know it by experience. Labradoodles are incredibly friendly and social dogs; they even love swimming, making them great outdoor buddies! Labradoodles are also an excellent choice for those allergic to dogs as they are hypoallergenic and do not shed fur. Not only that, Labradoodles make excellent therapy dogs for people who have autism, depression, or other mental or physical disparities. The sociable, loving, and empathetic traits make them one of the best candidates for therapy dogs. Final Words A calmer pet means a more relaxed you. It is just a phase, and it too shall pass. I hope you now have more clarity on what age Labradoodles calm down. Everything is paw-sibble with a bit of love and warmth. Happy dog-parenting! My wife and I love playing with our active miniature Labradoodle Max. We want all Oodle puppies to be healthy and happy, have lots of fun and be part of the family. Load More. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. When considering bringing a new dog into your life, it is always important to consider how long that dog is likely to live. In this article, we will go through exactly how long you should expect your Labradoodle to live, which is largely determined by whether their poodle parent was a standard, miniature, or toy poodle. We will also go through all the different life stages of a Labradoodle and what to expect in each. What Is A Labradoodle? Labradoodles are crossbreed dogs that you get when you mix a Labrador retriever with a poodle. They are varieties that are a mix between a Lab and all the different poodle sizes including standard, miniature, and toy. They were bred because, while the temperament, intelligence, and trainability of Labrador retrievers make them excellent service dogs, they shed—a lot. This can be a huge problem when it comes to taking them into hospitals, public places such as restaurants, and even cleaning up after them at home. Poodles were chosen to crossbreed because they have a low-shedding coat. Their tight, curly coats mean that instead of leaving hair wherever they go, it gets caught up in their coat. Poodles are also highly intelligent dogs, even more intelligent than Labradors, and also very friendly, having been bred as companion animals. They are less outgoing than Labradors, but overall it was thought that they would add to, rather than subtract from, the characteristics that make Labradors excellent service dogs. You can read more about the Labradoodle coat and shedding in this article. How Long Do Labradoodles Live? All Labradoodles have a lifespan of roughly 12 to 14 years. Various factors influence where each dog is likely to fall within this scale. Labrador retrievers and standard poodles both tend to live around 12 years. So if you have a standard Labradoodle, you should probably expect them to have a slightly shorter lifespan at around the year mark. Miniature and toy poodles often live longer, as small dogs tend to live longer in general. So if you have a Lab that is mixed with one of these smaller breeds, you might expect them to live for an additional year or so. While these expectations are based on the average lifespan of their parent pups, some research suggests that crossbreed dogs live longer than their parents, by about a year or two. There are plenty of examples of Labradoodles living well into their late teens. Labradoodle Life Stages Throughout their lives, you can expect your Labradoodle to pass through five main life stages: puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and senior. Exactly when they will pass through each of these stages again depends on whether the Labradoodle is a standard, miniature, or toy cross. Smaller dogs tend to grow to maturity more quickly but then live longer. Conversely, larger dogs stay puppies longer but have shorter overall life expectancies. Puppyhood Labradoodles tend to be classified as puppies for the first five months of their lives. But just like with human babies, because they are growing so quickly at this time, they will pass through a number of different puppy stages. It is during this stage that you will find that littermates love to cuddle up and spend the day sleeping one on top of one another. During this stage, they are more interested in their mother and siblings than there are in people, but they do begin to learn that there is a bigger world and might start to explore a little in the later weeks. It is around this stage that they can also start to move onto dog food. This is often a necessity, as the mother will refuse to suckle them as their growing teeth cause her pain. This is a very important time, as they are also very impressionable. So they need plenty of attention, praise, and love. Training them at this stage will also teach them about action and reward, which will make them easier to train to do other things as adults. They will already understand that correct behavior can result in good things. At this stage, you can also start to expose the puppy to new people and new experiences. This is essential to the socialization process, so that they learn what to do when confronted by the unknown. This is a great time to try to take the puppy with you most everywhere you go. Essential training should continue throughout