what to look for when buying a labrador puppy
Will my dog get sick from eating poop? Poop eating can definitely be a concern to a pet owner since it can make your dog sick. If your dog is eating its own poop, itmay be OK, but there is still a chance of illness. Especially if your dog is eating the poop of another dog or animal, there is a large risk of infectious diseases or parasites. Some symptoms of poop eating include gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea, decreased appetite, tiredness and intestinal parasites , according to Muenster Milling. Consult your veterinarian if your dog has eaten poop and is experiencing any behavioral changes or symptoms. How often should I take my dog to the vet? And how to know if your pet needs a checkup How can I keep my dog from eating poop? To curb your pup from eating poop, you may consider vitamin or enzyme supplements. These can help if your dog is eating poop due to a lack of certain nutrients, such as vitamin B, says the AKC. There are also various deterrents on the market, which make poop less appetizing to your dog. Other methods to stop your dog from eating poop include training, — using commands like "leave it,' — keeping a close eye during walks and cleaning up poop immediately. They may act inappropriately or display unwanted aggression toward something harmless. Other times, canines follow instincts that have no basis with humans. Perhaps one of the most unpleasant aspects of pet ownership is coprophagy or eating stool. German Shepherds are just as likely to show this unwanted behavior as any other breed. Some may theorize that instinctive drives are stronger in these dogs because of their resemblance to their wild counterparts. However, there are also other reasons why it occurs that may have health or behavioral roots. Knowing the cause can help you find a way to stop it. New evidence suggests a different path where the two species share a common ancestor. That means some of the hardwiring that existed in the wild may still reside in your German Shepherd. Their canine ancestors lived a life of feast or famine. Coprophagy may be a remnant of those survival instincts. Image Credit: cvop, Pixabay 2. Other animals will also eat feces, such as rabbits, nonhuman primates, and rodents. Maternal Instinct Is at Work Dogs are born helpless at birth. They are utterly dependent upon their mothers. That even covers the most basic things, such as staying warm or eliminating. A female will lick the puppies to encourage them to urinate and defecate. To protect them and themselves, the pup will clean up after the offspring. Another health condition that occurs frequently is thyroid disease. That can manifest itself in stool-eating behavior. Some disorders cause an abnormal increase in appetite, which a pup tries to meet this way. The bacteria interfere with the absorption of nutrients, which a pup will try to meet with other inappropriate sources. A Parasitic Infection May Encourage This Undesirable Behavior An intestinal parasitic infestation can cause similar symptoms, such as an abnormal appetite. The parasites consume the nutrients that the German Shepherd should get from its diet. Dogs can get infected in various ways. One of the most common is eating the feces of other animals, such as rabbits. This breed is an affectionate and loyal dog that is prone to separation anxiety if left alone too often. Failure to provide a mentally stimulating environment can set up the perfect storm for the pet to pick up undesirable behaviors, such as coprophagy. Image Credit: Vach cameraman, Shutterstock Controlling the Problem The first step toward stopping this problem is getting your dog a thorough examination by a vet. As our list shows, several medical reasons may prompt this behavior. Nutrient deficiencies are another common cause. A supplement is also an appropriate way to treat this condition. Your vet will likely recommend follow-up testing if a medical cause is behind the problem. The next steps may focus on the behavioral side. Factors such as separation anxiety or long stretches in a crate can cause a dog to act in this manner. You should also take an active role in preventing it while on walks or at the doggy park. Some of the canine instincts may not make sense to us. Nevertheless, they are perfectly normal in the canine world. Fortunately, correcting unwanted habits like stool eating is possible. It involves finding out the cause behind it and taking the appropriate actions. Harsh punishment during house training. And one important factor for this stinky act is the influence of other dogs. And who is the most influential to your pooch? His mother, of course. They lick the puppies as a way of encouraging them to pass their bowels. And when the little ones do, mommy dog will clean them up by eating their feces. Because of this, puppies develop the habit of eating poop. But it is not only mommy who is at fault. Having more than one German Shepherd, or several dog breeds, under one roof leads to imitation. It is not surprising if they begin to act alike or share the same habits, like snacking on poop. Your four-legged pal is snacking on poop! Stop him, of course! While veterinarians like Dr. Hart revealed that eating poop is natural for canines, it is still important to end the behavior. Well, for one, you would not want to kiss and cuddle with a pooch that reeks of stinking feces! But that is the least of your concerns. It can cause serious health issues, such as parasitic infections. Why is your German Shepherd buddy feasting on disgusting feces? Is he eating enough? And getting all the nutrients that his body needs? Are you giving him enough attention? Or maybe he is suffering from a medical condition? Prompt identification of what is causing the problem is crucial in solving it. But more than that, it will frighten you. What is wrong with my furbaby? A proper health check will reveal things that will help you understand why your dog is acting that way. More importantly, you will be able to find out whether your canine buddy is suffering from an illness or not. And you can help him before it gets too late. From there, you and the vet can develop a plan of action that can help your dog, like giving the necessary medications and administering proper treatments. If it is, then the solution is easy. All you have to do is provide a complete and balanced meal for your big buddy. Omega 3 fatty acids from vegetables. Healthy fat from sources that contain fish oil. Small amounts of digestible carbohydrates from barley, oats, and rice. High-quality protein from whole meat sources like beef and organ meats. The most common deficiency is that of Vitamin B. If this is the case, consider this: What is in the food you give your German Shepherd? Do you feed him enough? Does he need supplements? Consult your vet to find the answers. Then, you can give your pooch the proper supplements he needs to stay healthy and fit. This does not only refer to the inside of the house. The yard also needs to be kept clean, especially if this is where your dog takes his dump. As soon as your German Shepherd does his business, pick up his poop. This might sound like the simplest and most obvious thing to do. Because when he gets bored, he can start munching on anything he finds, poop included. But, attention alone is not enough to keep your pooch away from poop. Proper supervision is essential in stopping coprophagia. Distract the eager canine when he starts sniffing on something debatable. And keep him away from places where there is bound to be dirt and poop. Note: Put your German Shepherd on a leash when you go on walks. But also give him time to run freely in a safe environment, a dog park, for example. And the best way to avoid this feeling is not to punish them. If a German Shepherd is punished for pooping in the house, he may eat his poop in order to get rid of it. This is his attempt to remove the reason which he gets punished for. So, instead of punishing your dog, you can potty train him more effectively. Because if you are too hard on him, you can ruin your relationship. When you successfully do this, your big buddy will slowly ignore his waste after taking a dump. Reward him with a quick treat when he comes to you afterward. This will make him salivate, allowing him to naturally wash his own mouth. Let your dog chew on a dental stick or treat. Just be careful not to push your fingers too far in or your dog might gag. Conclusion It is uncomfortable, disgusting, and quite disappointing to know that your German Shepherd is eating poop. But remember, dogs are inclined to do it. Once you put the tips above into action, your dog will surely steer away from the unwanted behavior. Just make sure you couple your actions with patience, understanding, and love for your best buddy. German Shepherds may eat their own poop for any number of reasons. Dietary deficiency, diseases, copycat behavior, behavioral problems, and even ancient genetic instincts may be reasons why your GSD eats their own stool, as the American Kennel Club AKC points out. This term applies equally to dogs, cats, and other pets. In the rest of this article, we will talk about the many reasons why you might catch your German Shepherd eating their own stool. While it is unlikely your dog is physically feeling hunger pangs when they go to eat their stool, it is quite possible there is an underlying dietary deficiency driving the behavior. As VCA Animal Hospitals explains, dietary deficiency in dogs can arise from a number of different potential causes. As this iFeeder report indicates, analyzing pet foods is big business in and of itself, and there is a lot of money riding on manufacturer reputation. So often you have to look for other clues — such as poop eating — to detect when there may be a mismatch. When a dog is missing certain vital nutrients, they may go back to their own poop to try to absorb more nutrition from each portion of the food they eat. This is a practice that is so essential for some mammals such as guinea pigs that they die if not permitted to engage in coprophagy. Luckily, dogs do not have a genetic nutritional need to eat their poop. But they may do so if their diet is chronically lacking. Your dog has parasites When your dog has parasites, they are essentially eating for the parasites as well as for their own health and nutrient needs. Unfortunately, eating poop is one of the primary ways that a dog can pick up parasites like hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm in the first place, as Vetz Insight explains. But it is not the only potential trigger. Deficiencies in certain key digestive enzymes may also be a culprit. As PetMD explains, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or EPI, is the best-known medical problem that can result in coprophagy in dogs. The pancreas is responsible for producing a number of important digestive enzymes along with insulin. The latter is caused by defective cells. The former can be genetic or induced and may also be triggered by canine diabetes. Ongoing issues with diarrhea. Increased stool output. Eating stool. Interestingly, some German Shepherds that only seem to want to eat the stool of a particular dog may actually be responding to disease in the other dog. This can include stool, although it can also extend to other non-food objects like rocks, grass, leaves, stones, sticks, fabrics, and more. While most cases of pica are considered to be linked to behavior rather than medical problems, with coprophagy there can be a clear medical component as well. If your German Shepherd has a tendency to eat poop and other items that are not on the menu of a typical canine or are not on any menu at all , your pet may be suffering from pica. Your German Shepherd Dog Eats Poop for Behavioral Reasons If your dog has been evaluated and tested and your canine veterinarian has ruled out a possible medical cause for coprophagia, the other main area to look at is behavioral. In other words, German Shepherds that are healthy otherwise may still choose to eat their own poop. But why, you are probably wondering? This is what we will look at in the next section. GSD puppies, like all puppies, rely on the mother dog to lick them and remind them to do their business. Learning how to poop on their own is a big part of early puppyhood. It is a big deal! When your GSD puppy came home with you, potty training became a big part of daily life. Your puppy probably got lots of attention and praise when it was potty time and things went well. In the same way, if your puppy pooped in the house, they likely got quite a bit of attention for this as well — you might not have been happy about it, but your puppy was because your attention was focused on them. As Canine Journal explains, a poorly trained and socialized or previously traumatized German Shepherd may resort to poop eating rather than seeking attention in more positive and acceptable ways. This outdated and ineffective form of training is now thought to actually encourage coprophagia in dogs that have been subjected to it. The dog may start to eat their poop to hide it and avoid further discipline. Along the same lines, German Shepherd dogs can be especially prone to developing separation anxiety, which is another behavioral issue that is linked to poop eating. Your German Shepherd is acting out of instinct While this explanation walks a fine line between genetics and behavior, wild canid females have often been observed eating the feces of their young to try to remove the scent and throw potential predators off the trail. But what about when male puppies or adult GSDs do this? In this case, canid behaviorists think it may have to do with puppies watching their mother eat poop and picking up the behavior from her. After all, canid pups in the wild have to learn everything from their mother and would be carefully watching and mimicking everything she does — including eating their own poop. According to a research study reported in Live Science , the majority of dog owners that have tried to discourage stool eating in their dogs have experienced low or no success. However, this is not to say it is impossible to train your dog not to eat their own poop. You will just need a lot of patience and persistence to find what works to discourage your German Shepherd from eating poop. This will require consistent, determined effort on your part. You will need to watch your GSD closely on potty breaks and quickly remove the feces and dispose of it in a secure location. If your dog goes out at night or early in the morning, you will need to bring a flashlight to make sure you see where the poop is and can pick it up right away. Then you will reinforce this with praise, pats, treats, and attention. This way, you always know where to look to pick up the stool and your GSD is not lingering near it long enough to potentially eat it. But to dogs, it is quite possible they just eat poop because they like it! This can have an unexpected benefit if you need to train your GSD not to eat their own poop. As PetCareRX highlights, there are soft chews and additives available that may change the taste of the poop to make it undesirable. Foods like zucchini and pineapple can also change the tastebuds and may make poop and everything else taste different from your dog. Use a head or muzzle restraint This is not an ideal choice for training your German Shepherd dog not to eat poop for two reasons. One, restraints can be difficult to manage and your dog may be very determined to get out of a neck cone or head collar. And two, if your dog decides to mash their muzzle or restraint down on the poop to try to eat it anyway, then you have to clean it and your dog. But if nothing else is working, it is certainly worth a try. For example, if your GSD has developed separation anxiety, this can require special and intense training to overcome. You may need to temporarily put your dog in a daycare program or hire a dog sitter to keep your anxious GSD from eating their own poop. Alternately, if your German Shepherd hates their crate or some other aspect of their living space, you may need to explore an alternate arrangement for when you need to confine your dog. German Shepherds are extremely intelligent working dogs that have been bred for more than a century to work hard at difficult, demanding, and sometimes dangerous jobs. Your dog may be bored and lonely and acts out because eating poop is something to do to fill the time. You may find that adding more canine athletics, taking your dog for more walks, adding some additional playtime, and using more puzzle toys and treat toys work to tire out your dog and keep poop eating behavior at bay. Remember, above all else, your German Shepherd dog wants your attention, time, and love. More of you often equals less eating poop. Coprophagia consumption of feces can be divided into 3 groups. These are: 1. Autocoprophagia: means a dog consuming its own feces 2. Intraspecific coprophagia: the consumption of feces of other dogs 3. Interspecific coprophagia: the consumption of feces of other animals and humans. Studies have shown that, historically, many dogs in developing countries developed a taste for feces while scavenging through trash including feces while trying to scavenge their next meal. While this behavior may seem rather indiscriminate, studies have also shown that the same dogs actually displayed a level of discernment, as they showed a disinclination to consume feces more than 2 days old. Wolves that are old or injured attempt to clean up their den areas that are shared with others by eating their feces. This is because they are intuitievely aware that the feces contains parasites. By consuming the feces within two days of defecating, it is ensured that the feces will be consumed before any parasite eggs hatch and infect any other wolves present. While there are many reasons why GSDs may eat poop, some of the most common reasons are as follows: Underfeeding Hungry dogs, dogs who do not eat regularly, or are starving are more likely to eat the feces of other dogs, animals, and humans. Dogs that eat only once a day and start eating poop may need more daily meals. Malabsorption Sometimes a GSD will eat feces if he is fed poor quality food long-term, especially if the food is high in fat content. Eating poop can also occur in dogs that are nervous, frightened, or under the influence of stress. Stress is a common cause of behavioral problems in dogs. If you feel that this may be the case with your GSD, it may be wise to consult with a dog trainer or behaviorist. A solution may be as simple as alleviating boredom. Other times, a GSD may see another dog eating feces, so he will want to try it too. It is also not uncommon for a young puppy to see his mother eating feces. It is common for a puppy to then simply imitate the behavior. Punishment If a GSD is being verbally scolded for pooping in the house, he may resort to eating his own feces in an attempt to make it disappear — no body, no crime! It is for this reason that it is very important to never scold your dog for pooping in the house. The true solution is proper potty training. For a detailed understanding of how to potty train your GSD puppy, I have written an excellent article for you right here. For example, when intestinal parasites are present, they exhaust the body and draw nutrients from it, causing your dog to feel increased hunger. A very common cause of this issue in German shepherds can be the Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency EPI. This is a condition characterized by a lack of digestive enzymes, which results in the inability to digest food properly, and thus leads to the inability to absorb nutrients. A dog suffering from this disease loses weight despite its good appetite and suffers from frequent and abundant diarrhea. Diabetes One of the causes of increased appetite and coprophagia as well can be diabetes. When cortisol levels are too high or too low, it can cause a host of problems. Attention-Seeking Behavior A German Shepherd may eat poop simply as a way provoke his owner into reacting. This is not too different than the behavior of a child when it wants attention. And, just like when dealing with a child, it is very important that you keep your cool if this is happening with your GSD. Reacting to it will only serve to reinforce the behavior. Forced and Restricting Confinement German Shepherds need space. This is why we highly recommend owning a GSD only if you have a large living space and preferably a yard. This is very common in GSDs that have been rescued after spending time in a crowded shelter. For more information on German Shepherd space requirements, check out this great article that we have for you right here. Living In Isolation German Shepherds are especially social dogs — much more so than other breeds. It is for this reason that they do not do well living in isolation. In fact, GSDs are highly susceptible to separation anxiety. As previously mentioned, anxiety can be a cause for poop eating behavior. For more information on GSD separation anxiety, take a look at this informative article. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet for this one. There are, however, a few actions that you can take to curb this behavior if you feel that it is problematic. Make sure that you guide him away from eating poop while the behavior is under your control Properly Socialize Your German Shepherd As a German shepherd owner, you have to be prepared for long walks and running, because your dog needs them, at least twice a day. If possible, allow your dog to socialize with other dogs, which, along with a quality relationship with his owner, will help help him to avoid boredom and anxiety — both common reasons for a dog eating poop. A happy and occupied GSD will be less likely to engage in poop eating behavior. For a through guide on how to socialize your German Shepherd, we have a great article for you right here. It contains all that you need to know in order to successfully socialize your GSD. Instead of one meal, divide the daily amount of food into several meals, so that your dog does not feel hungry during the day. In my experience, dogs that eat balanced raw or cooked foods are less likely to consume feces. Feed Your German Shepherd a Holistic Diet Feeding a holistic diet to your dog works to get to the root of a problem, rather than just addressing the symptoms as they arise. For example, using an anti-itch cream may lessen the desire to itch, but it will not address the underlying problem. A holistic diet works to resolve the issue of your dog itching in the first place. Think of resolving health or behavioral issue as a series of connecting the dots — this can be a complicated process. A holistic approach to feeding your dog can make it so that there are no dots to connect in the first place by erasing the cause of them. The fundamentals of a holistic diet include: Probiotics: great for digestive system support Prebiotics: great for digestive system support High-quality protein: based in fish, beef, pork, or chicken Herbs: great to prevent inflammation Vitamins: essential for overall organ and bone health Minerals: essential for overall organ and bone health Antioxidants: great for immune system support and disease prevention Fiber: great for digestive system support Whole grains: contain high-quality carbohydrates for energy If preparing a holistic diet for your GSD is too time consuming for you, a great alternative is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food. This blend contains ingredients that include precise amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that have been selected by animal nutritionists and, importantly, holistic veterinarians. In addition, if your GSD is suffering from diarrhea or related issues, beneficial bacterias in probiotics are a great way to boost them back to normal levels. These products usually come in different forms, such as yogurt, kefir, powders, capsules, chews, or dog foods. This probiotic contains a blend of 7 selected species of live beneficial bacteria with added Inulin. Your GSD is likely acting out of instinct, stress, or as an attempt to resolve a digestive or health issue. Just remember to be patient and understanding with your GSD, and have confidence that you will be able to curb this behavior.
