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What used to be a minute chore each day became 5 max. See The Doodle Brush in action! Product Description The Doodle Brush has been designed specifically for grooming Labradoodles and other Poodle-crosses. Traditional slicker brushes tend to snag and pull, but The Doodle Brush head is flexible and the long, curved pins glide through the coat making light work of tangles and matting. It is easy to use, durable and ergonomically designed to reduce pressure on your dog and strain on your wrist. When one side has filled up with hair, simply switch over to the other side. The double head brush covers more surface area so speeds up the brushing process and is best for larger dogs. The single head brush is best for smaller dogs and more intricate areas, like their ears and under their armpits. The Doodle Brush will help you to maintain a beautiful, tangle-free coat at your desired length. For easy and hassle-free doodle grooming, this is the brush for you! Benefits Universal Grooming Solution: Optimal for Labradoodles and Poodle-crosses, and also great for all other breeds requiring meticulous grooming. Tangle Terminator: Long, curved pins glide through hair, reducing tangles and matting. Double the Efficiency: Dual-sided brush maximizes grooming productivity. User-Friendly Cleanup: Simple hair removal process for repeated use. Comfort in Hand: Ergonomic design reduces wrist strain for the user. One Brush, All Sizes: Suitable for dogs of all sizes with precision grooming for intricate areas. Tailored Groom: Helps maintain a tangle-free, neatly trimmed coat. Built to Last: Durable design guarantees a long product lifespan. Satisfaction Guaranteed We stand behind the quality of The Doodle Brush and guarantee your satisfaction. If you're not completely satisfied with the product within 30 days of your purchase, we'll accept your return and issue a full refund - no questions asked. Let The Doodle Brush make your grooming routine a breeze! Top Features : Showcasing The Doodle Brush's Key Advantages Comes in two sizes The Doodle Brush includes a double head brush for larger dogs and a compact single head variant for smaller dogs and intricate grooming, ensuring thorough care. Maximum Efficiency Equipped with a flexible brush head and long, curved pins that adapt to your pet's body contours, effortlessly gliding through the coat to tackle tangles and mats. Easy-to-clean design The Doodle Brush features an easy-to-clean design. Simply use a comb to remove hair from the brush, making maintenance quick and effortless. Ergonomic Design The Doodle Brush boasts an ergonomically designed handle, providing a comfortable grip and minimizing wrist strain, ensuring a convenient and fatigue-free experience. Sadly, that comes at a price, meaning they need more frequent grooming to stay presentable and stop their fur from becoming unkempt. To help you choose the right brush, you need to consider coat length, coat type, and age. Check out how these affect your brush browsing below. Coat Length Shorter-haired Labradoodles can get away with a softer brush or shallow slicker brush, but longer-haired Doodles will need a slicker brush with longer bristles. Inspect brushes to get an idea of their bristle length before buying, and keep the width in mind—shaggier Labradoodles need wider bristles, while shorter coats are fine with densely packed bristles. Coat Type Your Doodle is double-coated , meaning they have two types of hair. One is softer and the other is coarser. Because of their coats, it tends to tangle and matt easily. Often, we recommend using a de-matting rake as well as a regular brush. Then, you should go over it with a standard brush with softer bristles to remove loose hair and distribute their natural oils, leading to a shinier, healthier coat overall. Age Puppies have very sensitive skin, so you may want to go with a double-sided brush or a slicker brush with plastic-coated pins. Their coat may change by the time they reach adulthood, so keep an eye on their coat to see if you need to change up your grooming tools. Tail After that, I continue with the rest of the body. The whole process usually takes 30 minutes and should be done every two days at a minimum. Finding The Right Size Brush The perfect brush for a Labradoodle is like striking gold—it will make your life and grooming routine much easier! Picking the right size is key to finding that golden ticket. To help you out, here are some tips: Consider the coat type — Is it curly or wavy? This helps determine which bristle length and shape are best suited for the job. Measure the body of the dog — Longer brushes can be cumbersome on smaller dogs, while shorter ones may not work as well in thicker coats. Knowing which type of bristle is best for your pup can help make brushing easier and more effective. Firm-bristled brushes are ideal for short-haired dogs like a Labradoodle as they remove loose hair from its coat quickly and efficiently. They also work well at distributing natural oils throughout the fur, leaving it shiny and soft. Finally, slicker brushes have very thin metal wires with rounded tips—these will help de-tangle any knots in long coats without causing discomfort due to tugging or pulling. Be sure not to press too hard though; use light strokes to break up mats, then switch back to a regular brush afterwards. With just the right combination of these four types of bristles, brushing your Labradoodle should be an enjoyable experience for both you and them! Deciding Between Natural And Synthetic Bristles When it comes to finding the best brush for your labradoodle, one of the first decisions you must make is between natural and synthetic bristles. Or do you opt for a nylon or polyester brush that offers more control? Natural Bristles Natural bristles are typically made from animal hair, such as boar or horsehair. These brushes are great for spreading oil over the entire coat, creating an even softer and shinier sheen than regular brushing can provide. Synthetic Bristles Synthetic bristles come in various shapes and lengths and can offer both firmness and flexibility depending on the type of material used. Nylon brushes tend to be stiffer yet still flexible enough to reach through long coats without causing discomfort. When choosing between natural and synthetic bristles for your labradoodle, consider how much cleaning power your pup needs versus how often you plan on providing baths and grooming sessions. But if all-natural products are important to you then going with a sturdy boar bristle brush could be just what your four-legged friend needs! The right handle can make all the difference in your brushing experience. Comfort is key when grooming a Labradoodle, so consider what works best for you and your pup. There are two main types of brush handles to choose from: long and short. Long-handled brushes provide greater reach than shorter ones, making them great for larger dogs or those with longer coats who require extra attention on their backs and tails. Short-handled brushes fit comfortably in your hand and offer better control over strokes, which makes them ideal for smaller breeds or those with dense fur that need more precise coverage. No matter which type you opt for, there are some additional features to look out for: Material: Plastic handles tend to be lightweight but may not last as long as wooden or metal options. Ergonomics: Look for rubberized grips that feel comfortable against your skin during extended use. Flexibility: Some models come with adjustable heads so you can customize the angle of the bristles for specific areas like underbellies or around legs. Whichever style you select, remember that the most important factor is how well the tool works for both you and your pet! A Labradoodle has both wiry and curly hair that can be difficult to groom without the right tool. It is essential to find a brush that will effectively detangle their fur while minimizing discomfort for your dog. The best brushes for this purpose are those with flexible pins or bristles designed specifically for breeds like Labradoodles. This type of brush should have long enough pins so they can reach through each layer of fur down to the skin. It is so beneficial to invest in a good quality product that will withstand regular use over time. With so many types, sizes, bristles, and handle styles to choose from, it can be overwhelming. However, understanding the features of each type of brush will help you make an informed decision about which is best for your pup. Amazon Associates Program This article may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchase. The cost is not inflated to account for the commission earned. Veterinary Disclaimer: travellingwithadog. Please consult your vet for any questions you have regarding your pets health. She has years of experience fostering dogs and has helped find homes for a variety of different breeds, both large and small! Learn more about her here. Establish a routine that you will follow through with or you will end up with a puppy with nails that may rip or cause problems walking properly, ears that have infections, and coats that are severely matted to the skin and cause severe discomfort for your dog. These are the areas that are most prone to matting. Part the hair and brush from the base of the coat in small sections. Many people only brush the surface of the coat and do not realize the dog is matting very badly next to the skin. Remember, if you cannot maintain basic brushing and grooming on your own, then you will need to budget for using a professional groomer. You should still try to clip nails and clean ears weekly at home, and give your dog a brushing at least once a week. BATHING When you groom your puppy or dog, you will want them to have a clean coat so your scissors and clipper blades work efficiently and do not wear down more quickly. Here are some general, simple tips for basic labradoodle grooming when doing your doodle at home. Eyes: Your Labradoodle should always be able to see well and not have hair hanging and restricting vision or growing up and into the eyes from the bridge of the nose! Using blunt tipped scissors, trim the hair over the bridge of nose and in between eyes so vision is not obstructed. Hair that hangs over the eyes should be trimmed neatly across the brow blending down into the sides of the face. If your dog gets eye gunk, use eye wipes every few days to keep them clean. A Labradoodle with long ear hair does NOT look like the standard for the Labradoodle, it looks more like a Cocker spaniel. Shape the ears and blend hair neatly into the top of the head. This will help prevent infections. You can use a clipper with 10 blade for a good length in this area. If the canal has a lot of hair inside, you will need to pluck it out in very small amounts to prevent irritation. Clean ear canal with solution and then use ear powder to eliminate moisture. Paws: Trim paws in a nicely rounded shape so that hair does not hang over the paw and cannot be walked on. Completely clip hair from in between pads on bottom of feet. This is most easily done with an electric clipper and a 30 blade. Keeping the paws shaped nicely will aid in less debris attaching to feet when outside and being drug into your home. Long muzzle hair results in beards that drip with water every time your dog gets a drink. The hair on the sides of the muzzle should be even with the bottom of the lower jaw. This is an area of the body we frequently see with matting. Hair is left to grow and grow and GROW and you not realize it is severely matting close to the tail. This helps prevent matting and urine or feces from building up on the coat when your dog uses the bathroom. Body: If you like a longer coat, more brushing and maintenance will be required. Here are a couple examples of shorter cuts that most find easy to maintain. Share this: Click to share on Pinterest Opens in new window Newsletter Subscribe to Spring Creek's monthly newsletter for training tips, recipes, dog health care, seasonal tips, grooming advice, behavioral help, and more! Just enter your email address and sit back and enjoy our monthly news! Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: Spring Creek Labradoodles is an Oregon Labradoodle breeder, and one of the first in the U. The small, sharp trappers remove mats, knots, and tangles with ease, and the sharp, curved teeth prevent it from pulling on the fur and scratching the skin. Check the price now! A buyers guide to the best Labradoodle brushes Grooming your Labradoodle should include monthly baths with a gentle, all-natural dog shampoo, haircuts every weeks, and regular brushing. In order to buy the best brush for your Doodle , you must first understand their needs. The Doodle coat Labradoodles have long, thick, soft double coats with fur that ranges from wavy to curly and comes in a wide variety of colors such as brown, black or black and white. As mentioned, this type of fur is prone to tangling, matting, and trapping dirt. Matting is a serious problem that can cause dogs discomfort and pain. It can even lead to and conceal skin infections. Type of brush When shopping for a brush for your Labradoodle, you should consider the type of brush that they need. There are four main types of brushes for dogs; pin brushes, bristle brushes, slicker brushes, and rake brushes, and they are all best-suited to different types of coats. Pin and bristle brushes are best suited to dogs with thinner, shorter coats with less textured fur, while slicker brushes are better for longer, thicker, curled coats, and rake brushes are designed for dogs that shed heavily. There are also other types of brushes for specific needs, like bathtime brushes for wet fur and mat removers for a matted coat. As previously mentioned, slicker brushes are generally the best type of brushes for Labradoodles. They are categorized by their fine pins that can reach through long fur, untangle knots, and remove loose fur and debris. Other factors Other important factors to consider when buying a brush for your Labradoodle include the size, design, and material of the brush. It should work effortlessly and gently, as well as be lightweight and comfortable to hold. It should be appropriately sized for your Doodle, made of high-quality, durable materials for long-term use, and be easy to clean for your convenience. You may also want to consider any individual needs your Doodle has, such as skin sensitivity or brushing anxiety, and any personal preferences about style and sustainability. Should you brush a Labradoodle? You absolutely should brush your Labradoodle. Others may be worried that brushing may mess with those lovely curls — but this is just not true! How often should you brush a Labradoodle? You should also check them a few times a week for mats in the coat. You should start as soon as possible. If you get your dog used to being brushed while he is still a young puppy, your Labradoodle will grow up to tolerate and even enjoy the grooming sessions! How to brush a Labradoodle? Before your brush your Labradoodles fur, ask them to sit or lay down in a comfortable place. Part the hair and brush from the base of the coat in small sections, starting from the head and going all the way down to the tail. Brush their fur following the direction that it grows, paying a lot of attention to the chest, the hindquarters, under the neck, armpits, and behind the ears. Use firm pressure with short strokes as to not pull or rip any fur out, and hold the fur at the base if it feels knotty. Start brushing your Labradoodle as early on in their life as possible to get them comfortable with it, and once you get into a routine with them, keep it up! How to brush a Labradoodle puppy? Labradoodle puppy coats are a little bit different from their adult coats. They start off with much thinner coats that are replaced with the thick, wooly ones we are all familiar with at months of age. During this transition, you should brush your pup at least once a week to remove the loose fur and prevent matting as their new coat grows in. Should you brush a Labradoodle wet or dry? Never brush them when they are wet unless you have a rubber wet brush, as it can cause breakage and damage to the coat. Ask a groomer for help instead! What if my Doodle hates being brushed? Then, brush a small section of the coat that they can see in front of them and reward them for letting you do it. Take it slow, and if they seem comfortable, try brushing another small section, breaking for treats in between each section. If not, keep trying! If they really hate it and are trying to bite you , try using an alternatively designed brush or getting help from a professional groomer. Should I buy my dog a new brush? The bottom line Grooming is one of the most time-consuming aspects of owning a Labradoodle. Slicker brushes are by far the best brushes for Labradoodles, and if you own a Doodle, we invite you to try out one of our product recommendations. Unleash the real potential of your companion! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. This is an introductory course into our training philosophy. You will get customized video lessons based on your training goals — and you can implement them in just 5 minutes a day. For example, skin irritation, infections, bad smell, and discomfort. To keep this from happening, you should regularly brush and groom your Doodle. And the sooner you start, the better. Introduce them to brushing as soon as you bring them home. Starting out young will help your Labradoodle get used to brushing. In other words, whatever type of hair your Labradoodle has, brush them regularly. Also, make sure to read our article on dealing with Doodle hair matting. See Also: Click the image Tip: Labradoodle owners who suffer from dog allergies will very much benefit from regular brushing. Its wide base and fine, densely placed bristles help cover bigger areas of hair and work through the knots and tangles. A slicker brush is also great for deshedding. These types of brushes are also very convenient to use thanks to the handle and paddle placement. Bristle brushes are another great Labradoodle grooming tool that many owners swear by. Pin brushes look almost like your own hair brush. The pins are soft and help detangle knots. Pin brushes are great for a quick brushing after play-time outside. Combs are great for smaller knots and tangles that need special attention. Use the wide-tooth end of your comb to detangle bigger knots, and the fine-tooth end for smaller knots. Choosing the right type of brush for your Labradoodle largely depends on the type of coat your Doodle has. Labradoodles can have a wavy coat, curly coat, or anything that fits in between the two. If your Labradoodle sports longer hair, you should use a brush with longer bristles or pins to reach the hair from all lengths. Likewise, shorter hair requires a brush with shorter, more tightly placed bristles. If your Labradoodle is still a puppy, we recommend you use a brush specially designed for puppies. The best brush for Labradoodle puppy would be in an appropriate size and with very soft bristles. Typically this type of hair sheds the most and is considered the least allergy-friendly. Labradoodle with a straight coat. Usually it sheds very little. Doodle with a wavy coat. Doodle with a curly coat. A straight coat indicates that your Doodle has mostly inherited their coat type from the parent Labrador Retriever. Thanks to the wavy, silky and soft texture, Fleece Coats are usually very easy to brush. Bristle brushes work great on both wavy and straight dog hair. Slicker and pin brushes are also suitable for fleece coats. Labradoodle with a Fleece Coat Wool Coats that are inherited from the Poodle parent typically does not shed, but it is prone to knots and matting. Because of this, a wool coat tends to need more brushing than other Labradoodle coat types. Pin brushes, slicker brushes, and combs are amazing for brushing curly hair as they gently help detangle knotted hair. Naturally, choosing the correct tools might not be the easiest task. Here are the three highest rated grooming tools that Doodle owners rave about. Doodle owners say that this slicker brush gets the job done in half the time we can agree that it certainly speeds things up! Find the Best Deal:.