this stage. Adolescence Much like humans, during this stage Labradoodle puppies seem like they are either eating or sleeping all the time to manage big growth spurts, or getting into trouble. This period tends to last from around five or six months until about two years of age. But they also become more unpredictable as hormones start to play a role. Expect them to want to play all the time, to jump up a lot, and to do things that test your limits. Nevertheless, at this stage your Labradoodle should be fully housebroken, should have passed through that biting phase, and should be better at paying attention to you. They also lose their awkwardness around this age and seem more coordinated. Labradoodles in particular will start to show quite a bit of strength and agility at this stage. They should have all their adult teeth, but they still love to chew! This is something they inherit from the Labrador parent. Make sure to have an abundance of chew toys available to focus their otherwise destructive chewing. It is also during adolescence that territorial behavior tends to kick in. Your pup may become protective of their possessions, territorial of their home, and could start to bark at strangers. Also be aware that at some stage during adolescence—it can vary quite a bit—your dog will become sexually mature. Adulthood Depending on the particular type of Labradoodle that you have, you can expect them to settle down into adulthood at between two and three years of age. They should be about fully grown at this stage. So instead of getting bigger, you need to worry about them getting fatter! While it is natural for them to fill out a bit in the early stages of adulthood, it is important to keep an eye on their weight and their diet at this time. They will enter their physical and mental prime during this period, as they are much calmer and more tranquil. If they are being trained as a service dog, they can start working once they reach adulthood. None of this is to say that Labradoodles cannot continue to develop and learn new things at this time. Labradors and Labradoodles are very easy to train and can be taught new skills and behaviors at almost any age. Middle Age Your dog will start to enter the later stages of their life at about the ripe old age of seven years. At this point, Labradoodles still tend to be active and healthy dogs, but they do start to slow down a bit. It is also at this time that their joints might start to become stiff, and they can begin to develop more serious joint problems. You can try and alleviate this by feeding them supplements to support their joints. You can read more about joint supplements here. Senior When your Labradoodle hits nine or 10 years, they are truly senior and they will probably start to need a bit of extra care and attention. Joint pain is a common problem for Labradoodles, so you may need to make some adjustments to your home to accommodate them. Labradoodles also have a tendency to lose their eyesight in later years, and to feel the cold more intensely. Their appetite is also likely to change as this time, as is their metabolism. So again, watch their weight and what they are eating to maintain them at a healthy weight. This is especially important if they are suffering with joint issues, as excess weight will just make mobility even more challenging. Labradoodles are inclined toward a variety of health conditions, inherited from both their Labrador and poodle parents. The main Labradoodle health conditions to be aware of are: Allergies Labradoodles often develop food allergies, usually in their early years before they reach two years of age. This can often be caused by eating too much of certain foods in these formative months. But Labradoodles can also develop allergies in later life, and you might find that at age eight they are suddenly reacting to something that they have eaten their entire life. Labradoodles usually show an allergic reaction with skin itchiness and an upset stomach. If you notice these signs, visit your vet to try to identify what might be causing the problem. Ear Infections Labradoodles have floppy ears that cover the ear tracts. This means they are generally moist, dark spaces, which means breeding grounds for infections. This is also a common problem for Labradors but can be worse for Labradoodles because the curly hair in their ears can also trap moisture and foreign bodies. If they seem to have itchy ears, or if you notice smells coming from their ears, this is a sign that something is not quite right. This will mean a trip to the vet to determine the type of ear infection and the best treatment. Regular ear cleaning, especially after sleeping or bathing, is the best way to reduce the prevalence of ear infections in Labradoodles. Epilepsy Epilepsy is a neurological condition, of which one of the main symptoms is seizures. Labradoodles are quite prone to this condition. There is no cure, and treatment depends on the severity of the seizures and how often they occur. If your dog rarely has seizures, your vet will probably avoid medication, as it is not worth the risk. You may need to do some things to make your home safer for your dog, making it less likely that they will accidentally hurt themselves in the event of a seizure. Joint Issues Another issue inherited from their Labrador parents, Labradoodles often develop joint issues, especially in the hips, but it can be anywhere. Over time, what was an uncomfortable twinge can develop into serious pain, arthritis, and even lameness. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Sometimes joint supplements can be enough to keep your dog comfortable, while in other cases they might need serious pain medication. Progressive Retinal Atrophy This is a condition where a portion of the eye degenerates, eventually leading to blindness. This is quite common in Labradoodles and will usually affect both eyes, resulting in complete blindness. However, it is known to occasionally occur in puppies as well. There is no known treatment, though it is thought that a diet high in antioxidants may be able to help slow the progression of the condition. Signs of the disease include excessive bleeding and bruising where the dog is injured, but also spontaneos bleeds, for example nosebleeds, or blood in their urine or stool. This poses a risk to your Labradoodle throughout their lives, as they may need to avoid certain medications that can further thin the blood, as well as activities where they are at risk of getting injured. If they need surgery for some reason, such as when they are neutered, they will probably also require a platelet transfusion before the surgery. The Verdict When you decide to bring a Labradoodle puppy in your life, you are committing to love and care for that dog for about 12 to 14 years, which is the average lifespan of this crossbreed. During that time, they will pass through a number of different life stages, from being adorable puppies, naughty adolescents appropriately called the terrible twos , intelligent adults, and vulnerable seniors. But throughout all these life stages, a Labradoodle should give you a great deal of love and fulfilment. Do you have a Labradoodle? What is your experience living with these wonderful dogs? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or via our social media. Related Article. They venture into the surrounding environment. Puppies removed too early tend to be nervous, tend to bark inappropriately, tend to bite simply because these lessons a mother and littermates usually provides were missed. Training problems and long-term behavior problems can often be attributed to a puppy removed from the litter much too soon. Beginning at 3 weeks of age, what is going on at this stage of puppy devleopment: The first lessons learned are dog specific behavioral patterns They will learn various postures meanings and their affects to their mother and littermates. They will learn how to bite and what it is like to be bitten. They will learn what barking and other vocalizations mean and their uses. They will learn how to establish social relationships with other dogs. Beginning at 5 weeks of age, what is going on at this stage of puppy development: Vocalization and tempered activities dog manners usually are learned at approximately 5 weeks of age. They will learn how to be submissive to the leader of the pack. They will learn and refine additional postures, vocalizations, and acceptable dog interaction behaviors. With a few very clear signals and repetitions, the young puppy will learn quickly. At that point, a mothers glare or low growl is all that is needed to keep a young pup in line. Littermates also learn clear signals of communication to each other. It is during this time, that your dog needs to have positive experiences. They need to be introduced to new things and begin the groundwork to a happy, well-adjusted dog. Beginning at 7 weeks of age, what is going on at this stage of puppy development: Short attention spans. Things learned are permanent and will be resistant to change. Puppy will be eager to learn. What he does and learns now, he will do as an adult. Puppy will be transitioning his education from his mother to his human environment. Beginning at 8 weeks and ending at approximately 11 weeks of age, what is going on: Any traumatic, painful or frightening experiences can have a lasting impact. What You Can Do: Gradually introduce your puppy to new things, environments and people. Do not let others push your puppy or be forceful with them. Provide a secure comforting demeanor. Teach the puppy you are there to protect and lead. He has been watching you and the family very closely. He is picking up on human behaviors and reactions. He is learning the pecking order of the pack. As he observes and learns, he will then attempt to figure out where exactly he stands in the pack order and to also see if moving up in the pack will work. How could such a cute little pup be such a pistol? What is going on at this stage of puppy development: Puppy will begin to question authority. Puppy will attempt to move himself up in the pack order. Puppy will try to dominate. Puppy will grab leashes Puppy will try to determine what activities are going to be done and when. Puppy may growl. Puppy may put his mouth on you. Puppy can often become over excited. What you can do: Learn how your actions and body language communicate to your dog. Do not play aggressive games during this phase. Tug or wrestling