where to buy german shepherd puppy

Females: pounds. Height Males: inches. Females: inches. Unlike most herding breeds, the German Shepherd was bred to move the herd and patrol and protect both the herd and the shepherd from outside dangers and predators. The test consisted of basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, and retrieve and also included a section where the dog had to attack on command. If the dog failed the test, he could not be bred. The results of the Schutzhund trial can be seen in the intelligent and versatile modern-day German Shepherd. Today, the German Shepherd has proven to be a very adaptable breed. They can do nearly anything, including protecting sheep, guarding homes, assisting the disabled, aiding the police in search and rescue missions, and, most importantly, loving and loyally serving their family. Breed Characteristics Head: Somewhat mesaticephalic to slightly dolichocephalic skull-type, moderate in size, somewhat long, yet wedge-shaped when viewed from above or in profile. It is in proportion to the rest of the body. The length of the head, from the tip of the nose to the occiput, is approximately equal to the length from the occiput to the withers. The topskull is broad, measured in front of the ears; it is as wide as it is long from occiput to stop. In profile, the forehead is just slightly arched never domed from the front or in profile. In profile, it may also appear as a straight-sloped plane. A furrow extending from the stop and up the center of the topskull may be absent or barely perceptible. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles. Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to open almond in shape, and may be set slightly oblique. They are medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes should never be large and round or with exposed whites. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes. Ears: Medium in size, firmly erect, thick-leathered, and set high on the skull. When alert, they face forward, in repose, or in motion; they may be held back, neutral, or in a relaxed position. The ears are never long, overly large, tipped, drooped, rounded, or broken. Muzzle: The muzzle is long, full, broad, and deep, never snipy, weak, or boxy from pendulous flews. The upper and lower jaws are equal in length, have good bone substance, appear strong and well-developed, and are never snipey or weak. The nasal bridge is fairly straight. The muzzle is equal in length to the topskull. The jaws are powerfully developed and strong. Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black or self-colored according to the coat in non-standard color varieties. The nostrils are well-opened and broad. Neck: Moderate length allows for a proud head carriage. Strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap. Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The forechest is well-developed yet not overly protrusive. Body: Strong, deep, of good substance, and powerfully muscled. The body should allow for strength, agility, stamina, and endurance. The body is never light, weedy, racy, rangy, heavy, or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters. Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads. Tail: Set neither high nor low on the croup. It is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints or lower when held down. The tail may be straight, gently curved, or curved toward the tip. Movement: The original function of the German Shepherd required that the dog be capable of trotting tirelessly and effortlessly for long distances, as well as allowing for power and agility. Therefore, the German Shepherd must exhibit healthy trotting action. Therefore, a standard trot will be favored over the over-extended flying trot. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the center line of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and a good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring. Temperament: The German Shepherd breed is strong-nerved, fearless, self-assured, self-composed, confident, watchful, poised, and alert when necessary. They should never be timid, shy, nervous, anxious, or overly fearful including fear-aggressive. The breed is physically capable of speed, power, agility, and endurance and is self-aware enough to know their capabilities and limits. This offers them a great deal of confidence. The German Shepherd is an extremely intelligent breed, capable of learning and discerning many tasks and activities. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed. The ideal body-height-to-length ratio is approximately , with the body exceeding the height by percent. The body is deep, of good substance, and solid in bone. The German Shepherd is always presented in a hard-working condition. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height. The intermediate-sized German Shepherd excels at physically demanding tasks. Head General Appearance: Somewhat mesaticephalic to slightly dolichocephalic skull-type, moderate in size, somewhat long, yet wedge-shaped when viewed from above or in profile. Expression: Confident, keen, noble, watchful, and anticipating. Stop: The stop is sloping yet definite and never overly pronounced or sharp. Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is , with the topskull being equal in length to the muzzle. The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel or may be just slightly convergent. Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws, revealing the wedged shape of the strongly defined muzzle. The lips are never loose or pendulous. The lips and flews are well-pigmented. Cheeks: Powerfully muscled, giving substance to the face, but never excessively protrusive. The cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse. Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized. Body and Tail General Description: Strong, deep, of good substance, and powerfully muscled. Topline: Straight and level from slightly prominent withers to loin. The back is broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is taut and may be flat and level preferred or just slightly sloped yet supportive. Croup: Broad and long. It may be somewhat flat and level with the back or just slightly and gently sloped, no more than 23 degrees to the horizontal. Underline: There may be a slight tucked-up present or level to the horizon. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight. Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, oval-shaped, and never barrel-chested or slab-sided. Forequarters and Hindquarters Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm. Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The distance from the withers to the brisket may be equal to or greater than the distance from the elbows to the ground. Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of solid bone, and parallel to one another. Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns. Pasterns: Never weak or broken. Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of solid bone, and well-muscled. Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another. Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. An unexaggerated German Shepherd dog should be capable of standing in a traditional stack used for any other working breed, with both rear pasterns set naturally under the dog, parallel to one another. Preference is given to dogs capable of stacking naturally in a traditional stack as opposed to the GSD stack. Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump, or within one paw-length behind the point of the rump, with both rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns. Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. Coat Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog. Coat Type: The German Shepherd comes in two coat varieties: the standard smooth coat and the long coat. Smooth-coat variety: Very dense, harsh, close-fitting outer coat. Soft, dense undercoat. Short on the head, face, ears, and front of the legs, paws, and toes. The hair is slightly longer on the backside of the legs, forming moderate "trousers," and on the neck, forming a slight ruff. Long-coat variety: Dense, soft, long guard hairs, forming fringe on ears, tail, and legs, forming bushy trousers on the backside of haunches. Short on head, face, the front side of legs, paws, and toes. Longer on the coat, nearly forming a mane. Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes three color varieties of the German Shepherd breed: the standard, the nonstandard, and the white. Standard coat color variety: Solid black, black saddle with tan, black with tan points, black with running or creeping tan, all shades of agouti, wolf-sable, all shades of sable, fawn, all with or without reserved black mask. Non-standard coat color variety: Liver, blue, brindle, brindled tan, brindled tan points, fawn with liver, or blue mask. Any of the standard or non-standard varieties with or without white markings Panda. White: Solid white with black points. Movement The original function of the German Shepherd required that the dog be capable of trotting tirelessly and effortlessly for long distances, as well as allowing for power and agility. Temperament The German Shepherd breed is strong-nerved, fearless, self-assured, self-composed, confident, watchful, poised, and alert when necessary. Faults All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles. Cloud, MN dedicated to breeding outstanding show, performance, and companion dogs. Breeder, Dr. Our breeding program is based on our core values: Soundness, Performance, Beauty, and Style in that order. Our dogs are protective, not aggressive. They are motivated to perform, but are not endlessly demanding. Show, performance, and companion puppies will be available in the winter, spring, and summer of .The puppy contract includes a health guarantee. Applications, and deposits from approved buyers, are being accepted now. See the Puppies page on our website for the puppy application and for pictures of the sires and dams, along with litter pedigrees of planned litters. Please submit the application as directed on the website, before contacting me about puppy availability. We will have solid black, and black and tan, puppies available sired by Select Excellent Ch. Two additional breedings are underway, with a second litter to be homed in April and a third projected for June-July .All are sired by Arnold. See pictures of Arnold and Sara below. I am happy to mentor seriously committed beginners, juniors, and owner-handlers. There is an expectation of involvement in at least one AKC sport including, but not limited to, conformation, scent work, obedience, herding, therapy work, agility, and rally to the first titling level out of respect for the breed as a working dog. A RiverRock puppy is more than a pet: it is an adventure! Additional Info.

Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Your German Shepherd Puppy: 8 Weeks To 1 Year Old Apr 08, If you're interested in what the progression of your puppy from 8 weeks to 1 year should look like, and how to achieve it; you've come to the right place. If you're expecting a timeline of what achievements you should hit at specific times, this isn't it. All puppies and dogs learn at different rates based on everything from the drive level, interests in reward, your level of training skill etc. Instead of focusing on what tricks and obedience positions your puppy learns, focus on building a relationship with your puppy. Millions of people have adult dogs who won't let them cut their nails or bathe them and must go to a professional groomer. There's nothing wrong with using a groomer's services, but if you must because your dog won't allow you to, it's because you didn't bond with the dog and condition it as a puppy. To begin building a foundation takes a lot of treats, time, socialization, conditioning, and focus training to get engagement. Let's start with socialization. Socialization doesn't mean you let your puppy play with random dogs and strangers. It's quite the opposite. Socialization means you desensitize your puppy to the presence of other dogs and people to the point it doesn't acknowledge them. Other dogs and people become background noise that they're uninterested in. If you view socialization as getting a puppy to love everything, everyone, and every dog they see, you won't have their engagement. If you don't have their engagement on you, they aren't going to listen to you. You'll be the owner who gets drug down the street every time your dog wants to say "hi" to a stranger or new dog. Not only that, but not every stranger is friendly, nor is every dog. It's better to train your puppy to completely ignore everything except you on your walks. Since we've brushed up on what socialization should be and why, let's get into engagement. Engagement means that your dog looks to you. When you say their name, you have their undivided attention. They are looking at you, waiting for instruction. If you've ever had a dog, not come when called, 9 times out of 10 it was doing something it deemed more engaging than looking to you. That means to your dog, that other thing they were doing was more important than anything you had to say or wanted them to do. That becomes life threatening if a dog deems that engaging with the dog across the street is more important than coming when called. So how do you build engagement? Well, thankfully, it's easy! Start from day one by saying your pup's name. If they look at you, click your clicker or say "yes" and give them a treat. If they come to you, even better, give them a treat for looking at you, and another for coming. Your job is to court their attention and reward every time you get it. Before long, your puppy will look to you for everything. Once that happens, training can begin. If you skip this step, you will notice that during training your puppy may sit for you, take the treat, then decide to run around or sniff the ground etc. Those things means that training will take longer because you don't have engagement. Now that you've gotten the engagement you need, start training by making everything a learning experience and a game. You should be upbeat and excited. When you teach your dog to sit, mark the behavior with a click or a yes and reward with a treat excitedly. This only serves to increase engagement. You're not only a treat machine, you're also a fun friend. The more fun you are, the less fun distractions are. You can even begin to blend this into socialization. For example, your puppy sees another dog being walked across the street and starts to focus on them. You call their name, they look at you because you give treats for engagement, and you're way more fun than playing with another dog they don't even know across the street. This is the corner stone of having a dog who obeys commands every time, and not just when there's no distractions around or when they feel it's convenient. We've all either said, or have heard people say "Well, he usually does it when it's just us! Remember, while you're building this bond, trust, and engagement, you also need to start conditioning your puppy. Lift all 4 paws. Open the mouth. Check their ears. Touch their undersides. Open their eyes.This is the time to condition your puppy to being examined, medicated, temperature checked, bathed, nails clipped or dremeled etc. Lastly, during this time, you should be trying your hardest to build drive to play tug with a ball on a rope or tug. Food is great, but many dogs have more prey drive than food drive. If you have such a dog, a ball on a rope or tug is a powerful training agent. It also helps build a bond because puppies love food, but puppies also love to play. Later in life, you'll find it easier to stuff a ball in your pocket than a full pouch of treats as well. All of this sounds like an informal amalgamation of building trust, building a bond, training, desensitization, conditioning, building engagement and drive etc. But that's because this is exactly what raising a puppy in the most efficient and most reliable way possible is. Taking your time and blending all these aspects together until they're one and the same. Trying to create a schedule of when a puppy should know this, or that will not nearly be as fun for you or the puppy. It'll only make you both frustrated and feel like you're failing. But if you take your time, by 12 months, your puppy will know everything you would've put on that schedule, have bonded with you, think training and learning new things is fun, and be a pleasure to groom and vet! If you enjoyed this article, please leave a like and share. Thank you. Final Thoughts When your 1 year old German Shepherd looks or behaves differently from the common descriptions you may find on the Net, you start worrying. You want to go to the vet immediately and spend a lot of time asking questions. Most often, your veterinarian does not find anything bad, but in a while, the situation repeats. However, there are some vital things that you need to know about your pet to feel calm and relaxed. Your pup is almost full-sized now, but it needs some more time to mature and develop emotionally. Reinforcing good habits and giving proper care can help much. We have prepared a set of helpful tips to help you ensure that everything is OK, no matter whether it was born in your household or you adopted it later. Now, it is about its adult size and weight. You should know that there are differences between male and female dogs. Your boy Shepherd weighs lbs kg , and the girl doggy can weigh lbs kg. Some dogs can be lighter or heavier at this age, but you need to measure their weight just once a week to ensure that they are not overweight or underweight because many health problems may start here. However, if you do weigh your pup regularly, you may notice that gaining weight has already slowed down. Female Shepherds almost reach their full adult weight while males continue growing muscles. Even if you notice the slow-down in your male doggy, it is a pause, not a stop. They continue to become heavier until they are two. The height of your pup at one year of age also varies between males and females. The boy is usually inches cm tall, while the girl is shorter at its withers — inches cm. However, in some dogs, the ears may stand upright at the age of eight months or even later. However, at one year, floppy ears in your dog may mean either damage to the cartilage and its poor development or doubtful purity of the breed. Anyway, you have to consult your vet about what to do next. Hormonal changes and seasonal reasons may cause immense loss of fur. That is why these dogs are often called German Shedders. Your pup had stopped teething by the time it reached 6 months. However, you must not be surprised if it lasts until one year. Every doggy is different, and their dental development stages may vary. In general, at the age of one year, you may expect a total of 42 white, shiny, and sharp adult teeth in your dog. In fact, it can vary for different animals, too. Even if you managed to establish close bonds with your doggy by this time, you may occasionally encounter misbehavior, aggression, and testing its independence and your leadership. It only means that you need to engage your four-pawed friend as much as possible and continue its basic training. Be aware of possible casts of aggression toward strangers. It can happen when your pup is bored, excited, or poorly socialized. Another issue is chewing up the furniture and clothes or biting and nipping. Even if your doggy is not teething now anymore, there may be such problems. Your Shepherd tries to attract your attention inappropriately, so you need to be patient and stop such attempts as soon as you see them. If you feel that your GS will continue with such behavior, contact an experienced dog trainer. However, the trend for your puppy is to calm down around the age of one year. So, you will see grown-up behavior very soon. The aim of all German Shepherds is to herd and guard, and the guardian breeds reach full maturity later than other breeds. Shepherds are working dogs , so it takes more time for them to set close social bonds with their counterparts and pack members because they are aimed at defending flocks from large predators. Your pup may not seem too confident. Confidence develops between 1 and 3 years of age. Nurturing is equally important. Even if your doggy has individual characteristics relevant to its breed and age, such as being friendly, reserved, stubborn or cooperative, shy or bold, you can develop its personality and build up the desired behavioral patterns with other people, changing places, or animals around. Make your training and cooperation rewarding. The opportunities for your doggy to become a happy and loyal companion are unlimited. Other behavioral patterns include exercising, sleeping, and walking. Your German Shepherd is very strong and energetic at this age, so it needs at least two hours of exercise per day. They can include an hour of walking 5 minutes per every month of age and off-lead exercises in a safe area. Your pup may get bored very fast, so play and train it in turn to make a variety. Your pup does not require as much sleeping time as before because it is curious, active, and investigating. The number of hours it may need per day reduces to instead of as before. However, even if your doggy sleeps more than 18 hours, it can be a norm because the sleeping patterns and needs can differ between dogs, and other factors may influence sleep time. However, you need a veterinarian check-up just once a year to ensure everything is going on properly. You must also watch out for unusual signs that may indicate health problems. They include weight loss, personality changes, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sneezing and coughing, gagging, excessive urination, thirst, itchy skin, urination difficulties, swollen gums, runny nose and eyes, spelling disorders, and anything that your doggy unexpectedly starts displaying. Functional disorders can appear later, at 5 or 6 years old. However, you need to know that your pup at this age can experience ear infection, kennel cough, Lyme disease, heartworm, influenza, and fleas or ticks invasions. Some of these issues can be severe and even life-threatening. Regular checkups can prevent most health disorders. Apply heartworm treats and collars against ticks and fleas if your vet prescribed it. This time also requires booster shots of the main vaccines, such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Your