When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to keep feeding it the same food that it has been eating at its previous home. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Talk to the person or organization that you are adopting your puppy from to see what food they are feeding it. They should willingly provide that info and they may even send you home with some if you can't find any to buy. If you can't find the right food in your local pet supply store, consider ordering it online. However, you would need to order it ahead of time so that you have it on hand when the puppy comes home. If you want to feed your puppy a different food from what it has been eating, you will need to switch its food over the course of several days. Feed that mix for several days. Finally, you can give the puppy all new food. If you are content to give your puppy the food it was originally eating, it's fine to do that. Every puppy will have different nutritional needs. Because of this, it's a good idea to discuss proper nutrition with your vet. They can suggest great foods to give your puppy and how much it should be eating. Go to source The right portion size depends on the size of your puppy and its metabolism. Ask your vet to teach you how to body score your puppy. This will allow you to do a quick visual check to see whether your puppy is losing or gaining weight. Tip: If your vet suggests a specific food but doesn't tell you how much to give your puppy, follow the instructions on the packaging. Doing 3 or 4 feedings per day allows your puppy to get enough nutrients without overwhelming its digestive system with a huge amount of food at once. This is especially important when your puppy is under 6 months old, as they have delicate systems. Go to source Don't just leave the food out all day. Take the food away after the puppy eats for about 10 or 15 minutes. Lab puppies should always have access to fresh water so that they can stay adequately hydrated. Put out a dish of water and dump it out, clean the dish, and refill it daily. Some puppies are really messy with their water dishes. To prevent a mess, try putting the water dish on a tray, so that spilled water won't go right onto the floor. Although a playful pup sounds endearing, consider how many games of fetch or tag you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other dogs who can stand in as playmates for the dog. Built for sport, the Lab is muscular and athletic. They have a short, easy-care coat, friendly demeanor, keen intelligence, and plenty of energy. Devotion to this breed runs deep; Labs are loving, people-oriented dogs who live to serve their families, and owners and fans sometimes liken their Labs to angels. The breed originated on the island of Newfoundland, off the northeastern Atlantic coast of Canada. Originally called the St. Today, most Labs skip the hard labor and spend their days being pampered and loved by their people. However, some Labs still serve as indispensable working dogs. They also excel as a search and rescue dog or as a retriever for hunters, thanks to their athletic build, strong nose, and courageous nature. And Labs have also become the breed to beat at dog sports such as agility and obedience competitions, especially obedience. In fact, owners say their sweet, helpful Lab is likely to greet an intruder and happily show them where the goods are stashed. One role has remained constant: wonderful companion and friend. Labrador Retriever Highlights Friendly and outgoing. Labrador Retrievers are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are good with people of all ages and other animals. Intelligent and trainable. Labrador Retrievers are intelligent dogs that are easy to train. They are often used as working dogs, such as guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and therapy dogs. Active and playful. Labrador Retrievers are active dogs that need plenty of exercise. They enjoy playing fetch, swimming, and other activities. Loyal and devoted. Labrador Retrievers are loyal and devoted dogs that make great family pets. They are known for their gentle nature and love of children. Grooming needs are minimal. Labrador Retrievers have a short, thick coat that is easy to groom. They only need to be brushed a few times a week and bathed as needed. Overall, the Labrador Retriever is a versatile and popular dog breed that makes a great family pet. They are friendly, intelligent, and trainable, and they have a low grooming requirement. If you are considering getting a Labrador Retriever, be sure to do your research to find a reputable breeder. Labrador Retrievers are wonderful dogs, but they require a lot of time and attention. They are not a good choice for people who are not active or who do not have a lot of time to spend with their pets. Originally called St. Although their heritage is unknown, many believe the St. The second Earl of Malmesbury was one of the first, and had St. The third Earl of Malmesbury was the first person to refer to the dogs as Labradors. In Newfoundland, the breed disappeared because of government restrictions and tax laws. Families were allowed to keep no more than one dog, and owning a female was highly taxed, so girl puppies were culled from litters. In England, however, the breed survived, and the Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a distinct breed in .They also top the list in Canada and England. Today, Labs work in drug and explosive detection, search and rescue, therapy, assistance to those with disabilities, and as retrievers for hunters. They also excel in all forms of dog competitions: show, field, agility, and obedience. Labrador Retriever Size Males stand .Females stand .Aside from a winning personality, they have the intelligence and eagerness to please that make them easy to train. Training is definitely necessary because this breed has a lot of energy and exuberance. The working heritage of the Lab means they are active. This breed needs activity, both physical and mental, to keep them happy. There is some variation in the activity level of Labs: some are rowdy, others are more laid back. All thrive on activity. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Elbow Dysplasia : This is a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. This can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem or medication to control the pain. Osteochondrosis Dissecans OCD : This orthopedic condition, caused by improper growth of cartilage in the joints, usually occurs in the elbows, but it has been seen in the shoulders, as well. It causes a painful stiffening of the joint, to the point that the dog is unable to bend his elbow. It can be detected in dogs as early as four to nine months of age. Cataracts : As in humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow over time. Cataracts can usually be surgically removed with good results. Early in the disease, dogs become night-blind. As the disease progresses, they lose their daytime vision, as well. Many dogs adapt to limited or complete vision loss very well, as long as their surroundings remain the same. Epilepsy : Labs can suffer from epilepsy, which causes mild or severe seizures. Seizures may be exhibited by unusual behavior, such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding. Seizures are frightening to watch, but the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally very good. Puppies are born with TVD, which is a malformation of the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. It can be mild or severe; some dogs live with no symptoms, others die. TVD is detected by ultrasound. Research is ongoing to learn how widespread it is in the breed, as well as treatment. Myopathy : Myopathy affects the muscles and nervous system. The first signs are seen early, as young as six weeks and often by seven months of age. A puppy with myopathy is tired, stiff when he walks and trots. He may collapse after exercise. In time, the muscles atrophy and the dog can barely stand or walk. There is no treatment, but rest and keeping the dog warm seems to reduce symptoms. Dogs with myopathy should not be bred because it is considered a heritable disease. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. The dog is unable to belch or vomit to rid themselves of the excess air in their stomach, and blood flow to the heart is impeded. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen, is drooling excessively, and retching without throwing up. Theyalso may be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. If you notice these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Acute Moist Dermatitis: Acute moist dermatitis is a skin condition in which the skin red and inflamed. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The more common name of this health concern is hot spots. Treatment includes clipping the hair, bathing in medicated shampoo, and antibiotics. Cold Tail : Cold tail is a benign, though painful condition common to Labs and other retrievers. The dog may bite at the tail. It is thought to be a problem with the muscles between the vertebrae in the tail. Weekly checking and cleaning if necessary helps prevent infection. Labrador Retriever Care The lovable Lab needs to be around their family, and is definitely not a backyard dog. Labs show some variation in their activity levels, but all of them need activity, both physical and mental. Daily minute walks, a romp at the dog park, or a game of fetch, are a few ways to help your Lab burn off energy. However, a puppy should not be taken for too long walks and should play for a few minutes at a time. It is up to you to end play and training sessions. Without training, a rambunctious Lab puppy will soon grow to be a very large, rowdy dog. Luckily, Labs take to training well; in fact, they often excel in obedience competitions. Start with puppy kindergarten , which not only teaches your pup good canine manners, but helps them learn how to be comfortable around other dogs and people. Look for a class that uses positive training methods that reward the dog for getting it right, rather than punishing them for getting it wrong. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility, with its one-inch jumps. Labrador Retriever Feeding Recommended daily amount: 2. They've won the dog personality popularity contest for so many years, as Labs are devoted to their owners—always willing to show you their affection and receive your adoration in return—are highly intelligent, and are happiest doing any and all family activities. Their enthusiasm not only makes them fun to be around, but also makes them a hard-working breed. Labs are companionable, bonding with all family members, and famously friendly to every person and pup they meet. While they have high energy and require lots of activity , they are eager to please and highly trainable. Appearance Thanks to their role as a hunter's companion, the Labrador retriever is a sturdy dog, weighing in at anywhere from 55—80 pounds. Labs come in three colors: chocolate, black, and yellow. While black Labs were an early favorite with breeders, all three types of Labs are common today. Some breeders do offer "rare" Labs, including polar white, fox red, and even silver, but these are simply variations of the three original Lab coloring combinations. Their top coat is short and thick. Their undercoat is softer and helps provide protection from the weather, especially cold temperatures and water, a nod to their original role as retrievers. A Lab's tail serves a purpose in their heritage as well. They are thick and tapered, an "otter tail" that acts as a rudder when Labs swim. But watch out on land—this happy breed gets to wagging their tail often and eagerly, and won't stop if you happen to be in the way. Yellow Labs might be easy to confuse with golden retrievers. Though both are friendly pups and popular with families, they distinctly different breeds. Temperament "The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non aggressive towards man or animal," the breed standard says. They are friendly with new people and animals they meet. Tops in the personality department, Labs are also highly intelligent, making them very trainable. They do have lots of energy, so you'll need to stay active with them, but they are also happy to relax at home for family movie night. What many veterinarians do find, however, is that each Lab is an individual with his own personality. Some Labs are more mellow, while others can be higher energy. Some tend to be more anxious dogs. And you can even have a Lab that is a bit of a goofball. But no matter what personality your Lab puppy grows to develop, one thing is always the same. Living Needs Labs adore their owners. They will want to live indoors and sleep as close as possible to you—or even on you. They like to get outside to play, but don't leave them unattended for too long as they may prove they have a naughty side. Labs have been known to dig and chew, so invest in plenty of sturdy chew toys to keep yours entertained. If properly introduced and trained, Labs can also get along well with other pets in the home including cats , other dogs, and small animals. They are competitors, doing well in agility, field tests, and at dog shows. And they absolutely love to swim. Care When you welcome a Lab to your home, be prepared for lots of shedding. Grooming isn't substantial, but brushing your dog daily will help reduce the tumbleweeds of fur scattered about your house from their thick double coat. They should be bathed every other month to keep them smelling fresh. Brushing their teeth a couple of times a week, keeping their nails trimmed —likely once or twice a month—and checking their ears for redness or odor should also be on your Lab care checklist. A daily minute walk or a lively game of fetch will help your pup burn off some of his energy. Lack of activity could lead to undesirable behavior, but don't overdo it—this "workaholic" breed is apt to exhaust itself. Don't let Lab puppies run and play on hard surfaces for their first two years so they don't damage their joints. Of course their reputation for good behavior precedes them, but that doesn't mean you can skip training sessions with your Lab. Training is important to ensure they don't grow to become too rowdy. Introduce Labrador puppies to other humans and animals early to help socialize them properly. This, coupled with ample positive reinforcement , will allow your pup to grow into the friendly Lab many know and love. Health Labs are a pretty hearty and healthy breed , living 10—12 years. But, as with all breeds, there are some common conditions to be aware of. Elbow and hip dysplasia , heart disorders such as tricuspid valve dysplasia TVD , epilepsy , and hereditary myopathy or muscle weakness can all affect Labs. They can also face eye conditions, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. Owners should also be aware of a condition called exercise induced collapse EIC. Labs may also develop hot spots —or acute moist dermatitis—cold tail, and ear infections. History A bit misnamed, Labs actually come from Newfoundland—off the northeastern coast of Canada—not Labrador, according to the Labrador Retriever Club. Descended from St. John's water dogs, Labradors are a traditional waterdog used to retrieve ducks and keep fishermen company. At the end of the work day, Labs were then happy to head home to spend the night with the fishermen's families. They became increasingly popular starting in the early s, when they were brought to England by nobles who appreciated their work ethic and disposition. Public Domain It may be hard to believe, but by the s, Labs were almost extinct because of government restrictions and tax laws—the same laws that led to the St. John's water dogs' extinction, according to the Canadian Broadcast Corporation. Thankfully saved by English breeders, they were introduced to the U. After World War II, the Lab's popularity took over and grew for decades until they ultimately achieved the status of America's—and England and Canada's—most popular pooch. Fun Facts In , for the 29th year in a row, the Lab was voted the number one most popular breed. King Buck was the model Labrador retriever featured on a U. Another famous Lab is Ben of Hyde , born in .Considered the first documented yellow Lab, today most lines of yellow Labs can be traced to his bloodline. The star of the show, Marley, is actually several different Labs who played the role to reflect the various age stages of Marley during the film. His family adopted another chocolate Lab, Seamus , after Clinton's presidency ended. Was this page helpful? However, a healthy six-month-old labrador will grow significantly in size. Some of them can weigh up to 50 pounds. For a more balanced diet at six months, you can shift from feeding your puppy three smaller meals per day to two meals a day. To counteract this, you can drop the amount of food and gradually increase it. Setting Your Lab Puppy Up for Successful Potty Training Training an animal to control their bladders until you get outside is no different than potty-training for toddlers. In other words, crate training speeds up the potty-training process for your pet. Effective crate training depends on two things: Praising and rewarding your puppy for relieving itself outside. They come to understand this as a desirable behavior. Preventing your puppy from going to the toilet within the home. So, why is using a crate to train your puppy to go outside so effective? Initially, this should be every hour or so. As labs grow older, you can reduce the frequency as they learn to hold and release independently. Step 2: House Training a Lab Puppy Housetraining or potty-training small labs can be, well, frustrating. As a pet owner, there are simple ways to train your puppy to understand ideal behavior quickly. Instead, they simply forget that they should control it. This helps avoid any issues early on. Keep small labrador puppies off the carpet. How to Feed Your Dog for Optimal Growth Feeding your labrador puppy a balanced diet could be an entire guide all on its own. It can feel overwhelming because you do have many options when it comes to feeding your dog. For example, if you work from home, it would be easy to feed your dog homemade dog food. Similarly, you might work a and yet want to reap the health-related benefits of a raw diet. Make sure to speak to your vet first. You do have choices for what to feed your puppy and you can mix and match these. Popular feeding options for any animal include kibble, wet food, raw food, and home-cooked food. Remember, a puppy is still growing, and they need a complete profile of nutrients and minerals to support their development. There are many commercial brands of dry food or kibble to choose from and you can adjust what you buy based on the ingredients. Do your research and find a brand you trust, with as much bioavailable nutritional content as is helpful. These can harm your puppy. In order to maintain good health and prevent simple ailments, your puppy can also benefit from taking a supplement. Some families choose to mix scraps or raw food with kibble to provide moisture and decrease the amount of food versus the calories consumed. Any veterinarian will tell you that a hard and fast rule is not necessarily the type of food but the amount. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many health issues for this breed. Over-exertion, especially for a puppy, is possible. This includes activities like playing fetch or tug and release. However, breeds that worked as a hunting companion for humans love to be active. Again, this goes back to the strengths of the breed. Keeping up with your puppy could be a task-and-a-half, so in the first months of life, you should be keeping them in your backyard or playing with them at home. As they become house trained and get all their vaccinations, you can turn walks into light jogs or runs if you want. In the long-term, exercise will help keep dogs healthy and disease-free. However, early dog training can eliminate common problems with puppy temperament and help make sure that your fur friend is always as friendly and happy as possible through the years. Puppy socialization simply means making your puppy open to and familiar with new experiences. You want to provide stimulation and encounters with experiences that they will probably face as adults. The window of opportunity to make sure your puppy is always a happy and friendly pooch closes around 14 weeks. Pre-Vaccination Lab Puppy Socialization Any veterinarian will tell you that a puppy is all done with their vaccinations after 12 weeks of age. The main point is to keep your puppy away from other dogs who may not yet be vaccinated or the excrement and markings of other animals that could carry data diseases. You can head to an off-leash dog park to allow them to explore and meet other fur friends. You can also take them beyond your backyard to the countryside to enable them to swim or set up obstacle courses and play with them. Another thing that people forget about is spaying or neutering their dogs. Spaying or neutering your dog could help with behavioral issues and can also reduce the onset of certain health conditions. At the same time, spaying or neutering a puppy too early may also lead to health issues. For many people, this is a worthwhile and even enjoyable trade-off. A happy, sociable dog is always the result of consistent training. Training your dog is a significant aspect of their early years. The different stages include: Get it — Using positive reinforcement, trainers will help your dog carry out actions without commands. Teach it — This stage harnesses the progress you made in the previous stages. Your dog now knows the word and the action that goes with it. Proof it — Proofing is where many people get stuck. Your dog will learn to listen and obey commands at this stage even when they are engaged in other things. Maintain it — Consistently using the techniques you learned to keep your dog following the same desirable behavior. All breeds of dogs respond best when you train them. Every labrador retriever relies on their human taking control and showing them how to respond in any situation. You can be sure that if you follow these tips that you will be taking proper care of your new puppy and will be able to make sure that your puppy will live a long and healthy life. Share on.