What is an "original" Australian Labradoodle? The Australian Labradoodle is different from all other labradoodles. Dogs from this cross typically were bred to each other over future generations, whereby the Australian dogs are also know as "Multi-generational" Labradoodles. The resulting labradoodles subsequently have been bred to each other, continuing the multi-generational tradition. Even when the other types of Labradoodles are bred on for generations, the result is not an Australian Labradoodle, as the attributes of the infused breeds were not included in their ancestry. The Australian Labradoodle Club of America was founded exclusively to foster and protect the original Australian Labradoodles that have come directly from Tegan Park and Rutland Manor breeding stock, or their offspring. Our mission is to maintain and improve the quality and soundness of the Australian Labradoodles, and to carefully monitor the further development of the breed. All member breeders are carefully screened to help ensure the future of the Australian Labradoodle. Our member breeders must breed to the highest standards. We have Breeder Mentors to assist member breeders and to help new breeders get off to a good start. If someone in your family has allergies, a multi-generation Australian Labradoodle from Red Desert Doodles should be your first choice. Each of our breeding dogs is fully health tested before they are eligible for breeding. Our puppies all come with a two year health guarantee. Where in the world are our Red Desert Doodles Families? Follow Us On Instagram. Learn more The last destination we recommend on our rundown of the best Labradoodle breeders in San Diego is Pococreek Labradoodles. Cindy and Ron Stickney are reputable breeders who offer quality Miniature, Medium, and Standard size Australian Labradoodle puppies to anyone in California and other surrounding states. Their coats have wavy or fleecy textures. They come with up-to-date vaccination and deworming records, a microchip registration, a month of pet insurance, pedigree forms, and a puppy starter pack with food samples, grooming equipment, and toys. However, these prices can differ from breeder to breeder. They can also charge extra for shipping them with a puppy nanny or meeting a family at the airport. Some questions you should ask a breeder about before purchasing a Labradoodle from them include: Their experience with the breed The types of health and temperament checks they perform for their breedable dogs and future litters. Inhumane breeders operating puppy mills prioritize selling their litters for profit without focusing on producing healthy pups or improving the breed. If your Labradoodle is prone to food allergies, consider reaching out to your vet about potential ingredients your pup might react to before switching to an alternative kibble formula. Create a chart for whenever you feed your Labradoodle or let them use the toilet to keep track of their daily routines. The number of times they eat and go throughout the day changes as your pup ages, so keep that in mind if you need to update their charts. Be sure to take your Labradoodle to the vet within the first few days of taking them home. Although your pup goes home with up-to-date deworming and vaccinations, additional blood and fecal testing can identify hidden issues early. Consider compiling a shopping list of supplies to pick up before taking your dog home, including puppy food, toys, a size and age-appropriate crate, and brushes for maintaining a non-shedding coat. Leave us a comment to share your thoughts. Meet our writer Jen Clifford is an animal behaviorist and veterinary technician with more than a decade of hands-on experience working in small animal and specialty veterinary clinics. Leave a Comment. Testimonials As a veterinarian I work with multiple breeders. Charl and Jerry Beauchat have been clients of mine for several years. Their dogs are always kept in great condition. Every puppy is health checked and micro-chipped prior to going to its new home. Providing healthy family members remains a priority of mine as well as theirs Jonathan CortezDVM We can not say enough about the integrity of your program. Pete and Jiffy …head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to a quality breeder…. Do yourself a favor and visit Charl and Shadow Mountain Labradoodles if you are considering a new puppy. We have made a full time commitment to our program. Three of us work full time with our dogs, puppies and families. Charl and Jerry are in Southern California, our daughter Jena, has branched out and is now carrying on our work in Oklahoma! We are also currently training 10 new Australian Labradoodle Breeders in California, Oklahoma, Washington, Texas, Utah, Colorado, Missouri and Ohio to bless families and to protect this wonderful breed! Shadow Mountain Australian Labradoodles are bred with love and care in a home environment. We work hard to place our puppies in an environment where both the families and the puppies are set up for success. Quick Links. We have answers. In comparison, American Labradoodles are typically a cross between Poodles and Labs only. How much are Labradoodles San Diego? The price you see online for Labradoodle puppies will be different depending on the breeder. There are many factors that can affect price, including coat color and type, size, gender, and breeder experience. Will you only connect me with local San Diego Labradoodle breeders? How do you screen Labradoodle puppies for sale in San Diego? Our team processes loads of partner applications from prospective breeders and businesses, both near LA and elsewhere in the nation. There are so many puppy scams online nowadays, and the situation is frankly ridiculous. What is a puppy mill? Puppy mills are basically factories for dogs. These are places where profit takes precedence over ethics and animal care, and where dogs are treated like objects instead of living animals. Are there any Labradoodle puppies in San Diego available now? All you need to do to begin is start your MatchMaker process below, tell us a little about your dream dog, and our team will take care of the rest. MatchMaker is our process that we use to connect the right families with the right puppies, breeders and businesses. MatchMaker takes into account your preferences—like size, breed, temperament and more—and helps you match with current and upcoming Labradoodle litters we believe to be the best fit for your family.

They are intelligent and easily trained, making them a popular choice for families. They are also active and enjoy spending time outdoors. These pups typically have a calm demeanor, but they can also be playful and energetic. This easygoing nature makes them excellent companions for families with young children or seniors. All of these factors make the English Cream Lab an ideal pet for anyone looking for a loyal and loving companion. English Cream Lab Puppy Health Considerations Though generally very happy and long-lived — with an average lifespan of around years — our English Cream Labs for sale are not without their unique health concerns. Like every breed of dog, there are a few conditions you should be aware of before you consider purchasing one of our English Cream Lab puppies for sale. Understanding the risks allows you to know the signs and prevent small health concerns from turning into big ones. Allergies are the most common concern, and can be caused by anything from pollen to food ingredients. Hip and elbow dysplasia are both joint problems that can cause pain and mobility issues. Eye problems can range from minor infections to more serious conditions such as glaucoma. Finding an English Cream Lab puppy for sale from a reputable breeder can also dramatically — although, not eliminate — the risk of your dog developing some of these conditions. While they may look like they require a lot of grooming, English Cream Labs are actually quite low maintenance when it comes to their coat. A weekly brushing is usually sufficient to remove any dead hair and keep their coat looking shiny and healthy. And while they do shed, it is typically not as much as other breeds. When it comes to coat care, the key is to be gentle and avoid using harsh shampoos or chemicals that can strip the natural oils from their coat. With a little care and attention, your English Cream Lab will have a beautiful coat that is the envy of all your friends. English cream Labradors can be purebred dogs, and they usually are. A pedigree dog is one that has a recorded history of parentage through a dog related breed association. They list the approved colors that puppies can be. Labrador breeders and owners have a bit of wiggle room here, as the AKC specifies that the yellow coat color may vary from light cream to fox red. This is because there are several genes that can influence what coat color a Labrador Retriever puppy grows up to display. This is true even though there are only two different color pigments that create the entire variety of dog coat colors. These are eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Eumelanin is a black pigment. Phaeomelanin is a red pigment. The many shades of the yellow Labrador coat color are produced when different genes interact with the red phaeomelanin pigment. You might wonder how a red pigment could turn out cream colored, which is a great question that it took canine geneticists a long time to answer! The default color for phaeomelanin without any additional genetic influence is actually yellow or gold. Some genes can make this default color darker or more intense. Other genes will cause the color to become lighter or paler. Breeding English Cream Labrador Puppies Interestingly, canine geneticists have now identified a specific gene sequence that may produce the lighter cream yellow coat color more consistently. English Cream Labrador breeders can use this type of information to breed selectively for a more desirable coat color. However, even when a breeder is very familiar with the genetics of their personal breeding dogs, some coat color differences are to be expected. For example, some Labrador puppies may grow up to have slightly darker English Cream coats while other puppies may grow up to have lighter or even white-appearing coats. The English cream Labrador coat color is eye-catching and perhaps less customary in the world of Labrador Retriever breeding. Why is this important to remember? In America, the Lab has topped this list for more than three decades. In the United Kingdom, the Lab regularly hits the second or third most popular spot. Be wary of any breeder who markets their English Cream Labrador puppies as rare and uses this as a reason to inflate the price you pay. Always focus your search on reputable Labrador breeders who put puppy health first. Buying an English Cream Puppy Just like other trends, different dog coat colors go in and out of fashion. Longtime Labrador Retriever carers also often develop their own preferences based on experiences with past pet Labradors or with previous working Labrador dogs. The English Cream Labrador coat color is quite popular right now. You might have a wait to find your perfect puppy. Be sure you select a breeder with a proven track record for producing healthy English Cream Labrador puppies. Ask to review pre-screening health test results for both parent dogs. Also verify that your breeder will give you a record of all vaccinations and an initial health guarantee. This will give you the best chance of making a commitment to a healthy, happy English Cream Lab puppy. Considering an English Cream Labrador? These gentle companions have a creamy, white coat that contrasts nicely with their dark eyes and noses. English Cream Labradors are generally medium-to-large dogs with strong bodies and thick tails. What is an English Cream Labrador? These dogs have been friendly companions and useful working dogs since the s. Labrador Retrievers originated in Newfoundland where fishermen depended on them to jump into the cold water to retrieve ropes, nets, and even catch a fish or two. The breed spread around Europe and quickly became trusty hunting companions. You can keep your lab entertained for hours with a game of fetch in a nearby lake. Thanks to their strength and stamina, Labrador Retrievers are often used as therapy and service dogs. You may see them sniffing for contraband at the airport or helping someone with a disability manage their day-to-day responsibilities. English Labs make excellent companions who will happily tag along for hikes through the forest or spend a quiet day at home with their families. English Labradors get along great with children and their high energy levels make them perfect playmates. Caring for your English Labrador Adopting your first English Labrador is an exciting and rewarding experience. Rambunctious puppies will need proper training and socialization for when they mature into adulthood and become lovable, mellow companions. Just be sure your dog gets enough daily exercise to stay healthy. Grooming English Labradors will require lifelong grooming, and getting your dog adjusted to a regular grooming schedule as a puppy will make the process much easier. English Labradors have short, thick coats that tend to shed an average amount. To manage shedding, brush your dog several times a month with a bristle brush and give them a bath every month. Dogs that go swimming in natural bodies of water will need more frequent baths to prevent odors. Be sure to wipe their ears with a clean, dry towel to prevent infections. Treats should be given in moderation to prevent weight issues. Training Puppies will need lots of training and socialization to help manage their high levels of energy, but many owners find that their pups are eager to learn and enjoy training. Puppy training classes are a great way to work on obedience and socialization all in one session. You can also take your puppy out for walks in the park to get them used to different people and animals. If your dog starts acting hyperactive or destructive at home, they likely just need a little more regular exercise and socialization to adjust their behavior. Health Labrador Retrievers tend to be very healthy dogs, and reputable breeders will screen for common canine health problems. The average lifespan for a Labrador Retriever is years. Labs may develop a dangerous stomach condition called bloat, according to the AKC. The breed is also susceptible to hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow problems, and obesity. You can learn more about Smokey Mountain Labs online. To get in touch, call or email gene smokymtnlabradors. We have AKC English Lab puppies for sale Our goal here at Winter Valley Labs is to breed excellent dual purpose AKC Labrador Retriever puppies that make great companions and family pets, that also have the ability to excel in the field as well as show ring. And of course, in our hearts. We breed for quality, not quantity. We breed English Lab puppies! Each of our litters is carefully planed and bred with purpose. We are a small breeder in Hatley, Wisconsin. Our love and passion for Labrador Retrievers drives us to better the breed and provide families with healthy, happy, perfect pets, companions and hunters. We have been breeding labs for over 10 years, and look forward to that number growing. We bred our first litter in January of .We hope to grow in size now that we have the room for it. We love to take the dogs out bird hunting, and am excited to get them started on waterfowl this year as we are located on the river. I have been around dogs my whole life, but the lab has always been my favorite. I started studying at the UW of Stevens Point for Wildlife Ecology and Captive Wildlife management, and had done some study in veterinarian medicine but complications with pregnancy forced me out. I decided after my first son was born that I wanted to stay at home with my babies anyways both human and canine. So I am now a stay at home mom for all of our babies. Prior to that I had worked at an animal shelter as well as a grooming and boarding facility. I am doing some online studies for genetics and animal behavior, as I am always