vet may tell you about the specific law regulations against rabies in your area that you need to observe. Your vet can also recommend titer testing to understand whether your dog has acquired enough immunity from puppy vaccinations. You may also need to renew the pet insurance for cases when your dog needs expensive treatment or faces life-threatening conditions. For example, you must be aware of gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat threat. Your pup may also suffer from hip dysplasia later; this insurance can cover medical symptom management. Your insurance policy should also relate to public liability if your doggy bites somebody or causes damage to their belongings. The age of one year is also crucial for deciding to spay or neuter your dog. However, consider all pros and cons of this procedure at this age. Since your pup continues growing, any procedures that can cause hormonal changes can lead to joint disorders. So, many vets recommend male neutering after the dog becomes completely mature. Anyway, talk to experts and get advice from them. As for females, your vet can recommend spaying your girl after its first heat cycle without letting it enter the next one. Feeding Your 1 year old GSD is a strong and highly energetic animal. It needs an appropriate diet to grow and stay healthy. Talk to your vet and choose the best variant of adult food for your doggy. Overfeeding can lead to health problems, so try to schedule meals properly. Your dog needs feeding two or three times per day. The common amount per day is cups. You have to spread it equally between the meals. To spread the meals in time, feed your pup at 10 a. Feeding can provide a new milestone at this age. It is a transition to adult food. While your German Shepherd is a puppy, it needs high-caloric food to grow. Though now, it does not grow so quickly and intensively. It means they need fewer calories than puppies to avoid overweighting. However, if your pup is still growing too rapidly, you need to reduce the amount of food to avoid joint problems. The transition to a new diet can be gradual if possible. It can be implemented for several days. Start with giving your dog 1 part of the new food and 3 parts of the old food for several days. Then, transit to equal parts of old and new food in the next two days. At last, your doggy can eat 1 part of the old and 3 parts of the new food without any digestion problems. Now, you can end up rejecting the old food altogether. When you decide how much food to offer your doggy, consider its levels of physical activity. Less active pups should eat less to avoid overweighting. Provide your doggy with enough water. Generally, a young German Shepherd needs 0. So, if your pup weighs about 70 pounds 32 kg , it will need ounces 1. Training Your 1 year old German Shepherd is still emotionally unstable and immature, so you have to continue training to promote proper behavior and reduce nervousness. You must focus on two types of training now — obedience training and building up working habits. When you continue obedience training, reinforce rewarding behavior by treating your pup positively. Remember that your Shepherd can get bored and restless without engagement. When your pup displays bad behavioral patterns, use distractions and redirect its attention to something more desirable. While training, reward its positive behavior with praise, patting, and treats. Never overdo training and make calming pauses. Ignore demanding behavior, such as pawing, jumping, or barking. Do not apply physical punishment, and never yell at your pup. If your dog has had an accident, never rub its nose in it. Your encouragement should be continuous but do not laugh or giggle when your doggy does something inappropriate. Stop the unwanted behavior immediately, but never punish your pet after the fact. Remember that teaching your German Shepherd new tricks and advanced commands is never too late. Of course, it should have acquired the simplest skills and obedience habits by this time. Though you may even find it easier to work with your doggy at this age because it has a longer attention span and more self-control now. In fact, dogs can learn something new at any age. That is why it is important to continue training your pup on its way to maturity. Your doggy needs a lot of exercise at this age — not less than two hours per day. Walking can take about one hour 5 minutes for every month of its life. You may divide this time into two walking sessions during the day. Other exercises must include playing and training. Mental stimulation and socialization are also important parts of exercising. How much should a 1 year old German Shepherd eat? Your dog is still growing, but this process slows down. The overall amount of food your pet needs per day is cups divided between 2 or 3 meals. Never feed your dog once a day — it may have digestion problems. It has to be funny, alert, and loyal. It is individual. So, follow the tips presented in this article and recommendations from your vet and dog trainer. This age is not the easiest for a dog owner. You have to be patient and consistent. However, if you are persistent, you will soon get an intelligent, obedient, and loyal companion. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. While most people associate training with puppies, the reality is that you can learn how to train a 1 year old German Shepherd using the proper techniques. And, you might even find that an adult German Shepherd is easier to train than a young puppy because they have more attention span and self-control. A 1-year-old German Shepherd may still show many puppylike behaviors, but also have behavior you find troubling in other ways. He might test his independence and show undesirable behaviors, or has never been given proper training to understand how to live in a home. These tips are useful for owners that have recently adopted an adult dog, or they can be used to train an older dog that needs to gain new skills. This could prove more challenging than socializing a puppy because your 1-year-old German Shepherd may have developed some reactivity or fears around certain triggers. You must take things slowly when socializing. Keep your dog at a safe distance from new animals or people and reward him as he pays attention to you rather than the other people or pets. Step back and go to a place your dog feels safe. Remember to be patient, give plenty of extra rewards, and understand that setbacks might happen. You might not have the most social companion in the world, but you can definitely help your pet learn to become friendlier and less scared source. Keeping your dog safe is a priority. So, teach him to come on command, and practice this essential command until your dog returns to you… Every time. Teach this on a short or long leash first to prevent them from making mistakes and hindering their training to the command. Follow the German Shepherd Training at Home essentials for teaching them their basic commands. Stay Consistent When training your 1-year-old German Shepherd, there are some basic steps you can take to improve your success rate. Your one-year-old dog needs consistency. If you occasionally reward unwanted behaviors, such as jumping, those behaviors will continue. Only reward behaviors you like, such as sitting by the door to greet guests. You must respond the same to the unwanted behavior in order for your dog to learn the expectations you have. Instead, use unique commands for each action. If you need ideas of what to call your commands, then search for the word in this List of German Shepherd Commands. Burn those massive energy reserves that seem to be built into every young German Shepherd. Walk your dog at least 45 minutes to 1 hour twice a day. But know that even this amount of exercise is generally too little for a German Shepherd. You could also start to train your pet for nose work and tracking for fun and competition. One-year-old German Shepherds have a lot of energy. Your one year old dog also needs time to chew on appropriate toys to help release their stress and provide them with an outlet for their energy. Provide a tough German Shepherd chew toy that helps keep them calm. Reward based training works on the principle of rewarding good behaviors so that your dog wants to repeat them in order to get a treat, or the reward some owners use special toys during training for dogs not motivated by food. But, remember to keep the treat as a reward that is used for special occasions, like your training. If you have the treat in your hand all the time to reward them they will begin to listen to you only when he sees a treat. Using healthy, tasty treats and lots of verbal praise are highly effective training methods for a one-year-old dog. Enroll in a supportive online brain training and obedience class to practice your training at home and to keep things fun and upbeat. Instead of the same old training routine every day, incorporate interesting German Shepherd games to help teach your dogs the basics. Games are useful training for a 1-year-old German Shepherd because they take advantage of the energy and youthfulness that your dog still has. They also help get your dog excited about learning and create a stronger connection between you and your German Shepherd. Take a time off, a mini-vacation day, to give him a break. For example, give him an extra special treat just for looking at the nail clipper or being in the same room with it. Then, give him a treat when he sniffs it or walks over to it. Counter-conditioning, when done correctly, will result in a more confident companion and a more resilient pet. This could include unwanted behaviors, such as jumping on guests or pulling on the leash. They could have developed bad habits that need to be extinguished so that you can live comfortably with them. Training your dog is a life-long process. It should be ongoing no matter what the age of your German Shepherd. And, training helps avoid an out-of-control German Shepherd. Special Considerations While your new dog may arrive with some problem behaviors your breed is highly trainable and wants to please you. These tips will help you teach your German Shepherd the appropriate behaviors you want in your home. Start teaching your one-year-old dog the rules for your home as soon as they arrive and are comfortable. Be sure everyone in your family is on the same page for training. It will be easier to train your German Shepherd when everyone agrees on appropriate behaviors and uses the same commands and rewards. They will learn faster and retain their training longer. Take the time to know the unique personality of your dog to help them excel at training and living with you. Take into account any health issues you might be unaware of. Get your dog checked by your veterinarian. They may have problems with obedience due to underlying health issues, like painful hips. They come with their own background history that can make them nervous about their new surroundings and even their new owners. It may take months for your dog to become comfortable in their new home. Training is an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd and understand him more. A new German Shepherd can be a challenge without the right help. And a one-year-old GSD needs all the help you can give tem to become a well-mannered companion. Can you really afford to not help your new German Shepherd learn all they can to live with you? References and Resources Nicholas, Jason. Buzhardt, Lynn. Bender, Amy. Gibeault, Stephanie. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Should I be booking spay or neuter surgery? A one year old German Shepherd is nearly full-sized physically, but emotionally they still have a lot of maturing to do. How much should a 1 year old German Shepherd weigh? A male German Shepherd typically weighs between 60 and 84 pounds on his first birthday. And a one year old female German Shepherd usually weighs between 46 and 68 pounds. Since females mature faster than males, her weight on her first birthday is closer to her final adult weight than her brothers are. When do German Shepherds stop growing? In fact, females may only gain a couple more pounds after her first birthday — the ideal weight range for adult female GSDs is 50 to 70 pounds. Male German Shepherds also stop gaining weight as rapidly after they turn one. But, in common with other large and giant dog breeds, this tends to be a pause, rather than an end to growing. Fully grown male GSDs weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. German Shepherd puppies need a diet which is specific to their age, and predicted adult weight. And the smallest females are likely to be fully grown. This article can help you choose an adult diet for your year-old German Shepherd. If possible, transition your dog onto their new diet gradually over a period of several days. Give them 3 parts old food to 1 part new food on days 1 and 2. Then equal parts old and new food on days 3 and 4. And finally, 1 part old food to 3 parts new food on days 5 and 6, before ditching the old food altogether. Your puppy is now eating like an adult! German Shepherds were originally developed as the ultimate herding and guardian breed, and guardian breeds tend to reach emotional maturity later than other dogs. As working dogs, this results in a longer window to form a close social bond with their flock — which gives them the emotional motivation to defend it against large predators. Their temperament is going to continue developing for many months yet. One study of German Shepherd behavioral development found that confidence continues to increase significantly between their 1st and 3rd birthdays. There is also a corresponding decline in nervousness and jumpy reactions. There are some traits we think of as being innately German Shepherd, but nurture is just as important as nature in determining how friendly or reserved, cooperative or stubborn, bold or shy, your GSD is. Keep building up a pattern of positive experiences with places, people and other animals. And use training to build their confidence and make cooperation with you rewarding. Training a 1 year old German Shepherd Your year old German Shepherd Dog may look fully grown, but emotionally they are still immature, and their confidence is still under developed. There are two important kinds of training for a 1 year old German Shepherd: 1. Keep rewarding good behavior and good decisions, to get more of both in the future and turn them into established habits. These articles will help you train a 1 year old German Shepherd with confidence:. Like many large breeds, a German Shepherd dog is not considered fully grown until they are about 18 months old. Female German Shepherds continue to fill out until they are around two years old, while the male German Shepherd growth rate continues until they reach two and a half years of age. Males are larger and require more time to fill out their chest and abdomen. As you can see by the German Shepherd weight chart, these dogs can continue to grow until they are three years old, but the majority of growth occurs within 24 months. If your GSD is older than 36 months and continues to put on weight, contact your veterinarian to ensure weight gain does not lead to obesity. How big should a 6-month-old German Shepherd be? A six-month-old German Shepherd puppy will be quite large, as many German Shepherds undergo massive growth spurts between two and five months old. By six months, a male German Shepherd will weigh 53 pounds on average, whereas a female will weigh about 46 pounds. How much bigger will my German Shepherd get? There are a few ways to gauge how much bigger a German Shepherd will get. First, check your puppy's age. If your GSD is younger than two years old, they definitely have room to keep growing! Another way to tell if your pup still has a lot of growing to do is their paw size. Do their paws look large compared to their legs and body? This is a classic adolescent feature of a dog and means your pup is likely still growing! Most of the time, a dog will not grow bigger than its larger parents. What is the size of a full-grown German shepherd? An adult male German Shepherd is typically 24 to 26 inches tall, while adult female German Shepherds are 22 to 24 inches tall, according to the American Kennel Club German Shepherd Standard. The estimated full-size varies significantly between sexes. In terms of weight, an adult male German Shepherd weighs anywhere from 75 to 90 pounds. A female German Shepherd weighs notably less at 55 to 70 pounds. Please keep in mind that these numbers are only estimates to give you an idea of how much bigger a German Shepherd puppy may get. Some dogs will be both smaller and larger than these weight ranges when fully grown due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Learn all about your puppy's physical characteristics, breed history, personality traits, and more in our comprehensive guide. Preventive care is key in helping your German Shepherd live a healthy and long life. Helping your dog maintain an optimal weight is one of the best things you can do for their health. Taking your German Shepherd to regular veterinary appointments is one of the best things you can do to ensure that they are healthy and feeling their best. Compare German Shepherd health insurance plans before they get sick or injured. They are also more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract and hip issues. A veterinarian should regularly assess your pet for these health problems and run tests for anything they may be more prone to due to their breed. Treatment for many conditions, including bloat and GI issues, can cost thousands of dollars. Dog insurance is a wise investment that can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergency expenses. Wellness plans are also available to help cover the cost of vaccinations, vet exams, microchips, and more. Some people can predict the future. For everyone else, there's pet insurance. Use Pawlicy Advisor to easily compare plans from top providers so you can find a great deal with great coverage. Get Peace of Mind Today Do you want to find the best pet insurance? Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Analyze My Pet About Pawlicy Advisor The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. While most people associate training with puppies, the reality is that you can learn how to train a 1 year old German Shepherd using the proper techniques. And, you might even find that an adult German Shepherd is easier to train than a young puppy because they have more attention span and self-control. A 1-year-old German Shepherd may still show many puppylike behaviors, but also have behavior you find troubling in other ways. He might test his independence and show undesirable behaviors, or has never been given proper training to understand how to live in a home. These tips are useful for owners that have recently adopted an adult dog, or they can be used to train an older dog that needs to gain new skills. This could prove more challenging than socializing a puppy because your 1-year-old German Shepherd may have developed some reactivity or fears around certain triggers. You must take things slowly when socializing. Keep your dog at a safe distance from new animals or people and reward him as he pays attention to you rather than the other people or pets. Step back and go to a place your dog feels safe. Remember to be patient, give plenty of extra rewards, and understand that setbacks might happen. You might not have the most social companion in the world, but you can definitely help your pet learn to become friendlier and less scared source. Keeping your dog safe is a priority. So, teach him to come on command, and practice this essential command until your dog returns to you… Every time. Teach this on a short or long leash first to prevent them from making mistakes and hindering their training to the command. Follow the German Shepherd Training at Home essentials for teaching them their basic commands. Stay Consistent When training your 1-year-old German Shepherd, there are some basic steps you can take to improve your success rate. Your one-year-old dog needs consistency. If you occasionally reward unwanted behaviors, such as jumping, those behaviors will continue. Only reward behaviors you like, such as sitting by the door to greet guests. You must respond the same to the unwanted behavior in order for your dog to learn the expectations you have. Instead, use unique commands for each action. If you need ideas of what to call your commands, then search for the word in this List of German Shepherd Commands. Burn those massive energy reserves that seem to be built into every young German Shepherd. Walk your dog at least 45 minutes to 1 hour twice a day. But know that even this amount of exercise is generally too little for a German Shepherd. You could also start to train your pet for nose work and tracking for fun and competition. One-year-old German Shepherds have a lot of energy. Your one year old dog also needs time to chew on appropriate toys to help release their stress and provide them with an outlet for their energy. Provide a tough German Shepherd chew toy that helps keep them calm. Reward based training works on the principle of rewarding good behaviors so that your dog wants to repeat them in order to get a treat, or the reward some owners use special toys during training for dogs not motivated by food. But, remember to keep the treat as a reward that is used for special occasions, like your training. If you have the treat in your hand all the time to reward them they will begin to listen to you only when he sees a treat. Using healthy, tasty treats and lots of verbal praise are highly effective training methods for a one-year-old dog. Enroll in a supportive online brain training and obedience class to practice your training at home and to keep things fun and upbeat. Instead of the same old training routine every day, incorporate interesting German Shepherd games to help teach your dogs the basics. Games are useful training for a 1-year-old German Shepherd because they take advantage of the energy and youthfulness that your dog still has. They also help get your dog excited about learning and create a stronger connection between you and your German Shepherd. Take a time off, a mini-vacation day, to give him a break. For example, give him an extra special treat just for looking at the nail clipper or being in the same room with