If not, here is the form! Get a bite of what is happening at WCBR, our dogs, our amazing adopters and all the incredible people that keep this rescue going! Email Address Woot Woo! We will never keep you chained or leashed to our list. You can run free at anytime, unsubscribe at the bottom of any emails you receive. We are so excited to have you in the fun! His love and compassion for Boxers was felt by those who had the pleasure of spending time with him. Ken loved sports and spending time with friends. He also collected sports memorabilia and other collectibles like Hot Wheels. He truly loved Milo, featured in the the photo with him. Every time we received a message from him he included a picture of him and Milo. He never gave up hope that some treatment would be the ultimate cure. He worked as long as he could and made his journey to the light in late June. His weakened system just couldn't fight any longer. He will be deeply missed by WCBR, and we wish his family peace with his loss. Thank you to so many who have donated to WCBR in his memory. Ken will forever be in our hearts. We need your help. The number of Boxers being surrendered by families and in the shelters is overwhelming. We continue to receive owner surrenders a week, along with multiple pleas from surrounding shelters for Boxers in need. So many Boxer are coming from families that are no longer able to financially care for them, just don't want them, many are dealing with illness or the Boxer's pet parent has passed away, and many just are moving. Without the funding or foster homes, sadly we have to turn away these surrenders. Please Foster, Fund or be a Forever Home. Trixie's unique blend of breeds gives her an irresistible charm and an exuberant personality. With her striking features and endearing nature, she is sure to capture your heart from the moment you meet her. Weighing in at about 35 pounds, Trixie may be small in size, but she is mighty in affection and loyalty. With Trixie, you will discover a true companion who will shower you with endless love, and joy. One of her most remarkable qualities is her gentle and nurturing nature around people, including children and babies. Trixie possesses an ability to connect with people of all ages, making her an ideal addition to families seeking a four-legged friend for their little ones. Trixie's patient and caring demeanor will undoubtedly melt the hearts of young and old alike. Trixie's journey began when she found herself in the care of the Humane Society of the North Bay, where she was fortunate enough to be placed with a dedicated foster family. Although she has displayed some dog aggression, she has been making significant progress in overcoming her aggression and has proven that she can get along well with other dogs when introduced appropriately. Her foster family has their own dog and the two are close friends. With continued training and patience, she will continue to improve and is more than willing to learn. This makes Trixie an ideal candidate for a family who can provide her with the structure, socialization, and guidance she needs. Trixie's playful and energetic nature makes her an excellent candidate for an active household. She loves to engage in outdoor activities, such as walks, runs, and playtime in the yard and in the house. Trixie's ideal home would be one where she can receive ample exercise and mental stimulation, as well as plenty of love, attention, and cuddles from her humans. This sweet and affectionate girl has a heart full of love to give. Trixie craves human companionship and thrives on affectionate gestures such as belly rubs and ear scratches. With her soulful eyes and wagging tail, she will undoubtedly bring joy and laughter into the lives of her new family. If you are looking for an active, sweetheart to join your pack, please head to www. Trixie is in foster in Sacramento and her foster family is happy to meet potential adopters in that area as well! Alka Alka is a very sweet girl who needs a family that will help her feel safe in the world. Once you have earned her trust.My foster mama says I am a darling and petite beauty with a warm and affectionate personality. While energetic and spry, I am content.Please come back to Ava's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. His heart is functioning acceptably but as he grows the defects may change, for the better or for the worse. NCBR will not accept applications.She walks well on a leash. Loves people and attention and would thrive in a home where the humans are present. She would do well in a calm home and responds well to.Read More Adopted Canella Canella loves to be with her humans and loves giving and being hugged. She will jump up very gently on you and put her paws on either side of your stomach, or if you are stilling down she'll put her.She is super energetic and loves playtime with toys or just rolling around on the ground. She was very timid and shy at first and would flatten on the ground if.Please come back to Darla's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. They call me "Handsome Man Dave". I am a bit on the smaller size at 48 pounds but I am a solid ball.I love following my foster parents around the house whether it is out to play or into the bathroom to keep them company lol! I love.Please come back to Finn's profile page as his foster family gets to know him better. Hi, I'm Frankie! I've been in foster care for over a year and I'm ready to find my forever home! My foster mom says.He loves to let you know when he's ready for dinner or treats with a low growl and occasional bark. His tail is wagging the whole time letting you know he's in.Read More Adopted Gracie Gracie is sweet and lovable. She enjoys going for short walks and is very well behaved on a leash. She loves her daily zoomies so a fenced in yard would be ideal. She enjoys being with her people and is.Please come back to Gronk's profile page as his foster family gets to know him better. She is social, snuggly, and snorty. She enjoy walks, riding in the car and chewing on her morning Kong. She is a fast eater so she is learning to take her time with a.Please come back to Hazel's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. He loves to smile and show off his playfulness. He prefers to hangout with his person wherever they are and doesn't like being left alone much. He would thrive being a.I love to play with my chew toys especially the squeaky ones. I wrestle all day with my sister Julie and new foster dog family. I usually win! Read More Adoption Pending Jane Please note: Puppies will only be adopted to a home with a preexisting adult dog, no children under age five, no unfenced pools, and where the puppy will not be home alone for long hours. Do not fill out an.He is very smart and engaged with his human. He is learning everything for the first time and is a blank slate for any training or activities his new family wants to do with him. I just love playing with my brother Jake and new foster dog family. We sure do love.A bit timid with new people but warms up quickly. She loves to play wrestle with her foster brother but also loves to cozy up on your lap and snooze. She came from a family with children, does well with the children in our house, and already knows the basics. Lacey knows "sit", "down", and picked.Please come back to Lizzie's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. She is pretty mellow and calm, and loves to give kisses and to get attention. Her hind legs are limited in mobility due to her severe back problems. She absolutely must have.Please come back to McQueen's profile page as his foster family gets to know him better and follow his recovery. Imagine, two hauntingly large eyes staring at you.Please come back to Naija's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. Read More Adoption Pending Naomi My foster mama tells me I am a darling bundle of joy who dishes out oodles of love and affection. As a stunning, spry, playful, athletic, youthful and darling beauty, I adore being around my people. Cuddles are my jam.Read More Adopted Nevada Nevada is a friendly outgoing puppy that loves to cuddle. She enjoys having another dog to play with. Nevada looks forward to going on walks and she loves her toys and treats. Nirvana is a big, powerful girl but also a love around the house. She is very smart and already knows several commands, such as.Read More Accepting Applications Olive Olive is very sweet and mellow with humans, and loves head rubs, belly rubs and general love and affection. She is dog and leash reactive, so will need some training and patience when on walks. She enjoys playing fetch with.Read More Accepting Applications Pablo Sir Pablo is a gentle giant that loves human and dog interaction but can be a couch potato too. He would be a great office dog, that's his daily routine right now. He's a typical boxer who thinks he's a.He is sweet, silly, snuggly, and ridiculously cute. He is just about everything that is good in a dog. Petey loves to entertain himself and others with his playful attitude and his puppy-like.Take a look at cutie patootie, Roxanne! She is a 45 ball of muscle. Roxanne is a happy go lucky girl that loves zipping.Read More Hospice Schatzie Schatzie loves to be held and is very affectionate. She will walk up to you and rest her head on your hand or lap. She is slowly learning how to play catch after watching our resident dog and loves holding.Please come back to Skye's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. Read More Adopted Slade Slade is as sweet as they come. Slade is excellent on the leash; she will stay right on your hip and frequently look up to give you a glimpse of her big, beautiful smile. On her walks, Slade is very.Please come back to Star's profile page as her foster family gets to know her better. Read More Accepting Applications Stormy Stormy is a compact version of the sweetest, silliest, squishy faced, white boxer girl. She is all wiggles when greeting you. She is super soft and loves scratches, snuggles and being close. Stormy is smart, curious and adventurous but silly.Read More Hospice Tank is living out his days in his foster home. Because of anxiety, she has failed in several foster homes, mostly because she had issues with being left. She has been in her current foster home almost two months and is doing.Please come back to Toby's profile page as his foster family gets to know him better. I am so happy in a home with those that love me. I don't mind having other dog friends, but not sure I like to share my humans with them. I absolutely love to.Hello, my name is Tripp! I love walks, car rides, but I especially love playing with squeaky toys. Handsome man Zach is a big, good looking white boxer who has an impressive boxer wiggle and loves snuggles. Zach has been living with.Zeus is very smart and playful, he loves toys and learns routines quickly. Zeus loves to play chase and tug anytime. He is learning.Petey Donor Spotlight: Doreen Murotsune For many of us who give our hearts, time, or dollars to rescue, we are first inspired by the love of a single special dog. Hana belonged to friends of Doreen, but Doreen and her boxer, Benjamin, fell in love with her. Benjamin and Hana were best friends, and Benjamin was always on the lookout for Hana and ready to protect her from any yappy Chihuahua who tried to intimidate her. In addition to being an active Strut Your Mutt teammate for each of the past 5 years, Doreen browses the boxers in our care and sponsors many dogs whose stories warm her heart. She not only sponsors dogs with single or repeat financial gifts, but also inquires about dogs with prescription diet needs and then purchases those diets on an autoship schedule, having the food mailed directly to foster homes. Planned Giving If you have ever loved a dog, you know that — while their lives are short in comparison to ours — the love you share is timeless. By including NorCal Boxer Rescue in your Will or Trust or naming the organization as a beneficiary on certain accounts, you ensure that for years to come, NCBR is able to continue rescuing boxers, providing them the care they need, and uniting them with families who will love them forever. Dogs are an incredibly important part of our lives. You can make them a part of your heritage. Click here to learn about the different options. Growing Old with You We know that the best place for an old dog is home with loved ones. Click here to find out more about the Growing Old with You program. Grey Muzzle Thank You! We are so honored to be a Grey Muzzle Organization grantee again this year! We know that many of you have a soft spot for frosted faces, but that the cost of caring for a senior boxer has given you pause when it comes to adopting one. We hope that this support will give you the security you need to give your heart away to a beautiful older soul. Thank you, Grey Muzzle, for trusting in us and for supporting our efforts! We are grateful for your partnership! Thank you, Hoven Foundation. Each dog who enters our lives is a gift. They bring us untold joy and share with us their unconditional love. They teach us to be better people. For nearly 10 years, The Hoven Foundation has not only appreciated the gift that each dog represents, but they have given back generously. The continued support of the Hoven Foundation has meant the difference between life and death for countless beautiful souls. Thank you to the Hoven Foundation for what you give to our dogs and, in turn, to all those whose lives those dogs touch. Join Our Mailing List! NCBR is a c 3 nonprofit and donations are tax deductible. We now accept vehicle donations! Donate your car, boat, RV, motorcycle or farm equipment. Plus you get a tax deduction! Call RIDE to donate or learn more. Upcoming Events.
Character: The English Bulldog is affectionate, uncomplicated, gentle, intelligent, sensitive, and fearless. It is known for its loyalty; its happy-go-lucky attitude is in sharp contrast to its sour face. English Bulldogs are active, alert, and playful, but not unduly boisterous. Temperament: English Bulldogs enjoy mixing with other dogs and household pets. They are great with children, well behaved, adaptable, comfortable companions with an affectionate nature and even disposition. Some English Bulldogs are cautious with strangers, but most are friendly to everyone. They are likely to drool or snore. Care: When the English Bulldog is shedding, use a rubber brush to remove dead hairs. A special lotion will occasionally need to be applied to the facial and tail folds to keep them clean; soft tooth brushing with an approved toothpaste is also recommended. The English Bulldog has a lifespan of years. Due to its facial features, it is susceptible to breathing problems and skin infections, and many are delivered via Caesarean section due to their large heads. Most English Bulldogs cannot swim and are averse to hot weather. Training: Consistency is important, but the English Bulldog is highly sensitive to the tone of its handler's voice, making training a fairly simple process. It is inquisitive and quick to learn simple tasks, yet unpredictable as it is a bit stubborn on occasion. Activity: The exercise needs of the English Bulldog are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of your family. Sufficient rest is key to development of healthy bones, muscles, and joints—do not expect your English Bulldog to run long distances or jump down from tall ledges. English Bulldogs are well suited to apartment life. We are pleased to be a top English Bulldog breeder. We can assure you that our breeding department breeds top quality English Bulldogs by adhering strictly to the English Bulldog Standard. WHY US? With over 20 years of experience our kennels are kept immaculately clean and are staffed by dedicated trained full time kennel techs. Each and every bulldog and their puppies are given the best individual love and attention. All of our puppies come fully vaccinated and with a full nose to tail warranty. We offer stud services as well as puppy placement. Though Meaty and Ms. Beefy are probably our most famous dogs , we have placed many other high quality bulldogs. Please, come on in and look around!! Are you really interested in breeding the healthiest litter of puppies possible? If you can answer YES to the above questions then feel free to learn more about our stud services or browse our studs gallery via the links below. Hollywood Bulldogs also provides a Nose to Tail Warranty for the first year, along with accidental death coverage. I was adopted out from Valley Animal Center as a puppy but was returned a few years later when my owners were moving and couldn't keep me. Each year, I turn older and older as I wait for my furever home. I love to play with toys and absolutely adore when people give me attention and love. I'm generally a calm boy who would love to just lay with you on the couch and be smothered in love. Of course, I enjoy a good play time that has me using all my energy! Male dogs it takes me a while to adjust. I do require a meet and greet with other dogs that i will be going home with and come with some skills i learned from my dog trainer. If you have treats and a pool, we'd be best friends! I'm also the pawfect dog to take out on little trips down the lake or anytime you want to explore the outdoors! If you are my furever home, come visit me at Valley Animal Center's dog adoption center. To get a head start on the adoption process, you can also fill out the online pre-adoption application! After you fill it out, a dog care associate will contact you shortly.