striving to be very well educated with the dogs. I am an avid hunter and LOVE spending the days outside with the dogs. Please note; We do not breed silvers, charcoals or champagne. We do not breed labradoodles, golden labs or any other designer breed. We do have English lab puppies for sale- We breed Fox red lab puppies, yellow lab puppies, black lab puppies, chocolate lab puppies and white lab puppies. Fox red and white labs are registered as yellow labs! These ARE akc recognized unlike the dilute colors. Click here to see what english lab puppies we have that are ready to go and looking for their loving forever homes! Our focus is on the English Lab breed. Please contact us for more information on any of our wonderful English Lab puppies, or upcoming and planned litters! We will help you find the perfect puppy for your family! All of our English Lab puppies are vet checked with the vaccines that are needed and also wormed. They also have their dewclaws removed. If in any case a dew claw, or partial dew claw grows back, that will be the buyers responsibility to take care of, if they feel the need to do so. This can be done at the time of spaying or neutering. This is not a common thing. All of our English Lab Puppies are placed with limited registration Pet homes only If you are looking for full registration Breeding rights Do not wait until pickup day to discuss this with us. English Cream Labrador retrievers 7 little puppies, all sleeping in a row There are 4 females and 3 males in this litter, and so far they are all doing extremely well! Remember that the first two weeks are the most critical, but we are very pleased with their growth and strength at this point. Peaceful sweet faces of beautiful Pure Bred Labradors They are making their little et-epimeletic sounds, pushing around for mama, cuddling up together, and working hard on growing! Thanks again to all of you who have trusted us with raising your new family member! Start getting your puppy stuff ready! These next weeks are going to FLY by! And then… your perfect English Lab puppy will be home with you. Until next time. Fun additional info: Polar Bear Labradors are just the palest shade of yellow, which is why some nearly all white labs will have patches of darker yellow on their coats. It is just a fun, unique and rare shade of yellow — and we think the contrast against the dark nose and eye tissue is just stunning. Albinism is extremely rare in dogs, affecting maybe one in every 20,

Read more about the pups that are currently up for adoption. Read More… Foster Dogs FBRN is being faced with an increasing number of dogs who are ill, handicapped, or need expensive veterinary care before being placed. Meet our Foster Frenchies and please consider sponsoring one of them to ensure that they receive the care that they need. Read More… Surrender a Dog Life has thrown you a curve ball and you must surrender your French Bulldog… we are here to help! Read More… Volunteer We welcome you to join us in our efforts to rehabilitate and rehome needy French Bulldogs. We have many options for you to choose from, depending on your circumstances, time and resources. Our organization is composed solely of volunteers who nurture and foster these dogs as well as provide education and training. Our goal is to place healthy and happy French Bulldogs into forever homes. Read More… Contact Us Learn about the many ways that you can get in touch with us. He has a Staffie sister, Lettie, who he adores and who has taught him so much with her gentle patience. He has doggie friends at daycamp he sees once a week. He is the best snuggler ever! He used to be a resource guarder, but will now bring you his toys for a treat! He loves our daily walks and meeting people. Thank you FBRN for picking us to be his family- we love him so much! Despite being mostly blind and deaf, Ham is thriving in his golden years, especially with his folks now working from home. Thank you FBRN for our goodest good boy! We are so grateful for every day with him. She had cherry eye surgery in March right before Covid quarantine and the surgery was a success. A gigantic thank you to FBRN for allowing me to adopt this perfect little nugget. All Rights Reserved. A c 3 Non-Profit Organization. Tax ID: .Powered by Geeks4Rent. Please visit the puppy page for details! All of our dogs are raised in our home with the utmost love and compassion. Our pets are family first. Our goal is to continue improving the breed while offering others the opportunity to experience the outgoing personalities of these wonderful animals. Why Why Many people purchase a puppy based on impulse or convenience rather than making a thoughtful investment. All of our puppies are certified by the American Kennel Club ensuring that they are purebred, rather than mixed breed dogs you may find elsewhere. Using the same lineage through the AKC with our own program also helps to limit the potential outside problems concerning health, structure, temperament, and everything else we strive to perfect in the breed. We health test all of our dogs and also provide a health guarantee with puppies as any reputable breeder should. As a puppy owner hopefully you will invest the same time and effort that we put into our puppies. We are very particular about producing quality pups that keep to the standard. As are we particular about who we sell our puppies to. Unlike some breeders that build their reputation by continuously producing puppies all year long, we focus on one litter at a time. Unfortunately, there are some who choose to produce puppies purely out of greed rather than enjoyment. There is no way a breeder can give the same love and attention to all of their puppies if they are having multiple litters at once, and clearly have no interest into where their puppies end up. Hopefully this has given you a little more insight into who we are. Please continue reading more about us and what we offer on our info section.

Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Mississippi Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Mississippi? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Mississippi? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Raised with loving care in our home. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx and ask for Deb or write xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx. Waterford Maine. Salmon collar. Cash only. Green collar. One of 5 males available. This one: gray collar. One of 5 available this one:yellow collar. Remaining balance due at pickup. They love kids and other pets. Full size about 50 lbs. Ready to go Aug 9. Dewormed every 2 weeks, vet checked just before coming home. Remaining balance due at pickup when pup is 8 weeks old. Her temperament is happy, puppy-like, energetic. Lady Eywa of Tarabithia is her full name, she prefers Eywa. She loves people, children, puppies, big dogs, little dogs, everything and everyone, except for apartment living. She needs more room, more family time, and more fun. Puppies ranging from gold to English cream. Have five puppies available male and female. Schedule a time to set up your meet and greet! These puppies are well socialized in a family home. They will come vaccinated that checked and dewormed. English cream and gold colored males and females available. Just have 5 left waiting for their furever families! Raised in family home with kids and cat. Puppies are well socialized. These puppies will be ready on Christmas! View Detail Golden retriever puppies Golden retriever puppies. Dewormed, vet checked. Comes with food sample, health record, care booklet, blanket and toy. We accept cash only. Ready for pickup. Dewormed every 2 weeks, vet checked. We accept cash only so best way is to bring your deposit in person. View Detail Golden retriever puppies Golden retriever puppies! Dewormed, veterinary health exam. We have 4 pups remaining, with another litter due in 2 weeks. Pups have hip, elbow, cardiac, DNA and genetic profile clearance. Pups come with a full year health guarantee, Vet exam, first shots and deworming. Excellent references upon request. Deposits .Non- refundable View Detail Golden retriever puppies Golden retriever puppies! Picking out of pups will be in order that deposits came in, starting around weeks old. Raised in our home. Parents are pets in our home. Veterinary health exam, dewormed. Cash only, do not accept checks or electronic payment. Several males available. Breeders VS. The sad truth is that many pet store purchased pups actually come from puppy mills. Basically, there is zero authenticity with pet stores. When it comes to adopting any animal from a pet store, there is an increased risk of unforeseen health or genetic problems. You also cultivate a life-long relationship with the breeder, meaning support is available to you anytime you may need it. With My Golden Retriever Puppies , you have the option to come and visit both the puppy and the breeder in person! Golden Retrievers are an adaptable breed, meaning they are better at adapting to seasonal changes and various types of climate than certain other breeds. Goldens sport a double-coat, which ensures that these sweet pups are able to tolerate slightly colder temperatures than their friends from other breeds. Your pup deserves better than that, which is why here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we ensure high-quality care is taken of your pet at all times. For more about the true price of a golden retriever puppy, you can read our full price breakdown here. Location Information for Alabama Customers Our home office is located in Ohio, but we understand that long-distance travel can be inconvenient. If you prefer to meet a breeder in person, they may be able to offer private visits at their home. Of course! Here at My Golden Retriever Puppies , we value family and authenticity, which is why we always guarantee our pups through our 2-year genetic health guarantee. Like adopting a Golden Retriever from a pet store, there is an increased risk when adopting a pup from a rescue center or shelter as well. For example, pups purchased through a shelter or rescue center are far less likely to come with the kinds of health guarantees and reassurances that a breeder can provide. What type of Golden Retrievers are sold in Alabama? We have some good news! Ready to make your Golden Retriever dreams come true? Take a look at our convenient list of available puppies. How do I know which breeders to trust in Alabama? Our independent network of trusted breeders have already been pre-screened and verified, so that you can focus on what really matters: choosing your dream puppy. Be the first to know when we have new puppies! All Rights Reserved. Life Span Did You Know? The Golden Retriever has been an AKC-recognized breed since and was commonly used as a gun dog and for retrieving small game such as waterfowl, and for companionship. The Golden Retriever originated in the Scottish Highlands. The first Lord Tweedmouth, Dudley Majoribanks, is credited with developing the breed and keeping detailed records to create the ideal gun dog for the terrain. Great discipline and a gentle spirit make the Golden Retriever a perfect retrieval breed since the goal of this task is to bring the trophy back as undamaged as possible. Golden Retrievers first appeared in dog shows in at a British dog show. They also started appearing in the United States around the same time as they were brought across the Canadian border. They gained popularity with sport hunters and in general. Their popularity really took off in the s and they are consistently one of the most popular dog breeds. If you are not the sporting type, bringing a Golden Retriever into your family as a pet is just as rewarding because they are one of the most loyal and jovial breeds out there. One of the facts about Golden Retrievers is that they are the epitome of friendly and make fantastic family dogs. Golden Retrievers are considered one of the friendliest dog breeds. They tend to be good with kids, other dogs, other pets, and even strangers. Goldens love attention and they bond closely with their families. They are affectionate with them, and also just about everyone else. Although they do tend to get along with everyone, they love being around their favorite humans the most. They will bark to alert you and can end up barking a lot if you do not train your dog to stop barking early on. Golden Retrievers are highly adaptable dogs. They thrive in homes with yards where they can run. They can also adapt to apartment living as long as they get enough daily exercise, mental stimulation, and attention. These dogs do well in just about any climate, but are sensitive to heat. As one of the most affectionate dog breeds , they are not at all happy about being left alone for long periods of time. Although super-friendly and attention-loving, Goldens can also be sensitive to their surroundings; make sure they feel included, but have a quiet place to go if things get too noisy or overwhelming. Potential health concerns to be aware of in a Golden Retriever include progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, elbow dysplasia , and hip dysplasia. Good breeding practices make a big difference in the health of puppies. Reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing preventable issues to puppies. So, make sure you ask about the health and genetic history of the parents. You can also ask about any health tests or clearances that have been done. Goldens are considered one of the best dog breeds for first-time owners. They are highly trainable dogs that pick up on things quickly and are eager to please. These traits make them a good fit for owners of all experience levels. It also helps them excel at obedience competitions. As one of the smartest dog breeds , Golden Retrievers can get bored easily. Because they pick up things quickly, they can get bored with too much repetition in training. If your dog has mastered the command, move on to something more advanced or another activity. You can also enroll in puppy training classes for some variety in training and also some socialization. Golden Retrievers have a long double coat that will shed a little year-round and will be heavier twice a year as the seasons change. Brushing a few times a week and daily brushing during seasonal shedding along with a bath as needed is usually enough for at-home care. You will want to go to the dog groomer for a professional trim a few times a year, especially as the seasons change. Nail trims once or twice monthly keep nails from growing too long. Daily tooth brushing, along with cleanings at the vet when needed, is ideal. Golden Retrievers are one of the most active dog breeds. Daily walks plus some playtime, time to run, and other activities are usually enough to keep these dogs happy and healthy. But, they are high-energy dogs that will likely always be up for more activity if you are. Much like the Labrador , they also tend to have an extended puppyhood. They tend to start winding down a little around the age of 3 and settle into your lifestyle, but they will still be high-energy dogs that require a lot of daily activity. Goldens are known for being versatile and athletic dogs. They tend to love swimming. Once they are done growing and the vet clears them for higher-impact activities, you can try other things too. They are one of the dog breeds that make good running partners. You can also teach them how to play frisbee or play fetch. Training for dog sports is another good option. In addition to obedience, Golden Retrievers are well suited for agility, dock diving , rally, flyball, tracking, and more. Fully-grown Golden Retrievers usually stand inches tall and weigh pounds. Golden Retrievers generally live for years on average. With their intelligence, eagerness to please, and gentle disposition, Golden Retrievers are versatile working dogs. In addition to being one of the dog breeds that make the best service dogs , Goldens can be found working as emotional support dogs, certified therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, military dogs, police dogs, animal actors, and more. Featured Golden Retriever Article.