it. Then, give him a treat when he sniffs it or walks over to it. Counter-conditioning, when done correctly, will result in a more confident companion and a more resilient pet. This could include unwanted behaviors, such as jumping on guests or pulling on the leash. They could have developed bad habits that need to be extinguished so that you can live comfortably with them. Training your dog is a life-long process. It should be ongoing no matter what the age of your German Shepherd. And, training helps avoid an out-of-control German Shepherd. Special Considerations While your new dog may arrive with some problem behaviors your breed is highly trainable and wants to please you. These tips will help you teach your German Shepherd the appropriate behaviors you want in your home. Start teaching your one-year-old dog the rules for your home as soon as they arrive and are comfortable. Be sure everyone in your family is on the same page for training. It will be easier to train your German Shepherd when everyone agrees on appropriate behaviors and uses the same commands and rewards. They will learn faster and retain their training longer. Take the time to know the unique personality of your dog to help them excel at training and living with you. Take into account any health issues you might be unaware of. Get your dog checked by your veterinarian. They may have problems with obedience due to underlying health issues, like painful hips. They come with their own background history that can make them nervous about their new surroundings and even their new owners. It may take months for your dog to become comfortable in their new home. Training is an excellent way to bond with your German Shepherd and understand him more. A new German Shepherd can be a challenge without the right help. And a one-year-old GSD needs all the help you can give tem to become a well-mannered companion. Can you really afford to not help your new German Shepherd learn all they can to live with you? References and Resources Nicholas, Jason. Buzhardt, Lynn. Bender, Amy. Gibeault, Stephanie. She has a Bachelor of Science degree, with Honors, and has been training dogs for over a decade. Related Posts. Your German Shepherd Puppy: 8 Weeks To 1 Year Old Apr 08, If you're interested in what the progression of your puppy from 8 weeks to 1 year should look like, and how to achieve it; you've come to the right place. If you're expecting a timeline of what achievements you should hit at specific times, this isn't it. All puppies and dogs learn at different rates based on everything from the drive level, interests in reward, your level of training skill etc. Instead of focusing on what tricks and obedience positions your puppy learns, focus on building a relationship with your puppy. Millions of people have adult dogs who won't let them cut their nails or bathe them and must go to a professional groomer. There's nothing wrong with using a groomer's services, but if you must because your dog won't allow you to, it's because you didn't bond with the dog and condition it as a puppy. To begin building a foundation takes a lot of treats, time, socialization, conditioning, and focus training to get engagement. Let's start with socialization. Socialization doesn't mean you let your puppy play with random dogs and strangers. It's quite the opposite. Socialization means you desensitize your puppy to the presence of other dogs and people to the point it doesn't acknowledge them. Other dogs and people become background noise that they're uninterested in. If you view socialization as getting a puppy to love everything, everyone, and every dog they see, you won't have their engagement. If you don't have their engagement on you, they aren't going to listen to you. You'll be the owner who gets drug down the street every time your dog wants to say "hi" to a stranger or new dog. Not only that, but not every stranger is friendly, nor is every dog. It's better to train your puppy to completely ignore everything except you on your walks. Since we've brushed up on what socialization should be and why, let's get into engagement. Engagement means that your dog looks to you. When you say their name, you have their undivided attention. They are looking at you, waiting for instruction. If you've ever had a dog, not come when called, 9 times out of 10 it was doing something it deemed more engaging than looking to you. That means to your dog, that other thing they were doing was more important than anything you had to say or wanted them to do. That becomes life threatening if a dog deems that engaging with the dog across the street is more important than coming when called. So how do you build engagement? Well, thankfully, it's easy! Start from day one by saying your pup's name. If they look at you, click your clicker or say "yes" and give them a treat. If they come to you, even better, give them a treat for looking at you, and another for coming. Your job is to court their attention and reward every time you get it. Before long, your puppy will look to you for everything. Once that happens, training can begin. If you skip this step, you will notice that during training your puppy may sit for you, take the treat, then decide to run around or sniff the ground etc. Those things means that training will take longer because you don't have engagement. Now that you've gotten the engagement you need, start training by making everything a learning experience and a game. You should be upbeat and excited. When you teach your dog to sit, mark the behavior with a click or a yes and reward with a treat excitedly. This only serves to increase engagement. You're not only a treat machine, you're also a fun friend. The more fun you are, the less fun distractions are. You can even begin to blend this into socialization. For example, your puppy sees another dog being walked across the street and starts to focus on them. You call their name, they look at you because you give treats for engagement, and you're way more fun than playing with another dog they don't even know across the street. This is the corner stone of having a dog who obeys commands every time, and not just when there's no distractions around or when they feel it's convenient. We've all either said, or have heard people say "Well, he usually does it when it's just us! Remember, while you're building this bond, trust, and engagement, you also need to start conditioning your puppy. Lift all 4 paws. Open the mouth. Check their ears. Touch their undersides. Open their eyes.This is the time to condition your puppy to being examined, medicated, temperature checked, bathed, nails clipped or dremeled etc. Lastly, during this time, you should be trying your hardest to build drive to play tug with a ball on a rope or tug. Food is great, but many dogs have more prey drive than food drive. If you have such a dog, a ball on a rope or tug is a powerful training agent. It also helps build a bond because puppies love food, but puppies also love to play. Later in life, you'll find it easier to stuff a ball in your pocket than a full pouch of treats as well. All of this sounds like an informal amalgamation of building trust, building a bond, training, desensitization, conditioning, building engagement and drive etc. But that's because this is exactly what raising a puppy in the most efficient and most reliable way possible is. Taking your time and blending all these aspects together until they're one and the same. Trying to create a schedule of when a puppy should know this, or that will not nearly be as fun for you or the puppy. It'll only make you both frustrated and feel like you're failing. But if you take your time, by 12 months, your puppy will know everything you would've put on that schedule, have bonded with you, think training and learning new things is fun, and be a pleasure to groom and vet! If you enjoyed this article, please leave a like and share. Thank you. Final Thoughts When your 1 year old German Shepherd looks or behaves differently from the common descriptions you may find on the Net, you start worrying. You want to go to the vet immediately and spend a lot of time asking questions. Most often, your veterinarian does not find anything bad, but in a while, the situation repeats. However, there are some vital things that you need to know about your pet to feel calm and relaxed. Your pup is almost full-sized now, but it needs some more time to mature and develop emotionally. Reinforcing good habits and giving proper care can help much. We have prepared a set of helpful tips to help you ensure that everything is OK, no matter whether it was born in your household or you adopted it later. Now, it is about its adult size and weight. You should know that there are differences between male and female dogs. Your boy Shepherd weighs lbs kg , and the girl doggy can weigh lbs kg. Some dogs can be lighter or heavier at this age, but you need to measure their weight just once a week to ensure that they are not overweight or underweight because many health problems may start here. However, if you do weigh your pup regularly, you may notice that gaining weight has already slowed down. Female Shepherds almost reach their full adult weight while males continue growing muscles. Even if you notice the slow-down in your male doggy, it is a pause, not a stop. They continue to become heavier until they are two. The height of your pup at one year of age also varies between males and females. The boy is usually inches cm tall, while the girl is shorter at its withers — inches cm. However, in some dogs, the ears may stand upright at the age of eight months or even later. However, at one year, floppy ears in your dog may mean either damage to the cartilage and its poor development or doubtful purity of the breed. Anyway, you have to consult your vet about what to do next. Hormonal changes and seasonal reasons may cause immense loss of fur. That is why these dogs are often called German Shedders. Your pup had stopped teething by the time it reached 6 months. However, you must not be surprised if it lasts until one year. Every doggy is different, and their dental development stages may vary. In general, at the age of one year, you may expect a total of 42 white, shiny, and sharp adult teeth in your dog. In fact, it can vary for different animals, too. Even if you managed to establish close bonds with your doggy by this time, you may occasionally encounter misbehavior, aggression, and testing its independence and your leadership. It only means that you need to engage your four-pawed friend as much as possible and continue its basic training. Be aware of possible casts of aggression toward strangers. It can happen when your pup is bored, excited, or poorly socialized. Another issue is chewing up the furniture and clothes or biting and nipping. Even if your doggy is not teething now anymore, there may be such problems. Your Shepherd tries to attract your attention inappropriately, so you need to be patient and stop such attempts as soon as you see them. If you feel that your GS will continue with such behavior, contact an experienced dog trainer. However, the trend for your puppy is to calm down around the age of one year. So, you will see grown-up behavior very soon. The aim of all German Shepherds is to herd and guard, and the guardian breeds reach full maturity later than other breeds. Shepherds are working dogs , so it takes more time for them to set close social bonds with their counterparts and pack members because they are aimed at defending flocks from large predators. Your pup may not seem too confident. Confidence develops between 1 and 3 years of age. Nurturing is equally important. Even if your doggy has individual characteristics relevant to its breed and age, such as being friendly, reserved, stubborn or cooperative, shy or bold, you can develop its personality and build up the desired behavioral patterns with other people, changing places, or animals around. Make your training and cooperation rewarding. The opportunities for your doggy to become a happy and loyal companion are unlimited. Other behavioral patterns include exercising, sleeping, and walking. Your German Shepherd is very strong and energetic at this age, so it needs at least two hours of exercise per day. They can include an hour of walking 5 minutes per every month of age and off-lead exercises in a safe area. Your pup may get bored very fast, so play and train it in turn to make a variety. Your pup does not require as much sleeping time as before because it is curious, active, and investigating. The number of hours it may need per day reduces to instead of as before. However, even if your doggy sleeps more than 18 hours, it can be a norm because the sleeping patterns and needs can differ between dogs, and other factors may influence sleep time. However, you need a veterinarian check-up just once a year to ensure everything is going on properly. You must also watch out for unusual signs that may indicate health problems. They include weight loss, personality changes, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sneezing and coughing, gagging, excessive urination, thirst, itchy skin, urination difficulties, swollen gums, runny nose and eyes, spelling disorders, and anything that your doggy unexpectedly starts displaying. Functional disorders can appear later, at 5 or 6 years old. However, you need to know that your pup at this age can experience ear infection, kennel cough, Lyme disease, heartworm, influenza, and fleas or ticks invasions. Some of these issues can be severe and even life-threatening. Regular checkups can prevent most health disorders. Apply heartworm treats and collars against ticks and fleas if your vet prescribed it. This time also requires booster shots of the main vaccines, such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Your vet may tell you about the specific law regulations against rabies in your area that you need to observe. Your vet can also recommend titer testing to understand whether your dog has acquired enough immunity from puppy vaccinations. You may also need to renew the pet insurance for cases when your dog needs expensive treatment or faces life-threatening conditions. For example, you must be aware of gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat threat. Your pup may also suffer from hip dysplasia later; this insurance can cover medical symptom management. Your insurance policy should also relate to public liability if your doggy bites somebody or causes damage to their belongings. The age of one year is also crucial for deciding to spay or neuter your dog. However, consider all pros and cons of this procedure at this age. Since your pup continues growing, any procedures that can cause hormonal changes can lead to joint disorders. So, many vets recommend male neutering after the dog becomes completely mature. Anyway, talk to experts and get advice from them. As for females, your vet can recommend spaying your girl after its first heat cycle without letting it enter the next one. Feeding Your 1 year old GSD is a strong and highly energetic animal. It needs an appropriate diet to grow and stay healthy. Talk to your vet and choose the best variant of adult food for your doggy. Overfeeding can lead to health problems, so try to schedule meals properly. Your dog needs feeding two or three times per day. The common amount per day is cups. You have to spread it equally between the meals. To spread the meals in time, feed your pup at 10 a. Feeding can provide a new milestone at this age. It is a transition to adult food. While your German Shepherd is a puppy, it needs high-caloric food to grow. Though now, it does not grow so quickly and intensively. It means they need fewer calories than puppies to avoid overweighting. However, if your pup is still growing too rapidly, you need to reduce the amount of food to avoid joint problems. The transition to a new diet can be gradual if possible. It can be implemented for several days. Start with giving your dog 1 part of the new food and 3 parts of the old food for several days. Then, transit to equal parts of old and new food in the next two days. At last, your doggy can eat 1 part of the old and 3 parts of the new food without any digestion problems. Now, you can end up rejecting the old food altogether. When you decide how much food to offer your doggy, consider its levels of physical activity. Less active pups should eat less to avoid overweighting. Provide your doggy with enough water. Generally, a young German Shepherd needs 0. So, if your pup weighs about 70 pounds 32 kg , it will need ounces 1. Training Your 1 year old German Shepherd is still emotionally unstable and immature, so you have to continue training to promote proper behavior and reduce nervousness. You must focus on two types of training now — obedience training and building up working habits. When you continue obedience training, reinforce rewarding behavior by treating your pup positively. Remember that your Shepherd can get bored and restless without engagement. When your pup displays bad behavioral patterns, use distractions and redirect its attention to something more desirable. While training, reward its positive behavior with praise, patting, and treats. Never overdo training and make calming pauses. Ignore demanding behavior, such as pawing, jumping, or barking. Do not apply physical punishment, and never yell at your pup. If your dog has had an accident, never rub its nose in it. Your encouragement should be continuous but do not laugh or giggle when your doggy does something inappropriate. Stop the unwanted behavior immediately, but never punish your pet after the fact. Remember that teaching your German Shepherd new tricks and advanced commands is never too late. Of course, it should have acquired the simplest skills and obedience habits by this time. Though you may even find it easier to work with your doggy at this age because it has a longer attention span and more self-control now. In fact, dogs can learn something new at any age. That is why it is important to continue training your pup on its way to maturity. Your doggy needs a lot of exercise at this age — not less than two hours per day. Walking can take about one hour 5 minutes for every month of its life. You may divide this time into two walking sessions during the day. Other exercises must include playing and training. Mental stimulation and socialization are also important parts of exercising. How much should a 1 year old German Shepherd eat? Your dog is still growing, but this process slows down. The overall amount of food your pet needs per day is cups divided between 2 or 3 meals. Never feed your dog once a day — it may have digestion problems. It has to be funny, alert, and loyal. It is individual. So, follow the tips presented in this article and recommendations from your vet and dog trainer. This age is not the easiest for a dog owner. You have to be patient and consistent. However, if you are persistent, you will soon get an intelligent, obedient, and loyal companion. David W. I admire German Shepherds. They are magnificent dogs! I have been dealing with dogs, namely German Shepherds, throughout my life. I have been working part-time as a dog trainer and instructor for about 5 years, dealing mainly with German Shepherds. So I know a bit about these animals. Therefore, I decided to share my knowledge and experience about this fantastic breed. If you need help with advice and care tips or want to know more about German Shepherd dogs, welcome to this blog. Should I be booking spay or neuter surgery? A one year old German Shepherd is nearly full-sized physically, but emotionally they still have a lot of maturing to do. How much should a 1 year old German Shepherd weigh? A male German Shepherd typically weighs between 60 and 84 pounds on his first birthday. And a one year old female German Shepherd usually weighs between 46 and 68 pounds. Since females mature faster than males, her weight on her first birthday is closer to her final adult weight than her brothers are. When do German Shepherds stop growing? In fact, females may only gain a couple more pounds after her first birthday — the ideal weight range for adult female GSDs is 50 to 70 pounds. Male German Shepherds also stop gaining weight as rapidly after they turn one. But, in common with other large and giant dog breeds, this tends to be a pause, rather than an end to growing. Fully grown male GSDs weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. German Shepherd puppies need a diet which is specific to their age, and predicted adult weight. And the smallest females are likely to be fully grown. This article can help you choose an adult diet for your year-old German Shepherd. If possible, transition your dog onto their new diet gradually over a period of several days. Give them 3 parts old food to 1 part new food on days 1 and 2. Then equal parts old and new food on days 3 and 4. And finally, 1 part old food to 3 parts new food on days 5 and 6, before ditching the old food altogether. Your puppy is now eating like an adult! German Shepherds were originally developed as the ultimate herding and guardian breed, and guardian breeds tend to reach emotional maturity later than other dogs. As working dogs, this results in a longer window to form a close social bond with their flock — which gives them the emotional motivation to defend it against large predators. Their temperament is going to continue developing for many months yet. One study of German Shepherd behavioral development found that confidence continues to increase significantly between their 1st and 3rd birthdays. There is also a corresponding decline in nervousness and jumpy reactions. There are some traits we think of as being innately German Shepherd, but nurture is just as important as nature in determining how friendly or reserved, cooperative or stubborn, bold or shy, your GSD is. Keep building up a pattern of positive experiences with places, people and other animals. And use training to build their confidence and make cooperation with you rewarding. Training a 1 year old German Shepherd Your year old German Shepherd Dog may look fully grown, but emotionally they are still immature, and their confidence is still under developed. There are two important kinds of training for a 1 year old German Shepherd: 1. Keep rewarding good behavior and good decisions, to get more of both in the future and turn them into established habits. These articles will help you train a 1 year old German Shepherd with confidence:.