The transition period can be a little intimidating once you get over the cuteness overload and realize that your new puppy has no training whatsoever and it's up to you how things will progress from there. We'll try to make it easier for you with this short list of things to do the first 2 weeks after bringing your new puppy home. Your puppy is in a brand new place and it's their first time being away from their mom and siblings. I know you want to bring the puppy with you everywhere, play all day and show him or her off to all of your friends and family. But take it slow at first so that your new puppy can get settled and relax. Hang out at home. Become a professional treat dispenser. And begin the foundation of building your bond with your pup. Crate training is the best way to house train. Introduce your puppy to the crate early on by making it a positive experience. Toss a high value treat inside and let them explore and go inside on their own volition. Place a chew toy that can hold treats into the crate and close the door. Make sure the puppy sees you do this. When the puppy tries to paw and get inside the crate, open the door and let them in. When they start chewing on the toy, close the door for a few seconds before opening. And remember to reward your puppy when it's playing quietly inside the crate and to ignore any whining. Also remember the rules of potty training using the crate. If the pup just ate or drank, let them outside. If the pup is coming out of the crate for any extended time, let them outside. If your pup is so much as sniffing the ground a little too much, you guessed it, let them outside. The fewer accidents inside the house, the less likely it is for the puppy to get into the habit of going inside the house. Start immediately with potty training and socialization. Puppies aren't fully protected until their final vaccination at weeks, so openly socializing in public isn't the best idea. But you can have friends and family come over to meet your puppy, as well as their fully vaccinated, well behaved dogs and puppies. You can also begin the foundation of basic obedience commands. All that's necessary later on is getting consistency and working around distractions. Unless of course you want to compete in obedience or a sport that requires obedience. Competition makes things a little more complicated than that. This step is often overlooked and it's arguably the most important step for a new puppy. Puppies love a routine. It's comforting knowing what's going to happen. Wake up in the morning, outside to potty. A little training with treats, breakfast, outside to potty again. A little play time etc. If you have to go to work, make sure you have a friend, relative, dog walker or dog sitter to let the puppy outside if you can't make it home during your break to let the puppy use the potty. They have a tiny bladder and can't hold it for a full workday. When you have a routine that works, things will go smoothly. If you stray from that routine or never establish one, you'll have more accidents, a confused puppy, and quite possibly a headache. Consistency is key, and make sure you throw in several short training sessions. Most places require these. It may sound silly that you're probably legally required to get a license for your dog, but.But rules are rules. Better safe than fined! A vet who has fair prices for your area, yet is also professional and competent is a must. You will see your vet often enough that they will eventually know your name without having to check the paperwork. So your best bet is to find a good one! Routine checkups, vaccinations, and minor or even major health issues will happen. So build a relationship with a local vet as soon as possible. Also, if you have a German Shepherd or any other large breed and ever intend to breed, you should try to find either an orthopedic vet or a vet who is experienced in taking and sending in hip and elbow x-rays to the OFA to be graded. This may not be your primary veterinarian, but it's good to plan ahead. Even if you don't intend to breed, most breeders state in their contract that they will cover hips and elbows, but only if you get preliminary x-rays or have x-rays graded within a certain amount of time usually 2 years. As a bonus, taking hip and elbow x-rays at 2 years old can help extend the quality of life for your dog if they do end up having dysplasia. You'll know to dial down exercise that is hard on the joints, and that can mean the difference between a dog with pain at 5, and a dog who lives its whole life without pain. It'll also give you a head start on a medication and treatment plan. There are dogs with moderate hip dysplasia that live a very comfortable, long life without the need for surgery thanks to their owner taking that extra step of getting x-rays done. The advanced notice gives their owner a head start on supplements and getting into therapy programs, like swimming, to strengthen the muscle around the joint before they're ever in pain. So this may not be a necessary step if you don't care about your breeder's guarantee, but it can help ease your mind or give you a heads up before a problem even surfaces. But it'll be much less stressful if you have a plan in advance and stick with these 6 tips. If you have any other tips or tricks, leave them down in the comments below and be sure to leave a like and share! They need to go to the toilet How to stop a german shepherd puppy crying at night? There are many different reasons that your pup may be crying at night. Fortunately, there are also lots of ways to help him sleep better at night. Here are a few of the ways you can stop your german shepherd puppy from crying at night: Exercise to tire your German Shepherd puppy out: Your puppy should be taken out for 5 minutes for however many months old they are. For example, a 3-month-old puppy would be taken out for 15 minutes. Make sure you tire them out enough to help them sleep better at night. Let your German Shepherd puppy outside before bed: Make sure you let your puppy outside to relieve himself before putting him to bed. Surround your German Shepherd puppy with familiar objects: Bring clothing with the scent of the home or the breeder next to him while he sleeps. This will help give him something familiar and help him ease into the transition to his new home. Play soothing music: Playing classical music before and during bedtime can help alleviate whining and anxiety as well as drown out other noise or unfamiliar sounds that may upset or rouse your puppy. The average dog sleeps for only 45 minutes at a time, while human sleep cycles are much longer, lasting 70 to minutes. Dogs can only experience two sleep cycles during that time period. Dogs also differ from humans in that they are polyphasic sleepers, which means they sleep on and off throughout the day. Humans, on the other hand, are monophasic sleepers. Most humans receive their 7 to 9 hours of sleep all at once. While humans spend most of their waking hours awake and alert, dogs dedicate up to 5 hours of their day to simply resting. Dogs who rest more during the day tend to seem happier and more relaxed. Do dogs dream and what about? Dreaming occurs mainly during this REM phase of sleep. And dogs do cycle through REM during their sleep. So its make sense to believe that dog do dream. A puppy will spend more time in dream sleep than an adult dog as they fall asleep more often. So just what are our furry friends dreaming about? Anything your dog does during the day is being processed while they sleep and relived in their dream. This can be observed by their twitching whiskers, the whimpering, and the running paws while they are sleeping. Chances are that your dog may also be dreaming about you if you spend enough quality time interacting with them. They will be dreaming about your play session, walks, and cuddle time together. Where should my German Shepherd puppy sleep? German Shepherd puppies should sleep inside with comfortable beddings. This is because if your puppy has too much space to roam, it will be harder to get them potty trained as they will just find a spot to do their business away from where they are sleeping. You can place the crate beside your bed or in an area close to you. In this way, your new furry friend can smell you. And it gives him a sense of security. Should I sleep with my German Shepherd puppy? You should not sleep with your German Shepherd puppy during the first few months home. Yet you can let your pup sleep beside you in a crate or a dog bed. Your puppy needs to get used to a regular schedule, work on their independence, and see you as the dominant figure. Once your GSD has become an adult months-old to 2-year-old , it will be fine for you to sleep with him. Can I let my German Shepherd puppy sleep with me? A new dog may need some time to adjust before they are ready to sleep in your bed. If they show interest in sleeping with you and are well-behaved , you can always let them on the bed later on down the road. What are the benefits of sleeping with dogs? If you are still reading, chances are you might like to sleep with your dog at night. Pets offer comfort and security, but they may affect sleep quality or trigger allergies for some people. Petting dogs in particular has proved to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If touching your pet is part of the key to gaining health benefits, cuddling up together at night is only to make it better. Sleeping with dogs promotes creativity Studies have shown that when dogs are with their owners their heartbeats sync up. This experience promotes theta brainwaves which can be seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, sensations. Theta waves are strong during internal focus, meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness. Sleeping with dogs boost your mood Studies have found that people who spend time with dogs reported fewer depressive symptoms. Not only is it fun to be with your furry friends, it also helps us relax and increases our flow of oxytocin, the love chemical. Sleeping with dogs makes you feel safe Think about it — your GSD is hard-wired to protect. Many people and having the dog protecting them helps them feel more secure and sleep more soundly. Sleeping with dogs is comfortable That furry, cuddly animal is likely to love lying with you just as much as you enjoy laying with them. The level of comfort a dog brings to the bed helps put you at ease and makes you feel cozy. Sleeping with dogs promote immunity Many people have hygienic concerns when it comes to sleeping with their dogs. However, one study found that infants who slept with their pets were less likely to develop allergies later on in life. After all, your new furry friend will sleep for at least 15 hours per day during their short lives. And the better they sleep, the healthier and happier they are. Further reading. Checklist Dog Crate Getting a crate for your German Shepherd puppy is quite crucial for the following reasons: Allows the puppy to feel secure Speeds up potty training Keeps the puppy safe by controlling his environment Conditions your dog should you need to travel and use a travel crate Some people erroneously feel guilty for crating their pup. However, dogs need structure, especially when bred from work-driven breeds like German Shepherds. A dog crate provides a sense of security by reducing the space around the pet. A room might be small enough for us, but placing the puppy in it will make him feel like he is in a large vacant warehouse. The necessity of getting a dog crate brings up the question of size. What size crate is best for a new GSD puppy? Read my post on the recommended German Shepherd crate size to find out the best size to buy and why. Opt for the size inch variety. You can move the divider to make more room as your puppy grows. I draped a dark-colored blanket over the top to make it more den-like. She was around three years old when I finally got rid of it, but some dogs enjoy them for life. As German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia, arthritis, and other joint issues, you should invest in a good crate pad. Dog Bed You might think getting a crate is the same as getting a bed. Some crates come with a matt or pad disguised as a puppy bed. Since German Shepherds are big dogs and do not take much time to grow to their full size, you will need an orthopedic dog bed to support their weight and protect their joints. My post on the best orthopedic dog beds for German Shepherds elaborates on the pros and cons of different dog beds. The gist is that you need a bed to prevent joint pain that bigger dogs experience. German Shepherds are prone to arthritis, and though a genetic element plays a role, bad crating practices can accelerate such problems. I chose the Big Barker because of the scientific evidence that it improves joint pain and stiffness in arthritic dogs, enhancing their quality of life. This means a lot to me as my German Shepherd was diagnosed with spinal osteoarthritis at only six years old, but it helps knowing she sleeps comfortably. I have to admit — I was also attracted to their year no-flatten guarantee. You can check out my full review of the Big Barker here. Novice dog masters also make things difficult through a combination of poor choices. Then they make the situation worse by opting for a collar and using tugging as a means of discipline. This is cruel to the dog and teaches him nothing. It is a front-clip harness, meaning you lead your pup from the front, which gives greater control and steering, making it impossible for your dog to pull. A fellow dog owner designed it, and it has all the love and care one would expect from an owner who is solving a problem he has previously faced — a dog that pulled. You can also learn more about my pick of the best no-pull harnesses for German Shepherds in this article. Toys German Shepherds are full of energy, which means they have to be surrounded by things that can exhaust their excess vitality, such as a range of chew toys, tug toys, and puzzle toys. These will stimulate his teeth, muscles, and mind, respectively. Toys help your new German Shepherd develop and stay entertained. You can also use toys to train a German Shepherd to find things and track, but that comes later. For now, you must make sure you get him a large selection of puppy toys. Your new best friend needs different exercise routines and changes in the environment, both of which can be normalized via travel. A car restraint allows you to secure your German Shepherd puppy in a car seat safely. Using a dog crate as recommended above will make it easy to communicate that car rides are okay. I like the Petmate Vari Dog Kennel because it comes in various sizes, and for the first few months, you might prefer a smaller crate. This model is made from premium plastic, does not require any tools to set it up, and has lots of vents to keep your pup well-ventilated. Poo Bags Your new German Shepherd puppy is going to be the cutest thing on earth up until he has to poop. At that time, how much you like having a GSD will be strongly correlated with how close you are to a poo bag. Regardless of whether you buy a pack of poop bags or accumulate enough disposable bags to cover a month of dog poop, you need to have something to carry dog waste. Remember, a puppy poops two to four times a day. Amazon Basics Unscented Dog Poop Bags are among the most affordable products in the category, with the bags supply being the most economical. These bags are 9 inches x 13 inches, which is a much more efficient size than the standard disposable bag. You might not need this size at first, but trust me; they are the best for an adult German Shepherd. Dog Shampoo You must get dry shampoo for your dog because German Shepherds do not need to bathe more than a few times a year. In other words, your new puppy is half a dozen baths away from adulthood. In the meantime, something is required to keep him clean, right? Tropiclean Waterless Shampoo for Pets is a high-quality, low-priced option made from natural ingredients like plum, oatmeal, and cucumber. It is backed by a market leader in natural wellness and has accumulated over 4, positive reviews and ratings on Amazon. Dog Food Food, water, and shelter are some of the basic needs of all mammals. Dogs are no exception, especially when they are bred under human supervision. Therefore, getting dog food is one of the most important prerequisites for bringing home a new German Shepherd. After that, just ensure you choose a large breed food. Bringing home a new pet is a joyful experience. You might find yourself constantly staring at the beautiful yet timid puppy, and it will take a couple of weeks for the puppy to feel at home. Until then, the dog will be open to cuddles and start interacting with the person who feeds him and plays with him. Make sure he spends time inside the crate as well as outside it. The dog may seem shy and aloof for the bulk of the first week, with the first day being his most seemingly introverted one. The dog will miss his pack and call out for them with whining or whimpering sounds or even barking. You should make sure he feels safe and secure and only comfort him through the night when you take him for a toilet break. Your German Shepherd puppy will need comfort, and you can do a few things to help him feel better. Comfort the pup to make him feel secure. Feed the puppy and make sure he is warm. Turn the lights off and make sure he gets enough sleep. Your new German Shepherd needs to get used to a schedule, work on independence, and see you as the leading figure. One of the differences you will notice when your puppy is freshly released from the breeder is his excessive appetite for sleep. Some might want the puppy to wake up to cuddle. Others will wonder if it is healthy for the puppy to sleep so much. In general, a German Shepherd puppy should sleep 8 hours at night and hours during the day. Though, the dog should not be forced to fit a schedule and must be left to determine how he divides his hours of sleep in the first few weeks of adoption. Final Thoughts The arrival of a new German Shepherd puppy can be an exciting time, but excitement can also inspire nervousness. The puppy will feel less overwhelmed and scared after the first 3 days and will further settle during the first 3 weeks. This is the time to have a good German Shepherd puppy training schedule so you know what to teach and when. Related Posts You May Like:. The puppy should be allowed to explore and meet his new family. You should now start teaching your puppy his name amazing because now Stetson knows his name like the back of his paw. Try again in 10 minutes. If the puppy does relieve himself in the proper area, give him lots of praise. Afterward, you may take him inside, but remember to supervise the puppy; do not let him out of your sight. Talk to your puppy when it explores to make him feel more at home. The first few nights at home may be difficult for both you and your pup. At night the puppy will feel lonely and will probably demonstrate this by whining Oh, you betcha! These are a few things that you can do that might make the puppy feel at home. We use a MidWest Life Stages Double Door Crate which comes with a divider this allows us to adjust the crate size and put a blanket over it to make it seem cozier. Keep the crate in a draft-free area next to your bed. For approximately the first three weeks, if your puppy cries, take him out, on a leash to relieving area. After relieving put him back into his crate. Do not give him any treats or any playtime. Put him right back into his crate and he should go back to sleep. Under no circumstances take the puppy to bed with you. This will form a very undesirable habit. Give the puppy a stuffed dog toy to snuggle with. Then when it was time to crate Stetson for the first night he could snuggle with the toy and smell the scent of his littermates. Our favorite and one we highly recommend is the Calmeroos Puppy Toy with heartbeat and heat pack. Our last puppy, Anna loved her Calmeroos Puppy Toy and it helped her sleep better her first night in her crate. Hold your puppy by his collar by slipping your thumb in his collar and set his food about two feet away. This should be done at every meal throughout training. Even within a breed. There are several people in our group who have raised 10 or more Labrador Retrievers in the Guide Dogs of America program and each one is different. My experience with Stetson was very difficult in the early days and weeks. I had no problem with Stetson when I first got him home. I already knew about the trials and tribulations of house training and crate training after raising my first rescue puppy, Linus. Puppies tend to piddle about every 10 to 20 minutes. You have to watch them like a hawk or they will end up using your house as their personal restroom. Stetson had some accidents here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. The agony came in the evening. Stetson did NOT take to the crate! He whined, howled, cried, and barked…probably made every noise he could possibly produce, but would not relax and go to sleep. He did sleep once in a while honestly I felt like a zombie for over a month. During those first 4 weeks, the most sleep I got was approximately 6 hours, broken up 3 or 4 times a night by whining, howling, barking…you get the picture. I was a wreck and I thought Stetson would never get used to his crate. Awww, the first night home with puppy Stetson was…sleepless… I have two words for you — consistent and patient. After about 4 weeks of consistently sticking to my guns, not letting him out of his crate, and praising him when he was quiet Stetson suddenly stopped making noise in his crate. In the long run, it pays off. Stetson has not barked, howled, or whined in months. New puppy owners often ask me where should a puppy sleep on the first night? Starting on day one we want our puppies to get used to sleeping in their crate. If we allow them to sleep elsewhere like our beds then we are reinforcing the behavior of sleeping on the bed. Therefore, trying to start them in the crate will be more difficult on day 2. Also, I want them to get used to sleeping in their crate until they are potty trained and learn the appropriate rules in our house i. Most likely he will wake up crying times at night. What happens when your puppy starts crying? Should you let your puppy cry the first night? That question is more complicated than it seems. First, as mentioned earlier we crate train our puppies. If at the end of the night our puppies start crying in the crate they will most likely settle down after about minutes of whining. Therefore, yes we let our puppies cry. Second, if our puppy wakes up in the middle of the night and starts crying we take him immediately to his potty spot. After he goes potty we take him straight back to his crate to go back to sleep. This generally happens times a night. Those are the two most likely crying scenarios with your puppy. However, there are an infinite number of other possibilities for puppies crying in the crate on the first night. Should you leave your puppy alone on the first night? I sleep about a foot away from my puppy in my own bed, puppy in his crate. If I feel like my puppy is experiencing some anxiety on his first nights home I will also sometimes sleep on the floor for a few nights and slowly start to migrate back to my bed. This is the question I fear when I bring home a puppy. The answer is it depends, every puppy is different. However, you probably want to know what I consider normal for how long a puppy will cry at night? At which point he will likely settle down and go to sleep. Over the next 8 hours, most puppies will wake up times and will need to go outside and potty. When you get back from the potty break most puppies will cry for another minutes before they go back to sleep. After about 8 hours of sleep, your puppy will want to wake up and eat breakfast. As I mentioned earlier, all of my puppies sleep in their crate on the first night. This calls for a story: Many years ago, I talked to a friend who allowed her puppy to sleep in her bed. She cleaned up the mess but could still smell poop. Check out our New Puppy Checklist. Get a good book on raising and training a puppy like Puppies for Dummies. Let him get comfortable in his new environment. Start training your puppy immediately with basics like potty training, name, and crate. Always supervise your puppy. Use a small crate near your bed. Give your puppy a stuffed dog toy to snuggle with. Be consistent, persistent, and patient when training your puppy. The first night with a puppy is often a sleepless night. On the other hand, if you get a homesick puppy then you might have to endure a night possibly several nights of barking, howling, crying, and yelping puppy. Hopefully, you get the latter and are only disturbed a few times in your nightly slumber. Good luck! Tell us your experiences in the comment section below. Related Article.