Exercise, Growth, and Joints Exercise Labradors not only love exercise, they need exercise. We all look forward to taking our puppy for a walk, however it is important not to over-exercise your puppy. In natural play, puppies will romp until they are tired and then stop to lay down for rest. When walking a puppy on a leash, they cannot stop when they normally would for rest. Too much exercise or walking can severely damage their bone and joint structures irreversibly. This should be taken seriously. THE RULE is: No more than 5 minutes of exercise for every month of age So that means, at 2 months old 8 weeks , your puppy only needs to exercise or walk for 10 minutes per day. At 3 months of age 15 minutes of exercise and so on. If you walk your puppy too far too soon, your puppy may develop hip and elbow dysplasia as they get older. Labradors have been known to develop dysplasia younger than other breeds of dogs. In many of these cases, it is often due to environmental factors such as over-exercise, running on hard or strenuous surfaces such as concrete or sand , continual jumping or agility work. Things to avoid with your puppy: No jumping in or out of car, especially larger cars. Lift the dog or use a ramp. No throwing balls or frisbee great distances for your puppy to chase. The sudden stopping and over reaching with the front legs is dangerous. No agility, jumping or flyball before years old Do not let other dogs knock or push the puppy over continually, includes body-slamming Avoid much stair climbing which can increase the risk of dysplasia No fast turns or roll-overs Good exercise: Swimming is great, since there is no weight-bearing impact on their joints. Remember, labradors love water! Walking on leash, for no longer than the recommended length of time for their age Self-directed play is an overriding rule for any puppy under 18 months old. The majority of exercise should be free play, exploring, and noodling around Hide and seek games are fantastic, as the dog can move at its own pace looking for its toy or treat or you. Size is a factor as large dogs, especially ones that like to play with paw whacks, can inadvertently injury a young puppy. Supervised play is critical. You need to teach the puppy a release command. All these games are forms of exercise for puppies and are a great way to help your puppy learn useful lifelong skills and qualities. Growth plates and bones: Development and injury Growth Plates Growth plates are soft areas that sit at the ends of the long bones in puppies and young dogs. They contain rapidly dividing cells that allow bones to grow longer until the end of puberty. Growth plates gradually thin as the hormonal changes approaching puberty signal the growth plates to close. In puppies, this closure normally completes between 18 to 24 months old in labradors. After sexual maturity, the growth plates calcify and the rapid cell division ends. The growth plates become a stable, inactive part of the bone, now known as an epiphyseal line. Dogs bones are held together with muscles, tendons and ligaments soft tissue. In an adult dog, if a joint experiences a stress such as bending the wrong way or rotating too much, the bones will hold firm and soft tissue will be pulled, resulting in a sprain or tear. Why this matters so much, is that unlike a sprain, injuries to the growth plate may not heal properly or not heal in time for the puppy to grow up straight and strong. Injury to a growth plate can result in a misshapen or shortened limb, which creates an incorrect angle to a joint resulting in yet more future injuries when he grows up, including dysplasia. These xray images show open and closed growth plates in a puppy and adult dog. Bone Strength In addition to having soft growth plates at the end of long bones, puppies bones in general are softer. Spiral fractures of the tibia lower leg bone are very common in puppies. A spiral fracture is where the bottom half of the bone twists in the opposite direction of the top half. Any exercise that puts torque twist on a bone puts the puppy at risk of a fracture. For an example, movements such as twisting and turning suddenly can cause these type of fractures. Hip and Elbow Dysplasia This is where we recommend you read our Health and Genetic Testing page, where we talk about hip and elbow dysplasia. It is critical that you, as a puppy owner, understand as much as you can about hip and elbow dysplasia, how you can help prevent it, and what your breeder should be testing for. On the other hand, an underfed or malnourished puppy or dog is also at higher risk of injury. Muscles mass directly influences strength, likewise inadequate calcium and nutrients affect bone density. A body condition score of about is healthy for a young puppy. Once an adult, the ideal body condition score would be about 5 for a healthy, fit labrador. Sterilisation Desexing In larger breeds, sterilising young puppies at a young age has shown to increase the risk of joint disorders and injury. We recommend sterilisation occurs between 24 months old for this reason. This recommendation is outlined in our Health Guarantee. We discuss this more under Desexing or Sterilisation. Post header Skip post header How much exercise does a Labrador need? Labradors are amongst the most popular family pets in the UK thanks to their loyalty, gentle nature, and intelligence. Like most dogs, they thrive with regular exercise, keeping them healthy and happy. How much exercise does an adult Labrador need? A healthy adult Labrador generally needs at least 80 minutes of high-quality exercise per day. Of course, when setting exercise goals for dogs with existing health issues including obesity , you should consult your vet first. What types of exercise are best for Labradors? When we say high quality, we mean just that. Try and incorporate off-lead time into their exercise routine and take a ball or toy to play fetch with — running will help to raise their heart rate and burn off more calories. How much exercise does a Labrador puppy need? For their first three months, your puppy will get enough exercise from tearing around the house, playing and causing chaos. How much exercise does an old Labrador need? At an advanced age, your dog will have less energy in general and be more likely to suffer from health issues that may limit their mobility. Be observant — being the loyal companions they are, Labradors will push through a lot of pain to keep up with you. Watch for excessive panting, changes in their movement, and exhaustion as signals that they have overstretched themselves and adjust their activity accordingly. Can you over-exercise a Labrador? Labradors have the capacity to build up incredible fitness that will see them on the go all day long, but for most, there is a limit on how much they can do. Gradually increase their activity levels, using a PitPat to check in on their progress. How far can a Labrador walk? A working Labrador could be expected to cover many miles every day through the undergrowth and even water. However, your pet Labrador will have slightly different stamina, depending on how much exercise they are used to. Getting out and about with your Labrador keeps them happy and healthy and can be a highly rewarding experience for you both. Download our app for free to see if PitPat is for you. You might also like Single page Single page Top 10 most active dog breeds Got energy to burn? Single page Single page 10 ways to exercise your dog indoors Whether you find yourself stuck indoors because of the weather or for any other reason, your dog still needs plenty of exercise. Here are our top tips for exercising your dog indoors. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Whether young or old, big or small, yellow, black, chocolate, from field lines or show lines, your Labrador needs exercise. It will keep their heart and muscles strong, their mind stimulated and their weight under control. But how much exercise does a Labrador need? Labradors Are a High Energy Breed The Labrador Retriever is a high energy working breed, initially bred for very physically demanding work retrieving game for hunters. This would involve all day hiking, running and swimming in sometimes difficult conditions. So Labrador Retrievers were bred to have lots of energy and be very active. And though their main role in life today is as a family pet, they still have those same genetics that made them suited to their original role. Dog Ball Thrower. Yes, you can throw a tennis ball extra far with the Chuckit, but two reasons why I love it: 1. In this state they will often resort to destructive behaviors such as digging and chewing…and will often be very restless, may bark excessively and try to escape your home and garden at every opportunity. Insufficient exercise can also lead to weight problems with Labradors. Excess weight is a problem because it can lead to all sorts of problems such as damage to their joints hips and elbows , heart disease, increased blood pressure and increases the risk of diabetes. So a lack of exercise leads to behavioral problems, hyperactivity and possibly an assortment of health problems. However, as a general rule of thumb, a normally healthy adult Labrador Retriever will need 1 hour of exercise every day. The more relaxed Labs just 45 minutes per day, the more energetic 1. This can be made up of running, swimming, playing fetch , jogging alongside you…anything that goes beyond a gentle walk. But if the first consideration is your Labradors age, how much do puppies and the elderly need? Nice for long runs with your Lab. If you have older dogs or children, the puppy may well try to keep up with them and over-exert themselves, playing to exhaustion and damage their developing joints. So keep an eye on them and interrupt play if need be, to give them plenty of rest. Once they are fully grown, they can go out for much longer. The 5 minute rule should be sufficient to keep your lab puppy fit, burn off excess energy yet not over-exert them and cause possible developmental issues. Continue the 5 minute rule until your puppy is at least one year of age where you can then begin to exercise them more vigorously. This is highly dependent on your labs overall health and can vary wildly from one Labrador to another. Some labs may need to slow down from the 7th year onwards, while others remain extremely active beyond their 10th year. As Labradors get older, many develop arthritis, dysplasia and other health issues that can prevent a Labrador from enjoying or needing exercise as much as they used to when young and healthy. They will likely still try to chase a tennis ball all day and hike mountains just to please you, even if it may be doing them more harm than good. Try not to put them in this position. As your Labrador ages, you need to be more observant , looking for changes in their movement, excessive panting, slowing down, feeling tired. And during grooming sessions and massage, check for any painful spots indicative of sore joints or other problems. We noticed Linus was stiff getting up in the morning and decided to try adding glucosamine to his diet. We saw a noticeable difference a few days later and an added spring in his step. If your Labrador tears around your home like a tornado. If your Lab displays any of the restless and destructive symptoms described above, try increasing their levels of exercise for a few days and see if their behavior problems improve. However, if you have money burning a hole in your pocket you might want to check out PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher. Over-exercising very young and elderly Labradors can do more harm than good. For your adolescent and adult Labrador, exercise them well. As a general rule of thumb, aim for 1hr per day and scale this up or down depending on your Labradors individual needs. This could mean 45 mins for the more sedate and elderly, or 1. And at the end of the day, think of it like this: You have the best exercise machine to rival that of any gym to keep you fit and healthy yourself. And hey, what fun!!! What better motivation and need is there to keep yourself in shape? Do you mostly agree with the above? Please let us know in the comments section below. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining. These tips will also help you to advance your dog so that, eventually, you can trust them to be off the leash in a safe area. Don't release your dog until they can demonstrate knowledge and obedience on the long leash and in many different settings. To begin with, walk them in the house and in the yard. Dogs learn 'contextually and by repetition'. These hints will help you to become the pack leader. Be certain that this is only reason that your dog will follow you. Make time to walk your dog Whether you walk your dog in the morning or evening will be influenced by your program. Whenever you exercise your dog, the walk should allow for 'focused time' and 'free time'. Two leashes will facilitate this. If they are under 12 months old, take some water with you. Also take a back-pack and a treat belt available on Ebay. I recommend no more than thirty minutes of walking in total for a dog under 14 months old as their growth plates are not set until this time. Be careful of overly vigorous activity, particularly if you have an older but playful dog. I don't recommend running for more than very short bursts for the same reason. Healthy hips and elbows are critical for a healthy, active and long life. Use two leashes - a long leash approx 7m and a short leash approx 1m Start your walk with the labrador pup on a short leash. The short leash will help you to direct and guide the dog. This allows you to maintain full control over your dog. Set up your walk for success. Start by getting the dog to sit or at the least be stationary and under your control. As you begin, keep your dog behind your body alignment. Be patient and encourage your dog. Do not show aggressive frustration. This will only cause confusion and fear or aggression. If your dog is not complying, stop and reset. You are the master Walking in front of your dog demonstrates that you are the master or the pack leader. You should be first out the door. The dogs should exit the compound only at your command. This is essential whether you are walking 1, 2 or more dogs. If your dog controls the pace and direction of the walk, they are the pack leader. Your dog should be beside or behind you during the walk. Dogs learn contextually The next two hints are important training essentials. Firstly, labradors learn contextually and their training in not immediately transferable to a new environment. Using the same disciplines and routines, train your dog the same way in different settings. This will entrench your expectations. Correct immediately Secondly, a labrador has about a five second retention of information. After five seconds the dog has lost any association between your assertiveness and their behaviour. If they disobey you, you must correct them within five seconds or not at all. If the dog is disobedient or simply does not understand, reset and start again. The long leash I'm a big fan of the long leash. A long leash will help you to correct bad behaviour at a distance. After a period of training with the short leash, remove it and connect the longer lead. Keep the leash in your hand, releasing it slowly and progressively. As they master this, you can back away while the dog is 'sitting and staying'. Reward your labrador pup with vigorous affection and a treat. After this, you should allow them to wander and sniff around. All this time you will keep your dog on the long leash and under your control. Be sure that the free time is less than their focus time. During the socialisation phase, 8 - 16 weeks, you will need both leashes as you expose your labrador pup to other dogs. As you walk your dog, you will come across small and large dogs that are aggressive. Walking on either leash will give your complete control. And it will ensure safety at all time. You new labrador pup has no innate road sense. Walk them, getting close to roads. Expose them to vehicles so that they do not panic. Reward your dog for good behaviour. Remember that dogs register tones and frequencies, not words. Use higher tones to affirm, reward and encourage. You approval is the greatest reward for a Labrador. Direct eye contact without high vocal affirmation will be interpreted as aggression. Use lower growling tones to reinforce disapproval. Try to avoid 'No' as a command. It is too general and therefore confusing to the dog. Always reward and reinforce obedience to specific commands. Use food treats to begin with, however you must gradually phase them out. Your vocal affirmation and affection should be your longer term goal. As your dog maintains the proper behaviour, reward them with treats. Reward your dog after the walk I recommend that you reward your labrador pup after the walk. Let them have a drink firstly then give them a portion of food that is less than a meal but more than a treat. It will not take long for your dog to anticipate the whole experience. When you appear with the leashes, they will become very enthusiastic. If you adhere to these eight hints and maintain the discipline of your training, you and your dog will value and enjoy the experience. Finally, remember to pick up after your dog. Don't go on a walk without your poop bags on hand! Find a vet you can have confidence in. Pawling Chocolate and Black Labradors. Just like us, Labradors need plenty of exercise on a daily basis. Whether you have a young or old dog, they all need to get the blood flowing to stay healthy and live long happy doggie lives. Regular exercise with your Labrador is very beneficial for you both. Exercise stimulates neuron growth in the brain, encourages the production of endorphins with a known mood-boosting effect , helps strengthen your bones and muscles, improves blood pressure, and can significantly help with depression. Are you having a hard time figuring out how much