If puppy becomes over excited, growls or mouths you, you stop all activity. Be very aware of how the puppy interacts with children — do not leave children unattended with the puppy. Enroll in a puppy kindergarten class to redirect some of the energy. He has been aware of where you are and would stay pretty close. During this period that same cute little puppy will decide that he is ready to go solo and take off running quicker than lightening. During this time, teaching the puppy that he must stay close by or come when called is critical. The failure to do this will result in a dog that will not be reliable to come or to stay close by as an adult and very well could lead the dog into a life or death situation. What is going on at this stage of puppy development: The puppy will become more independent. A puppy that previously would never go very far, will venture off. The Puppy will ignore commands to stay close or come. How you handle refusal to come or stay will affect future reliability off leash. Puppy will be clever in attempts to run around loose. Never allow dog loose in an unconfined area. Yes this is redundant to the above, so it must be pretty important for us to say it twice. Being off leash outside of a confined area is reserved for who have been well trained. Enroll in a training class that utilizes positive training techniques. Make coming a very positive experience. Oh… and never allow your puppy to be off leash in an unconfined area. This often is a time when many families start to worry that maybe they made a bad decision in getting a dog. Remember: you get what you put into it. You take the time right now to teach good habits, you will have the dog you always dreamed of for many years. This work will payoff. What is going on at this stage of puppy development: The puppy will become a free and independent thinker. The puppy will continue to review the pack order. The puppy will be very energetic. The puppy will be exuberant and enthusiastic. They turn into clowns with teeth. They will delight in learning new and fun things. What you can do: Appreciate the humor of it all. Have you read the book The Dog Listener yet? It will help. Understand that despite the behaviors it is your time to continue to train and reinforce the things you do want him to do. Reaffirm the family pack order. Be realistic about expectations still very much a puppy in a big boy body Channel all that energy into positive learning experiences. Continue with training classes; explore options for additional training opportunities. This is normal, but you must help your dog figure out how to deal with his fears or concerns. It will also reduce the chances that the things he fears will not be permanently imprinted for life. What is going on at this stage of puppy development: The puppy that was so confident will suddenly become reluctant to new things. This period can be subtle. This period can come and go several times over this entire period. It may appear to be unprovoked or unrelated to any specific occurrence. Puppy can become frustrating to owners. You may notice this behavior more in males. What you can do: Avoid extremes in your response no anger or forcing or over comforting Be patient and understanding. We aware of surrounding and potential triggers. Work on desensitizing him with gradual introductions with rewards. Praise with grand rewards for his attempts. Your dog will take his clues from you, if you act frightened or concerned he will too. He will begin to fill out a bit and develop more muscle tone. But, mentally, the dog is still working out some last details of his life and what it means to him. He IS a member of a pack and now begins to find that his turf is worthy of monitoring and protecting. You do not want you dog to take over these responsibilities because in no time you too will be under the rule of the King Dog. Which can lead to aggressive behaviors, protective to the point of creating fear or actually harming someone or another animal as he protects. This is bad news, and often a reason a dog is taken out of the home or destroyed. What is going on: The dog may become more turf protective. Strangers may be greeted with barking. Barking at noises, birds, cars, butterflies, pretty much everything he believe worthy of attention. Playing with other dogs may escalate to fighting. Same sex confrontations of other dogs can occur. Once again, checking the pack order to see if he can move up. What you can do: Reinforce how to greet strangers into your home. Teach your dog to ignore dogs he cannot be nice to. Practice or reinforce dog manners utilizing no threatening dogs Learn to read your dog and other dogs. Circling, walking on toes, stiff tail wags, tense facial expressions — are the signs of aggressive behaviors Rally your family to review that the pack order is clear and very one is consistent with training and corrections. Reward him for good behaviors. Give that dog another job, therapy work, obedience classes, agility. Republished with permission from International Doodle Owners Group. Save Save Ready for your puppy? It takes traits from both breeds, and new puppy owners will quickly see this combination was chosen intentionally. The Labrador retriever is an