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Now for the production and shipping Your order will be ready to ship within business days Production time US customers can expect their orders to arrive in business days Shipping time Customers outside the US should plan on business days before delivery Shipping time You can track your order business days after it ships from our factory. See more about our shipping times. Before you buy, consider this Our apparel tends to run true to size, but if you prefer an oversized fit, consider sizing up one or two sizes. The actual color of the sweatshirt or T-shirt may appear slightly duller than shown in the product photo due to the natural fabric. Please double check your shipping address is correct and complete. We do not accept returns or exchanges for a different size if you order the wrong size, so please use the size chart to ensure the best fit. Plus, we don't issue refunds if the shipping address provided is incorrect or incomplete. Want expedited delivery or have questions? Don't hesitate to contact 7PrintPurple! You might also like. Sweater by Tom Ford; bikini bottom by Ookioh; cuffs by Belperron. Save this story Save this story Save At first glance, it appears that Jennifer Lawrence has either been institutionalized or is on the set of a horror movie. The walls of the otherwise empty room are colorless and bare, except for the discomfiting shadow of a ladder over her right shoulder. Her hair is long and wet. Told to blink twice if she needs rescuing, Lawrence laughs. She and her husband of two years, art gallery director Cooke Maroney, are in a rental while their Manhattan town house is under construction. The austerity of the room feels staged to discourage any unwanted probing. Clothing by Dior; bracelet by Verdura. And to come back now, when I have all of these new accessories added to my life that I obviously want to protect…. Her last four movies Passengers, Mother! So that kind of shook me out of thinking that work or your career can bring any kind of peace to your soul. So, she vanished, which was probably the most responsible way to protect her gifts. And sanity. I first met Lawrence when she was 20, freshly cast as Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games franchise. While sweating through an archery lesson in Santa Monica, she told me she hoped to work with Adam McKay one day because she was obsessed with his Will Ferrell comedies. After she first moved to Los Angeles as a year-old auditioning actor, she got a job nannying for a family with a nine-month-old baby. Opportunity comes at a price. You could already see a second skin of self-deprecation and self-consciousness taking hold of the young actor. Get away from me, you psycho! And I feel like that just starts with not including them in this part of my work. She excuses herself to pee when I ask if she uses humor to mask feelings of vulnerability. I was so self-conscious the whole time, thinking to myself, Can she hear this? Bodysuit by Celine by Hedi Slimane; ring by Belperron. There was a moment, shortly before her break, when Lawrence was convinced she was going to die. All to say, her adrenals were a mess prior to takeoff. Up in the air, there was a loud noise, and the air pressure in the cabin went kind of rubbery. The other passenger, the son of the Louisville doctor who delivered Lawrence and her two brothers, was called to the cockpit. He returned ashen-faced with news that one of the two engines had failed but stressed that they could still make a safe emergency landing with just the one. Then the plane went silent, and Lawrence knew that they were cooked. Lawrence could hear the cockpit clanging in distress as the plane dipped wildly. And, oh, God, Pippi was on my lap, that was the worst part. Not to the specific God I grew up with, because he was terrifying and a very judgmental guy. Wrap me in your hair-loving arms. The plane hit a Buffalo runway hard, bounced into the air, and then slammed into the ground again. Rescue crews broke the jet door open, and the passengers and crew, everyone crying and hugging, emerged physically unscathed. Immediately afterward, Lawrence, anesthetized thanks to a very large pill and several mini bottles of rum, had to board another plane. My trauma will exist forever. I was getting The Hunger Games. Fortunately, by the time I had even come across Harvey in my career, I was about to win an Academy Award. So I avoided that specific situation. I thought I should go get one. Everybody treats you normally. Eventually I had to ask myself, Am I saying yes because I want to go to work the next day? Or am I doing this because I want to make this movie? She became active on the board of the grassroots anti—political corruption campaign RepresentUs. Jacket by Balenciaga Couture. I mean, how mortifying would that have been? I realized you get more privacy if…. Twenty-four hours a day. And a gun! In , Lawrence and longtime friend Polsky formed their production company, Excellent Cadaver. The grisly moniker refers to an old-timey term for a Mafia hit on a prominent person. Lawrence explains she picked it because it left a little bit of a disturbing taste in the mouth. Zombie Rape. Camel Fat…. Lawrence plays a U. She believed deeply in the piece, she believed deeply in Lila, and we were melting in New Orleans three months later. Staying is hard. These are the things we need. When are you going to make that? Lawrence wears three gifts from her husband around her neck: her wedding band on a chain; a pearl necklace; and a diamond necklace Maroney gave her for her 30th birthday. Truly, there is a lid for every pot. Shirt by Valentino Haute Couture; ring by Belperron. Think of her in Silver Linings Playbook, her in everything. I mean, that character poured out of me. I would just picture Jen and you knew exactly what she would say…. She spins it out of the air in the room. In real life, their roles are reversed. Lawrence says she recently sent a fingers-crossed text to her climate activist friend with a link to a news story on how nuclear fusion might put the brakes on global warming. In that, she is different from Leo, for whom the struggle is part of the job, who relishes wrestling with it, and whose work is serious and analytic and intense. I am sort of in awe of both of them. So, I will only speak if spoken to, and I will be the least annoying person in the room. What do I do? In the film, the far right insists that all the comet hysteria is snowflake fearmongering; the left flounders in a state of smug and impotent panic, hoping for traction at preening celebrity events like the Last Concert to Save the World. I ask her if her folks have forgiven their daughter for being her liberal Hollywood self. No, there were certain things, in the Trump presidency, there are certain things that happened over the last five years that are unforgivable. White supremacy. Attacking the Capitol. Nazis being the bad guys. Or just, science. I tell her that, as somebody who lives in Texas, I honor her conflicting feelings about home-state politics. We both burst into laughter, and she covers her mouth. And I thought [the credits] should reflect that. Leo was very gracious about it. She was also crowning! She was giving birth. In a professional context, it yields an underestimation of her aptitude. The bitch is deft. In other words, she made 83 cents to his dollar. These figures are in startling line with Bureau of Labor Statistics data that showed annual earnings for women working full-time in were .That gap is tragically wider for women of color in Hollywood and beyond. When I talk to Lawrence next, I point out the bitter irony of her making less than the man below her on the call sheet. Throughout: makeup products and nail enamel by Dior. Some things that are bringing Lawrence joy lately: Autumn in New York. The city opening up again. Sports and farm animal videos on TikTok. Ugh, that is not a healthy dynamic. Total lack of accountability, lack of shame. She felt awkward about not wanting to talk more about her baby. And her husband. And the sweet future they hope to build together in private. May they serve her and her family well. By leaving her baby out of our conversation, she has already started mothering her child. Lawrence has to go to the bathroom again. This time she remembers to mute the recording.
Look no further! We introduce to you, Lily's and Penny's babies! I called him "Snugs" for short Like many people out there, I suffered from dog dander. So when I discovered the beautiful Maltese breed that is hypo-allergenic, because they don't shed or have dander , I quickly found my forever breed, and after realizing that I had passed down my allergy gene to my children, I knew that I had made the right choice for our family. After the joy they had brought us in our grief, we then knew that we would also like to help provide that joy to others, hence, our latest additions. Is great with kids and has been housed indoors. Well mannered and potty trained. Full blooded German Rottweiler. Buy Now Beagle - full bred Charlie is a very playful dog and is an extremely loving companion for the family. He is a great indoor dog and has also spent time on a farm, so his outside instincts are very good. We are in a new home, and sadly can no longer keep him, and are looking for a loving family to make him a part of theirs. We have both mom and dad. Loving parents want to find good homes for 9 puppies. Please look at our ad and contact info: Puppies are fully weaned and are doing great on puppy food and water. We have 9 Puppies.Best offer on puppies taken.Puppies going fast to new homes soon. Playful and ready for a new home. Labradoodles make great service dogs or companion for any home. The puppies are Universal kennel Club Registered as well. Call Russell at xxx xxx-xxx0 or Sandra at xxx xxx-xxx0 also Email xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx. Very demanding of attention - baby of the group. Playful, energetic, social, brave , not scared of anything. He can be your fur-ever companion if you give me a call or text for more info or pictures. Looking for forever home to provide love and attention. Located near Jacksonville, Fl. Has had professional training. No aggression. Very calm, protector View Detail Females Available I have a couple female puppies available for purchase. They were born March 27, .You can see their lineage on my Instagram: SteelMagnoliaPitbulls. We are located in North Florida. Please text me xxx. She is very loving and loves to cuddle. Enjoys car rides. Potty trained. View Detail Adorable female Maltese Sweet, to die for adorable 1yr old female. UTD on shots, in tact and medium to high energy little girl. Does well with other dogs. Not a small children dog. Pad trained. Almost 1yr old. In tack, UTD on all shots. Outside potty trained. View Detail BEEFY KENNELS Hi, welcome to beefy kennels I've been breeding for the last 2 years this is my 4th litter and I'm pleased to say that I'm starting to adjust to the change of my environment, at first I thought it would be a easy task, then I realized how much time love and affection it takes to raise dogs let alone breed them so I dedicate all my time to them, into to feeding them the right foods making sure all medical issues are taken care of if any making sure they sun bathe and go for walks, as of now i have 6 pups 8 weeks old still adorable 2 females 4 males full of curiosity and character, haven't named them yet ill leave that to the family that adopts. .We rescued him when he was 8 months old. He just turned two. Looking for an active home with a fenced yard for him to run. He also does not like raised voices…. His first home did a number on the poor guy. Our current work schedules have not allowed us to spend as much time with him as he deserves and we want him to have a family who can spend a lot of time with him and exercise him. Only serious inquiries. That will include what food is left when picked up, food container, dog bowls with raised feeder stand we made him, his toys, leashes and collar. Text xxx-xxx-xxxx. He requires a lot of time. He listens and comes when called. Kobe is 5 months. Cream and white. .If interested please call xxxxxxxxxx View Detail Beautiful German shepherd trained 1 year old German shepherd kck registered well trained just too much for my wife, he is very playful and loving dog View Detail He need a new family He is really cute and a good guys! Not fixed. Updated on shots. Very playful and a cuddle bug! Known as the Empire State, New York is located in the Northeastern United States and offers many dog-friendly experiences that you and your furry companion can enjoy together. Our main objective is to connect you with the best Mini Labradoodle breeders and puppies for sale in New York. Our website has a wide variety of reputable breeders that specialize in raising healthy puppies. Our breeders are committed to only raising the highest quality puppies. They provide their puppies with all the necessary vaccinations, veterinary checkups, and care to ensure they are in the best of health before they go to their forever homes. They also provide additional support and advice after the sale to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your new puppy. New York has a fantastic dog community featuring numerous dog-friendly restaurants, parks, and events perfect for you and your four-legged friend. New York sits fifth among other states, with a population of over 2. At TrustedPuppies. Most of our trusted Mini Labradoodle breeders offer safe and affordable flight delivery. A dedicated flight nanny accompanies your new pup throughout their journey, ensuring a safe and comfortable trip as they make their way to their new home in the Empire State. In addition to flight delivery, most breeders also offer affordable vehicle delivery utilizing specialized pet delivery services. This option guarantees your puppy is safely transported to your doorstep by a professional who understands the unique needs of pet travel. Please begin your puppy search for the perfect Mini Labradoodle puppy today on TrustedPuppies. We have answers. What is a Labradoodle, exactly? The Australian Labradoodle is a hybrid breed. Hybrid breeds are sort of like mixed breeds, except in this case the parent breeds are chosen on purpose to pass down specific traits to their offspring. Can I only pick local Labradoodle puppies for sale near Nassau County? Businesses and breeders listed at Uptown Puppies can arrange travel accommodations for your pup to whichever major airport is most convenient, meaning your options are nearly unlimited. How do you screen Labradoodle breeders in Nassau County? The pledge covers all aspects of animal care, health, breeder standards, legal compliance, and much more—take a look for yourself and see just what goes into becoming a Labradoodle superstar. How is Uptown Puppies different from other places with Labradoodle puppies for sale in Nassau County? You might be shocked to discover that bad or dishonest breeders are all over the place online. The truth is that almost anyone can show up online with the right marketing selling Labradoodle puppies for sale in Levittown. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are basically dog factories for Labradoodle puppies for sale in Freeport. At mills, unscrupulous Australian Labradoodle breeders try to sell as many dogs as possible for as cheap as possible. However, these Labradoodle puppies for sale in Hicksville, NY are often sickly, mistreated, and poorly bred—leading to a higher risk of genetic illness and heartbreak for their families down the line. Where do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Valley Stream come from? The Labradoodle is a modern hybrid breed that until recently was relatively unknown. These dogs were first bred to be the ultimate companion dogs—meaning allergy-friendly, gentle, adorable, and people-loving. The world is catching on to Labradoodle mania, and these dogs are now some of the most popular in the world. Just look at how many people are searching for Labradoodle puppies for sale in East Meadow and Labradoodle puppies for sale in Elmont, New York! See Labradoodle puppies that you love, or want to contact one of our recommended breeders? Last step? Are Labradoodle puppies for sale in Oceanside hypoallergenic? Labradoodle puppies for sale in Glen Cove can be just as hypoallergenic as their Poodle parents. Many people who suffer from pet allergies report that their symptoms are lessened or disappear entirely when around their Labradoodle. While everyone experiences allergies to varying degrees of severity, Labradoodle puppies for sale in Plainview are indeed an allergy-friendly breed. Do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Baldwin shed? All dogs shed to varying degrees. What types of coats do Labradoodle puppies for sale in Massapequa have? Labradoodle coats can come in three main varieties—straight, wavy, and curly. Straight haired Labradoodle puppies for sale in Merrick, New York shed the most, wavy-coated Doodles shed a little, and curly-coated Labradoodles shed the least. The three types of coats are also referred to as hair straight , fleece wavy and wool curly.
In addition to their high energy level, German Shepherds are very well-suited for families. Sable dogs are extremely typical in working lines. Sable dogs frequently have a color pattern that looks somewhat like gray wolves. German Shepherd dogs are deemed senior or geriatric around 8 decades old. The German Shepherd dog comes in an assortment of colors. Some German shepherd dogs tend to be on the thinner side and could have digestive issues from time to time. German Shepherds are famous for their intelligence. They shed via the year subsequently that they ought to be brushed every day. These Shepherds are no more inclined to have health problems than every other color Shepherd. German Shepherd is thought to be a friendly dog breed also. German Shepherds have a pure curiosity, making them perfect concerning search missions. If you prefer something found a German Shepherd is an ideal alternative. All our puppies descend from pure bloodlines with superior Hips and Elbow history that is documented for several generations. The only means to recognize a puppy at birth for a bicolor versus a black is to try to find a tiny bit of brown under their tail. Large-breed German Shepherd puppies are somewhat more prone to malnutrition and developmental orthopedic disease when compared with small-breed pups. This breed is a great companion for any household and can be a great addition to any family. These dogs are incredibly popular throughout the world and are also popular with law enforcement. The Doberman Pinscher is one of the most popular breeds in the Philippines. These dogs are very loyal and are good with children. This breed can weigh up to 90 pounds and may not be suitable for every household, but it can make a great companion for the right owner. They require a lot of daily exercise and a high level of activity. Some breeders have multiple locations, while others only have one. Some of them will have several dogs in one litter, and some will have multiple litters. In general, the more litter, the lower the price. A puppy can cost a lot more than an adult dog, so be sure to research the breed before you decide on a puppy. A German Shepherd is a very active breed , and it needs its owner to be active. As long as it is well-cared for, it can live for up to thirteen years, making it a wonderful pet for a family. A dog that gets enough exercise is happy. They are great companions for outdoor activities and are a good choice for families with children. They are loyal to their owners and are known for their loyalty. They are loyal and protective towards their owners. Because of this, you need to make sure that you know that your dog will protect its pack. They have strong instincts to protect their pack, and they will defend the people in their homes. Another option is to adopt a German Shepherd for Sale in the Philippines. This type of dog will be friendly to children, but they can be scared of strangers and may even bite. You want to take care of it well. If you have a family, this breed is the perfect dog for you. Share this:. Too often, unsuspecting people buy puppies from puppy mills, or sometimes neighbors who breed their dog to make a little money or simply because they have a dog "with papers. A German Shepherd Dog who has genetic health problems due to poor breeding practices or who develops significant behavior problems due to a lack of early socialization can cost thousands of dollars to treat—and result in grief and heartache as well. The last place on earth that I would look for a German Shepherd Puppy is in a pet store. Any breeder that is forced to sell his puppies to a pet store has no credibility. This only indicates he has no reputation as a breeder and nowhere else to sell his dogs. The majority of the dogs that end up in pet stores come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are a legitimate despicable business in many states and countries. You are definitely at the right site to begin with. Always do your Homework! Use the contact form below the Breeders Ad that interests you and ask questions. Make sure that they offer a dog health guarantee. Bookmark and share this category: Classified Ads Top Tags.
