Labrador Puppies - As Cute as It Gets

Bringing Your Puppy Home

Picture Below: Provided by Endless Mountain Labradors

Labrador retriever puppies are absolutely irresistible. Every time I see a Lab puppy they steal my heart. Many people act on impulse when seeing such a cute puppy and don’t realize the tremendous amount of work which is involved in training such a ball of energy. The average amount of time for a Labrador puppy to settle down and act like an adult dog is 2-3 years.

You will probably get your new Labrador puppy when it is 7-8 weeks old. Remember that your puppy is being separated from his mother, siblings, and everything that he has known in his life. Going to a new home without his familiar surroundings is going to be the most upsetting experience of his young life. A puppy is still a baby and will need a great deal of affection and care.  The first night at home away from Mom and littermates can be challenging - lots of middle of the night whining.

Labradors, even as puppies, see themselves as housedogs. It is extremely important to teach your puppy the house rules from the very beginning and then let them be a part of the family. These early lessons need to come with gentleness and kindness. Harshness will be associated with the new owner and surroundings and could turn your outgoing Lab puppy into a nervous and aggressive dog. Needless to say, smacking and striking have no place in raising your Labrador.

Basic Puppy Needs

When you bring your new puppy home you will need to have a few basic needs taken care of:

1. Bed - Your puppy will need a comfortable bed in a draught free area. This does not need to be anything expensive. In fact, a cardboard box which is slightly larger than your puppy will do just find. One side would need to be cut out in order to enter and exit. It would need to be comfortably padded and a water proof cover would be a good idea. When the box is soiled or chewed on and as the puppy grows just get a larger box. Don’t invest in something expensive as a new puppy will only chew and urinate on it.
2. Water Dish and Food Bowl - The puppy needs his own dishes and these need to stay clean at all times. These need to be unbreakable. I have also read that they should not be plastic as these will make a Lab’s eyes water. (I don’t know this for a fact since I have never used plastic) If you choose too large a water dish for a Lab puppy you will be constantly cleaning up water as they see it as a swimming opportunity and will work until all the water is on the floor.
3. Toys -Spoil a Labrador puppy with all kinds of toys. They love to chew and the more toys they have the less often they will go for more valuable things. Balls must be too large to swallow. Rawhide chews are great as they give hours of chewable pleasure. Chew toys need to be made especially for dogs and contain no sharp edges and should not be made of anything that can be chewed up and swallowed.
4. Good quality food made especially for puppies. (Puppy food and the ideal Labrador puppy weight will be discussed in more detail later)

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