exercise your lab needs? Answers vary drastically from one dog to another. The amount of exercise to give your Labrador depends mostly on the age of the dog. The key to taking your Labrador puppy out for exercise is to be patient. Some labs are athletic, and thus need more exercise than others. Also, certain Labradors are genetically programmed to be energetic and have high metabolism rates, whereas others are more laid-back. Here are some exercise guidelines a new lab owner can follow to make sure their dog gets the right workout. With older dogs or children, a lab puppy may well try to keep up with them and exhaust themselves before they reach their adult size and stamina. Hold off on structured games and other forms of heavy physical activity for the first three months. This will set the stage for long-term, healthy exercise habits. This rule states that you should take your Labrador puppy out for at least five minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice a day until he or she is fully grown. This can be anything from a walk around the block to a run in the dog park. How old your dog is will make a difference in their stamina. To determine how much exercise your dog needs, first take their age into consideration. Labs that are four years old and above need between one and two hours of exercise per day. The truth is Labradors can lead a perfectly healthy life with just an hour of daily active playtime. The Labrador Retriever was bred to retrieve game for hunters. That means they naturally love to play fetch. All you need is a toy for playtime and room for running around. Tug-of-War is less cardio-oriented but helps with muscle mass and body structure in growing dogs. Plus, they love it! It requires that you prepare your puppy with a proper agility training course. Agility training is great for completing a total-body, structured workout, while also providing mental stimulation for your labrador. This involves activities such as going through walkways, tunnels, and hurdles to reach the other end. You will need to train your lab to engage in the activity and this involves proper instruction. Find one that fits his size and abilities, as well as your own personal comfort level. Either due to space or having a small yard, it may be difficult to get their puppies out every day. The good news is that, with a little creativity, indoor exercise can be just as viable and fun! Here are a few ideas you can try at home. Try Treadmill Training Sessions With Dogs A dog can be trained to use a treadmill and enjoy it, but the experience will take time. Build an Obstacle Course for Your Labrador Use everyday things found around the home or office to create an obstacle course. It also boosts their energy levels and problem-solving skills. For example, you might use old boxes and trash bags to make a tunnel, chairs or stools to jump across, and other furniture for your puppy to climb. At first your puppy may not catch on, but with effective use of the treat and lots of encouragement, you can help it learn as it goes. Hide-and-Seek With a Treat! Hide a treat around the house, and let your puppy work to find it. As you hide treats around the room, remember to make sure they are not hiding somewhere that is unreachable. Tip 2. Make sure that all the activities are not just what you enjoy but what is enjoyable for the puppy. Otherwise, they may get frustrated and stop cooperating with you. Include treats and praise whenever they accomplish something. All dog breeds respond positively to lots of physical affection and verbal affirmation. This will make the activity more enjoyable for the puppy. Keep fun as the central theme and good health will flow. Tip 3. Make an Exercise Routine and Schedule for Your Dog Lab owners, take note: maintaining the health of an adult Lab is all about consistency. And this starts with walks at a young age. Take regular walks with your dog, no matter the weather conditions. Walk at the same time each day in order to create an exercise pattern that both you and your dog can stick to. Maybe you can get the puppy used to a leash and casually walk through your neighborhood with it. That way, you can vary the activity occasionally. In six months, increase the amount of time your dogs are running to 15 minutes. This keeps their energy high and stops weight gain as they mature. Conclusion As a dog owner, your foremost responsibility is protecting the health and safety of your pet. Insufficient exercise causes health problems in dogs , like hip dysplasia especially those already prone to hip or joint problems. Share on. Tweet on Twitter Puppy exercise requirements vary between different types of dog, and as a puppy grows the exercise they need will increase. It is possible to give a puppy too much exercise so I will give you a puppy exercise chart, as a guide to how far a puppy can walk at different ages. Taking your new puppy for a walk We all look forward to the day we can take our new puppy for a walk. For many people, daily dog walks is a huge part of why they bought a Labrador in the first place. Others already take quite small puppies for quite long walks and are surprised to discover that many experts believe this to be a bad thing. So just how much exercise does a puppy really need? How much exercise does a puppy need? This rule of thumb says that a puppy should have no more than five minutes of walking for every month of his age. So that would be fifteen minutes a day maximum for a three month old puppy, twenty minutes for a four month old and so on. This concern about excessive exercise has arisen because it is widely believed that exercise is a factor in the development of serious joint disorders. Especially in larger breed puppies such as Labradors Breeders are particularly concerned about hip dysplasia, a serious and complex disorder of the hip joints, that is believed to be influenced both by inherited factors passed from dogs to their puppies and by environmental factors In addition to factors influencing growth rates, the stresses and strains placed on the vulnerable growing joint by excessive exercise are believed to be a contributory environmental factor in the development of inadequate hip joints. It seems likely, that a puppy that had inherited a tendency for poor hips, could have its soft and still forming hip joints made a good deal worse through prolonged or hard exercise. It is also possible that a puppy that has inherited excellent hips, will come to no harm whatsoever through hard exercise. On the contrary, a certain amount of free running exercise is a good thing Running off-leash A Norwegian study published and which included labradors, showed that puppies given the opportunity to exercise off leash in a park before the age of three months were less likely to develop hip dysplasia HD , not more. Stair climbing The same study showed that puppies that had to climb stairs on a regular basis during the same period were at increased risk of HD You can read about this study in Science Daily. So what does this study tell us? Well, it is only one study, but it suggests that playing in a natural way, with other pups or simply running about at their own speed is probably going to benefit a small puppy Strenuous exercise Whereas more strenuous activity such as climbing hills and stairs, may not be such a good thing at a very young age. Another study has suggested that running hard for a retrieve, may not be great for joint health either. And some breeders also prevent dogs from jumping for the first twelve months to reduce impact on the shoulder and elbow joints. This may be especially important for some of the heavier breeds of dog, and those that are slow to mature. How far should my puppy walk? But how does that translate to distances walked? If you like to think in distances rather than time, a mile is around steps for an adult human and takes about twenty minutes at a moderate walking speed. So a maximum walk for a four month old Labrador might be about a mile. And of course if you are walking out and back again, that means not taking the dog more than half a mile from your home or car, whichever is your starting point. With young puppies, you need to keep a balance. Think about the overall energy your puppy is expending rather than focusing on walking alone. Walking is only one form of exercise and is no more valuable or important than games or training exercises. If you have been to visit a friend with your five month old pup and their dog has played for half an hour in the garden with yours, your dog does not need a walk as well. It is the total exercise that counts. How much exercise is too much? And you are bound to know of someone whose puppy had far more exercise than this and came to no harm. However taking a puppy for long walks or asking him to negotiate very steep or uneven surfaces when he is little, is probably a bad idea. Beware of letting a puppy play for too long with an older dog that does not want to stop. And keep an eye on children who may inadvertently exhaust a puppy by encouraging him to play when he needs to sleep. Crating your puppy when he is tired or overexcited, will enable you to make sure that your puppy gets some well deserved down time. Summary Young puppies need the time and space to run about freely, and free running exercise is beneficial. You do not need to attempt to prevent puppies playing in the garden, trotting about the house or playing with another young puppy for a while. Provided that the puppy is free to stop and rest whenever he wants. As far as we know at the moment, formal exercise — walking on a lead — for example, is probably best restricted using the five minute rule as an approximate guide. And strenuous exercise such as stair climbing, and chasing balls should be limited or avoided altogether in puppies under three months of age. Remember, an adult dog can become an amazing athlete, but like all athletes, fitness and stamina are best built up in gentle stages if injury is to be avoided. Do talk to your vet about exercise at your first appointment with your puppy. We are still learning about hip dysplasia. Research is ongoing, knowledge increases all the time. Your vet should be up to date with the latest information regarding the optimum amount of exercise for your new puppy. Published in April , the Happy Puppy Handbook covers every aspect of life with a small puppy. It will help you prepare your home for the new arrival, and get your puppy off to a great start with potty training, socialization and early obedience. This article was originally published in and has been extensively revised and updated for References Slater et al. Diet and exercise as potential risk factors for osteochondritis dissecans in dogs. Am J Vet Res. Sallander et al. American Society for Nutrition. Krontveit et al. Risk factors for hip-related clinical signs in a prospective cohort study of four large dog breeds in Norway. May 9, Aug 12, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. You want to show off your new labrador retriever puppy. Is it safe to walk your puppy outside? How far can you walk a puppy? Or is it time for a puppy stroller? Puppies usually receive a series of vaccinations starting at six to eight weeks old. Some say wait another two weeks until the vaccinations are fully effective before taking him to places where other unknown dogs may have been. As far as getting our puppies out and about we follow the guidelines set forth by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior. The Primary and Most Important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life. During this time puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing overstimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated. They grow more quickly than their smaller counterparts but mature more slowly. Exercising a larger breed puppy too much can lead to orthopedic problems and arthritis. Also, brachycephalic dogs with short muzzles like pugs and shih tzus have a lower tolerance for exercise because they can overheat more easily and have more difficulty breathing. And some breeds, like working, herding, and sporting dogs have a higher exercise need even as a puppy. So your border collie, golden retriever , labrador retriever etc. A rule of thumb is a puppy can walk five minutes for every month of age starting at eight weeks. So a two-month-old puppy can walk about 10 minutes. And a three-month-old can walk for 15 minutes; and a four-month-old for 20 minutes. And so forth. Of course these are general guidelines. Important Considerations When Walking Your Puppy In addition to how far your puppy should walk, there are many things to take into account regarding his excursions. Over weeks, build his endurance. He may have to potty or be thirsty. Avoid the hottest or coldest parts of the day Young puppies can be susceptible to temperature extremes. They may overheat and suffer from heat exhaustion, which can be deadly. In cold weather, puppies may require a coat or sweater to help keep them warm. Breeds with short muzzles such as shihs tzus or Lhasa apsos are especially susceptible to extremes of weather. And salt to melt snow can be dangerous to our dogs too. Places that are slippery can be dangerous for you and your dog to explore. Also, areas with sharp surfaces are hazardous. This can especially occur with blacktop. Also try not to walk him on surfaces that have any chemicals, such as salt to melt snow or weed control, as some are toxic to dogs. Get him used to grass, pavement, and dirt trails. Note From Colby: This is uber important for service dog puppies in training. If a service dog cannot walk across sand, grass, pavement, metal grates, etc without any kind of reaction, then the dog is not suitable as a working service dog. A walk or two a day as well as other play should be enough. Remember not to go so far on other walks, as you have to take into account the portion of the walk returning home. If at any point your puppy seems to be lame, limping or otherwise showing discomfort, end the walk. If your puppy shows any lameness, a vet visit is in order. Give your puppy a few exercise sessions a day You can break up his walk and give him two or three short walks a day. A little fetching his favorite toys can help meet his needs. Some free running in the house or safely enclosed yard can be fun for him. Stuffed Kongs and puzzle toys can help exercise his mind. Remember: He needs physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. Remember to bring the essentials Poop bags and water are important on your walks. You can bring a collapsible bowl or a water bottle with a built-in bowl so your puppy can drink. Be visible! There are reflective and lighted vests , leashes , collars , and harnesses you can purchase. Why Walk Your Puppy on a Leash? He can get exercise other ways such as playing fetch or playing with another friendly pup. But to be able to properly socialize your puppy, he needs to be taken to places on a leash. And socialization involves not only having him meet friendly people and dogs but also exposing him in a positive manner to new sights, sounds, experiences, and footings. There are many benefits to walking your dog, in addition to socialization, including: Physical and mental exercise Your new puppy wants to explore the world with you. In order to grow up to be a healthy adult, your pup requires both. New sights and sounds will stimulate him and help him grow into a well-rounded adult. Weight control Regular short walks will help keep your puppy fit and at the correct weight for his age and breed or mix. Bonding time Regular walks also provide a time for you and your puppy to bond. You puppy will learn that fun, enjoyable things happen when you both interact. And the walks will help provide a basis for a life-long bond with your pup. Reduces unwanted behaviors Exercise helps lessen destructive behaviors. A well-exercised puppy is less likely to engage in destructive chewing, jumping, digging, and other undesirable behaviors. Have him perform a sit. Work with attention. Practicing training exercises he already knows while on his walk will help him learn to do them in everyday life, with distractions. Lessens anxiety and stress The socialization and real-life experiences help a dog cope better with everyday life. There can be too much of a good thing. Even though we want our pups to get a sufficient amount of exercise, we can overdo it. Following the above guidelines should lead to a safe amount of exercise. Too much walking and exercise can also lead to arthritis developing early in life. Too much exercise can lead to severe exhaustion and limping A puppy can get over-tired and even over-heat. Just like when we overdo it, he may have sore muscles and may limp. A vet visit is in order if you see him limp. Over-exercising even can lead your puppy to being more vulnerable to injuries. Too much exercise can cause injuries to heal incorrectly If you exercise a puppy with injuries, he may not heal correctly. Final Thoughts Walking your puppy has many health and socialization benefits. But a walk with your new puppy can be a bonding experience. As a plus, you can show him off to your friends. What about you guys? How much do your walk your puppy? Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below. Related Articles:. But you should be safe walking your 10 week old Lab puppy for 30 minutes at least once a day, for example. A half-hour is a safe distance for most puppies at 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 16 weeks, etc. It comes down to common sense. A Jack Russell terrier puppy might be more energetic than a cocker spaniel puppy, for example. Benefits of walking your puppy, even at 8 weeks old 1. Slow, steady walking helps puppies build strong muscles. See my post: Why is my puppy so wild at night? Many of the young dogs in shelters are there for behavioral problems related to poor socialization and too much energy. Click Here. How much exercise is too much for a 10 week old puppy? That will get you the amount of time, in minutes, that you should walk your puppy per day. For example, an 8-week-old puppy can walk for 10 minutes a day. A week-old puppy can walk for 15 minutes per day. And a 4-month-old puppy can walk for 20 minutes a day. I do not believe in following this equation. It highly underestimates the amount of walking a healthy puppy can safely do. If you were to follow the above equation, then a 6 month old puppy would only be walking 30 minutes per day. Puppy walking schedule I strongly do NOT believe in following the above puppy walking schedule. Instead, use common sense based on the puppy in front of you. They are all so different depending on breed, size and personality. My puppy on a walk I have a Weimaraner puppy, and this dog would be at the humane society by now if I had to follow that silly puppy walking equation. Instead, I believe in using common sense and taking your puppy for short walks 20 to 30 minutes or so, twice per day if he seems comfortable. Read it when you have time. What kind of exercise is safe for a puppy? Walks will naturally be slow with puppies. Visiting the park or going on a slow stroll are both great ideas for exercising a puppy. Using a long leash is also a great idea in an open area because you can let the puppy sniff and explore at his own pace. For more ideas: see our post on exercise ideas for puppies. How far can I walk my puppy at 16 weeks? Each puppy is unique! I was comfortable walking my week-old puppy Remy for about 35 minutes at least once a day. Ideally twice. In addition to that, Remy ideally got the opportunity to run and play at his own pace off leash for 20 minutes or so each day. Weimaraners are fit and lean. They run all day in the field. They are designed for endurance! How far should you walk your puppy? When can your puppy go for a walk? A slow, minute stroll should be safe for most puppies 8 weeks or older. They are the experts and can give you the best advice. No one really knows. There are no studies that say walking a puppy will damage his joints. I will update this post if that ever changes. What it comes down to is you know your puppy better than anyone else. Dog owners mean well and sometimes people feel the need to share their very strong opinions about not to walk a puppy too far. I would say, trust your gut and be reasonable. If you are concerned, then back off a bit. I personally lean on the side of providing as much exercise as possible, within reason. For me, that meant about two min walks a day for my puppy. But as with everything else in the dog world we all have to make our own decisions. Factors to consider when exercising your puppy Walking my 4 month old weimaraner puppy 1. Puppy shots before walking your puppy. If your puppy is not fully vaccinated, he has a greater risk of catching parvo or other diseases on walks. Another post all together. For example, my puppy grew up in a nice neighborhood near San Diego and our vet said there was very little risk of our puppy getting sick as nearly all dogs in our area were vaccinated and leashed. So I was comfortable taking my dog for neighborhood walks but I waited on the dog park and dog beach until he was fully vaccinated. Some breeds are more prone to joint issues than others. For example, we got a Lab puppy in , and our breeder recommended we do not run with our Lab until he is fully matured. Walks, however, would be OK. Sophie the springer spaniel puppy at 8 weeks My plan is to take it a little more cautious with our Lab vs. My Lab is also waaaaay less energetic than my weimaraner. My Lab pup is about 5 months old now and we head out for two 1-mile walks per day. Genetics affect how far a puppy can walk. Other factors include weight, overall health and diet. Overweight dogs and puppies will struggle more. There are many studies now that say puppies that are spayed or neutered that young are much more likely to tear their ACLs down the road and develop all sorts of health problems. For this reason, I did not have my weimaraner puppy neutered until he was 10 months old. I do not plan to neuter our Lab, but if I do I will try to wait until he is at least 18 months old and close to being physically mature. However, if your puppy is already spayed or neutered, do not worry. Rescues and shelters typically spay or neuter puppies as young as 8 weeks old, for example. This is what it is. My puppy Remy Can you walk a puppy too much? Your puppy will most likely be just fine! Just use common sense from here on out. How old should puppies be to hike? If you take your puppy hiking, you should follow the same approach as you would with walking. Carry your puppy if he gets tired! Even 45 minutes to an hour is great for older puppies. Each puppy is different, though! Each area is different depending on dog traffic, wildlife, etc. Most likely, if you start walking, your puppy will follow you. Reward her with treats and praise. If your puppy is already starting to pull you, here are my tips for loose-leash walking. When can I walk my puppy around the neighborhood? I took both my 8-week-old puppies for minute walks through our neighborhood right away. The only reason you might want to wait on walking your puppy in the neighborhood is if your puppy still needs some vaccinations. This is only the case if there is a higher risk of parvo or distemper in your area. When can puppies be around other dogs? This is a good question for your vet. This is a great way to work on training and socialization at the same time. My puppy with my adult dog When can my puppy visit the dog park? As far as dog parks go, I personally prefer to keep my puppies away from dog parks for at least the first 6 months. I do not want to scare my puppy during this important socialization window. However, you might think about taking your puppy to a dog park during the middle of the day during the week or late in the morning when it is quieter. Socializing with one or two friendly dogs might be a positive experience for your puppy. Leave if your puppy is scared or overwhelmed. OK, enough from me! What is your approach on how far to walk a puppy? How do you find the right balance for puppy exercise? Let me know in the comments! Best Products for Walking Puppies 1. Treat Pouch: A treat pouch allows you to easily carry treats so you can help your puppy focus. This is helpful on walks as well as for short training sessions. Other resources:.

Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a biologist and fact checker focused on environmental sciences. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade and has reviewed more than articles for The Spruce Pets for factual accuracy. All growing puppies need proper nutrition. However, choosing the right diet for your puppy can be an overwhelming task. When you choose to feed your puppy home-prepared food, it takes a certain amount of commitment on your part. Make sure you have the time to prepare the food properly and on a regular basis. There's a lot you need to know before you can start feeding your dog an appropriate homemade diet. Like humans, dogs have specific caloric requirements and need certain vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. Puppies have even more specific needs in order to grow at an appropriate rate and thrive. The food you feed your puppy must be complete and balanced. It must also be designed to support growth. One of the biggest mistakes pet owners make when they decide to feed home-prepared diets is not following the right recipes or, not following a recipe at all. Preparing the right puppy diet is about more than just feeding enough calories. It must also have the proper balance of protein, fat, and calories for a growing puppy. When you begin to develop a home-prepared diet, make sure your puppy gets everything it needs in its diet to keep it as healthy as possible and help it grow. The best way to do this is to consult with your veterinarian. You might even want to ask for a referral to a veterinary nutritionist. Working with a vet, you can design a diet that meets all of your puppy's nutritional needs. Your vet may have recipes for you to use or may guide you to a website like BalanceIT. These websites have recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists. They can help you choose a diet that is complete and balanced but also meets other needs. In many cases, you can choose your preferred ingredients or find formulas designed for puppies with specific needs like large breeds or health issues like allergies. How to Prepare Homemade Puppy Food In general, puppies need about twice as many calories per day than their adult counterparts. According to the Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Cats and Dogs of the National Academy of Science, a pound puppy that is expected to weigh 33 pounds at adulthood needs to eat about calories per day. In addition, puppies need more protein, fat, vitamins and minerals than adult dogs. Many owners who feed home-prepared diets set up a regular schedule , setting aside time weekly or monthly to prepare and portion the diet. The food can be prepared in bulk and portioned into containers one container per meal makes it extra-easy. You can keep meals frozen for several months or refrigerated for about 5 days. When the supply of pre-prepared meals runs low, it's time to make a new batch. If you like to feed a variety of foods, you can make multiple batches and color code by ingredients, rotating out the different meals. Remember to increase portions appropriately as your puppy grows. Raw Diets for Puppies There's no doubt that home-cooked diets for puppies can be healthy when done correctly, but what about raw food? There is much controversy over raw food for dogs. The AVMA and other agencies warn of the risks of dangerous pathogens in raw pet food. Some other experts see the potential benefits of raw food for healthy adult dogs. However, puppies are a different story. Raw food may contain dangerous pathogens that can lead to illness in people and some dogs. Like children, young animals may not have the immune systems to fight off pathogens found in raw food. If you feel you can safely handle raw food and you are willing to assume the risks, talk to your veterinarian about transitioning to raw food when your puppy gets older. In the beginning, you might choose to offer a combination of cooked and raw foods to see how it works out. Raw diets should never be fed to dogs coming into contact with immunocompromised humans. In addition, raw diets are not recommended for dogs with immune system issues. Tweet on Twitter Many dog owners are discovering that homemade dog food recipes are the way to go for their pooch. Besides being a possible money-saving option, healthy homemade dog food is a choice that is easier than you may think, as well as being a great-tasting alternative to commercial dog food. The best homemade dog food recipe is made with one ingredient that no commercial brand can match: your tender loving care! Have we got you thinking about how to make homemade dog food yet? Healthy dog food recipes Whipping up balanced homemade dog food recipes in your own kitchen can be a satisfying and rewarding experience for both you and your beloved pooch. And what could be better than having an eager, experienced taste-tester at your elbow? Are you interested in raw dog food recipes? Dog food recipes with chicken? How about easy dog food recipes? Believe it or not, developing an organic dog food recipe is no harder than making homemade dog food for allergies , or assembling natural dog food recipes. Making homemade dog food While using cooked dog food recipes or raw dog food diet recipes is not overly difficult, it is a process that requires a bit more exertion than flipping back a canned food tab or ripping into a pound bag of kibble. Pet nutritionist Cailin Heinze, VMD, endorses the practice of deploying balanced home cooked dog food recipes, but cautions that dedication to the process is a key component. Best homemade dog food recipe Canines are omnivores, meaning they are able to eat meat, vegetables, and grains. Dogs require a formulation that is high in protein and fat in order to meet their nutritional needs. To learn more about low fat canine diets, we recommend reading this excellent and informative article. Which is why you may want to consider homemade senior dog food recipes and homemade dog food recipes for skin allergies. No one knows your dog better than you; you have the inside track when it comes to knowing which best dog food recipes will appeal to your pooch. Will it be natural homemade dog food, simple dog food recipes, or homemade raw dog food? When it comes to dog nutrition homemade food may be a big plus. Make your own dog food recipes At the beginning of your homemade dog food journey we recommend that owners stick to canine diets endorsed by animal care professionals or veterinarians. How do you know this is the case for the recipes you use? For those of you who would like to sample raw homemade dog food recipes, stay tuned. Both of these recipes from the American Kennel Club are animal expert-approved, high protein options: Mini Omelette Recipe for Dogs: This omelet recipe calls for 2 eggs plus ingredients, which may be enough to satisfy one pup. Eggs should be cooked for at least 10 minutes at F 82 C. Frozen Meat Treats Recipe for Dogs: This frozen meat treat recipe is especially convenient as you can pop one out of the freezer any time to serve as a refreshing snack, or to reward an especially good dog! Not only is the recipe a nutritionally complete homemade dog food, there are different, convenient versions for pooches of varying sizes. So, if you have a small dog, use the recipe for a 15 pound pooch. Likewise, there are balanced dog food recipes for 30 and 60 pound pooches. The recipes take the guesswork out of portion sizing, although you can choose to make enough to serve leftovers the following day. Keep in mind that switching out or changing up a recipes ingredients can result in an unintended outcome. In addition, your vet may want to examine your pup, including skin, body condition and coat, in a few more weeks to insure that there are no possible diet-related issues to be concerned about. Homemade allergen-free recipes The most common canine food allergens are eggs, corn, beef, chicken, wheat, soy, and milk, according to the Merck Vet Manual. While it can be difficult to find a recipe that lacks all of these ingredients, Paula Terifaj D. Raw dog food recipes Feeding your pooch a raw dog food diet can replicate the diet of dogs in the wild and has become popular in recent years. There are two main types of raw canine dog food models, the BARF diet biologically appropriate raw food proposed in by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, and the RMB diet raw meaty bones diet. You can also buy prepackaged raw dog food in most pet stores and in some supermarkets. For more details about feeding your dog a raw food diet, be sure to read this excellent and informative article. The wide-ranging article covers the risks and rewards of feeding your pooch raw food, and honestly addresses the debate surrounding the practice. Homemade dog food portions Many recipes use specific measurements and amounts for their ingredients. A food scale is much more accurate for measuring meat portion volumes than regular household measuring cups. You can buy a food scale at your local pet store or at any big box store. Dessert always comes after dinner What could be better than a hearty, healthy homemade meal? A delicious homemade dessert to top it off! Here is a fun and pleasing snack recipe from the American Kennel Association that is sure to delight any doggy diner. Although these everyday substances are fine for human consumption, they have the potential to make your pooch sick, or worse result in serious illness. According to Dr. There is really nothing better than a meal made with love, something that your dog will now be able to attest to, or bark at. Do you have a favorite canine breakfast, lunch or dinner recipe? How about a doggie snack or treat recipe? Brush a dog biscuit baking tray with coconut oil. Mash the ripe banana in a bowl until smooth. Ensure there are no large chunks left. In a medium-sized bowl, blend the gluten-free flour and oats. Add coconut oil, water, mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce, and fresh blueberries. Mix until well combined. Gently pour the wet mixture into the bowl containing the dry ingredients. Stir until you get an even consistency. Drizzle in the CBD oil and give it another stir to ensure even distribution. Use a tablespoon measure to scoop out portions of the mixture. Press each scoop firmly into the dog treat baking mold. Place the tray in the oven and bake the treats for 30 to 40 minutes. They should be firm to the touch and slightly golden when ready. Once the treats have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container for storage. This easy-to-make recipe ensures your Labrador Retriever gets a nourishing and delightful meal. This batch yields approximately four servings, which can be stored in your refrigerator. Ingredients 1 lb. Cut the chicken into half-inch pieces. In a frying pan with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, cook the chicken on medium heat for about 15 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove the chicken pieces and set aside the pan drippings. Rice preparation. Once done, set aside. Gravy creation. Over medium to low heat, warm the chicken drippings in the pan. Gently stir until it becomes a smooth mixture. Continue cooking until it evolves into a thick gravy consistency. Combining ingredients. Add the cooked chicken, rice, peas, and carrots to the gravy. Simmer the mixture for approximately 10 minutes or until the veggies are tender. This enhanced dog food recipe combines the richness of turkey with the nourishment of vegetables and quinoa — a superfood known for its protein and fiber content. Ingredients 1 pound of ground turkey 1 cup of quinoa 1 cup of carrots, finely chopped 1 cup of green beans, finely chopped 1 cup of spinach, finely chopped 1 tablespoon of fish oil A sprinkle of turmeric for anti-inflammatory benefits, optional Directions Cooking the turkey. Over medium heat, cook the ground turkey in a non-stick skillet until fully done. Preparing the feast. Combine the quinoa, cooked turkey, and water in a large pot. Bring this mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for approximately 15 minutes or until the quinoa becomes soft and translucent. Adding vegetables. Introduce the carrots, green beans, and spinach to the pot. Allow the mixture to cook for another 10 minutes, ensuring the vegetables are tender but not overly soft. Finishing touches. Let the meal cool to room temperature before serving. Extra portions can be refrigerated and consumed within five days. Adding eggs and beneficial herbs ensures your Labrador Retriever gets essential vitamins and nutrients. Begin by boiling the eggs until they are hard-boiled. Once done, peel and finely chop them. Beef cooking. Once done, drain off any excess fat. In a large mixing bowl or container, combine the cooked brown rice, browned sirloin, chopped eggs, diced or shredded carrots, peas or green beans, minced parsley, and the optional sprinkle of turmeric. Drizzle with olive or safflower oil. Stir together. Using a large spoon or spatula, gently mix all the ingredients until they are evenly distributed and well combined. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you want more homemade dog food recipes and cooking options for your Labrador Retriever, cookbooks can be useful for various recipes. Maintaining a healthy weight is easier when your Labrador Retriever is fed the right dog food. However, identifying a healthy gut is not an easy task. Skin or coat issues, excessive tiredness, allergies, weight loss, malnutrition, and obesity can be caused by unbalanced and insufficient meal plans. If you detect any of these symptoms while feeding your dog meals, stop doing it immediately and seek expert advice. Below is a list of the most common toxic ingredients dogs need to avoid. Small Pets Indian Homemade Food that can be given to Labradors and Golden Retriever Dog Breeds Pet dogs are so very aligned as first of the kin in most dog loving Indian homes that it is impossible not to share the human food tid bits with them. The pleading gaze of big brown eyes are hard to avoid and it seems almost cruel at that time to not share our food. But there is always an apprehension regarding the suitability of the human food for our dogs and puppies. Premium commercial dog food brands like Royal Canin , Hills Science plan and Solid Gold Dog Food offer complete and balanced nutrition to assure fulfillment of all basic needs of the pet. In respect to the safety and health of the dogs , you would be glad to know that there are plenty of human foods which the dog can eat to acquire protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. So one does need to walk consciously, but anddo understand that most things which are healthy for you may not be as healthy or even fatal for our four-legged companion. Boiled or scrambled egg, chicken, fish, mutton, beef, pork are all commonly eaten at home and are good sources of protein and fats. Chicken is being a popular dish in most non-vegetarian Indian kitchens is often shared with the home grown and stray dogs, pl ensure to avoid any dinner table offering that entails onion, garlic, excess oil and spices. Even cooked chicken bones are not recommended as it is brittle and may cause oral injuries and in some cases even fatal obstructions in the intestines of dogs that will be required to remove surgically. Grains and Pulses Whole grains like brown rice, wheat, oats, barley, millet and quinoa and pulses supply various important nutrients to the dog. A blend of brown rice and mashed boiled vegetables constitutes an easy and good healthy meal for your furry friend. Some of the dogs can be allergic to wheat; for rest of the doggie population it can be safely eaten in the form of chapatti Indian wheat bread and whole wheat pasta without salt, sugar and acidic sauces. Soybeans also go well with dogs, provided your dog is not sensitive to it. Whole wheat or brown breads can be fed in small quantities. Do not feed these 10 foods to your dog. Storehouse of important vitamins, minerals and fibres, fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories. They not only make one healthy and energized but also cut the risks of several diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers. Though low in calories, any fruit or vegetable carry the risk of upsetting the stomach in case of excessive intake. Fruits Fruits are a great power snack to quench in-between meal time hunger. Banana, oranges without rinds , watermelon, muskmelon, berries strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries , mango are great fruits for dogs. Serving a blend of fruits to the dog, cut into chewable pieces, mixing various flavours, will make fruits more interesting for the dogs. While feeding an apple, just take a very good care to remove all the seeds as they are poisonous for the dog. Certain seeds, like apple seeds contain cyanide which may not be harmful for us because of the small dose of toxins. But the same dose can prove poisonous to our dogs. Grapes and raisins are a complete No-No for the dogs; they can cause irreversible kidney damage — just keep the dogs away from them. Vegetables Boiled, cooked, peeled, raw or as scraps — vegetables are good for your dog. The fresh and crunchy vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cucumbers and spinach are good for health and do a lot of good to the teeth of the dog as well. Sweet potatoes, green beans, pumpkin, bottle guard, peas, tomatoes compulsorily ripe and potatoes boiled or mashed are also much loved veggies. Onions are not be ingested by the dogs in any form raw, cooked, dried, powered as it can damage the red blood cells of the canine. Garlic is also capable of harming the red blood cells of the dog; some people argue that garlic in small quantities act as natural antibiotic. Raw veggies can be eaten by dog but when it comes to relatively greater quantity, the vegetables should be boiled and then mashed or cut into chewable pieces. Treats In small amounts, our canine partners can enjoy cottage cheese, peanut butter, popcorns sans salt and butter , sunflower seeds shelled and plain white yogurt. More natural and plain a treat is — minimum sugar, salts, preservatives — more will they suit the health of your dog. BUT do remember that chocolate, coffee, macadamia nuts, raisins are toxic for your pet. Be very careful with them. Certain dogs, just like humans, can be lactose intolerant; apart from them, milk, in moderate quantities, can be safely digested by all dogs. Cottage cheese is loved by most dogs. Curd and buttermilk are also good sources of prebiotics and calcium. It is recommended that before you offer a new food item to your pet you should consult your vet. Allergies and reactions to particular food stuffs would vary from dog to dog, so it is a good habit to observe your dog each time you feed it a new eatable. Care should be taken to avoid artificial sugar and have minimal salts pinch of salt a day would suffice. About Shikha Sharma Shikha Sharma believes that Mother Earth is our mutual abode, where all creatures have an equal right to live with dignity. This belief is clearly reflected in her wonderful writing pieces that revolve around animals and their well-being. She is the blog editor of Pets World. More like this.

Friday, March 16, Puppy Surprise by Playskool I am going to veer away from my normal doll talk to share two things with you. First, an awesome toy called Puppy Surprise. Remember how I mentioned a while back about how much I like surprises? Well, this toy is perfect for me. It's perfect for a lot of kids in the year old range, too, in my experience. I think I have bought one of these for almost every kid I know in that age range. What is Puppy Surprise? It is a plush dog who is pregnant stuffed with removable puppies. The surprise is, you don't know how many puppies she has until you open the box and the dog. She could have anywhere from 2 to 4 puppies, and if she has 4, one of them is likely to be a runt. It's awesome. The puppies are also gendered, so you don't know if you're going to get boys or girls.In the early 90s, Hasbro made a similar toy, also called Puppy Surprise, but these dogs had vinyl faces. The older toys are also still available on eBay, but they tend to command higher prices, especially if the set is complete and in good shape. I like both versions, but slightly prefer the newer ones because they are all plush. A few years ago, when these started to go on clearance, I hoarded a ton of them so I could give them away as gifts. I have a few left over. Let's have some fun with them! Playskool Puppy Surprise discontinued. The dogs are about 9 inches tall and come in a fairly simple window box. The box emphasizes the surprise element, which works like a charm to get me to shell out my money: I hope it's 4! I need to know!! The box also gives you the exact odds of getting each number of puppies, which I think is very nice: 2 puppies: 1 out of every 4 boxes 3 puppies: 2 out of 4 boxes interesting 4 puppies 1 out of 4 boxes It also says that all twins are girls. The chances of having a boy are 1 in 6. Those are good odds for the fellas. Each mother dog has a pattern on her cheek called a "Pretty Patch. This way, if you have lots of these dogs, you can always reunite a mother with her original puppies by matching the patches. The gender of the puppies is indicated by the lining of their ears. If the lining is pink they're overheated girls, if it is blue, they're holding their breath boys. There are lots of different colors and styles of dog to choose from. I have seen purple poodles, pink poodles, black and white spotted dogs, pink and white spotted ones with fluffy ears, cream ones with fluffy ears, pure white ones, tan and pink ones.Playskool also made some different animals, like cats and rabbits. This one is a bit drab. She was on a massive clearance sale: You have to wrestle her out of three wire ties, and that's it. Let's get right to that part. The puppies are in the dog's belly, which opens and closes with velcro. It's nicely done and the dog has enough stuffing to be cuddly even without the puppies. Of course you can't tell how many puppies there are inside until you open her up. My kids and I used to hold every single box in the store and try to tell from the weight which ones had the most puppies. Here is the exciting moment! These dogs should come with a scalpel and sutures. It's a girl! She looks just like her mother: And it's.Who also looks just like her mother. Ah, well. These babies are essentially identical, but the way they are stuffed gives them very different personalities. The firstborn is very cute and normal and maybe a little shy-looking, and the second one has some serious attitude. She'd be telling dog jokes and running all over the place making trouble if she were real: Hey, hey! Did you hear the one about the chihuahuas and the light bulb? Ok, let's try again. I happen to have another one: This is my favorite out of all of the colors. She reminds me of my very first dog: She has a different Pretty Patch: Here we go! After a few confused seconds, the woman's partner repeats: "Shut up, are you taking the piss? How much was it? Are you taking the piss? Shut up no you didn't! After confirming how much it cost, the surprised partner then stands up only to have the woman put the small toy poodle puppy in his arms. Stock Image. During the peak of the first lockdown in May demand for pets soared by percent above levels in the UK. Getty Images According to the U. And a survey by Pets4Homes found that during the peak of the first lockdown in May , demand for pets soared by percent above levels. Demand for puppies rose by over percent, peaking at 60 million online searches in May alone. The top five breeds bought during lockdown, according to the survey, also included poodle crosses—with Cavapoo, which is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a p oodle , ranked at the top; followed by a Cockapoo , which is a mix of a Cocker Spaniel and a poodle. According to Purely Pets , if you are considering owning a Cavapoo, you should "try to choose one that has been bred with a Miniature, rather than a Toy Poodle — the latter are more prone to hereditary health problems. In fact, this breed can suffer from serious health issues, so heavy vet bills can loom. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life newsweek. Puppy Surprise What exactly about the birthing process do toy companies perceive to be so child-friendly? Aside from the fact that labor begets a child, that is. Children are both innocent and inquisitive, and parents have a hell of a time balancing those two conflicting natures without sadistic toy manufacturers coming in and mucking it up with biologically confusing playthings. In the late 80s and early 90s, Hasbro came up with a glorious marketing scheme guaranteed to disappoint one in five children. I'll tell you how. In a natural order-defying act of toy bizarreness, the good people of Hasbro developed a velcro-adhered pouch that children could simply open and close as they please. As you can imagine, this led to inevitable confusion about birthing. A whole slew of Puppy Surprise-toting kids spent years thinking that when you're done playing with a baby, you can simply shove it back into the womb. No problem here. The "surprise" element of Puppy Surprise referred to the fact that the doll could contain three, four, or five puppies. Kids are fairly simple creatures, and are thus easy to persuade that more equals better. In fact, every child was convinced that as special as he or she was, it was only fair that their doll contained the maximum of five puppies. You can bet parents had a swell old time consoling these children when their doll as most did contained a scant three puppies. Three puppies? Don't insult me, Hasbro. What can I do with three puppies? Five, now that's a fun toy. But three? Come on. Note that sped-up fine-print speech at the end: "Puppy Surprise comes with three, four, or five baby puppies! One in five Mommy dolls comes with four or five puppy dolls. They are, unfortunately, pretty adept at counting and thus are clearly aware when they are being cheated. I remember a birthday party at which one of my classmates received a pink Puppy Surprise with five puppies. How was I supposed to compete with that when my spotty mommy doll had been significantly less fertile? This was the precise moment in a child's life when they learn that life is not fair. Luckily for parents, they also learn greed, envy, anger, and all sorts of other fun hard-to-quell negative behaviors. Thanks, Hasbro! I implore you to check it out. Really, I'll wait. Fortunately, if you struck out the first time, there were approximately one million alternative variations you could subsequently beg for to try your luck of the litter again. All dolls in the Surprise line had similar by-the-books adorableness achieved by the winning combination of hard plastic faces and soft, pliable bodies. The box assures us that each of our babies, just like us, are unique. Unlike us, their uniqueness is broadcast by a ribbon round the neck declaring the puppy to be of the male or female persuasion. Conveniently, in Hasbro world all of these animals and their corresponding offspring were roughly the same size. Lucky for us, the fun didn't stop there! As the ever-competitive toy market necessitates, Hasbro had to milk this concept until the Mommy Surprise ran dry. Let's investigate some of the odder exploits Hasbro undertook in order to continually surprise us: Drink n' Surprise. To those of us now immersed in semi-adulthood, this sounds like a typical weekend. Back in the early 90s, however, you would have been far happier to wake up to this surprise the next morning. In this case, if you shoved a tiny bottle of water down your puppy's throat, you could be rewarded with a variable physical reaction. As the tag-line said, "Will your puppy drink n' wet or drink n' burp? Surprise Outfit These lucky pups came complete with a mysterious box that could contain any type of outfit. Just imagine! Sure, you only had three puppies to speak of, but that one comes dressed as a mermaid. Makes up for it, right? Playful Hair Surprise In essence, you yanked on the little guys' till their hair was visible, with blue hair indicating a male and pink a female. The hair could also be re-retracted yep, two re-s into the body. That certainly is.There were oodles more there those came from, but they all generally shared the same ridiculous elements of Surprise. There was always some element of unexpectedness that lent some excitement to the toy opening process. After that moment had passed, however, the doll lost quite a bit of its luster. Unsurprisingly, Hasbro began releasing "sold separately" packs of babies for reasons we can only assume are related to the continuous bitching from the four in five kids whose dolls contained just three babies. Though children delighted in this manner of cheating the system, there was a fatal flaw in the system. The velcro-pouch wombs were just big enough to accommodate innumerable additions to the additional litter. At least it gave us an easily identifiable means of judging whose parents were child-spoiling suckers: the ones whose Puppy Surprise dolls' painfully bulging bellies dragged on the floor. Served them right. I was stuck with three puppies, none of whom had retractable hair or a mermaid costume. The only thing to console me? My Mommy Doll got to keep her svelte pre-litter figure. In your face, kids whose parents buy supplemental toys to appease their obnoxious children. In your face! Posted by Children of the 90s at AM.