AAFCO is a non-profit group that establishes nutritional guidelines for pet food based on life stages. Growing puppies require food formulated for growth, which is labeled as growth or all life stages. Food labeled with an AAFCO statement for all life stages meets the minimum nutritional requirements for both puppies and adult dogs. Despite containing a higher level of protein, fats, and other nutrients essential for adult dogs, it can be fed to dogs at any life stage. Adult dogs require food formulated for maintenance, or they can eat food labeled as all life-stages. To meet the unique growth patterns and health needs of small- and large-breed puppies and adult dogs, our experts suggested feeding according to breed size. A recipe developed with the guidance of a board-certified veterinary nutritionist ensures the recipe has been formulated with the necessary nutrients for your dog's age and breed size. Therefore, you should consider a range of quality options across various price points. What is the best dry dog food vets recommend? According to our experts, the best dry dog food is the one that is palatable to your dog and meets AAFCO's nutritional guidelines for their life stage. It should also be affordable and approved by your veterinarian based on your dog's nutritional needs. Is dry food best for dogs? Both complete and balanced wet and dry dog food formulas can be nutritious choices for your dog, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Dry food is a convenient and cost-effective option for pets, and certain dental diets approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council can also promote oral health. However, if your dog could benefit from a moisture-rich diet, canned food is a better option. Consult your veterinarian if your dog has any conditions such as renal disease that can benefit from a moisture-rich diet. Is dry food healthy for puppies? If labeled with the AAFCO statement for puppies growth or all life stages, dry dog food is a healthy option for your puppy. Laflamme added that it's crucial to choose a recipe based on your dog's breed, as large- and small-breed puppies have distinct growth patterns and, as a result, differing calorie needs. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. She formally work for Purina's Research and Development team until her retirement in .He is also a veterinary consultant for Petco but does not receive financial compensation to recommend any brands. Why trust Select? Janelle Leeson is a Portland-based freelance writer who holds a bachelor of science degree in biology. Her approach to pet-care writing and reporting is rooted in scientific principles that consider a pet's biological need for play, proper nutrition and environmental enrichment. For this piece, Janelle interviewed two experts who specialize in veterinary nutrition. She also researched dozens of dry dog foods on the market that met criteria based on our experts' insights. She included dry dog foods recommended by experts, along with those that are highly rated and meet expert shopping guidance. Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. Janelle Leeson Janelle Leeson is a Portland, Oregon-based freelance writer who covers everything pets and a few subjects in between, including sustainability and clean beauty. AAFCO is a non-profit group that establishes nutritional guidelines for pet food based on life stages. Growing puppies require food formulated for growth, which is labeled as growth or all life stages. Food labeled with an AAFCO statement for all life stages meets the minimum nutritional requirements for both puppies and adult dogs. Despite containing a higher level of protein, fats, and other nutrients essential for adult dogs, it can be fed to dogs at any life stage. Adult dogs require food formulated for maintenance, or they can eat food labeled as all life-stages. To meet the unique growth patterns and health needs of small- and large-breed puppies and adult dogs, our experts suggested feeding according to breed size. A recipe developed with the guidance of a board-certified veterinary nutritionist ensures the recipe has been formulated with the necessary nutrients for your dog's age and breed size. Therefore, you should consider a range of quality options across various price points. What is the best dry dog food vets recommend? According to our experts, the best dry dog food is the one that is palatable to your dog and meets AAFCO's nutritional guidelines for their life stage. It should also be affordable and approved by your veterinarian based on your dog's nutritional needs. Is dry food best for dogs? Both complete and balanced wet and dry dog food formulas can be nutritious choices for your dog, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Dry food is a convenient and cost-effective option for pets, and certain dental diets approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council can also promote oral health. However, if your dog could benefit from a moisture-rich diet, canned food is a better option. Consult your veterinarian if your dog has any conditions such as renal disease that can benefit from a moisture-rich diet. Is dry food healthy for puppies? If labeled with the AAFCO statement for puppies growth or all life stages, dry dog food is a healthy option for your puppy. Laflamme added that it's crucial to choose a recipe based on your dog's breed, as large- and small-breed puppies have distinct growth patterns and, as a result, differing calorie needs. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. She formally work for Purina's Research and Development team until her retirement in .He is also a veterinary consultant for Petco but does not receive financial compensation to recommend any brands. Why trust Select? Janelle Leeson is a Portland-based freelance writer who holds a bachelor of science degree in biology. Her approach to pet-care writing and reporting is rooted in scientific principles that consider a pet's biological need for play, proper nutrition and environmental enrichment. For this piece, Janelle interviewed two experts who specialize in veterinary nutrition. She also researched dozens of dry dog foods on the market that met criteria based on our experts' insights. She included dry dog foods recommended by experts, along with those that are highly rated and meet expert shopping guidance. Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date. Janelle Leeson Janelle Leeson is a Portland, Oregon-based freelance writer who covers everything pets and a few subjects in between, including sustainability and clean beauty. Ranked by Advertisement 'Red ingredients' are ingredients that we believe to be particularly low grade, highly contentious or excessively vague. If no age is set, cost per day figures are based on an average adult dog. Enter your dog's ideal current weight. For example, if your dog weighs 20 kgs but could benefit from losing a couple of kilos, enter 18kg. For more information on feeding overweight dogs, please check out our guide. If no weight is set, cost per day figures are based on an average dog weighing 14kg. The NFE nitrogen-free extract carbohydrate level does not include fibre and therefore essentially represents the level of sugars and starches in a food. Dog foods come in all sorts of formats, each with its own pros and cons. Click here for more info on all of the options that are available. Complete foods are formulated to provide your dog with all of the nutrients needed in a single product. Complementary foods, on the other hand, do not contain everything a dog needs and so have to be fed alongside other suitable foods. The targeted conditions filters are intended to single out products that are specifically produced to deal with a particular health problem.

Our Junior Showmanship days are over, but we are very proud to have taught many wonderful young handlers, and are proud that we have been able to have a positive influence on so many kids. To that end, it is always the goal for our dogs to attain the GRCA Versatility Certificate VC after their names, which requires at least one major title and accomplishments in all three venues- conformation, field and performance. We are dedicated to producing quality Golden Retrievers, with an emphasis on correct temperament, correct structure, and lifelong health. Our breeding arose as a consequence of our desire to be the breeder of the wonderful dogs we so enjoy showing! We are very proud of our small but successful breeding program. Our dogs all possess every clearance required by the GRCA Code of Ethics: hip, elbow, cardiac done by a cardiologist and current eye exams. These are simple recessives and can be eliminated with selective breeding. We offer stud service to select bitches who possess all the COE clearances and whose pedigrees are complementary. It is always our intent to bring to the future a better dog, to improve on what we have, and to conduct ourselves with the utmost in ethical behavior in all things. The Breed Standard as well as the breed purpose is the guideline we use in any litter we produce. Prism Golden Retrievers Litters We will have puppies in the summer of .A second litter in is not yet confirmed. We usually have a list of folks waiting for our versatile and beautiful puppies, and getting on a list early — whether with us or with another breeder- allows you and the breeder to get to know each other and feel comfortable with your choice of what will be a lifelong relationship. Favorite Links. But you want a healthy happy puppy from a responsible breeder. You would never support a puppy mill. Irresponsible breeders treat their dogs poorly and the resulting puppies are not healthy or socialized. With all the bad breeders in the news, how can you be certain you are not dealing with a shady breeder. At Old Wolf Ranch, we understand your concerns. Puppy mills make us sad too! We will invite you to see our home where we care for our dogs like they are our family. Our mothers and fathers all live with us. Our puppies are born and whelped in our home. Not in some shed or open air kennel. Its just plain wrong that some breeders treat their dogs badly, and you would never want to support such cruelty! Contact us today set up an appointment to see our puppies! That way you can rest assured you are dealing with a responsible breeder that loves their pets and treats them like family. When you buy one of our English Cream Golden Retriever puppies, you will get a healthy happy puppy guaranteed! Your puppy will bring you smiles and love for many years because you made the right choice to buy from a cruelty free responsible breeder!

A puppy may experience 20 sleep cycles nightly. Humans typically go through about four or five cycles. These are the phases. Non-rapid eye movement NREM. This phase often lasts about 10 minutes. Rapid eye movement REM. Breathing increases during this phase of deep sleep, especially if your pup is dreaming yes, dogs dream. Recommended Videos Your dog will run through these cycles. There may be other reasons, too. How can I find out how fast my pet is breathing? However, vets say some dogs have lower thresholds. Count the breaths. Repeat for 30 seconds. Multiply the number of breaths by 2. Should I call a vet? Several factors can trigger fast breathing during sleep. Exertion Best-case scenario: Your pup is still cooling down from a rousing play session or exercise. If you took your puppy out for a game of fetch or went on a power walk together, they may still be breathing heavily as they nap it off. Heatstroke is dangerous for dogs, just like for humans. Turn down the heat or move your puppy to a cooler space, preferably inside, on a hot day. Make sure they have plenty of water. Food poisoning If your puppy got into something they should not have, like garlic or onions , they might breathe heavily. If it collapses or has too much pressure, your puppy may start breathing more heavily. Other symptoms of this issue include a dry cough. This problem typically occurs in older dogs, but puppies can have issues too. Certain breeds, like chihuahuas, are more susceptible to tracheal collapses. Heart issues Heavy breathing can be a sign of heart disease. If your dog is diagnosed with ticker trouble, the vet may have you monitor their resting breathing rate more often. Simply count each breath, which is considered one inhale and exhale, for 30 or 60 seconds. If counting for 30 seconds, multiply the number of breaths by 2. Generally, anything over 30 to 35 breaths per minute is cause for concern. Puppies may breathe rapidly when sleeping if they have recently played or exercised or are too hot. Fast breathing during rest periods can also be a sign of something more serious, such as food poisoning or heart disease. Make sure to keep your dog out of the heat and ensure they always have plenty of water. Call your vet if you notice fast breathing while sleeping. They can advise you on the next steps and evaluate your pup to determine if treatment is necessary. Editors' Recommendations. September 03, 5 min read Table of Contents Is there anything quite as peaceful as watching your pup napping? While it can be difficult to pinpoint the reason for their rapid breathing without asking your veterinarian, there are a few potential reasons you can keep an eye on. Why is my dog breathing so fast? While a quick rate of breath can be worrying it should not be a reason for instant panic. For one thing, puppies breath much faster in their sleep than adult dogs do. Interestingly enough, puppies will dream much more often and more vividly than an adult dog might. Dogs, like humans, dream during the REM phase of their sleep cycle. The REM phase is unique to mammals, like your precious pupper, and comes with a high amount of brain activity. During this period, a dog will need more energy. Adult dogs, however, do not tend to breathe as rapidly in their sleep. While a brief period of quick breathing is acceptable, prolonged periods are a bad sign. Consult with your veterinarian if you notice this kind of behavior in an adult dog. There are other factors to consider as well. Remember, a warm environment can also cause rapid breathing in your pup as it tries to cool its body down during a snooze. Keeping an eye on your thermostat will help your dog stay more comfortable! A brief nap after a spirited round of fetch or a walk through the park will leave your furry friend breathing a little harder for a bit. While these are perfectly natural reasons for rapid breathing, there are other factors to worry about. If your dog has spent an excessive amount of time in the heat they might be at risk for heatstroke. Note that this will often be combined with diarrhea, vomiting, and excess salivation. Regular checkups with your vet will help you monitor this. Fluid in the Lungs: While most mammals, great and small, have a minuscule amount of fluid in their lungs, an excess amount can cause pain and make it hard to breathe. Low body temperature can also be an indicator. How fast is normal? According to the Animal Emergency Center , a puppy will breathe at a higher rate and clock in at between 15 to 40 breaths per minute. An adult dog, however, will have a lower rate between 10 to 30 breaths per minute. To see if your pupper is breathing rapidly, time it, and see how many they take in 60 seconds. This will help you determine if you should be worried. What do I do if my dog is breathing fast while resting? If your pup is breathing fast while napping, it might be a good idea to check other factors. For instance, stomach issues combined with rapid breathing can indicate poisoning while discoloration of the gums or unusual body temperature can indicate problems like heart failure or fluid in the lungs. Waking your dog can be an acceptable way to check whether or not they were dreaming, but waking them out of REM sleep can be just as disorienting for them as it would be for you! If you choose this course of action, try to calmly call their name and reassure them that everything is okay. When should I be worried? Other signs would include diarrhea and vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, and coughing. If your companion is low on energy, having stomach issues, or any sort of issue breathing, please consult your veterinarian to determine the cause and explore treatment options. How can I prevent this in the future? Remember, your puppy is frolicking in dreamland during their REM cycle and developing their respiratory systems. Their diet is also very important! What can help my dog sleep? Making sure your dog is comfortable and happy can go a long way toward helping them breathe easy! Providing your pup with a comfortable place to sleep can also make their dreams sweeter, and an orthopedic dog bed is a nice way to make sure they can rest easy. Remember, maintain their diet and provide a comfortable environment for them to rest in! These things, alongside regular veterinary checkups, will help you keep your pupper happy and healthy. For More Articles Check Out. Contact Help! Why is my dog breathing fast but acting normal? You have just noticed that your dog is breathing fast but hasn't been exercising or playing. Should you be concerned? Today our Davidson County vets share some of the reasons why dogs breathe fast, and when you should call the vet. Why is my dog breathing fast? Is something wrong? For you to be able to spot abnormal breathing you'll need to understand what a healthy respiratory breathing rate for your dog is. A typical healthy dog will take between 15 to 35 breaths per minute while at rest. Naturally, while exercising, your pooch will breathe much more quickly. So, anything above 40 breaths per minute while your dog is at rest is considered abnormal and certainly worth investigating. That said, it's important to understand that panting doesn't always mean that there's a problem. Panting is your pup's way of regulating their body temperature, cooling themselves down and allowing water and heat to evaporate from their upper respiratory tract, tongue, and mouth. Dogs can't sweat to cool themselves down, instead they need to breathe fast to allow air to circulate through their body. Rapid breathing helps your pup's body to get back to a normal temperature. How can I tell if my dog is breathing too fast? You may even want to do this when you are not concerned, in order to have a clear understanding of your pet's normal respiratory rate. Anything under 30 breaths per minute is considered normal, anything above 35 may be a cause for concern and is worth contacting your vet over. Your vet will have a good understanding of your dogs normal respiratory rate from previous examinations. Brachycephalic dog breeds, breeds with 'squished faces' or shortened snouts , such as Boston terriers, boxers, and pugs face a higher risk of developing breathing issues and should always be closely monitored by pet owners for signs of increased respiratory effort. Short nosed breeds aren't the only ones that can run into difficulties breathing normally. No matter which breed your dog is, fast breathing could be a sign that your pooch is suffering from an illness or injury that requires urgent veterinary care. A few potential causes of fast or heavy breathing in dogs include: Asthma Lung Diseases such as cancer Exercise. It is active and a big dog Golden Retrievers are usually big dogs and they can be very active. If your Golden Retriever is big and it tends to be very active it could be that it breathes fast because its body requires more oxygen naturally. This would be more likely if it has always breathed fast and if the vet has never found any issues. To cool down By panting, dogs are able to circulate air through the bodies which helps them to cool down source. The reason why your Golden Retriever has been breathing fast could be that it is trying to cool itself down. Not enough exercise Golden Retrievers are a breed that is meant to get a lot of exercise on a daily basis. When they do not get enough exercise it can cause them to develop health issues and it might be why yours is breathing fast. Generally, it is recommended that they get at least an hour of exercise per day when they are healthy adults. If your Golden Retriever is not getting that much and the vet has confirmed that it is not ill or injured then it would help to make sure that it gets frequent exercise. Illness or injury It might be the case that an illness, medical condition or injury has been causing it to breathe faster. This would be more likely if it has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill or injured such as being fatigued, vomiting or limping. If it does seem like it might be ill or injured it would help to take it to a vet. It has been active recently If your Golden Retriever tends to breathe faster after doing exercise it would be likely to be because it is doing it in order to cool down. Heatstroke If the weather has become hotter and your Golden Retriever has been out in the sun for a while and it has started panting a lot then it could be because it has heatstroke. It would also be more likely if it is drooling more, its heart rate is very high, it has diarrhea and seizures. If it does then make sure to let it into a cool and shaded area, to give it water and to follow the advice in this article then to take it to a vet. This would be more likely if it starts panting more when it is hot inside. In this case, it would help to make sure to give it access to shaded areas, a cool room and lots of water. Medication If your Golden Retriever has started breathing faster after being put on medication it could be a side effect of the medication source. This would be more likely if heavy breathing is listed as a side effect on the medication. However, it would help to make sure it is ok with your vet. Allergic reaction The cause could be that it has had an allergic reaction to something. If it has been showing signs of having an allergic reaction then it would help to take it to a vet. Things to consider Below are some things to consider about your Golden Retriever breathing fast. When it started doing it If your Golden Retriever has always panted fast it would be more likely to be natural especially if the vet has not found any issues on previous visits and it is a particularly large Golden Retriever. However, it would still help to ask if the panting is normal on your next visit. If it has started breathing fast recently it would help to consider what else changed when it started doing it since it could be that there was an event that caused it to start doing it. If it did start breathing fast suddenly it would be more likely to be due to things such as heatstroke, an allergic reaction, a change in its diet, being hot, being more active, illness or injury. In this case, it would likely be the best option to take it to a vet. How to get your Golden Retriever to stop breathing fast Below are some options you have when getting your Golden Retriever to