intelligent, loyal breed with an excellent temperament for nearly any family or living situation. Unfortunately, these dogs also shed a lot, which can be a hassle. It also makes a Labrador a poor choice for public social situations, such as outdoor dining at dog-friendly patios. Instead, the coat traps dirt, allergens, loose hair and other debris inside it. This means less shedding but also means daily brushing is required. The poodle is also an intelligent breed that makes a perfect addition to most homes since it was bred to be a companion animal. Any puppy is a lifelong commitment. Understanding what to expect at every life stage will help you prepare to give your cute little puppy a long, prosperous, happy life. A normal-sized labradoodle will live an average of 12 to 14 years. Smaller labradoodles resulting from a miniature or toy poodle crossbreed will generally live a little longer. However, you must remember that this lifespan is only an average. There are plenty of labradoodles who live into their late teens. A healthy diet, regular exercise and periodic vet visits are crucial to your labradoodle puppy living a long, healthy life. These main life stages include puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, middle-aged and senior. Each life stage is discussed in more detail below. Puppyhood If you adopt a labradoodle puppy, this will be the first stage you get to witness. A labradoodle puppy will remain in this life stage from birth until five or six months. Birth to 7 Weeks From birth until about seven weeks of age, labradoodle puppies stay close to their mother. They spend all their time eating, sleeping, growing and cuddling with their littermates. As they get closer to seven weeks of age, they may begin exploring their world a little. Around seven weeks of age, a labradoodle puppy will start becoming more interested in people. This is also when it begins forming bonds with you and other humans in the home or family. These adorable puppies will become more playful and curious at about eight weeks old. Instead, you want to create only positive experiences during this time to ensure it grows into a secure young adult dog. This is the perfect time to start positive training techniques. Teaching your labradoodle puppy about action and reward now will benefit its lifelong training. During this stage of puppy development, socialization is crucial. Now is the perfect time to take it to new places, introduce it to new people and provide it with new experiences. The most important part of this stage of puppy development is that your pup becomes a free and independent thinker. With its curiosity at an all-time high, this is the perfect time to bring your new companion everywhere. Socialization and bonding are other vital aspects of this stage of puppy development. Pet owners will find their puppy wants to be with them all the time and may become mildly anxious when separated from them. Most of its time will be spent eating, sleeping or getting into trouble. Your growing canine should have lost its baby teeth, have all its adult teeth and be out of the biting stage it may have had during puppyhood. Thanks to the Labrador genes, your labradoodle will always love to chew. You can stop destructive chewing behaviors by providing a chew toy or two or 20 to keep it occupied. It may become territorial, but regular socialization can help ease these issues. Your labradoodle will also begin showing quite a bit of strength, so continuing its training during this time is crucial. Acting out, wandering and even behaving aggressively are all normal during this time. Adulthood For a labradoodle, adulthood starts somewhere between two or three years of age and lasts until around its seventh birthday. During adulthood, labradoodles are at their prime. Their adult coat will grow in, which may be thicker or denser than their puppy coat. This breed is very intelligent and easy to train, so if you want to keep teaching it new tricks, you can. Weight Management Your labradoodle will reach its adult size between two and three years old. They can tell you if your dog is a normal size or needs diet and exercise. Middle-Aged Your doodle puppy will turn middle-aged around seven years old. This life stage is relatively brief and only lasts until the dog turns nine or .During middle age, most dogs are still active and overall healthy. It may exercise less and sleep a little more as it transitions between adulthood and its golden years. A middle-aged dog may begin to develop some health problems, especially as it gets closer to its senior years. The primary issues of concern are obesity, joints and teeth. The teeth and joints will become especially vulnerable during this stage, so you must take your dog for regular teeth cleaning and wellness visits. In addition, your vet may recommend supplements to protect the joints. Extra weight will also place unnecessary additional stress on the joints and heart of your dog. Senior Your dog will officially be considered a senior from around nine to 10 years of age until the end of its life. During their golden years, your labradoodle will require extra care and attention. Health problems are most likely to occur during these years, and your vet may suggest two