Merle Pure White A lot of people are arguing that the purely white German Shepherd is a crossbreed while others are labeling them as Albinos and some are even saying white GSDs can be healthy purebreds. Apart from whether or not purely white GSDs exist as crossbreeds and possibly as purebreds, Albinism is definitely a possibility. Solid Gray Unlike sable or the black and silver GSD, the solid gray German Shepherd does not exist in the show or even the working line world. In the show ring, solid gray is considered to be a serious fault. Many people make the mistake to refer to their sable or silver GSD as gray though, so be aware of that. Liver Liver-colored dogs are often seen with a pink nose. This brownish coat color is moving somewhere along the lines of the tan, red, and cream shades. Solid red As the word suggests, this coat type is not black and red but a fully red German Shepherd instead. Isabella types can be very light and might just be a ploy to disguise a white or even albinistic dog. These colors are extremely unusual among German Shepherds and not commonly seen and not desirable either in most cases. Spotted Black and White Another major pet website that features what seems to be a different breed under this color type. There is no spotted black and white German Shepherd in the sense that this color type implies. Australian Kelpies do have this beautiful coat color though. Black and white GSDs, some mixed with brown, as well as sable patterns with the resemblance to a Panda. Merle The merle gene does not exist among German Shepherd lines in a natural form. German Shepherd Coat Types All these colors come in various coat types. Depending on your climate, you might opt for the shorter or longer version. A double coat is typical and consists of a dense outer coat and a softer undercoat. While the breed is generally easy to maintain, weekly brushing is required. Shedding season can be a disaster for some dog owners, especially those with long-haired German Shepherds. A proper diet, exercise, etc. Let me know what color your German Shepherd has or what you think is the most beautiful color on GSDs in the comments. Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet. Post navigation. In most instances, this term is used to refer to the black and tan and saddle tan or creeping tan GSD variations. But in essence, black and tan is a hue of the tan point GSD while saddle tan is a saddleback GSD both of which are classified as bicolor. Tan points are predominantly of a dark color such as black or liver with light markings of another color such as red, tan, or cream appearing as spots above the eyes, the cheeks extending to the muzzle, the chin, below the neck, as two triangles on the chest, the lower and inner legs, the underbelly, and under the tail extending to the anus. The tan points on the face can be hidden if the dog has a melanistic mask caused by another separate gene. These GSDs can also have a melanistic mask covering the face and extending to the ears. Black and tan and saddle tan are the most common GSD color variations and are both recognized and accepted colorations under the official breed standard by the major kennel clubs. Bicolor German Shepherds are a result of variations in the agouti gene. For more on the bicolor GSD, scroll on. Genes are inherited as pairs, each from one parent. In the case of bicolors, this is the agouti gene. Allele— This is a variant of a specific gene on a specific locus. In this case, Asa and At and variants of agouti on the A-locus or agouti locus. Locus pl, loci - This is a specific gene location on a DNA chain or chromosome. Eumelanin- This is one of two color pigments that make up all possible colors on all dogs. It makes up the color of all body parts including the coat, the eyes, the ears, the bones, the nails, the paws, the nose, lips, eye rims, etc. On bi-color dogs, this is the pigment that makes up the dark coat parts such as black on tan points or saddle coats. Pheomelanin- This is the other pigment that is red by default. Pheomelanin can be modified by other genes to appear tan, blonde, and creamy to almost white. It only makes up the coat color but is never found on all the other parts apart from the hair shafts. This is the pigment that appears on the light tan markings on tan point and saddleback dogs. Now would be a wise time to explain agouti and all its intricacies. On a basic level, the agouti or ASIP gene agouti signaling protein is a gene that controls pigment type switching on the coat. In truth, this gene promotes the production of red pheomelanin pigment at the cost of black eumelanin pigment. The agouti gene can also undergo mutation where it completely loses its function and allows only eumelanin pigment leading to a GSD that is fully black, liver, blue, or isabella. This is known as a missense, amorphic, or loss of function mutation but more on this in the black German Shepherd guide. Previously, there were believed to be 4 possible alleles at the A-locus and their interactions led to different agouti patterns from clear sable to fully black. But recent advancements in genetics have revealed that there are 6 possible alleles in the agouti locus that explain the full array of agouti patterns. Let me explain. By region specific, I mean modifiers that promote agouti gene action in specific parts of the coat. On the hairs on these sections, red pheomelanin pigment is predominantly produced. Its activities reduce toward the upper sections of the coat or dorsal surface. There are two known types of ventral promoters: VP1 and VP2. VP1 is more active and causes a high concentration of red to cream hair on the ventral surface. VP2 is a weaker variant that allows some hairs on the ventral surface to have dark tips or to be fully black. Hair Cycle Promoter HCP - This promoter is more active on the upper coat surface and allows switching of pheomelanin and eumelanin pigment on individual hairs leading to red and black banded hairs on the dorsal surface. HCP1 is a strong ASIP promoter that causes hair banding on the dorsal surface but with more yellow on the individual hairs, HCP2 is weaker and causes eumelanin and pheomelanin hair banding but with less yellow on the individual hairs. The lower you go on the dominance hierarchy the more eumelanin pigment is produced. Ays is the second most dominant but recessive over Ay and causes a shaded sable pattern. Aw is the third most dominant but recessive over Ay and Ays and causes the sable or agouti pattern. Asa is the fourth most dominant but recessive over Ay, Ays, and Aw and causes the saddleback, saddle tan creeping tan, or saddle blanket coloration. At is the fifth most dominant but recessive over Ay, Ays, Aw, and Asa and causes tan points to appear or the black and tan, liver and tan, blue and tan, black and white, black and red, black and cream coloration. The last allele, a, is the least dominant and causes the black German Shepherd coloration. Of interest to us in this guide is the Asa saddleback and At tan point alleles. The light color creeps up the forelegs to meet the expanding tan markings on the chest and neck. Eumelanin pigment retreats into the saddle leaving tan markings on the face, legs, and underside. A pup that had tiny tan markings becomes much lighter with a saddle going halfway down the ribs and just barely covering the hip bones. This is known as the creeping tan pattern. Saddle coat GSDs tend to have a facial or melanistic mask if the dog has a copy of the melanistic mask gene denoted as Em. These are what are known as melanistic bicolor German Shepherds. It causes the light-colored pheomelanin pigment to be restricted to the; Eyebrows above the eyes Sides of the muzzle extending to the cheeks Throat Legs particularly the lower and inner parts of the legs As two triangles on the caudal surface of the chest Underbelly Under the tail extending to the anus All the other areas are covered by solid-colored hairs with no banding. This is because as mentioned earlier HCP3 to HCP5 lose their ability to activate the agouti gene on the dorsal surface leading to predominant eumelanin pigment production. The dogs with fewer tan markings are known as ghost tan and can pass for black, liver, blue, or isabella German Shepherds. Dark hairs can cover the tan points on the face if the dog has a gene for the melanistic mask Em. Bicolor German Shepherd variations Depending on the actions and interactions with other genes, the eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments can be modified and diluted to other shades. Red pheomelanin pigment can be diluted to appear tan, cream, or almost white depending on the extent of dilution. The pigment on these bicolor GSDs is not altered by the action of other genes that modify the color pigment to another shade. They are referred to as red German Shepherds by some. These dogs have dark brown eyes, black noses, black skin, black eye rims, black lips, black nails, and black paw pads. Blue and Red German Shepherd Blue and red bicolor German Shepherds have diluted black eumelanin pigment due to the actions of the dilution gene. The dilution gene causes the dog to produce less eumelanin pigment hence the bluish appearance on areas that should have been black. All the eumelanistic coats section will appear steel blue to a paler blue-gray shade. These GSDs have hazel blue eyes, bluish skin, bluish noses, bluish eye rims, bluish lips, bluish paw pads, and light-colored nails. This is due to the actions of the brown gene that changes the structure of the black eumelanin pigment to appear brownish. All sections of the coat that should have been black will appear brown also known as liver. These GSDs have amber or hazel-green eyes, brown skin, brown nose, brown eye rims, brown lips, brown paw pads, and lighter-colored nails. Isabella and Red German Shepherd Isabella and red German Shepherds are a combination of lilac and rich red hairs making up the coat. Lilac or isabella is a shade that is caused by the action of the brown plus dilution genes. The brown gene modifies all black pigment to liver while the dilution gene reduces the intensity of the brown pigment to appear lilac or pale brown. These dogs have bluish eyes, pinkish noses, pinkish skin, pinkish eye rims, pinkish noses, pinkish lips, pinkish paw pads, and very light nails. The tan shade is caused by dilution by the intensity gene which slightly lowers the concentration of the red pigment to appear tan. These dogs are sometimes referred to as tan German Shepherds. They have dark brown eyes, black noses, black skin, black eye rims, black lips, black nails, and black paw pads. This is due to the action of the dilution and intensity genes which reduce the concentration of both pigments. These bicolors have hazel blue eyes, bluish skin, bluish noses, bluish eye rims, bluish lips, bluish paw pads, and light-colored nails. Liver and Tan German Shepherd Liver and tan bicolor German Shepherds are characterized by modified brown and diluted tan hairs. This is caused by the action of the brown gene which causes all black pigment to appear brown while the intensity gene slightly diluted the red pigment to tan. Isabella and Tan German Shepherd Isabella and tan German Shepherds consist of modified and diluted lilac and diluted tan hairs. This is caused by the action of the brown and dilution genes on the black pigment to appear light brown and the intensity gene which reduced the concentration of the red pigment to tan. They have bluish eyes, pinkish noses, pinkish skin, pinkish eye rims, pinkish noses, pinkish lips, pinkish paw pads and very light nails. Black and Cream German Shepherd Black and cream German Shepherds are characterized by rich black and diluted cream hairs. The cream shade is a result of moderate dilution of the red pigment which reduces its concentration to appear creamish yellow. These dogs are sometimes called grey German Shepherds due to the lightened cream shade. Black and White German Shepherd Black and white German Shepherds consist of unmodified black and diluted ivory white hairs. The ivory white shade is due to extensive dilution of the red pigment by the intensity gene which reduces its concentration to a high degree to appear cream white or ivory white. These dogs are also known as black and silver GSDs. Sable Vs black and tan German Shepherd Sable or agouti GSDs are characterized by banded individual hairs of light and dark color pigments. This could be black on yellow, red, or cream, liver on red, yellow, or cream, blue on red, etc. Meanwhile, black and tan German Shepherds are two-toned with black and tan markings in specific areas. The individual hairs on black and tans are mostly solid colored and not banded. Sable German Shepherds consist of mostly banded hairs on most of the body. Unlike sables, the individual hairs on saddle coats are mostly solid-colored and not banded. This cost depends on the specific shade, the breeder, the line of puppies, the location, the pedigree, and so on. Less common variations such as black and silver may be costlier than their more common black and tan counterparts. How to get a bicolor German Shepherd To get a bicolor German Shepherd puppy, the parents need to be either Asa saddleback or At tan point on the agouti locus. Asa or At should be the most dominant alleles the dogs inherit for either coloration to show. If the dog has a more dominant gene the bicolor colorations will not be visible and will be masked. Other dogs such as sable or fawn dogs can be carriers of the bicolor alleles and possibly produce bicolor puppies. This is why genetic testing is useful before breeding to have an idea of what you can expect depending on the hidden or expressed genes. German Shepherds are black and tan because of variants of the agouti gene. These variants promote the production of tan pigment on some sections of the coat. In areas where the agouti gene is turned off or inactive, black pigment is produced instead and loaded into the hair shafts hence the black and tan coloration. Are bicolor German Shepherds rare? Bicolor is the most common German Shepherd coloration or pattern and is not rare. However, some specific variations of bicolor GSDs such as black and silver, isabella and tan are less common and can be considered rare. Black and tan and black and red are the most common variations of bicolor GSDs and form the classic German Shepherd look. What breed is a black and tan German Shepherd? How big do black and tan German Shepherds get? Colors, patterns, and genes that cause them to not affect how big a dog gets. As such, black and tan German Shepherds can be as big or small as any other. They weigh between 50 and 90 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches tall as any other variation. What does a Saddleback German Shepherd look like? Saddleback German Shepherds have the classic black, liver, blue, or isabella saddles or blankets on their backs and sides with red, tan, cream, or ivory white heads, faces, undersides, and legs. Some may have dark-colored masks on their faces known as melanistic masks. Do all German Shepherds have a black saddle? While black saddles are fairly common on German Shepherds, not all of them have black saddles. Some may have liver or brown saddles, bluish saddles, or isabella-colored saddles. In addition, not all GSDs have saddle at all, to begin with. These dogs are no different from any other and are recognized and accepted under the official breed standard. Like any other GSDs, they are devoted, smart, sociable, and very trainable working and pet dogs. Did you find this guide useful? Let us know in the comment section below. There you go, WOOF! Written By: George As a dog lover, George understands how they behave and how to best take care of them. He is also well versed with various dog breeds and loves writing about them. Next » by McTagh on 25 September - I know this was discussed before.I purchased her from an awesome breeder that I had purchased my 2nd German Shepherd from a Black and Red. My breeder referred to this newest addition to our family as a Black Multi. In my research I found your site. My Porsche: A head shot, at 9 weeks 3 days old and with her ball and ready for some action. What is she besides gorgeous, of course? Many thanks to whoever can enlighten me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway she is just gorgeous, enjoy her. For future reference: The top picture is a blanket, the bottom is a bi. Yes, I know they are American examples god forbid , but no less - gets the point across. As an aside.She has far too much tan to be bi-color. Bi's have essentially black heads and nearly black bodies. But she has a lot of black for a black and tan. And her nine week old expression is exceptionally nice, in my opinion. I should have read, first. And of course Jenni78 has a good point; a breeder should have a working knowledge of color genetics -- the easiest part of the job. I would like to repeat jenn and MVF same disposition THe obvious is that this breeder sure filled this persons mind with wrong info and if a breeder by the second litter has not learned the basic color patterns ,,,,,then the rest is questionable. Sure hope poster would post a pedigree so she can get a little further info to help her do the best for this pup. Blanket Backs to be found.Bi-Colored GSD do not have the 'saddle' markings. Bi-Colored Dogs are Mostly Black. In fact, the color used to be called, "Almost Black". This is a photo of one of Tabaliah's Great x many Grand Sires from a few generations back in her pedigree that goes all the way back to the 's when the Breed Began. Note how nicely and correctly this dog is built. Tabaliah's Sire is also Bi-Colored, but also has more brown coloring on his body and face. He is Lovely too! They are NOT Black. Bi-Colored GSD have their own unique beautiful coloring. Some do this with Dark Agouti too.In the photo of Clipper standing, you can see he is a pup with nice markings. The Kennedy's were also Equestrians. Did you know that Caroline had a pony named, Macaroni!? JFK Jr. The second photo if of Teanna, another of our dogs as a puppy. She is the daughter of Titus x Texas Tea. Photo to the right.Teanna in front , 6 months old, with Tabaliah 16 months old ages at the time of photo. Do you know why that is true? You could say that these 'colored dogs' Saved The Breed! That is, the lines they came from. The Working Lines! For years the Conformational Show Ring dogs ruined the breed. That is, what Judges were looking for inside the Show Ring. Those extended and roached backs, back legs spread out so far back the hips took a hit with Hip Displasia. So where would one begin to fix that genetic mess they created? Using Working GSD of course. They stayed closer to the Standard for the Breed. Those colors are also very rich. By using these dogs to improve the Breed as a whole, the colors came with it. Photo of our own dog, Tychicus, at 5 months old. He is the son of Titus and Turquoise. Please check back later to see more. Black and Tan This is the color most of us think of when we picture a German Shepherd dog. With a rich tan undercarriage and a black face and back, this color of GSD has been around since the very first was officially registered back in Germany at the end of the 19th century. Although Horand von Grafrath was a little darker than the modern black and tan GSD, the ancestry is evident. With their luxurious white coats, these pale dogs look more like Golden Retrievers with erect ears. Despite their popularity, like the white German Shepherd, the blue has been a cause of controversion in the Shepherd world because recessive dilution gene comes with inbreeding practices and health issues. Blue German Shepherds may appear gray or even silver and are sometimes mistaken for a Blue Belgian Malinois. Isabella This unusual coat color variation is another washout as far the AKC is concerned, which is a shame given how striking it is. It originates from genetically combining liver and blue dilution genes. Like the liver and blue German Shepherd dogs, Isabella GSDs often have unusual eye coloring and different colored noses. Liver German Shepherds will usually have a brown nose. Blue German Shepherds have a blue nose. There is no evidence that the Isabella coloration makes the dog more susceptible to health issues. However, Isabella is a recessive trait. Selecting for recessive traits always limits the gene pool and makes dogs more susceptible to genetic conditions. Grey Not to be confused with the silver, black, or blue German Shepherds, the gray variety look more wolf-like with their dark coats. Some breeders specialize in producing dogs of this unusual color. Silver Similar to the gray German Shepherd, silver is nevertheless recognized as a distinct color. Often grouped together, however, the gray and silver colors are produced by the same genes. Finding a breeder that specializes in silver German Shepherds is a lot easier than finding one that focuses on the grey, so this might be your best bet if you want a more exotic-looking companion. Silver is an uncommon color for GSDs, possibly because it is a recessive gene. Similar to the dilution gene, this gene influences black pigment. While you also get silver sable German Shepherds, the patterned coats mean they are categorized as sable rather than silver. However, silver German Shepherds are often seen in military work or the police force. The red color is the result of the color gene pheomelanin. It can have any shade of red, ranging from strawberry blonde to a deep mahogany red. Alongside black and tan, the black and red combination is preferred over others by German Shepherd breeders. As black and red are both produced by dominant genes, this color combination is easier to breed for, and many breeders focus on producing purebred dogs with deep red coloring. Sable A classic color for the German Shepherd, a sable comes in a variety of colors but each hair sports a black tip. Sable GSDs can be black, gray, red, silver, or tan and are also known as agouti. Agouti is a type of coloring also present in other dogs, like the Agouti Husky. In this coloring each hair has several bands of brown and black, leading to a typical wolf-like coloration. Some founding members of the German Shepherd breed believed this should be the only color present in German Shepherds. Black sables are born as all-black pups and tri-colored sables are born as black and tan puppies. As the puppy ages, their coloring changes. Some GSDs may take as long as three years to develop their final sable coloration. As every sable GSD is different, with the color and pattern both varying, it makes for an eye-catching and unique dog. Sable is a dominant color that is easy to breed for. If you breed a Sable German Shepherd to any other color, you will likely get sable puppies. Black and Silver Much like the black and tan GSD, a black and silver German Shepherd usually has a silver saddle across its back, although the pattern and hue both vary from dog to dog. Like the silver GSD, the black and silver coloration occurs only when the recessive intensity suppression gene is present. This color is not common in the AKC show ring and can mostly be found in working dog lines. Because these dogs are not visible in the dark, it is highly advisable to only walk them on a light-up dog collar in the evenings and at night. Bicolor Bicolor German Shepherds appear almost completely black and, to fit the breed standard, must have black heads, back, legs and tail. Even if their paws are brown, the heels need to be black by the color standard definition. However, the AKC accepts bicolor as a recessive color in the breed. Though technically allowed in the show ring, these dogs are mostly found in working lines. Black and Cream The last official color on our list, the black and cream GSD remains true to its origins as a lighter version of the common red and tan coloring. There is some controversy surrounding the black and cream variation. Most AKC breeders do not want them to participate in the show ring. They strive to breed darker dogs that do not show the light cream coloring. The color does little to change their character, however, and black and cream GSDs excel obedience, nosework, rally and agility and are as loyal and brave as their black and tan cousins. Her DNA proved them wrong, although the Panda coloration remains unrecognized by some kennel clubs and breeders. The Panda GDS is created by a rare genetic mutation. The genes responsible for an all-white body and the patchy white are two different ones. This does not stop them from being popular however! There is a large demand for Panda-colored German Shepherds. Unfortunately, this inflates the price and leads breeders to focus on the color mutation rather than genetic health, so be sure to only source a puppy from a reputable breeder. Albino An albino German Shepherd is incredibly rare. An albino of any species or breed lacks any pigmentation, including of the skin, hair, and eyes as well as the blood vessels, resulting in a pinkish tinge. You can distinguish an albino German Shepherd from a white one by checking his eyes and nose. A White GDS will have some pigmentation resulting in brown eyes, whereas albinos always have red or pink eyes. An Albino GSD, should one exist, may experience other health problems associated with the condition. They may, for example, be photosensitive, requiring protection from direct sunlight. What is the Rarest Color of the German Shepherd? The rarest color of German Shepherd is the isabella due to the recessive combination of liver and blue. You will have to search for a long time to get such a puppy — and his price will likely be high as well! What is the Best Color for a German Shepherd? The best color for a German Shepherd in the show ring is black and tan, followed by sable. If you are not planning on showing your dog through the AKC, you can pick any color you like. This is not based on any actual working abilities though and more of a myth that has been passed on through generations. What is the Original Color of a German Shepherd? As German Shepherd dogs were bred as working dogs, the original breeders focused on temperature rather than appearance. The original color of working German Shepherds was sable. The most traditional color in the show ring is black and tan. While you should pick the coloring you like the most, make sure to not just choose your dog based on his looks. German Shepherds are prone to developing back and hip issues. Before buying a puppy for his color, make sure that his breeder selects for health first and color second! Otherwise you might end up with a puppy with great color but poor health … which is never a good thing. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day.