stop breathing fast. If it has always breathed fast it would also help to consult with your vet when you see them next on its breathing to double-check that it is normal behavior. Keep it cool If the weather has become hotter recently, it would help to make sure that your Golden Retriever is able to stay cool. You can do this by exercising it in the morning or evening when it is not as hot, giving it access to shaded areas and a cool room. Give it exercise As mentioned above, it is important to make sure that your Golden Retriever is able to get lots of exercise on a daily basis. Side Effects of Medication Watching their beloved pup sleeping is one of the sweetest things in the world for many owners. Our pups are gorgeous, but when they sleep, especially in a funny position, we just can not resist them. Looking after our paw friends during sleep is not only quite normal, but it can also be very helpful, as we can recognize any breathing issues that may be present. However, the normal breathing rate for each pup is individual, that is why you may want to consult a veterinarian for accurate information about your paw friend. After 30 seconds you can just multiply the number by two, to determine the breathing rate of your paw friend. Why Do Pups Breathe Fast As mentioned above pups have higher breathing rates than adult dogs, which applies even more to hyper pups, who are eager to play and explore. In general, we could say that there are three types of reasons for faster breathing in pups: 1. Physical-related causes they are quite normal, and you should not worry ; 2. Psychological causes; 3. Underlying medical issues. Psychological causes might be related to stress triggers, that may cause anxiety and lead to increased breathing rate. The third group includes underlying health conditions like heart failure, respiratory problems, Cushing's disease a. In this case you need to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is important that the area is not draughty as, as your puppy may get sick. You should always keep in mind that heatstroke is dangerous not only for humans, but also for dogs. During this stage the eyes move fast behind closed eyelids , the heart rate increases and the breathing gets irregular. However, from a medical point of view, there is nothing to worry about. Stress triggers can usually be a rapid environmental change, i. Your Pup Is Breathing Fast During Sleep - When Should You Consult a Veterinarian If you notice that your paw friend is breathing rapidly even when they are resting, or they are panting with a closed or not fully opened mouth, you should contact a veterinarian. Coughing, retching, wheezing as well as producing other sounds , having blue or pale gums, are other signs of underlying health conditions, that require a veterinarian check. This condition can cause permanent lung damage. Coughing occurs as a response of the body in order to help the airways clear the excess mucus. Bronchitis can be acute and chronic. While acute bronchitis is usually caused by infection viral or bacterial and is a temporary condition, if its symptoms remain more than 2 months, it is deemed chronic. Trachea Problems The trachea is a part of the airway system, supported by cartilaginous rings that open to let air in and out. This is a progressive disease, most common in toy breeds like the Pug, the Yorkshire Terrier , the Miniature and the Toy Poodle, the Chihuahua. Tracheal collapse is perceived as an extension of chronic bronchitis. The treatment of trachea problems may feature both medication and preventative care. Dyspnea Dyspnea or the so-called shortness of breath is a condition that prevents the lungs from expanding. As a result, they can not get enough oxygen into the bloodstream which leads to breathing problems. Initial treatment may feature: providing oxygen, taking out fluid from the chest cavity, doing tracheal intubation, inhalation, keeping the pup hydrated, treating any bacterial infections if present. Heart Problems Fast breathing can be a sign of congestive heart failure. Accompanying symptoms can be panting, experiencing fatigue, having difficulties breathing or breathing very rapidly, coughing, and having blue gums. Medication to correct the heartbeat or prevent fluids from build-up may be prescribed. Also, surgery may be administered. Certain types of food such as chocolate, garlic, onion, chives, macadamia nuts, avocado, xylitol, corn on the cob can be harmful for your paw friend. We always recommend that you keep human food which is potentially dangerous for your dog locked and always supervise your paw friend while outdoor. Side Effects of Medication Sedatives and pain relievers can lead to breathing problems in your paw friend. In most cases these medications do not lead to labored breathing when used properly , however, if your dog has an allergic reaction, heart issues, anemia or internal bleeding, breathing problems may occur. You might also be interested in: Normal Breathing in dogs We hope that you all remember from biology class that breathing in brings oxygen into our lungs, swapping it with carbon dioxide to be expelled. The oxygen goes round the body to our cells, providing them with energy to function, producing more CO2 as a waste product. Without this critical action, we pretty much cease to function… we die! Our bodies are pretty good at knowing what they want. When our bodies are metabolising producing energy fast, such as during exercise, we use up oxygen and produce more carbon dioxide. Increased carbon dioxide leads to a drop in the pH of the blood — it becomes more acidic. So if the chemoreceptors detect low blood pH and O2, and high CO2, they tell the lungs and associated muscles to work faster tachypnoea or breathing fast. This brings oxygen into and CO2 out of our bodies more quickly, restoring balance. Once the levels are normal, the receptors tell the lungs to slow down again. So why is your puppy breathing fast? Probably because its chemoreceptors have detected low O2 and blood pH, and high CO2, and are compensating. Question answered! You probably want a bit more information than that. Normal Causes There are plenty of normal reasons why your puppy might be breathing fast. As mentioned above, the most likely reason is exercise. If a puppy has been running around all afternoon, its body will have a huge demand for oxygen to supply the hard-working cells, and a lot of CO2 to remove. Breathing fast will help correct this quickly. Stress, excitement or fear are all linked to the stress hormone cortisol. Also known as the fight-or-flight hormone, when it activates it increases the heart rate. As the heart is a muscle, it needs oxygen to function. A faster heart leads to tachypnoea as the lungs compensate to bring more O2 to the heart. Has your puppy just had a fright or gotten excited? This might be the cause of the fast breathing rate. Cortisol is also responsible for an increased breathing rate due to pain. If your puppy sadly hurts themself, they may breathe faster. Finally, the lungs have a secondary function of helping to cool the body down by expelling warm air and inhaling cooler air. As dogs only sweat through their feet and noses, the lungs are particularly important in regulating heat. Heat is produced secondarily to exercise or just because of the environment — if your puppy is too hot, it will pant fast to lose some of that heat. Be especially wary of exercising puppies on hot days, as the two heat sources can overwhelm their compensation mechanisms and lead to heatstroke — heatstroke can be fatal , especially in puppies, so always help them cool down if they are panting too hard. A fever due to illness can cause rapid breathing for the same reason. Heart Diseases The heart is closely linked to the lungs. It pumps blood to the lungs, allowing oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged. Most heart diseases in puppies are present from birth — developing heart disease at such a young age is rare. The developing heart undergoes a lot of changes before a puppy is born. These cause the blood to flow in the wrong direction, or the heart to have to work harder against pressure. The result is excessive strain on the heart. We can sometimes hear these defects with a stethoscope as a heart murmur. Only the most serious heart defects cause disease and tachypnoea as a puppy — many will either cause no effects or result in disease later in life. Puppies with heart disease may have soft coughs and be very lethargic. To compensate, the lungs speed up — lung disease often results in very fast but shallow breathing. There are many kinds of lung disease. In puppies, the most common are probably infectious lung diseases. These include kennel cough , bronchopneumonia, viral infections like influenza, and lungworm. These diseases damage the lungs, fill them with infection and reduce the area available for oxygen and carbon dioxide to be exchanged. Secondary infections after inhaling objects such as grass seeds or just a simple blockage are also a common cause of tachypnoea. Generally, puppies with lung infections also have a fever, a cough and are quite poorly, so please speak to your vet if you suspect a lung infection. Sometimes newborn puppies can be born breathing very rapidly as a result of their lungs not functioning properly. When animals are born, the lungs are often immature and full of fluid — they usually clear within a few hours of life but they can sometimes take longer, especially if the puppy was born premature. In these cases, the puppy will often be breathing quite fast. Newborn puppies are very vulnerable, so a puppy like this will need a lot of veterinary care. Finally, the lungs can also be physically damaged, reducing their capacity and resulting in compensatory tachypnoea. Examples include bruising or puncture after an accident, or damage to the ribs or diaphragm that control lung movement. These events are obviously an emergency as there could be other issues going on like internal bleeding. However, not all tachypnoea is directly linked to the heart or lungs. These puppies are often dehydrated, e. Hypovolaemia can also occur due to bleeding. Finally, the red blood cells themselves the cells that carry oxygen can be low anaemia or damaged. There are many causes of red blood cell dysfunction, including chronic disease, parasites, autoimmune diseases, carbon monoxide or onion poisoning. Puppies with these issues are often pale, cold and have blue gums. All of the above are emergencies that need to be seen by a vet ASAP. The abdomen is close to the lungs and the abdominal organs even push up on the diaphragm when animals breathe out to help expel air. But if the organs get too big they can start to compress the lungs too much, they reduce its capacity for oxygen movement and causing tachypnoea. One of the most common reasons for a swollen belly in puppies is worms — puppies should be treated for worms regularly to prevent this. Swollen tummies can also occur due to blockages from swallowed objects or stools, twisted intestines or fluid in the abdomen. There is also a rare congenital disease that allows abdominal organs to enter the thorax where the lungs are, pushing on them — we can correct this with surgery. A puppy with a big swollen belly should always be investigated for these diseases. Finally, remember that control of the breathing rate is related to specific parts of the brain. Brain damage can sometimes result in tachypnoea, as well as other serious neurological issues. There is usually an underlying cause, and in puppies is probably due to an accident. If your puppy has bumped their head, please speak to a vet quickly, especially if they are breathing fast, are collapsed or bleeding, or are an abnormal colour. You should only consider talking to a vet if the puppy is breathing fast for prolonged periods of time, or there are other signs of disease. You might also be interested in:.

Yorkshire Terrier When considering the Breed Standards and Average Sizes for collar selection, it is important to note that these measurements are approximate and may vary slightly across individual dogs. The average neck sizes listed above can serve as a general guideline for choosing an appropriate collar size for your lab puppy. It is crucial to measure your lab puppy's neck size accurately before making a collar purchase. Using a soft measuring tape, wrap it around the base of your puppy's neck, ensuring a snug but comfortable fit. Keep in mind that puppies grow quickly, so it is advisable to choose a collar with room for growth. It is recommended to select a collar that is adjustable to accommodate your lab puppy's changing size. This way, you can easily modify the fit as they grow. Always ensure that the collar is comfortable for your puppy to wear, with enough space for two fingers to fit between the collar and their neck. By considering the Breed Standards and Average Sizes, measuring your lab puppy's neck accurately, and choosing an adjustable collar with room for growth, you can provide your puppy with a comfortable and properly fitting collar. Remember to monitor your lab puppy's collar as they continue to grow and adjust or replace it accordingly. Suggestions: When selecting a collar size for your lab puppy, it is a good idea to consult with a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer for additional guidance. They can provide personalized advice based on your puppy's breed, age, and growth rate. Remember to always prioritize your lab puppy's comfort and pet safety when choosing a collar. Measuring the Neck Size of the Lab Puppy Measuring the neck size of a lab puppy is a crucial step in selecting the appropriate collar size. Here is a step-by-step manual on accurately measuring the neck size: Ensure that the lab puppy is calm and comfortable before measuring their neck size. Utilize a soft measuring tape or a piece of string to measure around the puppy's neck at the base, where the collar will be positioned. Wrap the measuring tape or string snugly around the neck, ensuring it is not too tight or too loose. Take note of the measurement in inches or centimeters, maintaining consistency with the chosen unit of measurement. If you utilized a piece of string, measure its length with a ruler or measuring tape to determine the neck size. Double-check the measurement to ensure its accuracy. Remember that the collar should fit snugly but not be excessively tight or loose. It is important to allow two fingers to comfortably fit between the collar and the puppy's neck. By accurately measuring the neck size, you can select the appropriate collar size for your lab puppy, ensuring both comfort and a proper fit. Guidelines for Choosing the Right Size Collar for a Lab Puppy When it comes to finding the perfect collar for your adorable lab puppy, it's important to keep a few key guidelines in mind. In this section, we'll explore useful tips and tricks to ensure you choose the right size collar that will suit your furry friend's needs. From adjustable collars to selecting a collar with room for growth and ensuring optimal comfort and fit, we've got you covered. Get ready to make your lab puppy the most stylish and comfortable pup in town! Adjustable Collars Adjustable collars are a convenient option when choosing a collar for your lab puppy. They offer flexibility and allow for easy adjustments as your puppy grows. Perfect fit: Adjustable collars provide a perfect fit for your lab puppy's neck comfortably. This ensures that the collar is not too tight, causing discomfort or restricting movement, and not too loose, risking the puppy slipping out of it. Room for growth: Lab puppies grow rapidly, and adjustable collars provide the flexibility to accommodate their changing neck size. As your puppy grows, you can adjust the size of the adjustable collar accordingly, providing a snug fit without the need for frequent collar replacements. Economical option: Investing in adjustable collars eliminates the need to purchase multiple collars as your lab puppy grows. This helps save money in the long run and ensures that you always have a well-fitting collar for your pup. Durable and long-lasting: Adjustable collars are typically made of high-quality materials, ensuring durability and longevity. They are designed to withstand the active lifestyle of lab puppies, making them a reliable choice for everyday use. Easy to clean: Lab puppies are known for their playful and messy nature. Adjustable collars are easy to clean, allowing you to maintain hygiene and keep your puppy looking smart and presentable at all times. When choosing a collar for your lab puppy, consider the convenience and versatility that adjustable collars offer. They provide a customized and comfortable fit, accommodate your puppy's growth, and are a cost-effective choice in the long run. Choosing a Collar with Room for Growth When selecting a collar for your lab puppy, it is crucial to choose one that allows room for growth. To make sure you get the right size, follow these steps: Start by measuring your lab puppy's neck size using a flexible tape measure or a piece of string and a ruler. Wrap the measuring tape or string around the base of the neck, where the collar will sit. Remember to leave a finger's width of space for comfort. Once you have the measurement of the neck size, add an extra inches to allow for growth. This ensures that the collar will fit comfortably as your lab puppy grows. Look for adjustable collars with multiple holes or a sliding mechanism that can easily be adjusted as your lab puppy develops. Consider collars made from lightweight and durable materials like nylon or leather. These materials can withstand the wear and tear that comes with a growing lab puppy. Ensure that the collar is neither too tight nor too loose when fastened. It should fit snugly around your lab puppy's neck, allowing freedom of movement without causing any discomfort. Pro-tip: Keep checking and adjusting the collar as your lab puppy grows to ensure a proper fit and prevent any potential discomfort or accidents. Ensuring Comfort and Proper Fit Ensuring comfort and proper fit is crucial when choosing a collar for a lab puppy. Here are some guidelines to follow: Choose a collar made of soft and lightweight material. It should be comfortable for the puppy to wear without causing any irritation or chafing. Ensure that the collar is adjustable. This will allow you to find the perfect fit for your lab puppy as it grows. Select a collar with a buckle or snap closure that is easy to fasten and secure. Avoid collars with complicated or hard-to-use closures. Check that the collar is not too tight or too loose. It should fit snugly around the puppy's neck without restricting their movement or causing discomfort. Regularly check the collar to make sure it remains properly fitted as the puppy grows. Adjust the collar accordingly to ensure a comfortable fit at all times. Recommended Collar Sizes for Lab Puppies at Different Ages When it comes to choosing the right collar size for your lab puppy, it's important to consider their age and growth. Collar Sizes for Lab Puppies up to 3 Months Collar sizes for lab puppies up to 3 months are determined by their age and weight. Lab puppies up to 3 months of age are typically smaller and lighter compared to older puppies. It is essential to choose a collar that fits a lab puppy neither too tightly nor too loosely. An adjustable collar is recommended to accommodate the puppy's growth. Ensure that the collar is comfortable and does not cause any discomfort or irritation to the puppy's neck. Before selecting a collar, accurately measure the puppy's neck size. Collars with room for growth are ideal for lab puppies up to 3 months as they experience rapid growth during this stage. To determine the appropriate collar size, consult the breed standards and average sizes for lab puppies. Consider the lab puppy's weight and neck size when selecting the collar size. Collar Sizes for Lab Puppies from 3 to 6 Months When choosing collar sizes for Labrador puppies aged 3 to 6 months, it is important to consider their growth and comfort. Here is a table outlining the recommended collar sizes based on the weight of the lab puppies: Weight Range. Collar, Harness, Or Both? Lab puppies start tiny but grow up extremely fast. Every pup grows up at its own tempo. If it has started to get too constricting at that point — either loosen it up if possible or get a new collar. If you get a collar with a lot of resizing leeway, it can last you a few months. This is very easy to judge if you just stick a couple of fingers under the collar. The risk of keeping an overly loose collar on your dog should be clear — the dog will be able to back out of the collar. Many others, however, including a lot of labs, love to back out of their collars whenever possible. Adult Labrador Neck Size So, what size collar will your lab puppy end up wearing when it grows up? If your puppy is smaller than average it may grow into a smaller-than-average adult lab or it may just be a slow grower. Different Types Of Dog Collars For Labs The main non-cosmetic differences between dog collars are in the materials and the fastening mechanism. Plus, they always allow for multiple different size settings. As for materials, these are the basics: Metal — a lot of people love metal, especially for mid-sized to large breeds like Labradors. Leather — this is the classic choice for dog collars. Its main drawback is that it can get stinky over time. This is especially true if your dog loves to swim and Labrador retrievers are a water dog breed. Fabric collars can come in a lot of different designs and compositions. Some of the more colorful ones are especially fun for puppies. Synthetic polyurethane-type materials — these intuitively put off some people but are an excellent choice. Training collars used to be very popular at one point for both puppies and adult dogs. These collars take many different forms — they can be pronged, pinching, and electro-shock collars. Their idea is simple — teach your dog not to pull on its leash with the negative reinforcements of the collar. Dog harnesses today are viewed as a better and safer alternative to training collars. These are used mostly for training and for adult dogs, however. You should start using those as soon as your pup is big enough. CHECK OUT 9 Things that are 4 meters long As your dog grows and begins to reach its adult weight, you can still use the weight method to figure out a rough collar size. When should a puppy first wear a collar? Some puppies may have already been wearing soft breakaway collars for training or to distinguish them from their littermates. This can make training, particularly leash training, much easier in the future. Collar Types There are several collar options available, and picking the right type is often as important as choosing the correct size. Leather collars are durable and stylish. Nylon collars are also comfortable for the dog and are available