annual well visits instead of only one. After 10 years of age, your dog will likely encounter issues staying warm. You might consider a heating blanket in their bed, keeping the house slightly warmer during winter or providing extra blankets to snuggle under. Your dog may also have problems with its eyesight. The most common issue for senior labradoodles is their joints, which tend to ache as they get older. In addition, they may have mobility problems caused by sore and stiff joints. For example, consider a ramp to help it get into the car or up your porch steps. Developing one or more health problems could mean a shorter lifespan for your labradoodle. A few of the most common health problems affecting labradoodle puppies or adults include: Allergies usually to food Ear infections which can lead to hearing loss after repeat infections Epilepsy. The life stages of a Labradoodle include four phases — puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, and senior. Most small breeds obtain their maturity quickly and tend to live longer. Larger breeds mature slowly and generally have shorter adulthoods and senior years. Your Labradoodle is considered a medium or standard dog and should be about 50 to 65 pounds. They hopefully have an excellent range of living or from years. This phase ends when your dog is about five months old. Of course, dogs do age at different speeds, and larger dogs mature slower than smaller dogs. The stages of a puppy are: From weeks, puppies are learning submission and attention behaviors, attention, and how to get along with siblings and mom. At weeks, puppies are forming a strong bond with people and are mentally mature enough to adjust to changes. They eat dog food and no longer need the attention of mom. From weeks, your Labradoodle puppy is impressionable. They look for objects and people associations. Make sure your puppy has positive experiences with other animals, people, and new situations. Try and avoid scary experiences at this time. Unpleasant experiences should be turned into positive experiences. Praise, love, and laugh up your puppy. Do not give the human empathetic response of reassurance, even at vaccination time. At weeks, try enrolling your puppy in the training class. In class, you are taught how to train your puppy. Never punish your puppy for any reason. Expose your labradoodle puppy to new things and experiences as well as people. Keep the situation positive. Use a leash to keep your puppy under control and safe. When your puppy is between months, they are considered pre-adolescents. Labradoodle puppies gain confidence and more independence. Continue training, and do take your puppy with you everywhere. Keeping your puppy by you gives your puppy time to bond with you and understand what is expected of them. When your puppy is months, be aware that your puppy has needs for stimulation, companionship, and activity. They get bored quickly and never seem to be inactive. They will run away, chew, bark, and be generally obnoxious. Yet, at this time, Labradoodles are wonderful companions, teachable, and pleasurable. Just like a child, love your Labradoodle during this Labradoodle life stages. You will be well rewarded for your efforts. Adolescence is when your puppy starts to lose its awkward nature, and adolescent behavior driven by hormonal influences starts to emerge. Often vets will claim a dog is in the adolescent phase for years, depending on the breed. Dogs are most challenging between the age of 8 months to about 18 months. At this point, you can call your dog a teenager, and they exhibit controlling habits like: Elimination; should be potty trained, No more indiscriminate biting, Focus improves, Labradoodles begin to sense their strength and agility, Labradoodles have their adult teeth, but still, need to chew. Keep your dog from being bored, curious, or anxious, and they will not chew on everything. However, just like the teenage years in humans, your dog will be erratic and unpredictable. They will act goofy, playful one minute, and in the net instant, they will be obsessed with what is going on around them. An adolescent will be: Bolder in play, Jump on everyone and everything, Chew on random things, Tend to wander away. Having a rebellious labradoodle can be an exciting time. Labradoodle life stages of adolescence are the time these dogs show independence, territoriality, and protectiveness of possessions and food. They are interested in other dogs and strangers and may start barking. Now is the time to begin intensive training. Be aware that adolescence is the time when dogs begin to find their sexuality. Sexual maturity can happen as early as six months, or in larger breeds, this type of maturity can take as long as two years to be sexually mature. If you have had your dog since puppyhood, you are already off to a good start building bonds. Keep up the excellent work. Teething is just about done. No more teething is an awesome phase when your dog no longer chews on everything. Make sure you give your teenage dog appropriate toys to chew on — they have powerful jaws. Different sleeping schedules seem to appear. When your puppy spent more time asleep than awake, it was lovely. However, your teenage labradoodle will have