what to look for when buying a labrador puppy - Use the same commands and cues consistently. Improved obedience and communication. Reward good behavior with treats and praise. A motivated and happy pup. Socialization Introduce your pup to various people and dogs in a slow, positive manner. Well-adjusted and confident around others. Structured Play Mental stimulation and reduced boredom. Leash Training Teach leash manners to enjoy peaceful walks. Enjoyable walks with your well-behaved companion. Obedience Classes Enroll in obedience classes for professional guidance. Enhanced training skills and socialization. Training a 6-month-old German Shepherd puppy involves consistent positive reinforcement methods. Start with basic commands like sit, stay, and come. Use rewards like treats and praise to encourage desired behavior, and keep training sessions short and engaging. Socialization with other dogs and people is essential, and enrolling in puppy training classes can provide structured guidance. Use these puppy training tips to have less stress with your puppy: 1. Stay on top of their exercise needs. Your GSD needs the proper exercise. Increase exercise slowly to avoid an injury that comes from too much impact on unfused joints and bones. While your puppy still lacks maturity and focus, you can increase training to help teach your dog obedience skills. Increase daily obedience and practice to help them learn training basics. Your beautiful German Shepherd puppy will grow very quickly! Teaching them when they are puppies will pay off for the rest of their life. Simple training should start the moment your puppy arrives home. Using the same word for the same activities will help them learn quickly. Give them the right chew toys. Your pup needs balls and toys that are safe and chew-worthy. Look for more indestructible toys to keep your German Shepherd busy and continue to offer chew treats to work their jaws. Find the right chews for you puppy so you minimize the potential for choking and their jaws get a good workout. Use some of these balls for German Shepherd puppies as a distraction toy to get their focus away from your fingers and onto the toy. Giving your puppy a chew toy when they are biting an unapproved item redirects their attention to the right item. Include mental stimulation for their minds. This puppy needs mental stimulation to help them exercise their brilliant minds. This intelligent dog need more than physical exercise. Their minds need to learn and become involved in their world in new and interesting ways. There are many ways you can include mental stimulation. Many of these ways involve teaching a new brain challenge or mental game. Keep them supervised. Even a young GSD can cause lots of trouble when left unsupervised. If your once potty-trained pup has now forgotten their potty manners, then use pet-safe baby gates to contain them or leash them to you to supervise their actions at all times. Pet safe gates like these allow your dog to still see you and feel they have watched over their family. Pet gates are a safe option that prevents your dog from getting its head stuck or worse. Shutting a German Shepherd behind a closed door increases their anxiety and can make unwanted behavior worse! Instead, use the baby gate in a safe area to give them less run of your house. Behaviors you like can improve daily. Every day is an opportunity for you to become a more successful leader. For example: If they want to go outside ask them for a sit first. If they bring you a ball to throw, ask for a down before you engage in play. Setting up expectations of accepted behavior helps them learn how to behave more appropriately. And these successful moments can help speed up how long it takes to train a German Shepherd. Even tiny successes are great confidence builders for your puppy and for you. These bursts of training are easier for your pup to understand. The most telling sign of your little puppy growing up is unpredictable behaviors. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but in a furry adorable body! Hormones, rebellion, confusion, and curiosity all add up to puppy puberty. But with the proper home management techniques and setting expectations, you can overcome these common puppyhood challenges. And my short Happy Puppy Guide is packed with helpful tips and tricks to ensure your furry friend grows up to be a happy and well-behaved companion. Your 6-month-old German Shepherd will thank you for it. I fetched it for you right here! She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. They are also intelligent and have their own unique personality traits. Many of their behaviors develop due to how they are raised, their training or lack thereof, the environment they live in, other dogs in the house, and their breeding. However, some dog behaviors are more innate and instinctual, such as these: 1. According to Jill Goldman, Ph. Leading the way German shepherds are working dogs bred to herd and guard sheep. It is natural for them to be out in front to lead and protect the flock, or you, their owner. When they walk in front of you, they are doing their job and staying between you and any threats that may come along. The stare can signal that the dog is ready to bolt toward something, bite, or that they are in guarding mode. This intense stare may be the only warning they give before taking action. Softly gazing at you When your German shepherd gazes at you, they are reading your body language, watching you for clues, and communicating how much they love you. It can mean they are desiring attention yet at the same time, are relaxed and not going to do anything. Dogs can open their eyes wide like this when they are nervous, stressed, or anxious. If you see your dog looking at someone or something with whale eyes, it means they are highly uncomfortable and you should intervene in the situation. Next time you take your dog to a new place, to meet new people, or to the vet, notice if they begin yawning. Butt scooting If your German shepherd starts scooting their butt along the ground it could mean they have full anal glands, an infection, an itch, irritation, worms, or that want to wipe their butt. Spinning before going poop If your dog is picky about its spot then spins before going poop, you can look to science for the reason. Apparently, dogs use the magnetic field of the earth to determine where they go. According to the study published in the Journal Frontiers in Zoology, dogs prefer to poop in a north-south axis. The study examined 37 dog breeds, urinations, and defecations before coming to this conclusion. Sleeping on your clothes German shepherds are fondly called Velcro dogs for a reason. They love being close to their owners. Following you to the bathroom German shepherds like to follow their owners everywhere, including the bathroom. Twitching when they sleep German shepherds can dream when they reach REM sleep, much like humans. When they begin to twitch or move their paws in their sleep, they are probably dreaming. Licking you German shepherds are very loving and often give their owners kisses. It can also be their way of grooming you or licking salt or lotion off your skin. Some biologist believes this licking behavior is an instinct left over from wolves, whose young will lick them to cause them to vomit up a meal for the pups to eat. Curling up in a circle when they sleep If your German shepherd sleeps in a donut shape also known as the fuzzy bagel, they might be cold and trying to keep their vital organs warm. They also may instinctively be protecting those same organs from predators, while they sleep. These dogs also are prone to separation anxiety and their destruction of furniture or their crate can be a sign that they need more from their owner and their needs are not being met. Bringing you gifts If your dog brings you a toy or bone, they are giving you a gift. Howling When a dog howls, they are communicating or responding to a sound. They can also be trying to attract your attention because something is amiss or they need help. They may also howl when they hear a siren because siren sounds are on the same frequency. Sitting on your feet When your German shepherd sits on your feet they may be just trying to be close to you. However, they might also be sending a signal to other people and dogs that says, this human is mine, go get your own. Licking lips or flicking tongue If your German shepherd starts licking their lips or flicking their tongue for no apparent reason, you need to pay attention. Sighs and huffs German shepherds are super smart and great at communicating. Rolling in the grass Have you caught your German shepherd rolling in the grass after a nice bath? The grass may also be scathing an itch and when the ground is warm, it feels good. Hunched over German shepherds are confident, bold dogs and not usually found hunched over. If you suddenly find your shepherd is hunched over, it could mean that they are trying to make themselves appear smaller, are feeling shy, are scared, or are feeling abused. Eating poop If your German shepherd eats poop, it may mean they need something in their diet. It can also be behavioral. Dogs that live in squalor are also more likely to eat poop. Please pass them along to your German shepherd loving friends. November 8, In search of a new forever best friend? Not sure what puppy breed works best for you and your family? The German Shepherd Dog, one of the top ten popular breeds in the United States, is known for their regal appearance, bravery, intelligence, and noble character. They are hard-working dogs that fit into a variety of service jobs, but can also be amazing family dogs, making them an all-around great breed for dog lovers! How do you know if the German Shepherd Dog is the right fit for you and your family? German Shepherd Dogs are a younger breed that started in Germany in by Captain Max Von Stephanitz who sought to create an unmatched herding dog. But as Germany became more and more industrialized, the breed shifted from herding work to police and military training. Hundreds of these dogs made their way to the United States during WWI, one such being a small five-day-old puppy that was rescued from a destroyed kennel in France and brought home to the states to Los Angeles. This puppy later grew up to be one of the most famous four-legged movie stars, Rin Tin Tin, starring in 26 movies, forever making the German Shepherd Dog breed a popular choice in the nation! If you are looking for an attractive dog, look no further! German Shepherd Dogs have beautiful coats, strong muscular builds, a square muzzle, long bushy tail, and a black mask. Some colors like red and black, or tan and black, have distinct markings such as saddle or blanket on their back. However, German Shepherd Dogs come in a variety of colors: sable, silver, liver, panda, solid black, and solid white. What are German Shepherd Dog Personalities like? German Shepherd Dogs can be reserved, often appearing aloof toward new people, but this very loyal breed loves their families and can be very affectionate. While they can be wary of new people and protective of their family, with the right socialization, German Shepherd Dogs can be friendly and easy-going. They are an intelligent and high-energy breed that thrives with a job to do. Due to this, without the proper or consistent amount of stimulating work, they can easily become bored and frustrated. Those feelings could translate into behaviors like barking, howling, or chewing. As they get older, they'll equally enjoy relaxing with you at home and getting up with you to do the next fun activity! If you are a lover of going for long walks or runs, enjoy hiking on the weekends, or trips to the beach depending on where you live, a German Shepherd Dog will gladly trot alongside you! German Shepherd Dogs while they can be independent, do crave to be with their family and offer great companionship. With crate training, your German Shepherd puppy will learn to adapt to being left alone for periods of time without developing separation anxiety, however, this breed thrives with interaction and will do best a puppy parent that can provide them with a balanced amount of alone and accompanied time throughout the day. Like many large breed dogs, German Shepherd Dogs can suffer from some common illnesses including hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy, degenerative spinal stenosis, and Von Willebrand disease. Thankfully, responsible breeders today have bred out many of these and improved the health of the breed significantly! When you bring home your new German Shepherd puppy, schedule their first veterinarian visit to discuss appropriate health care, proper nutrition and supplements, and exercise. German Shepherd Dogs tend to shed regularly and heavily twice in the year during the Spring and Fall season. With soft undercoats and harsher topcoats, they would do best with regular brushing once a week will help remove their dead fur and maintain healthy skin! Note: When looking for a reputable German Shepherd Dog breeder, go through an accredited website such as AKC for their breeder locator. Additionally, many pure-breed and mixed German Shepherds are available in rescues and shelters for adoption! German Shepherds are smart and hard-working, so puppy training will not only provide them with the stimulation they crave but also solidify your communication, trust, and overall relationship! Early puppy training Lay the foundation for good behavior the day your puppy comes home, introducing them to basic obedience. Keeping your puppy on a leash at home while under supervision will help to build their focus on you as their leader and also help keep them from darting away. Soon, build up to more obedience training commands, work on their focus through distractions, and start to introduce training in different locations such as your yard, or neighborhood to solidify their communication with you in any situation. Also, check out the rest of our Puppy Training and Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners series to guide you through what to train your puppy next, how to troubleshoot, and other important topics every puppy owner should know! Going back to their wilder instincts, puppies will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep. Crate training your German Shepherd Dog puppy will help boost their confidence and resilience while learning to be alone at home. Socialization is a must German Shepherd Dogs are natural protectors and benefit greatly from being socialized with other dogs, people, new places, textures, and sounds. When done correctly, s ocialization helps teach your puppy the proper way to greet people, other dogs and create boundaries. During socialization sessions, you can work with your puppy on barking or jumping, which are common puppy behaviors when they are excited or over-stimulated when meeting strangers. And if you're not sure how to do this on your own, hire a local puppy trainer to help set you up for the best success! Consider advanced training to keep them engaged German Shepherd Dogs are very intelligent and have high-prey drives which mean they love to work! Along with basic obedience, dog sports like agility are a great way to motivate them and help your puppy work out their energy. Agility helps establish a stronger communication bond through body language while your puppy is participating. Developed as part of K9 and military dog training, this is a perfect activity for your German Shepherd to burn off some mental and physical steam! Did you recently bring home a German Shepherd Dog puppy? Are you still planning and not sure what breed fits your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments! Check out these blogs related to puppy training and more! They are a very smart, bold, and determined breed. To ensure that your German Shepherd is a happy, well-adjusted member of your household, your dog must receive the attention and exercise they need. They are also very strong willed with a dominant nature, so they also require a lot of training. For your family and children, a German Shepherd is an excellent choice as a caring companion. They are loyal, friendly, smart, and naturally protective; however, German Shepherds also need lots of socialization and good training to become obedient. If they do not get proper behavioral training, they can develop overly protective behaviors and neurotic habits. Because they are so protective, excel at many dog sports, and are exceptionally loyal, the military and police choose them protect and serve their communities and country. You might be wondering: what characteristics should I be looking for in my German Shepherd? Well, the answer may vary between different buyers, but generally speaking, you should look for a smart, loyal, and healthy dog. This is the reason that they are used in police work such as search-and-rescue, or sniffing out bombs and criminals. But their intelligence can sometimes lead to problematic behaviors. However, if they receive proper training at a young age , then they will not exercise this type of behavior. Over-Protectiveness German Shepherds are typically protective dogs, and they always make sure to care for their family, but sometimes this protectiveness leads to bigger problems. For instance, they might aggressively bark at everyone you come in contact with. It is also crucial to give your dog time to socialize with other people and dogs early on, as this will get them comfortable being around others. Giving them time to interact with others at a young age will help them learn how to handle certain situations later on. North Mountain Kennels can do all these things for any prospective buyer! Territorial Aggression Your German Shepherd not only protects you, but they also protect their territory. They are very territorial animals, which is why they are often used as security dogs. Because they are so protective of territory that they believe to be theirs, it may lead them to act out, which can cause an unsafe environment. German Shepherds can also become territorial over food, and toys. They will show aggression by growling, lunging, and barking at other animals and people. There are plenty of ways to prevent this aggressive behavior from developing, but the most common way is to gratify them for calm behavior. Digging or Destructiveness German Shepherds need rigorous physical and mental exercise. These dogs get bored easily, and this can lead to destructive behavior. You can help your dogs by playing with them, or giving training that will help them to reduce their boredom in less destructive ways. Nipping Puppies usually start nipping between five and nine months old. This is considered normal behavior for young dogs; however, German Shepherds are very strong, so it might hurt a lot more than a smaller dog. The solution is as simple as giving your dog some toys. Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is common in dogs that are close to their owners. They do require a lot of attention, and being gone for long periods of time can stress them out. Leaving them lots of toys is one way to help, but it also comes down to them adjusting to you being gone. Showing Dominance German Shepherds are known for their alpha male behavior. To prevent this type of behavior, you need to teach them obedience. Being aggressive with them is the worst thing you could do. Not only is it wrong to mistreat your dog, but it will also teach them that aggressive behavior is okay. Conclusion German Shepherds absorb information like a sponge. They are quick learners, especially as puppies. As they get older, it is harder to break bad habits. Here at North Mountain Kennels, we have been raising some of the smartest and healthiest German Shepherds for years. We have a team of professional trainers who are experienced in what they do. Our team of experts is the best around, and know everything when it comes to training German Shepherds. Recent Posts. To those of you that are wary of the German shepherd dog breed, I understand where you are coming from, too! Aggressive German Shepherd behavior — a common association with this breed — terrifies some people because they feel that German Shepherds are dangerous dogs to own. First off, they are very large dogs and can come off very intimidating. They can become very protective, aggressive, and scary dogs. The key word here is untrained. Any untrained dog—regardless of breed—can have the same behavioral problems. Understanding German Shepherd Behavior Better German Shepherd behavior has always been portrayed in the media as one filled with aggression, disobedience, and unpredictability. In fact, I have personally fallen in love with this breed. Their personality is terrific! If you are someone who fears this breed, are one of the pet parents looking for help and direction with your dog, or you know someone who is wary of German Shepherds, then this honest truth about this lovely breed might change your mind. The German shepherd breed originated in Germany. No surprises there. But, believe it or not, their name was changed soon after the war. Before the war this breed was commonly called the Alsatian in Great Britain and parts of Europe. There are still parts of Europe that refer to the German shepherd as the Alsatian; however, most of the world has converted back to calling them German shepherds. Pretty interesting, right? As for life expectancy, German shepherds normally live for around years. The color of a German shepherd can range considerably from gray to black to tan, and even a silvery color. The males grow to be approximately 24 inches at the shoulder. Females tend to be a little shorter, measuring around 22 inches at the shoulder. As for weight, males average around 80 pounds and the females are a bit lighter at around 60 pounds. There is no denying that these are big dogs! The German shepherd dog breed does not only come with a big size; they have big, complex personality traits that can fascinate and overwhelm pet parents. The German Shepherd breed can be classified as guard dogs and working dogs. These dogs are bred to be confident and powerful — two personality traits which often scare people away from wanting anything to do with the breed. Physical Characteristics of the German Shepherd They have strong muscles. All dog breeds require proper training and daily handling. This is especially true when your dog is a puppy. Proper training can prevent a lot of behavior issues down the road. If you have a puppy, I encourage you to check out my Puppy Coach training program. German Shepherds can turn out to be incredibly beautiful, gentle, and loving family pets with work and effort! But today, I want to share what my general experiences with German shepherds have been like. I can confidently say that the breed description given to German shepherds is pretty accurate. I have encountered German Shepherds who are physically and mentally strong, and courageous! They all seem to have a deep desire to connect with you, work for you, and do a great job. Training your aggressive, confident dog? They possess a strong desire to learn and excel in various tasks. Understand that their intelligence needs to be channeled through training and mental stimulation. Provide them with consistent training sessions, engage them in interactive games, and offer challenging tasks to keep their minds engaged. Personality 2: German Shepherds Are Naturally Protective German Shepherds have a natural instinct to protect their family and territory. This protective nature can manifest as alertness, watchfulness, and sometimes even suspicion of strangers. This prevents excessive guarding behavior and promote a well-rounded and friendly temperament. Originally bred as working dogs, they excel in various roles such as search and rescue, police and military work. Some also work as service or therapy dogs. Engage their intelligence and energy by providing them with tasks, training exercises, or even participation in dog sports. This helps them feel fulfilled and prevents boredom-related behaviors. Personality 4: They Require Socialization and Proper Introduction While German Shepherds are known for their loyalty and strong bonds with their families, they can be reserved or aloof with strangers. Early and positive socialization is crucial to ensure they develop good manners and friendly behavior towards unfamiliar people and animals. Gradual exposure to different situations and positive reinforcement will help them become confident and well-adjusted in various environments. They require companionship, attention, and quality time with their family members. Make them an integral part of your daily life! Involve them in activities, and provide regular opportunities for interaction, training, and play. This bond and sense of belonging are essential for their happiness and well-being. These dogs have a natural inclination to follow a confident and assertive leader. Establishing yourself as the pack leader through consistent rules, boundaries, and clear communication allows your German Shepherd to feel secure and reduces behavioral issues. A strong leader provides the guidance and structure that these intelligent and loyal dogs need to flourish. Debunking Myths About German Shepherd Behavior The strong, intimidating build of the German Shepherd breed often comes with myths and misconceptions that might stop you from really knowing these amazing dogs! However, with proper care, training, and socialization, German Shepherds can be gentle, loyal, and loving companions. Myth 2: German Shepherds Are Only Suitable As Working Dogs Debunked: While German Shepherds excel in various working roles, such as police and military work, search and rescue, and service dogs, they are also wonderful family pets. They can adapt to different environments and thrive with proper exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. They have a strong desire to please their owners, making them quick learners. Consistent positive reinforcement training methods, such as reward-based training, can help them excel in obedience, agility, and various other activities. Early socialization and supervised interactions are key to fostering positive relationships between German Shepherds and other family members, including children and other animals. Early training, positive reinforcement, and gradually increasing alone time can help prevent or alleviate separation anxiety in German Shepherds. While they are often described as loyal and protective, each German Shepherd may have its unique characteristics and temperament. They have a code or a set of rules, which they follow. He was ready to hand him over to another family because he felt that his dog had tasted blood and that was the end of him as a good dog. We both knew his beloved family pet was great — giving up was not an option that time! I decided to step in and explain a little bit about why his German shepherd had actually bitten another animal — a sheep he owned — that he decided to keep the dog. He basically had the German Shepherd and a sheep—believe it or not—almost feeding from the same bowl so it was a recipe for disaster. Definitely made sure to remind him that he needed to pull his socks up as a dog owner and start putting into place some really simple training techniques, and it was very effective. He was still an amazing dog deep down, but you needed to know what you were doing! I could certainly see myself ending up with one in the future. I would fully trust this breed around my kids, my wife, and my other dogs. And yes, I have proven the German Shepherds also make the perfect family pet! Like I said, with proper training and boundaries put in place, German Shepherds are beautiful, friendly dogs. Here are some common German Shepherd behavior problems you should catch on early. Why The German Shepherd Breed Is Protective Over the last century, German Shepherds have been used for tracking, search and rescue—especially as police dogs— and protection and guarding. This dog breed produces most military dogs! Their strength, size, intelligence, and confidence make them excellent police dogs and military dogs… but the same qualities can also trigger potential German Shepherd behavior issues. German Shepherd Behavior Problem 1: Fierce Aggression One of the first common problems for German Shepherds revolves around aggression and the need to protect. They will continue to do problematic stuff, until you step in! Yes, Yes You Can! German Shepherd aggression can be untrained. German Shepherd Behavior Problem 2: Leash Pulling Another German Shepherd behavior problem —which I think is probably due to the determined nature of the German shepherd and their size—is pulling on the leash. When a German Shepherd wants to pull, they are very strong, obviously due to their physical design. My dog experience made me realize that you can effectively address leash problems in German Shepherds through basic training and a good sturdy harness. German Shepherd Behavior Problem 3: Nipping and Biting The third most common issue I come across with this breed is biting and nipping, especially with adolescent German Shepherds that are around 6 or 7 months of age. Here are some ways you can follow to prevent this problem from escalating! German Shepherds are big dogs, so this issue might seem scarier with this breed. I totally understand that. Make it clear from the get-go that biting hands, arms, legs, etc. And for those of you that are wondering, nipping and biting should really stop at or before 4 months of age. When this breed is left alone, they can become very stressed with separation anxiety. The number one cause of German Shepherd separation anxiety their fierce loyalty to their humans and their desire to stay close to and protect their pack. When a German Shepherd is stressed out due to separation anxiety, he may show a variety of different behavioral problems like digging holes, trying to escape, or barking. You have to remember that these problems related to separation anxiety are caused by anxiety. These problems are annoying, frustrating, and should not be acceptable, but they do happen out of love. Once again, many dog breeds suffer from separation anxiety and will show the exact same behaviors when left alone. This is where the training comes in. And like wolves, all dogs have a family pack mentality and a desire to protect and look after and love each other. I would say the German Shepherd follows that dog code to the letter of the law. So, if you want to have a good German Shepherd, you really need to understand the rules of the dog code—and you need to learn those rules quickly. A lot of people know how to play chess, but there are masters and then there are grandmasters, and it just seems to me that German Shepherds are the grandmasters of this dog code. They will take you to the next level, and you make your move, and they will do something else to outwit you. If you are looking for a comprehensive training program for your German Shepherd pup or a comprehensive training program to stop any of the above listed issues, then be sure to check out my online training program—The Dog Calming Code. In the program, I give you solutions to a bunch of different dog trainer problems, from fixing aggressive behavior and leash training to recall training and puppy training. I hope that you now know a little bit more about their history and why they behave the way that they do. Please share your story in the comments below! His goal is to continue to share his unique approach to dog training with like-minded people who wish to make a difference in the world of dogs. His training methods focus on creating and building the connection between dogs and dog owners, and are shared and used around the world. My next-door neighbor had two that they left in the backyard to their own devices. They would dig up their backyard, bark agressively at anyone who walked by and sometimes even get out of their yard which was scary. German Shepherds are smart, loyal, naturally protective, and friendly. Without proper training and socialization, German Shepherds can develop nervous habits and overly-protective behaviors, just like most breeds. You might be wondering: What traits should I be watching for in my German Shepherd puppy? This intelligence, when left to its own devices, can lead to problematic behaviors. With early training and socialization though, you can help to prevent some of these common issues from coming up. A few of the most common include: Over-Protectiveness — German Shepherds are naturally protective. They want to protect the family unit. This protectiveness can become problematic if it manifests as aggression towards strangers or other animals. Examples include lunging at the mailman, or aggressive barking at passers-by. Introduce them to new people, new situations, and new noises. Socialization helps your puppy develop confidence and to learn what types of people and situations are non-threatening. Unfortunately, when they become over-territorial, this can be unsafe for visitors. Often, too, Shepherds can become territorial over food, growling, barking or lunging at anyone or other animals that come into their space. Exercise, obedience training, and rewarding calm behavior can all help to alleviate territorial aggression. Digging or Destructiveness — German Shepherds, require rigorous mental and physical exercise. They get bored very quickly, and often, this boredom manifests itself in destructive behavior. When bored, your pup might try to seek attention too, another common reason for the destructive behavior, like digging excessively or chewing up a shoe. Providing daily physical exercise, as well as training mental activity can help prevent boredom. Nipping — Many young dog breeds nip starting at around 6 to 9 months old. This is fairly typical behavior, but with Shepherds, it can be a bit scarier as get bigger. Separation Anxiety — German Shepherds, love you and want to always be by your side! Unfortunately, work and vacation make that impossible. You might also start with shorter trips when you first bring your pup home. Obedience training is imperative, and you should include your whole family in the training process. This will help your dog learn that he is not the alpha. Ultimately, the best way to weed out problematic behaviors is to start a training regime very early. German Shepherd puppies want to learn and put their intelligence to good use. Owners must be consistent in their training. Using the right cues, rewarding the right behaviors, and communicating with your dog properly is very important. The best way is to learn the right way to train a pup is to seek the help of a German Shepherd trainer. Taking a course teach you how to properly communicate with your dog and provide you with techniques to redirect negative behaviors. It starts with the breeder. Find a breeder that breeds for temperament and health. The best breeders take great care to produce animals that are calm, confident and loving. It requires careful pedigree planning and selecting the right sire dad and dam mom who show well-adjusted temperaments. Similarly, the best breeders will also be happy to provide a pedigree for the animal and are glad to answer the phone when you have any training concerns. For more information or if you may have questions, please contact us here.
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what to look for when buying a labrador puppy - If you click and purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Goldendoodle Puppies In Los Angeles It might seem at first that Goldendoodle puppies are becoming so popular that every other person or pet store claims to be a Goldendoodle breeder in Los Angeles. Well, that could not be farther from the truth, since not all breeders are cut from the same cloth. In the last decade alone, Goldendoodles have become so popular. Puppy mills are notorious for breeding unhealthy puppies from unhealthy parents, while Doodle scammers will take your money, while leaving you empty handed with no money and no puppy. Although it might cost you a fraction to adopt a puppy from these breeders, it will cost you a ton more in cash and mental strain to take care of a puppy that comes from a seedy background. Responsible and reputable breeders dedicate a lot of time and resources into breeding healthy Goldendoodle puppies from only healthy parent dogs. With genetic testing, ethical breeders can and will! Just as important is to opt for breeders who offer at least a two-year health guarantee for their litters. Health guarantees do not cover injuries from accidents or diseases stemming from poor diet or living conditions. Unfortunately, there are countless breeders who claim to breed only healthy pups, but provide absolutely no proof of their health and genetic testing, not to mention health guarantees. Another tip is to check if the breeder is mentioned on the GoodDog website, which ranks reputable breeders who take extra good care of their parents and puppies. Check their reviews on Google, Yelp, and other online communities and forums like here at Doodle Doods. Ask around in your neighborhood, family, and friends. Additionally, you might be interested in buying a Goldendoodle in Los Angeles from a breeder who has at least a few years of experience and a proven track record. However, experienced breeders are usually well-versed in their job and already know what to expect and how to successfully breed and raise healthy new litters. This exceptional breeder strives to breed only healthy puppies from carefully selected parent dogs. The main focus is on health and genetic testing, but also providing the puppies a loving home environment before going to their families. What Makes This Breeder Unique? New litters also get their first vaccines, shots, and dewormings, along with microchips with prepaid lifetime registration. Waitlist: Yes. Take a closer look to see our upcoming litters and see if you can spot your paw-fect match! At doodlesla.Size Doesn't matter. No matter the size, all goldendoodles can range in color from an apricot red, sandy tan, pale cream, white, black or parti-colored. Their fur can range in texture from straight to curly and everything in between. The best part - they are hypoallergenic, meaning they do NOT shed! Additionally, one of the more common personality traits of the goldendoodle is their friendly and social demeanor. They are notorious for their ability to get along with other animals and people of all ages! Micro Goldendoodle are a cross between a toy or teacup poodle and a golden retriever. Fully grown, they typically weigh between pounds and stand at about 14 inches tall. Mini-Medium Goldendoodles a bit larger in size and can weigh anywhere between pounds. Standard Goldendoodles are the largest goldendoodle size if have your heart set on a bit of a bigger dog. They typically weigh between pounds and stand at about 17 to 20 inches tall. How It Works DoodlesLA is more than just finding the perfect match between a doodle and a forever family. Our process is uniquely tailored to both serving our doodles and what is best for them, as well as ensuring that their future families are well taken care of along the way. Upon showing interest in making your home just a little bit brighter with a doodle puppy, someone from our team will reach out to start our initial match-up process. If you decide to move forward with DoodlesLA, we'll send over a schedule including a welcome kit, adoption agreement, shopping list and lots of other information to get you all set up and prepare for the big day! Let the adventure begin! Once you have selected your pup, we will review the schedule with you so that we are able to set expectations with you and meet them every step of the way! We will run through all pertinant information with you including what to expect in the intial days and how to make it a smooth transition. Take a look at some of our DoodlesLA families whose lives got a little brighter with their newest furry additions. Windsong breeds Goldendoodle puppies that are healthy, happy, and well-socialized. We help each family select the right puppy for their lifestyle while keeping the individual needs of each puppy in mind as well. Love Our babies receive round-the-clock care from birth until they join their new family at 8 weeks. In fact, our babies spend the first weeks in our master bedroom as this makes for easy nighttime checks! They are loved on from their first day of life by children, cats, and most of all me! At 4 weeks they move to my living room where they can observe and interact more closely with our family. Health A high-quality diet, proper supplements, and the necessary genetic testing is our key to raising healthy puppies. We are passionate about health and are proud to offer a 2-year health guarantee on all our puppies. More info Happiness The happiness and well-being of our moms, dads, and puppies are extremely important to us. All of our breeding dogs live in our home or in loving guardian homes with their forever families. We believe there is a right and wrong way to breed. We are not a kennel, all of our dogs are well-cared for and cherished family members.