in a number of colors and patterns. Plastic collars are also available for dogs that tend to swim a lot or are frequently dirty. Harnesses are an excellent training tool for puppies that are just learning to walk on a leash. They can curb bad leash habits, such as pulling. Harnesses can be switched out for a collar as the dog grows, or you can upgrade to an adult harness size. Sharing is caring! It is all rather bewildering, but there is no need to worry! This is where you can find the answers to those questions, and get some ideas and inspiration too. Collars are a great way to identify similar Lab puppies in a litter Labrador Dog Collars and the Law In many parts of the world, dogs must legally wear a collar when out in public. This is usually a disk attached to the collar, with your phone number and name on it. Collars can display IDs in a number of different ways. Some collars come with a brass or stainless steel plate attached to the surface, others have a metal ring for you to attach a tag onto. Others will embroider the ID into fabric or tool it into leather. Are Personalized Dog Collars Safe? But others feel that this is a dangerous thing to do. But most dogs are always supervised when outdoors, and many dogs are also microchipped so proof of ownership is more easily accomplished. Unless your dog is very friendly and spends time outdoors on his own, having his name on his collar is unlikely to put him at risk. Collars as a Fashion Statement A collar is the traditional way of attaching a restraint to a dog, for the purposes of keeping him safe. Before harnesses were invented this was an essential feature of life in a modern world, where cars and other hazards are everywhere. But in many homes and families, a collar has become something of a fashion statement too. A whole industry has arisen to meet the demand for different fabrics and styles. Training Collars for Labs Many people look on a collar, as an aid to training their dog how to walk on a leash. A way to get their dog to tread along nicely next to them, without dragging or pulling them along. They want to choose a collar that will best help them in this goal. Prong collars and pinch collars have been designed that are uncomfortable and even painful when a dog leans into them. The problem of course, is that pulling is often very rewarding for a dog he gets nearer to the destination he likes. So collars usually have to be quite painful if they are to successfully stop the pulling. Collars that can be used to pinch and choke dogs, are becoming less popular, as more and more dog owners want to train without using unpleasant aversives. And fortunately there are now excellent ways of teaching a dog to walk nicely without using collars at all. And in the meantime you might find it helpful to have a strong pulling dog fitted with a body harness that will give you more control without damaging his neck. Before you set off on a Labrador collar shopping expedition, you will need to think about sizes. And to know your Labrador neck size. Labrador Collar Size Not all collars are made in sizes large enough for an adult Lab. And one adult Lab will not have the same neck size as another. So you do need to whip out your tape measure in order to avoid disappointment Both my Labs have an 18 inch neck. They are medium build slim Labradors. But it really is best to measure. If you find it difficult to keep your dog still, just get someone to dip their fingers in some butter and let the dog lick it off while you take his measurements! Collars for adult Labs are usually about an inch wide — this allows enough space for a small ID plaque if desired. What Size Collar for a Lab Puppy? If you buy a puppy collar two or three inches longer than this it will last him a few weeks. Puppy collars are usually narrower than adult collars, half an inch is fine. And they come in some very cute designs. We have put together a collection of our favorite puppy collars to inspire you! So what kind of collar should you buy? Which Labrador Collar Style? We recommend that you buy your Labrador a flat collar with a buckle fastener. You can choose one to suit your taste and wallet. Especially if your Lab likes to swim. You can buy waterproof collars made from synthetic polyurethane type materials. Waterproof collars tend to resist odor and are easy to clean. They often come in striking bright colors — we love them and think they look cool! But not so loose that he can back out of it. You should be able to fit two or three fingers under it quite easily, but not much more. A collar that is too loose can be slipped by a lively dog very easily. It is also worth considering alternative forms of restraint. Especially for puppies and lively young dogs that can get very sore necks if leashed to a collar. Buying a Harness The breadth of choice in body harnesses for dogs has burgeoned in the last couple of years as people discover how great they are. A body harness is an excellent way to restrain a young dog that has not been taught to walk to heel. It has several advantages over a collar. It is almost impossible for the dog to slip out of. And most importantly, a puppy that wears a harness is not learning to lean into or pull, on his collar. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own. When it comes to puppies, particularly short-haired breeds, you should look for a soft collar made of a non-abrasive material. Fabric collars are a good option, and collars made from a breathable fabric that is also machine washable are even better. When should a puppy wear a collar? Even if your puppy is still too young to go outside for walks, getting them used to wearing a collar is a good idea and will prevent any tiny tantrums further down the road! Collars should be worn most of the time, even around the house, but taking it off every so often to let the skin breathe is recommended. Try leaving the collar off for a couple of hours every time you brush or bathe them. Can an 8-week-old puppy wear a collar? Responsible breeders recommend puppies should not be brought home until 8 weeks old, and you can start getting them used to their collar shortly after this. It may be a good idea to let them settle into their new environment before introducing something new, but getting them used to their collar in their second week at home is a good idea. Should puppies wear collars at night? Most dog collars are designed to be non-abrasive, and perfectly safe for pups and older dogs to sleep in. This can also help puppies get adjusted to wearing a collar for the majority of the time. However, many vets also recommend including a contact telephone number, in the event your dog goes missing. Although microchipping has been mandatory for pet dogs since , tags are still a legal requirement and provide a quicker way to get in contact with you if your dog is found, without their microchip needing to be scanned first. We hope our puppy collar size guide has been helpful, as well as our dog collar FAQs! If you enjoyed our puppy collar size guide, you might like our other article, What do I need for a New Puppy? Ridgeback, German Shepard, Bulldog The perfect fit for your furry friend! When buying a new collar for your dog it's necessary to decide and to find the correct collar size to ensure an optimal fit and comfort for your sweetheart. Use a flexible tape measure, wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your dog's neck. Allow enough free space between the collar and your dog by placing two fingers under the tape measure and lay your fingers flat against your dog's neck. Write down the measurements and decide the right size for the dog collar based on our sizing chart above. For example The measurement of your dog's neck, including two fingers, comes to 32 cm. Then the collar you choose should have a diameter between 29 - 36 cm, meaning that the first hole of the collar will give you a measurement of 29 cm, and the last hole 35 cm in diameter. This collar will allow enough space for adjustments to make a perfect fit for your dog. All our collars are measured without the buckle. This provides you the exact measurement of the collar when worn. Caring for proper ergonomics We're often asked why our collars are that wide and if they only are for sighthounds. The wideness of our dog collars is good for many different breeds not only sighthounds. The width of the collars gives good support and protection on your dog's neck and windpipe and a wider surface area spreads out the force and helps to prevent injuries. Also wider collar gives a more comfortable feeling and less strangulation then a thin collar which in turn means the dog is less stressed and is less likely to pull. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or recommendations regarding sizes, measurements etc. Just send a message to contact collarofsweden. High Paw! It can be challenging to understand where to begin! Labrador Puppy Collars are available in a wide range of colours and sizes. Your puppy will have a comfortable, stylish collar with your name on it. Find the perfect size and colour dog collar for your new Labrador, with more durable, comfortable, and fashionable. Our labrador puppy collar size is one step guide for you. Measure The Neck Size Of Your Lab Puppy It varies from puppy to puppy in terms of neck size, in the manner of how people vary in terms of their physical characteristics like size and shape. You can use this guide to figure out what collar fits your pup. You should always measure the neck of your lab pup rather than guessing its size to ensure a perfect fit. Simply start measuring from his head down a couple of inches and then add an extra inch. It will be easier to pick the right collar size for your labrador puppy if you know what to look for. Numerous aesthetically pleasing, durable, and cost-effective collars are available to choose from. A variety of materials, such as leather, nylon, and cotton, are available. You can also get a breakaway collar that lights up at night to make sure your puppy or dog is safe. It is also possible to find no-pull collars which are extremely effective in preventing a hyper-active puppy from yanking out of control while also teaching them how to walk properly. With a few of the top collars for lab puppies available on the market today, we have taken the time to cut through the clutter and provide you with a selection of well-made, durable, and highly-rated collars. As there are two different types of collars you can use on your canine companion. The collar you choose depends on your personal preference and budget. And if your lab loves swimming, then use cotton collars. These cotton waterproof collars contain polyurethane-like synthetic materials. In addition to being odor-resistant, waterproof collars are easily washable. Our favorite thing about them is that they are usually bright in color, which is something we love about them. Leather Collar — This is a luxurious and traditional collar for dogs that offers the perfect balance of functionality and style. In spite of their higher cost, a leather collar is likely to last for many years to come. Keep in mind that you should only buy a collar made of genuine leather. The leather bonded together consists of scrap leather, which glued together using an adhesive. Although the leather of this type might resemble the feel and appearance of genuine leather, it provides less durability and is dreadful in quality. Dogs, especially those with thick coats that tend to matt around collars, generally preferred to wear collars made of rolled leather. You can choose from a wide range of color choices, designs, and sizes. Lab puppies can wear these on walks as well as at home. The nylon collar is a standard collar that can be worn for many purposes. Neoprene Collar — Neoprene is an extremely flexible rubber material used to make wetsuits, bolstered with nylon mesh to provide extra durability, flexibility, and strength. If your dog spends a lot of time in the water, a neoprene collar is a perfect choice. Biothane Collar — Dogs who enjoy swimming will love biothane collars too. Contains non-toxic materials composed of polyester weave and powder coatings composed of polyurethane or polyvinyl. Neoprene and leather collars are expensive, while biothane collars are more comfortable, easier to wear, and more affordable. A collar needs to be checked every two to three weeks. Look for indentations and signs of wear and tear. The collar should replaced immediately when you notice any defect that may upset the dog or endanger his safety. If it does, your dog will suffer from pain and discomfort. When your puppy is indoors, it is best to remove its collar. It attracts bacteria when it is damp. Additionally, a dog collar not being clipped onto furniture or choking hazards in a crate will be avoided. As a general rule, puppies should be taught to wear a collar and leash around 10 weeks of age. As a result, you will be able to get started in a week or so after they have settled in. FAQs Question 1: Do lab puppies always need to wear collars? Although there are some puppies who seem perfectly happy to wear a neck collar, it is important to consider that wearing one for prolonged periods of time could harm their coat and their skin due to the friction created by the collar. Question 2: Which collar size is best for my puppy? For dogs under 10 pounds, a collar up to 12 inches long is adequate. The collar length should be from 13 to 18 inches for dogs between 26 and 55 pounds. Question 3: Are dogs better off with wide collars? There are many benefits to using wide collars for your dog, including strolling, training , and even playing with. Wider dog collars provide your pup with a better fit around the neck while walking or training. For dogs that like to play rough, a wide collar can provide a better level of safety from other dogs or potential neck injuries. Question 4: Does my labrador puppy need a smaller collar? While many people will just go ahead and get the next size up, that could be a mistake. Make sure you choose a collar that will fit your puppy as he grows into adulthood. Post navigation.

Pugs will eat as much as you give them. Measure your pug's food and feed him small meals at scheduled times. As he ages, decrease how often he eats. He should eat four times a day. High-quality dry foods and wet foods are nutrient-dense, so your little guy will not need as much of it as he would lower-quality foods. You can find high-quality puppy foods in pet stores and at your veterinary clinic. Avoid semi-moist puppy foods because they contain high amounts of sugar. Adjust the amount so he is still getting his daily requirement. He may want more; but as long as he is at a healthy weight, don't start giving him extra food. Pugs gain weight easily. Obesity in pugs can lead to muscle and joint problems, diabetes and heart disease. It is doubtful that you will need to increase the amount of food per day even though your pug is growing. Your vet may suggest that you decrease the amount of food if your pug is starting to gain weight. Some owners prefer to continue the twice-a-day feedings because pugs have a smaller stomach than larger dogs. It's hard for them to digest a large amount in one feeding. It is now time to consider adult food. Introduce the new food slowly so he doesn't have difficulty digesting it. If you are concerned that your pug is not getting enough to eat, look at his shape. He should be broad at the shoulders and narrower beyond the shoulders, with a slight widening in the rump area. If his shape is square, he is getting too much food. More Articles. You may find yourself on the dog food isle trying to make sense of all the ingredients, types of foods and categories. And all you want to know is… How often and what should I feed my Pug? Every dog is different, every type of food has its specific quantities and it even varies between brands. Start simple and figure out all the details and methods. I have collected information about the different types, brands pros and cons of dog feeding to try and give an unbiased as much as I can look, so you can make a better-informed choice which will be right for you and your Pug. Remember, people care deeply about their dogs and will often get very emotional about the health and feeding they chose. Having been the owner of a pet store, I have learned that although I have my personal preferences and very good reasons for them, others may have different choices and they believe they are the right ones for them. There are a lot of issues to consider. How Many times a day should I feed My Pug? A mature Pug can easily live a healthy life with one meal which provides all his nutritional needs. In most cases, it is more convenient for both us and the pug to split this to two meals. If your Pug had a full meal in the morning, be sure he will nag you like crazy in the afternoon. Puppies have smaller stomachs and need, relative to their size, a larger quantity of food so it is better to break it up to three or even four meals a day. If you are around your Pug all day and prefer to give 4 meals a day to a mature dog, there is no harm in it, as long as the overall daily quantity stays the same. Free Buffet or Set meals? Pugs are notorious for becoming overweight and need to be limited to a set amount. If your Pug is not typical in that sense, you are welcome to put the full daily portion in the bowl and see how long it lasts. One more reason for set meals is monitoring. You want to know how much you Pug eats. If you want your Pug to lose weight, you need to know how much he is eating in order to cut down. On the flip side, if your Pug is not eating the usual amounts it may be an indication of a medical condition. What food do Pugs Eat? Pugs love food. They love treats, dry food, wet food, table scraps, raw meat, cooked meat, spicy meat and meat gone bad. In rural areas and farms, they may have also got more meaty scraps. Our Pugs who grew up with Emperors and Royalty were probably treated to high quality scraps. Today, dry bagged kibble or canned wet food are the standard for most homes, although there is a growing number of people and companies promoting more natural diets of either raw or cooked food for dogs. Every type of food claims to be the healthiest, more appropriate, tailored and nutritional. Kibble Kibble is the most common dog food available and has become the staple for the average dog. Pros of Kibble The makers of dry food claim it has the most balanced and scientifically based formulas to provide the best nutrition for a dog. They also tailor these formulas to dogs of different size, breed, age or other needs. Even the most discerning dog owners should be able a composition to satisfy them. The ingredient list is unclear and misleading. There are numerous food recalls yearly. There are websites dedicated just to keep up with the recalls. Teeth are going to need cleaning. Wet canned food Aside from the meatier texture and the higher water content, there is little difference between kibble and the canned, wet counterpart. The ingredients can be similar and so are the health benefits. Some dog owners report that wet food makes for softer stools when fed exclusively. Many dog owners will give a combination of wet and dry food. Home cooked As with human food there is a growing number of people fed up Pun intended with commercial and over engineered food. Raw food Also called the BARF Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods , the idea behind it is that the dogs digestive system has not evolved as their behavior, and much like wild dogs or wolves, they should eat the equivalent to small animals they would pray on in nature. Since dogs are also scavengers this diet will include some vegetables, berries etc. The pros As with the home-cooked diet, you have total control of ingredients and quality No preservatives, additives, fillers etc. You need to learn how to make, takes time Ingredients like bones and internal organs may not be available in your area. Can be pricy. Even More expensive if buying ready and frozen. Takes freezer space Raw Disclaimer I am a little bias towards raw food. I used to own a pet food store specializing in raw food for cats and dogs and I have been feeding my own Pugs raw food for over twelve years. Obviously, I am very happy with the raw diet and its outcomes as switching to dry food would have been easy and cheap. I believe it is the better choice for myself and my dogs. I believe I have presented the facts fairly objectively as far as the other feeding options go. There is no standard or way to measure what natural is and what the added value of it is other then the origin of it. Natural color could come from some secretion of an insect. Special Needs Puppies These little ones need the most nutritious and high-quality food you can find. If you want to find an economic way to feed your dog, please do it later in his life. Allergies Pugs are relatively sensitive to allergies. In some cases, this is due to an external source such as home detergents, but more often than not it has to do with their diet. There are a few brands that you can try with low, or no grain. If you are feeding your pug home cooked food or a raw diet, taking the carbs and grain out would be easy. Our Pugs were and are on a raw diet from day one and we never had any issues with allergies, except for one time. We started noticing that Preston had pinkish skin around his paws and around the nose fold. Since we owned a pet food store specializing in raw food, at the time convenient, I know we tried different types of meats, but nothing helped. It took us some time to realize the cause. We had our baby daughter at the time, and since she was very close and intimate with Preston, and he was eating raw, we made sure to wipe his mouth and feet with baby wipes after every meal. The baby wipes were the culprits. We switched them both to hypo-allergenic wipes and the skin went back to normal… Hip Dysplasia Pugs are ranked as one of the breeds with the highest chances of suffering from Hip Dysplasia. This can lead to trouble in walking and running and arthritis may follow as well. If your Pug is suffering from Hip Dysplasia to any extent you may want to either supplement their diet with Chondroitin and Glucosamine or to choose a brand that is made for joint support. Vets and nutrition. Having said that, if I needed nutritional advice, I would go to a nutritionist and not to my Doctor. The nutrition training vets get in many schools is provided by agents of the commercial food companies who are bias at best. Skipping meals Dogs will sometimes skip a meal. It is natural for them as food is not something that was always available on daily base. It is not typical for Pugs but it may happen. If it happens it will probably be a one meal deal. If your Pug misses a few meals in a row you may want to consult a vet. Treats and snacks I try and think of treats and snacks the same way I think of candy for my daughters. If the