an endless supply of energy. Keep up the fun training sessions and brain games and give you labradoodle plenty of exercises. Your labradoodle will likely wake up at nighttime to roam around and play. Have patience and put up with this phase! Socialize your teenage dog. You have socialized your puppy during their young age, but do not stop now. Expose your dog to different places, people, dogs, and situations. Keep different experiences positive. Do not worry if your dog appears to be fearful of things or situations he previously loved. These moments will come and go, and fears and likes will change. Your teenage Labradoodle will love going for walks. Keep them on a leash and train them well. If your labradoodle suddenly stops walking and stands very still, do not worry. Just keep walking, resist the urge to punish your labradoodle, and do not let him off-leash. Training will come and go, but although he learned to sit, lie down, and to come, and he ignores your commands, he will still remember. Right now, your teenager is having trouble accessing all the knowledge he learned. Training will return to normal if you are patient and keep up the rewarding, training, and your breathing. Males begin marking their territory and lifting their leg for the first time. Females also start marking their territory at this time. Aggression to other dogs can increase during this time of adolescence, and your labradoodle is learning to establish their territory, social status, and bonding with their family. Depending on the size, breed, and individuality of your labradoodle, adulthood starts at about three. Now your labradoodle is not growing so fast, and instead of getting longer and taller, your dog begins to fill out. Their chest and shoulders may broaden a bit. Troublesome behaviors calm down, and your labradoodle is not as excitable as when they were adolescents. Your labradoodle is maturing and gaining confidence. Labradoodles reach their physical prime in adulthood. If you have trained and socialized your labradoodle in puppyhood and adolescence, you will have a well-trained adult dog. You can take them out in public, walk them on a leash, and your dog exhibits confidence. An adult labradoodle is still capable of social development, training, and learning. They are influenced by their environment, social interactions, and by you. Keep up established routines, socialization, training, and leadership. Find new opportunities to keep your labradoodle exercised in both mind and body. Usually, a labradoodle older than seven years is considered mature. If your labradoodle is smaller, they will tend to live several more years. Mature dogs are easier to care for than puppies or adolescents, but they still need your companionship and socialization. Make sure your Labradoodle gets plenty of exercise to keep him active and at a healthy weight. Do not neglect vet visits. Good dental hygiene is essential as your labradoodle ages. Professional cleaning and regular brushing will prevent dental disease and decay. Use dental treats and toys if your dog will not let you brush their teeth. Mature dogs may have food issues, lack of appetite, obesity, or digestive difficulties. You may need to add fiber to their food to aid with digestion. Ask your vet about supplements to alleviate joint pain. Exercise is essential for mature dogs. Take your dog on short and easy walks and monitor breathing and gait to ensure that nothing is wrong. Play with your mature labradoodle and use age-appropriate toys to keep your dog aware. Senior Dogs Older Labradoodles need special accommodations, food, and care. If your dog has sore joints or hip dysplasia, you may need to build a walking ramp so your Labradoodle can join you on your bed or jump in the car. Keep food and water in areas where your Labradoodle can easily reach. It is a good idea to watch for vision impairment. Heated beds soothe achy joints and keep your senior dogs on a non-slip surface. Look for changes in behavior, appetite, weight loss, or gain. Taking care of a senior dog can involve more work than you gave to your Labradoodle in their younger years, but caring for your senior dog gives back the years of unconditional love they gave to you. We hope you learned a lot from this enlightening post about Labradoodle life stages. If you enjoyed reading this, then you might also enjoy these other awesome posts about Labradoodles:. Labradoodles, are one of the most popular crossbreeds in America. All young puppies experience a period of hyperactivity. Labradoodles should calm down by around three years old. Table of Contents What age do Labradoodles calm down? Most Labradoodles reach adolescence at months old and grow to their full adult size by 12 months of age, although they can take as long as 18 months to develop fully. They take a little longer to mature mentally, and may not be emotionally mature until 3 years old. At that point they are a lot better at regulating their energy levels. That said, Doodles should remain relatively high-energy dogs as adults, well into their old age. However, being too hyper can cause problems. Signs of hyperactivity in Labradoodles Signs of hyperactivity in Doodles include fidgety movements, a short attention