amount of treats your Pug is rivals the actual food, in quantity, you should reconsider or at least re calculate it. If you are using kibble both at meals and as treats for training, and your stubborn Pug ends up consuming a lot of treats, just take it off the next meal. The same goes for snacks. They should be a part of the total daily feeding and not extra. How long can a pug go without eating? An adult Pug can probably survive many days without food, but no Pug would stand for it. Unless your Pug has a medical condition, he will surely let you know he is hungry. Do make sure that your Pug is not deprived of fresh drinking water at all times. More so if the weather is hot and if he is on a dry food diet and has no other source of hydration. What if my Pug is overweight? Pugs love to eat and have a tendency to eat too much. A chubby Pug is very cute, but at some point, it becomes a health issue. Overweight Pugs may suffer from a wide range of conditions and or aggravate others. Conclusion Food is an important part of your Pugs life and will directly affect his health and well-being. Do make sure you know what your Pug is eating, the quality as well as the quantities. Actually, yes. This is an actual condition called Eye Displacement or Proptosis. It is not a common occurrence but with extreme trauma or circumstances it may happen. In most cases the condition is treatable. More on the condition here… Are Pugs Loving? Pugs have been bred as companion dogs for over two thousand years. Being with people is almost in their DNA. So yes, Pugs love to cuddle, snuggle and just be in contact or as close as they can to their human friends. More on Pug Love here. Still, you may discover information about how much to feed a Pug puppy here if you were unaware of the specifics before. Pugs are very food-motivated and will do just about anything for a tasty treat. Unfortunately, pugs gain weight as fast as any other dog breed. You are, supposedly, what you eat. The pug is a little dog, so even a slight increase in weight might be noticeable. Because of their tiny stature and low activity levels, pug pups have a lower caloric need than puppies of other breeds. Because of their unique nutritional needs, small-breed puppies should be fed food that has been developed particularly for them. Furthermore, make sure the puppy food you choose has all the nutrients it needs, and ask your physician for recommendations on how much and how often to feed the puppy. By the age of three to four weeks, you may begin feeding your puppy solid food. Mix equal parts of puppy chow and milk replacer as a first step. Give a little bit teaspoons many times a day. Weaning off of milk and onto solid food is complete when a pug puppy reaches this age. Independence from their mother and siblings and other littermates may begin to emerge. Puppies may start interacting socially and maturing rapidly at this age. Water should be kept fresh at all times. This is a good age to start teaching children to use the restroom without assistance. At this age, pug pups are full of energy and wonder. As they become older, puppies often become more receptive to training and socializing. There may be a period of boundary testing when they need constant guidance in training and socializing. Baby teeth may start falling out and adult teeth emerging in puppies. Proper potty training should have been completed. They may begin to express themselves more openly and build their own identities. Get started on the changeover to puppy food for adult dogs. They may test limits and need ongoing socialization and discipline. Make sure they get lots of exercise to keep their weight in check. Their interests and preferences in playthings and other pursuits may become more clearly defined. Maintain a high volume of physical activity and intellectual challenge. Pug pups achieve their full size at this point, however they may continue to gain weight. As puppies become older, they often become more devoted to their families and develop stronger bonds with them. The amount they eat should be adjusted based on their weight. At reaching adulthood, pugs often slow down and spend more time lounging. They may set in their ways, but they can still be taught new tricks with enough repetition. Aging symptoms in adult pugs include the development of gray hair and a general slowing down of activity. Understanding Pug Puppy Nutritional Needs Depending on factors including their age, weight, and level of activity, the calorie needs of Pug puppies might change over time. Pug puppies, on the whole, may need anything from to calories each day. The food of a Pug puppy should consist of between 22 and 25 percent protein, since this is the macronutrient most crucial for promoting healthy muscle and tissue development. Consuming between 8 and 10 percent of their calories from fat is recommended for optimal health and energy levels. To maintain a healthy skin and coat, they need omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well. High-quality commercial puppy chow designed for pups is what you should be feeding your Pug. The growth and development of pug pups may be supported by feeding them multiple little meals throughout the day. Feeding them three to four times a day till they are roughly six months old is the norm. To figure out how often and how much to feed your Pug puppy, talk to your vet. Having access to clean water at all times is also crucial. Puppies of the Pug breed need three meals every day. For ages 8 weeks to 6 months, try to stick to this schedule for feedings. As soon as your Pug reaches 6 months of age, you may begin reducing the number of times each day it is fed to twice. Kibble is practical since it may aid in the prevention of tartar accumulation and can be stored easily. Yet, the added moisture provided by wet foods may aid in the fight against dehydration and support efficient digestion. Wet food may have a better texture and flavor for certain Pug pups, while kibble may be a better choice for others. You should talk to your vet about what kind of food and how often you should feed your Pug puppy. Yet the specific time might vary from dog to dog based on their nutritional requirements. To prevent stomach trouble, the change should be made slowly over the course of a few weeks. Puppy anorexia may be caused by several things, including sickness, dental issues, stress, and dietary or habit changes. In the meanwhile, you may try introducing a new kind of food or moistening their normal kibble with a little quantity of wet food or broth to pique their interest. Do not feed your Pug puppy any human food or table scraps since this might cause gastric discomfort and other health issues. Pugs have a tendency toward becoming overweight and overeating, which may lead to a host of medical complications. Instead, you should make sure your Pug puppy is receiving the right quantity of food by sticking to a regular feeding schedule and controlling portions. This may improve general conduct and aid in the process of teaching toilet independence. This formula is designed for purebred Pugs. Little dogs with short muzzles may easily pick up and chew the kibble design. This meal supports Pug immunological, skin, and digestive health with antioxidants and important nutrients. Supports digestive health 2. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins strengthen bones and teeth in this specifically prepared combination. Vitamins, chelated minerals, and antioxidants for immune system, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and hair No corn, wheat, soy, or chicken or poultry by-product meal Cons May contain artificial flavors 3. This puppy chow supports strong muscles and a healthy heart by starting with high-quality protein. Antioxidants and natural glucosamine will maintain his joints for a lifetime of sports. Pros Protein-rich chicken is the first ingredient DHA aids puppy brain and visual development Four antioxidants boost immunity Omega-6, vitamins, and minerals for skin and coat No artificial flavors or preservatives. Best Dog Foods for Pugs Choosing the right dog food for a Pug is essential as this will ensure that it gets proper nutrition. However, this can be challenging and time-consuming, considering that there is a lot to choose from. Whether you choose to feed your Pug commercial, homemade food, or raw food, make sure that they are of good quality and recommended by a trusted veterinarian. Proper nutrition is one of the factors that affect their lifespan. Below is a list of the best dog food choices for your Pug: Dry Food: One of the best options for Pugs is dry dog food as it is widely available, cheap, and has a long shelf life. These are packed with all the nutrients essential for your Pug. Wet Food: Wet dog food is another good option for Pugs. Its flavor and texture make it more appealing to Pugs than dry food. Wet food contains fewer grains, making it healthier and easier to digest. However, wet canned food has a shorter shelf life and should be consumed immediately after opening. Wet foods are also more expensive than dry foods. Homemade Food: Your Pug may benefit from cooked food consisting of chicken, eggs, fish, rice, and vegetables. The process is time-consuming, but it is less expensive and more convenient in the long run, especially if you plan on giving them a grain-free diet. Raw Food: Raw food diet for most Pugs results in better digestion, healthy skin, and a stronger immune system in Pugs. Mixing any of the aforementioned food choices is also good. Hence, you may want to try dog food alternatives to fit your budget. With their sensitive little stomachs, some foods can be poisonous, cause allergic reactions, and can even be lethal. Below is a list of food that you should completely avoid feeding to your Pug: Alcohol: Any amount of alcohol is hazardous for Pugs. Pugs do not have the enzyme to metabolize alcohol. Ingestion can cause hypoglycemia , metabolic acidosis , breathing problems, and central nervous system CNS impairment. Avocado: Avocado contains persin , a fungicidal toxin that has been linked to the death of many animals, including Pugs. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and heart damage in large quantities. As a result, even small amounts of chocolate can cause poisoning. Grapes and raisins: Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid , which causes vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney failure among Pugs. Unfortunately, even one whole grape can cause irreversible damage and death in small breeds like Pugs. Macadamia nuts and walnuts: While the exact reason why they are poisonous is unknown, it is best to avoid giving them to your Pugs entirely. In Pugs, macadamia and walnuts can cause diarrhea, weakness, breathing problems, and pancreatitis. Onion, garlic, leeks, and chives: All these vegetables contain N-propyl disulfide , which damages the oxygen-carrying substances in red blood cells. Ingestion of these vegetables can eventually lead to hemolytic anemia. Xylitol: In Pugs, xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia, lethargy, collapse, and seizures. It is frequently found in gums, candies, syrups, and toothpaste. Pugs should avoid the foods listed above at all costs. Food with high sugar content: If your Pug consumes too much sugar, it is more likely to develop health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. Food with high sugar content can also give Pugs an upset stomach. Salty food: Just like sugar, too much salt can cause health problems in Pugs. If left unchecked, it has the potential to poison your Pug. Excessive salt consumption can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and kidney failure. Milk and dairy products: Because the majority of Pugs are lactose intolerant , dairy products can make them sick. They will have digestive problems because they are unable to break down lactose. This causes gastrointestinal blockage and death if left unattended. If you think your Pug has accidentally ingested any of the aforementioned foods, bring your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic for appropriate treatment. Transitioning to a new brand or type of food may be beneficial to their well-being and development. For most dogs, transitioning to new dog food can be difficult. Fortunately, Pugs are not born picky eaters, so changing their diet will be easier. The ideal transition for Pugs should be gradual changes spread over three weeks. Do this until they are comfortable with the new food. Below is a more detailed breakdown of how to transition your Pug to a new food: Days. Aug 25, Share An important part of taking good care of your Pug puppy is making sure that they are properly fed and that they get all the nutrients that they need to grow strong and healthy. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and if your Pug is like most, they seem to like anything that they are fed. Luckily, there are many commercial foods available on the market. There is also the raw doggy food diet that seems to keep getting more popular as time goes on. But what kind of dog food is right for your Pug? How much should you be feeding them? What will the dog not eat? Are there special considerations for a senior Pug? The answers to these questions and more can be found in our Pug feeding guide below. What you do decide to feed your pooch should be based on the quality of the food, no matter the type, and your personal feeding preferences. Here is what can be on the table for your Pug. Image credit: PxHere Commercial Dry Food Kibble Commonly referred to as kibble, commercial dry dog food is the most common and widely available option on the market. Manufacturers of this type of food work hard to balance the ingredients and create a completely balanced nutritional profile for dogs like your Pug. In fact, some brands, like Royal Canin, offer puppy and adult foods made just for Pugs. Whether you choose a dry dog food made just for Pugs or one made for dogs in general, it should include real meat or animal meal as one of the first ingredients on the list. The upside to commercial dry dog food is that it is affordable and easy to administer. It is also typically easy to store for the long term without worrying about it spoiling. The downside is that it tends to be dehydrating, so water should be available to your Pug throughout the day. Commercial Wet Food Commercially made wet dog food tends to be more nutrient-dense than dry food because it contains fresher ingredients and usually has fewer grains, if any at all. Most wet foods have real whole meat or seafood and broth as the first ingredients. Sometimes, veggies are thrown in for good measure, but many are meat-centric to meet the high protein needs of your growing Pug. Wet food is not as easy to store as dry food is, because it must be refrigerated after being opened. However, Pugs tend to enjoy the flavor and texture of wet food more than dry. Wet food is also a little more expensive than dry food, especially when trying to feed Pugs that are full-grown and in their prime. Raw Food A raw food diet is said to result in better digestion, a healthier coat and immune system , optimal dental health, and less susceptibility to allergies among other things. A raw food diet typically consists of quality meat, a source of calcium such as bones , animal organs, and a lower fat count than most commercial foods offer. Feeding your Pug a raw food diet will take commitment and a strong understanding of the nutrition that they need. This type of diet can be expensive and can require storage space in the fridge and freezer. It is recommended that you consult with a veterinarian to put together a complete meal plan to follow if you choose to go this route. It is a freeze-dried raw food supplement that is delicious and nutritious. The process requires about a day of cooking in the kitchen, but the time that you spend in your kitchen should yield enough food for your pooch to eat all week long. You will just have to store the leftovers in the fridge each day until the entire batch has been offered and consumed. Homemade dog food usually consists of whole meat like chicken, eggs, fish oil or flaxseed, brown or white rice, possibly vegetables like carrots and peas , and maybe even supplements of some kind. It depends on what kind of recipe you decide to follow. Any recipe that you consider feeding your dog should be approved by your veterinarian first. But you can quickly tell whether your pooch is being underfed or overfed by checking out their physique every day. If your dog is underfed for too long, you could notice signs like lethargy and an unwillingness to interact with family members. If your dog is overfed, they may succumb to problems like diabetes. If you find that your dog is getting underweight, start feeding them up to an extra cup of food each day. Reduce the amount by up to a cup if your dog is getting pudgy and out of shape. To help avoid under and overfeeding your dog, follow the feeding directions on the packaging of any commercial food you buy for them. If you decide to go the raw or homemade food route, your veterinarian can provide you with a feeding guide. You are free to use this image, but please give credit back to Hepper. Extra immune support is also typically present in puppy food. Once Pugs become adults, they are not as active as when they were pups, and they are not growing at exponential rates, if at all. Therefore, they need food with less protein than what puppies get. Pugs can typically switch to adult dog food between the ages of 9 and 12 months because much of their growth will be complete at this time. The tricky part is the actual process of switching your pooch from puppy to adult dog food. If not done slowly and intentionally, switching to a new food can cause digestion issues for your dog that could create messes around the house. Lethargy and nausea may follow. Finally, offer only adult food. There are many reasons why your Pug might seem like they do not have an appetite. The first thing to consider is whether you are overfeeding them. If your pooch does not want to eat their last meal of the day, they could simply be full and satisfied. However, other issues could lead to a pup not eating such as: Dental Problems. If your Pug has a toothache or some other kind of dental problem, they may not be comfortable eating. Check for red gums, bleeding, and tenderness throughout the mouth. If something unusual is detected, consult your veterinarian immediately for guidance. Recent Vaccinations. Vaccines can cause side effects, including a lack of appetite. So, if your Pug does not seem to want to eat for a day or two after getting vaccinated, this is normal. Uncomfortable Surroundings. If your pooch goes on an adventure with you and is expected to eat their meal in a situation that is not familiar to them, they may pass on the meal altogether in favor of waiting until they get to what they feel is a safe space to eat. Even if your dog seems fine in every other way, a lack of wanting to eat could mean an illness of some kind is brewing. If you cannot find any other reason for a lack of appetite, you should see your vet as soon as possible. Adult Pugs will generally eat about a cup of dry commercial dog food each day or the equivalent, although certain differences might scale this amount up or down as time goes on. Here are the most important factors to consider. Active vs. Sedentary More active dogs will require more food than those that tend to be sedentary. If your pooch takes multiple walks every day, spends a great deal of time playing with kids throughout the day, or enjoys outdoor time with family members each afternoon, chances are that your dog will need a little more food than the average pooch. If your pooch takes only one short walk each day and spends most of their time lounging around the house, chances are that they should be fed as sedentary dogs. Spayed vs. Neutered Sometimes, dogs that are not spayed or neutered eat more than the average pooch. This is because they tend to be more active and excitable, which results in the need for more calories to support their energy needs. Pregnancy Pregnant Pugs need up to twice the amount of food that an adult dog would need. Instead of feeding your pregnant dog puppy or adult food, consider a food designed for all life stages that indicates its suitability for pregnancy. This type of food offers more protein and fat than adult food to support the extra growth they go through, but not as much as puppy food, which could make them overweight after the birth. What Foods Are Bad for Pugs? Image By: Momentmal, Pixabay There are a few foods that you should never feed your Pug to ensure their good health and to avoid serious problems like poisoning and even death. Here are a few food items that should be avoided at all costs: Alcohol. For a more detailed growth milestone description, check out our sections below to see how and when you should switch your pug puppy from nursing to solid food. This case or scenario usually happens if the litter is too large and the mother is not healthy enough to supply milk to all of them. It also happens when some members of the litter overpower the other, causing some puppies to be thinner. The third week is usually the best time to start training your puppy with solid food. Again, talk to your vet if your puppy is already capable of handling such food before you start, or you can do a taste test. Most pet owners mix water and puppy food so that the pug puppy will easily digest it. Keep in mind to not let the food go bad and remove it from their cage or quarters after 20 minutes of not being eaten to avoid bacterial contamination. However, you should be mindful of the puppy food that you put in. Ask for advice from your vet, especially if your pug puppy experiences food allergies. However, this will vary depending on when you start feeding your puppy with solid food. The nursing amount during this period will be very minimal. Half a cup of food is still the recommended daily amount for your pug puppy. However, you have the option to extend the number of feedings up to 4 per day. This is especially if your puppy gets hungry more often due to growth spurts. Feel free to supplement their daily food if you see them even more active than the usual pugs. Always make their food healthy as much as possible by providing plenty amounts of protein and little to no artificial flavorings and fillers. This is also the time when your puppy can be re-homed or adopted. They should be fully weaned by 8 weeks of age. However, if you will be the one to adopt, listen carefully so that you know what to feed your puppy. It helps to create a checklist and written schedule so that your puppy feeds properly and with the same type of food that the breeder gave to them. If you have to switch to a different brand of food due to unavailability or other reasons, make sure to address it first and ask for a counterpart. Be wary that food changes should be done over days. This includes doing a portion ratio of for the new food to the old food, gradually increasing the new food after every few days. However, if you are feeding wet food, make it 3 times a day instead, and it should be four ounces in total. Again, consult our puppy chart above or talk to your vet about changes in their weight to know if they are underfed or overweight. Treats should be counted in their daily calories and should be limited to avoid weight issues. Recommended Food Pugs generally need a combination of healthy ingredients to manage their weight. Dry food or kibble is typically the best choice for pug owners who live in a place near the shorelines where food can go bad quickly. If you have kibble that is rich in omega fatty acids, it will help your coat and skin to stay healthy, as well as to maintain a healthy tummy and keep them away from most canine illnesses. Protein-rich wet food If you want to feed your pug puppy wet or canned food, make sure it has fewer preservatives and more nutrients and protein. Wet or canned food is also better for puppies that need hydration. Carrots and similar vegetables Pug puppies work best with carrots not just because of their vitamin A content but also their crunchiness. Glucosamine-rich foods Look for glucosamine foods such as those with fish and chicken, as well as seafood. Pug puppies can be prone to joint problems if not taken care of concerning their diet. Glucosamine and chondroitin can help fight the onset of hip dysplasia. Like chocolate, caffeine is also not suitable for canines due to its toxicity to their digestive system. They will only cause your pug pup to become obese if they take too much of it. Instead, stick to whole meat and protein sources. Foods with too much fat This includes fats that come from various meat sources. Instead, do it in weeks or so. Build up their daily dish with a ratio of adult and puppy food. Gradually decrease the old puppy food while increasing the adult food, until only the adult food is left. You might ask: why should I do the transition slowly? Their tummies might get shocked if you feed them with a different kind of food right away, so get them used to a little bit of the new food first. What should I do if my pug puppy refused to eat? A possible problem with your pug pup could be a toothache or something related to their dental health. Have them check with their vet to see if they have something wrong with their teeth or gums. Aside from that, if they have recently moved from one home to another, they could also feel stressed and overwhelmed if they are in a new environment. This causes them to not eat at all or only eat a few bites of the food. Moreover, getting vaccinated could also be a possible cause of the loss of appetite. Raw feeding a Pug puppy Raw food is okay to be fed to your pug puppy. However, it must be done with care because too much or too little amount of certain foods will lead to a lack of nutrients that they need. For example, you might give too much protein but not much calcium and other vitamins to your puppy. Another possible challenge with raw food is the time for preparation. If you are a very busy person, raw feeding might not be your forte since it requires shopping for the right ingredients and calculating the correct amount of food nutrients for your puppy. Conclusion As a whole, pug puppies should be fed with care, especially with watching their calorie intake and meal portions. We hope this guide helped you in feeding your pug puppy properly! And the total number of dogs all breeds in the reports are .So while this is something that should be monitored and many more studies need to be done, it's important to keep in mind that this is a very small number compared to the estimated 77 million dogs in the U. The latest update is that there are no recalls at this moment that are linked to this issue. The Best Food for Pug Puppies and Adults What to Avoid: Quite a few ingredients that are found in a lot of dog food brands can be severely detrimental to a Pug and cause everything from allergic reactions itching, rashes, wheezing, running eyes, etc. Corn which includes as corn germ meal, corn gluten meal, and corn bran High grain counts which includes high levels of wheat, oats, barley, and other cereal grains which may be listed as hominy feed. Rice can be an exception; with rice, the hull, bran layer, and cereal germ is removed and for this reason, rice is often tolerated very well. By-products which are animal body parts deemed unfit for human consumption and can include brain, lungs, undeveloped eggs, and more. Generic meats or oils which can legally include roadkill and deceased zoo animals. What to Look For: All-natural preservatives; there are vitamin blends that work very well to preserve dog food and this often will show as mixed tocopherols. Natural flavoring Protein will come from wholesome animal sources including chicken, turkey, lamb, fish, bison, and beef. There will be no by-products or generic meats. If you offer grains, gluten-free grains are usually best. No other fillers or controversial additives. Helpful extras such as glucosamine and chondroitin beneficial for joint health , omega-3, 6 for healthy skin and coat , probiotics for immune health and antioxidants to help prevent disease. Some of the best food for Pugs includes: Best Formulas with Grains: 1. Wellness Complete Health for Small Breeds. The base of this kibble is turkey and oatmeal which is easy on the stomach for most Pugs. There is also salmon, brown rice, peas, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and apples. There are excellent levels of a wide-range of vitamins and minerals, good levels of omega-3 and 6, and glucosamine and chondroitin which are extremely beneficial joint supplements for Pugs. This is made in the US. Note that this offers puppy and adult formulas as well as 'healthy weight' for Pugs that need to lose a few pounds, and a senior formula. This line of Halo offers holistic recipes. This one has non-GMO produce and meats that are antibiotic-free and hormone-free with factory-free farming. The grains in this are oatmeal and pearled barley which are generally known for being well-tolerated. This is sized ideally for Pugs, and has no artificial additives, by-products, or corn. And, this is made in the US. Best Grain-free Formulas: 1. This is one of the best grain-free kibbles for Pugs; it's really top-of-the-line. The base is chicken and turkey. There is a wide selection of vegetables and fruits compared to some other brands spinach, broccoli, carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, apples and blueberries. Levels of omega fatty acids are ideal, via both salmon oil and flaxseed. And, there are good levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which as mentioned earlier are important for joint health. There is no corn, wheat, by-products, fillers, or artificial coloring, flavoring, or preservatives and this is made in the USA. This is another excellent choice that is formulated for dogs under 70 lbs. There are several great bases including lamb, beef, chicken, and salmon. There are zero chemical preservatives and no artificial ingredients. Added extras are healthy antioxidants, omega-3 and 6, and the very important glucosamine and chondroitin which are very beneficial for breeds like the Pug that are prone to joint and hip issues. This is a holistic kibble that offers non-GMO veggies and fruits and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish and is ideal for Pugs that are carrying a few extra pounds. The base is salmon and whitefish, so most dogs love the taste. There are no chemical preservatives, corn, by-products, coloring, or fillers. Switching a Pug onto a Different Food If you just got a new Pug puppy, you may want to feed your little guy or gal something different than what was being given. And in many instances, this will be a good idea. The sooner you start your pup on a superior food that you've chosen yourself, the better. If you have an adult Pug, you may decide to switch foods due to an intolerance to certain ingredients some dogs do best with certain proteins like beef as opposed to chicken or vice-versa or maybe you realized that your Pug was not on the brand and you want to make a change. No matter the circumstances, if at all possible, it is best to change to a new brand of dog food in a gradual way because a quick switch can disrupt the digestive system. The goal should be a incremental change over the course of 3 weeks. Home Cooking Owners decide to home cook for their dogs for a variety of reasons: It can be less expensive; though, this depends quite a bit on what you buy and if you can purchase ingredients in bulk. It may be done to fully avoid preservatives, additives, by-products and other subpar ingredients; you know exactly what you are putting in. This can help avoid an intolerance or allergic reaction to an unknown ingredient. It is very flexible and adjustable. It can be a good choice for picky eaters. Other sources include beans such as lima beans, kidney beans, and butter beans must be cooked. Vegetables - This includes peas, carrots, spinach, zucchini, green beans, bell peppers, and butternut squash. You can also offer asparagus, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli in moderation since these foods can cause gas, Pumpkin in moderation is fine but typically reserved to help ease upset stomach issues. Fruits - This includes blueberries, raspberries both are low calorie, high in antioxidants, and water-packed , strawberries, huckleberries, banana, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, mango, kiwi, pear, peaches no pit , plums no pit , nectarines no pit , fresh pineapple, and apple no core, no seeds. Additional - This includes oatmeal plain , white or brown rice if no intolerance , quinoa, potato, sweet potato, cottage cheese, plain whole white yogurt, and eggs most dogs do best with scrambled eggs vs. Read more about home cooking for a Pug. Snacks and Treats We've covered the frequency of giving snacks and treats, but let's recap. Dry snacks, meant to satiate a dog in between meals should be given 3 to 4 times per day. And moist treats, meant to reward training and reinforce good behavior, should be given as needed. Now, the question remains on what to offer. All snacks and treats should be held to the same high standards that you have in place for your Pug's meals, meaning no synthetic preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial flavoring, soy, corn, by-products, high wheat levels, or generic meats. If your Pug's calorie intake needs to be carefully watched due to issues with weight gain, there will also be a need to opt for some low-calorie treats. And, to see more options, including moist treats for giving reward, continue on to the best snacks and treats for Pugs. After 2 to 3 days, if the problem has resolved, adding in additional ingredients can be done. Any diarrhea lasing longer than 3 days or moderate to severe vomiting lasting more than 12 hours should be brought to the attention of the veterinarian. Water Different elements will dictate just how much water a Pug dog requires , though a general rule of thumb is that each day, dogs need to drink about 1 ounce for each 1 pound. Offer bottled spring water or use a filter device like the. Related Articles: When a Pug is a Picky Eater - If you find yourself constantly scrambling to find foods that your Pug likes and their taste buds seem to change weekly, this will help you get things back on track. When a Pug is Always Hungry - If your Pug's appetite is ferocious and nothing seems to satisfy, these issues may be at the root of the problem. When a Pug Won't Eat - If your Pug puppy or dog refuses to eat or getting them to eat feels like a chore, these tips will help. How to Stop a Pug from Begging - If your Pug wants your food and is relentless about getting it, these guidelines will help stop this sort of behavior. Top 10 Pug Dog Eating Problems - A roundup of the most common eating-related issues seen with this breed and exact steps to resolve them. Do you have your book? All rights reserved. Privacy Policy We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon. This feeding routine should be followed from 8 weeks to 6 months old. But how much food should that be exactly in each feeding session. How many cups of food should I feed my Pug puppy and adults? Before you check out this Pug feeding chart below, you may just want a quick reference to how many cups of food you need to feed a Pug. The common guidelines say you should feed a Pug puppy of 8 to 20 weeks different cup sizes depending on their weight and age. You can see the cup amounts in the chart here: Puppy feeding amounts This Pug puppy feeding chart explains just how many cups of food you should give them and the regularity. It will be 3 times a day, then twice a day as they get older. As your Pug ages, the number of cups of food you need to him or her will change, as will the regularity. Take a look at the guidance in the graphic below. Adult feeding amounts This is feeding chart for adult Pugs explaining how many cups and how often in the day the feeding times should be. The Pug feeding charts you see above have been scanned from the Royal Canin brand of dog food. This is a very trusted brand, and you will find it being sold in vets all over the world. It contains all the nutrients your Pug puppy will need and is great for starting out with and into adult ages. Almost every time, this happens by the age of 3 weeks; and puppies should not leave their mother until at least 8 weeks of age. They will be like eating machines at this age because they have so much energy to burn. You could also try to sit your Pug down on some scales, but good luck with trying to make them sit still. Instead you can weigh yourself if you have accurate scales, and then get someone to pass you your Pug puppy to see what the difference is. The age of your Pug You might find it hard to get your Pug used to commercial dry food at first. The commercial puppy food should be high enough in calories and nutrients to make up for what they used to get from their mother. In terms of adjusting for their ages, Pug puppies of 8 to 12 weeks old can have one and half cups of food each day, split into 3 servings. By the ages of 6 to 9 months, Pug puppies will be in a regular eating routine where they drop to two meals a day — and this is how it will stay as adults. The dangers of over-feeding Some Pug owners might decide to go to 4 meals a day, but still with the same amount of food. This is because tinier Pugs might find the half a cup 3 times daily, too much of a large meal. Overfeeding is something to keep a strict eye on. If you feed your Pug puppy too much, he could get gastric dilatation-volvulus see definition on ACVS. This is the medical term for a twisted gut and can actually be fatal. Feeding more senior Pugs As Pugs get older, they will start to get less active. With reduced levels of energy comes the need for a lower calorie intake. But only if they are reducing their exercise due to age. With an older Pug you might start to see them putting on weight. If you do see weight gain, start to pull back on the portion sizes. Sometimes your vet may even recommend you go to a higher frequency of daily meals albeit smaller portions , almost like they are puppies again. With senior dogs this can help with weaker stomachs. Overweight or underweight? The average Pug puppy will weigh between 2 and 4 pounds at 8 weeks. These are healthy weight ranges. If you do have a Pug puppy who is clearly underweight, start to add a little bit more food to each of the daily meals until they come back into the health weight range. With overweight Pugs you do the exact opposite but mix more exercise into their daily routines as well. Handy Hint: If your Pug is losing or gaining weight and how much food they eat makes no difference, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. Health problems related to Pug feeding Not all dogs are the same, and all the guidance on this page is very generic towards how much you should feed a Pug. The bottom line is that your vet will be able to properly tell you how much your Pug should eat due to their age and weight. Raw food vs. I understand why people feed their dog raw food though; they say commercial food has too many additives plus preservatives, fillers, wheat, corn, and proteins. Consult with your vet for a professional opinion. Pugs that eat their food far too quickly You should also monitor how quickly your Pug is eating. Puppies are used to having to compete for food, and even when they are home alone with you, they will still have an instinct to wolf their food down. This can cause indigestion and vomiting, so there are a few things you can do to slow their intake down. Use a muffin tin evenly spread the portions throughout the tin. The best dry dog foods should have a high percentage of meats and fish in. Omega-3s are healthy fats, so those will also be a good sign if listed. All of the notes and guidance are based on my own personal experience of raising puppies, with exception to the feeding schedule which is from the Canin dog food brand. However, the Canin Pug feeding charts you see, are exactly how I have fed my puppies and adult dogs. Once your dog reaches adulthood, the best times to feed your Pug will be breakfast and dinner times. Keep a regular feeding routine, and your Pug will stay at healthy as our dogs have! You might also like… If you have found this useful and are new to Pug ownership, you might find these other handy guides useful during the puppy phase:.

Questions about German Shepherd puppies for sale in West Virginia? We have answers. How much do your German Shepherd puppies for sale in West Virginia cost? Pedigree and coat color can make a big difference, so you might find that white West Virginia German Shepherd puppies for sale, black German Shepherd puppies for sale West Virginia and Sable West Virginia German Shepherds for sale cost different amounts. Am I restricted to only local litters and breeders? No, not at all. When you pick a breeder from our network, you can choose to go pick up your German Shepherd in person, or have your new dog flow to your nearest major airport not including Alaska or Hawaii. How do you screen your listed breeders? We carefully vet all the candidates, checking they have the required skill, experience and standards. Why is Uptown Puppies so different from all the other places? It would be nice if we could guarantee that a German Shepherd puppy bought from the average breeder will be in good health and raised with love and care. But sadly, a lot of German Shepherd breeders West Virginia treat their animals like stacks of cash. They are. A puppy mill will produce countless unhealthy, badly behaved German Shepherd puppies in West Virginia. How does it work when I look for a puppy through Uptown? Why should I trust you? Are German Shepherds usually healthy? For the most part, German Shepherd puppies West Virginia are a very healthy breed of dog. Are German Shepherds tough to train? German Shepherds for sale in West Virginia were sheep herding dogs, so they were bred to be smart and obedient. With the right techniques and a little patience, your German Shepherd for sale West Virginia will soon pick up basic commands, before moving onto more complex tricks and instructions. This breed is so loyal and reliable that they are great lifelong companions. They are also the go-to dogs when looking for working breeds. Opening your home to this beautiful breed is one of the best decisions you can ever make. You can settle this balance upon puppy pick-up. Aside from bringing home a beautiful German Shepherd pup, you also get a prepaid AKC full registration privilege. You can be confident that your new family member is in its healthiest state. The pups receive their age-appropriate deworming and vaccines here. Sure, they breed their German Shepherds to be working dogs and even service animals, but more than that, they need to be part of your family. Address: W Main Street, St. If you have decided to get a puppy from this breeder, make sure that you contact Sutphin as soon as possible so you can be added to the waiting list. The breeder raises these pups inside their home and gets them started on potty training here. You should pick up your puppy on release day to start bonding right away. Meeting halfway is also an option you can arrange with the breeder. If you are unable to keep the puppy, Sutphin will take it back without any questions asked, no matter how old the dog is. The last thing the breeder wants is for their dogs to end up in the local pounds or streets. You will find it in the quaint foothills of North Mountain in Falling Waters. They promote selective and ethical breeding. This ensures that their pups are top of the line and healthy. They manifest this with their hands-on approach to training and nourishing the pups from birth. They breed dogs that can be the perfect companions at home and protect and love your family. Their dogs also excel as show dogs and working dogs. The Walter litter has AKC-certified parents, so yes, the puppies are too. This breeder takes the time to ensure that their pups go to the most suitable homes. They ensure the match between the puppy and their new families is perfect. You will need to make this deposit within business days after sending out an email or verbal request. This breeder does not allow you to pick your pup. Instead, they make a match between the adopting family and the pup so that they are best suited to each other. All the kennel breeding dogs have impressive working pedigrees, excellent conformation, pleasant personalities, and intense coloring. The dogs are not kennel dogs but are free to roam around the property. The dogs are good-looking with a great temperament and pedigree. The main focus of this breeder is to raise German Shepherds for companionship, sport, conformation, agility, and police work. They want to highlight the beauty, intelligence, health, reliability, and strength of the breed. Above all, these dogs have pleasant temperaments and can work side by side with humans. So far, their extensive breeding program, experience, and good planning have allowed them to produce litters with outstanding and promising puppies. Being a member of the Metropolitan Executive, Vom Pegasus also empowers owners by providing training that can help achieve positive results for their German Shepherds. They have a variety of training programs led by experts. The goal is to ensure you build a great long-term relationship with your dog. And they will offer all the guidance you need to achieve it. Bring home your four-legged family member from the breeders listed here and experience the joys of owning a German Shepherd soon! If your friends or family members are looking to get a German Shepherd too, make sure you share this article with them!