span, impulsiveness, attention-seeking behaviors, unprovoked snapping, aggression, and not being able to socialize well with other dogs. Why is my Labradoodles so hyper? Labradoodles are naturally high-energy, playful dogs. They are part Labrador Retriever, a very energetic breed, and part Poodle, one of the most intelligent breeds on the planet. The more intelligent a dog is, the more mental stimulation they tend to need to avoid getting bored. So, naturally, Labradoodles need a lot of exercise and play. This can result in pent-up energy and hyperactivity. It can also lead to anxious and destructive behaviors, such as pacing, panting, excessive barking, and destroying personal and household items. How much exercise does a Labradoodle need? A healthy adult Labradoodle needs around an hour of exercise every day, preferably split into two walks. Doodles enjoy walking, running, hiking, and swimming, so try to vary the location and do different activities on your walks to keep them stimulated. Labradoodle pups need to build up their exercise routine, with 5 minutes of exercise per month of their life twice a day. What do Labradoodles like to play? Dogs love playing games that exercise their natural instincts. Historically, Labradors and Poodles were both bred to hunt, and primarily in water. So, Labradoodles love games like fetch and chase, and anything involving water. Paddling pools are a good idea! Some other popular games for bright dogs include hide and seek, treasure hunt, and the cup game. To play hide and seek, ask your Labradoodle to sit and stay while you hide somewhere in your home. Then, call them to come and find you. To play the cup game, place two empty cups face down on the floor in front of your Doodle, and put a treat underneath one of them. Switch the cups around and ask your dog to find them. Toys that stimulate the senses are great, too, especially for younger Doodles. The importance of socialization Socialization is very important for dogs of all kinds, but especially super-social breeds like Labradoodles. Not only is it essential for their well-being, but it is also very stimulating and will burn up a lot of their daily energy. Try to involve your dog in your family life as much as possible, and interact with lots of friendly people and dogs on walks. This will also prevent aggressive behavior and snapping during periods of hyperactivity. Ideally your breeder will have already started some socialization and exposure with the puppy such as to different sounds and surfaces before you bring him or her home. Training a hyper Labradoodle Hyperactivity can make training a dog difficult, but not impossible. The key is to harness their energy and playfulness, rather than try to suppress it or punish them for it. Start training your Labradoodle as early on in their life as possible and try to keep your training sessions concise, consistent, regular, and fun to avoid stubbornness. How to calm down a Labradoodle? If your dog behaves badly, ignoring them by crossing your arms and turning away from them is the best response. Once they calm down, you should reward them for their calm behavior, so that they understand that this is what you want. They use naturally soothing ingredients like CBD and lavender to bring down stress levels and relax the body and mind. There are also calming collars and beds that emit calming scents and provide a sense of security. Do Labradoodles make good family dogs? Their high-energy, playful nature makes them ideal for large families, active families, and families that love to have fun and explore. However, because of their training and exercise needs, they are not ideal dogs for first-time dog owners. Is separation anxiety common in Labradoodles? Separation anxiety is fairly common in Labradoodles, especially those that are also experiencing hyperactivity. This is because the most common cause of hyperactivity in dogs also causes separation anxiety. You can do this by leaving your Doodle alone for short periods of time, and gradually building up the time that you are apart. This will create trust and understanding with your dog that you will always come back. This lets them know that there is something to look forward to the next time you leave. You can also relieve some anticipatory anxiety by doing some of the things you commonly do before leaving the house, such as grabbing your keys or turning off the TV, and then not leaving to remove the association. If your dog is destructive at first, try putting them in a crate or confining them to a safe area of the home with a dog gate. Can Labradoodles be low-energy? Labradoodles are generally high-energy dogs. Several health conditions can cause low energy in dogs, including infections, diseases, allergies, and hormonal disorders. As long as you can meet their needs, the lovely Labradoodle makes a wonderful companion and a great family pet! Starting out just training her own Border Collies, she gradually expanded to local classes and seminars, now she travels as far as Europe and teaches students all over the world on how to train their dogs in a positive, bonding, game-based way. She is known for her clear, step-by-step training that lets beginners and advanced dog trainers see lasting results very quickly.