They are outgoing, active and affectionate companions who have a lot of energy and love making their owner happy. They have strong retrieving instincts as they were bred to be gun dogs, so they love both soft toys and diving into bodies of water. It is highly unusual for the puppy's owner to care for them during this time and is best left to a responsible, reputable breeder. Your puppy's body will double in weight as their muscles, organs and bones develop. Nutrition During the neonatal stage, your Labrador puppy will get most of their nutrition from their mother's milk. At around 4 weeks you may wish to introduce a mush of minced protein such as beef, but always consult your vet first before changing your puppy's diet at this stage. Health During this time it is important to monitor your Lab for any infections, diseases or birth defects. Puppies are unable to urinate or defecate by themselves initially, so their mother helps them but may additionally require your assistance. Keep your vet's contact details close by and educate yourself thoroughly on this stage of puppy development. By the end of this period, your puppy will be mobile and will explore the world mouth first — be sure to keep choking hazards and toxic foods out of their reach. Behaviour During most of this time your Labrador puppy will be asleep or inactive, but they will soon be playing with their brothers and sisters. After weeks they will go through as much sensory development as a human baby does in a few months. It is important to avoid disturbing the puppies' mother as she will be likely be protective, but some interaction with the young pups is normal so they become used to human touch. This is a formative time for your puppy and will be when they learn to walk, play, bite, hold their bladder, and interact with others. You will soon notice their attentiveness to you and their intense love of play — many Labs keep this caring and fun attitude for their whole lives if you foster it. Nutrition During the weaning stage, you should slowly introduce into their diet a nutritionally complete dog food which is appropriate to your Labrador's large size and young age. Labs are notoriously greedy and will quickly gobble down food and snatch treats from hands. You should familiarise yourself with lists of toxic foods and plants to avoid and hide as your puppy will soon find ways to get into forbidden snacks found only in bins. Labradors puppies instinctively like to 'dig' inside their water bowls so much of their water will end up on the ground. Make sure to get your puppy used to touching inside their small ears as they are prone to ear infections and will need regular checkups. Behaviour Due to the changes in their environment, your Labrador puppy will likely be under a significant amount of stress. It's important that you provide lots of attention and positive reinforcement for good behaviour at this time to establish boundaries early. Labradors are eager to love anyone but can be overbearing, so you should introduce them to a number of different people and environments so that they are not overwhelmed with excitement later in life. PUPPY By the time your Labrador Retriever reaches puppyhood their personality will be well developed and you will have established a loving, social friend who wants to maximise time with you and others. Your Labrador puppy will do well socially and behaviourally from puppy training classes as long as treats are involved. Nutrition Your Labrador puppy's diet should be based around a high quality, nutritionally complete puppy food. You may also wish to introduce them to fresh, lean raw meat — however, don't feed your puppy any meat you would not feed to a fellow human being. Bloat is potentially fatal but can be combatted by feeding your dog two smaller meals per day, a habit you should start while they are a puppy. A rough guide is that they should exercise for minutes per day and less after 5 years when many lose their appetite for long marathons of activity. Your pup will need brushing every few days, with more frequent grooming during seasonal changes to combat shedding. Bathing should be infrequent as this can damage the waterproofing of their coats, however, you should wash them after swimming or rolling in muck. After around 8 weeks your puppy will be due for some vaccinations, so they will need a checkup at the vet and to arrange for boosters after that. Studies showed that dogs supplemented with a diet of bovine colostrum had a quicker and stronger immune system response to CDV vaccine as compared to dogs fed a control diet. Colostrum supplemented dogs maintained a higher antibody level even after 40 weeks A diet supplemented with Colostrum helps bridge the immunity gap in puppies that occurs between 3 weeks and 5 months of age. Behaviour Do not be complacent with training your Labrador puppy — almost all are very gentle and well behaved, but this does not mean that training is unnecessary. Labs are very loving and patient with all that they meet, but they often do not know their own size. To combat this, they should be trained in how to act around small dogs and children to avoid intimidation or accidental injury. They will also benefit from obedience training to drop things from their mouths, avoid rushing across busy streets and make sure they come when called. Recommended Articles. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. As we all know too well, what we put in our belly has a huge impact on our health, vitality, length and quality of life. They have to strike a fine balance between getting enough nutrients to grow and avoiding an over-abundance that can lead to abnormal growth and disabling conditions. In this article you will learn precisely how to feed your puppy. What they can eat, what they should not, how many times you should feed them each day, basic information on home-made diets and the pros and cons of various commercial dog foods. The majority of Labrador owners feed their puppy kibble. Kibble is ground meal, shaped into dried biscuit-like pellets that are extremely convenient to buy, store and feed, providing everything a puppy needs in one easy to handle product. All the major brands carry a range of kibble and many are specifically formulated to suit the precise needs of puppies. For our recommendations of the best puppy food for labs, please read our article on: The Best Food for Labrador Puppies. Good breeders will supply you with all the information you need to feed your new puppy and you should follow this advice. Puppies almost always get upset tummies during a change of diet. The stress of moving to a new home is enough to deal with without them potentially having tummy upset on top. So try to avoid this. But expect your puppy to get diarrhea after such a sudden change. What Can Puppies Eat? With a bewildering choice of different puppy foods available, what to feed your puppy may not be the easiest decision to make. You Can Feed Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is ground up food, formed into pellets and dried for easy storage and convenience. It is a specially formulated, complete and balanced diet, containing everything a puppy needs to grow and be healthy. Many people believe kibble is the best way to feed a puppy, with it being so easy to buy, store and feed while containing every nutrient a puppy needs in the right proportions. Wet, Complete Puppy Foods Are An Option As the name suggests, complete wet dog food is complete and balanced, meaning nothing should be fed in combination. Everything needed is included in this one food. Complete wet foods come in individual pouches or tins with one pouch or tin containing one single serving. In the main these foods are low in nutrition, contain a high amount of cheap fillers, by-products and water and need mixing with a biscuit to give them some substance and to make them more complete. Because the food is such low quality, you have to feed a lot of it. And what goes in, must come out. This type of feeding was popular decades ago and I do remember my parents feeding our first dogs this way, but most people have moved on from this and are feeding their dogs in better ways now. Raw Food, BARF And Home-Made Diets Raw feeding is a diet that consists of mostly raw meat, edible bones and animal organs, though most practitioners also mix in small portions of fruit, veg and selected other foodstuffs. There are many people feel strongly that this is the best possible way to feed a dog. But I would caution most people that to feed this diet successfully, you need to do A LOT of research, gain a lot of knowledge and truly understand a dogs nutritional needs to make sure they get exactly what they need in the right amounts. Many people wonder if they can feed their puppy human foods, anything found in the fridge or larder. Furthermore, there are many human foods that are toxic to dogs that you should avoid at all costs. Too much of some nutrients can be bad in itself, but also prevent the absorption and use of other nutrients too. So supplementing a balanced diet is a bad thing to do. Can You Give Puppies Milk? Assuming you get your puppy at the recommended 8 weeks, they will have been fully weaned before you bring them home. Many puppies are intolerant of cows milk and drinking it leads to an upset tummy and diarrhea so you would do best to avoid giving your puppy any milk at all. One exception is for very young puppies under 6 weeks of age. When we have newborn puppies at our house we sometimes need to supplement and use Esbilac Milk Supplemen t. However, if you have a very young puppy that you think may need supplementing please first consult with your veterinarian. Are They Necessary? You will likely be feeding your puppy a commercially available complete and balanced dog food, in which case you certainly should not supplement their food. Supplementing this will mean too much of one or more things, making it unbalanced which can actually lead to harm. But an excess amount of calcium in the diet of a Lab puppy can lead to skeletal development problems. So adding a calcium supplement to an already complete diet can actually do more harm than good. There may also be times your vet advises you to do so. But if feeding raw, you should know more about nutrition than I do. This is a hard question to answer and sadly I cannot give you a definite quantity or weight to feed them each day. Puppies grow at different rates, some are more active than others and there can be large differences between metabolisms too. However… The biggest determining factor is how concentrated the nutrients and calories are in the brand of food you feed them. High quality foods are nutrient rich and give a puppy all they need from quite small amounts of food. But cheaper brands are full of low quality and nutritionally empty fillers that mean a puppy needs considerably more to get what they need. Start by feeding your puppy according to the guidelines on the label of the puppy food you buy for them. Then see how their body develops. Puppies should not be fat! But at the other end of the scale if they start to look and feel a little slim, up their portion sizes a little. The guidelines on the food you buy are just that…guidelines. You might also be interested in:. Remember, Labs do not have a natural food intake regulator so you will need to monitor them with portion control. Using a cheaper brand is a poor option at half the price. You will use twice as much and you will have to clean up larger amounts of waste in your yard. To allow for an accurate control of body weight and growth rate, this amount of food can be dispensed over 3 meals per day. After 5 months of age, the feeding regularity can be reduced to two meals per day with the commensurate increase in food quantity. The amount of food a Labrador puppy requires will increase then level out during first 14 months of their life. At months, their bone density is increasing and their growth plates are set. We do not recommend desexing you pup until at least 3 years of age. This allows for an appropriate development and supply of hormone which in turn produces proper bone, muscle and vital organ development. Table foods dispensed randomly to dogs are not nutritionally balanced. We do not offer our dogs table food at all. There will be no problems if you are feeding a puppy with a homemade diet but it should be prepared from prescribed recipes that are nutritionally complete and balanced. Diets consisting of an unplanned and indiscriminate mixture of human foods particularly including carbohydrates will likely result in obesity and even dietary-induced disease. When you Lab reaches 14months of age, it should be given an adult food that contains less energy and calcium. This will decrease the risk of obesity and orthopaedic conditions. And do not feed them coffee or tea as they can contain caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. These toxic substances can dangerously affect the heart and nervous system. Onions, garlic, raisins and grapes can be severely toxic in labradors. Raw meat is potential source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria for your puppy. Eggs yokes are an excellent source of protein. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin a B vitamin. This can, in extreme cease, lead to skin and coat problems. Liver contains higher levels of protein, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Raw liver can be a source of parasites and pathogenic bacteria. Excessive amounts of liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity. Raw bone chewing will control tartar buildup on a pups teeth. However, bone chewing can cause intestinal blockages and perforations. Never use cooked bones. Commercial Puppy Foods Most commercial puppy foods are designated for small, medium, large and giant breeds. This designation can be found on the label. Puppies of medium sized breeds are less than '25 kg fully grown adult body weight'. A full grown and lean Labrador will usually weigh between 25kg and 45kg. We feed our dogs at the 'lower' level of the recommended range. The 'Hills Body Fat Index' is a very helpful body shape indicator. The same food as the bitch You should feed your new puppy with the same brand of food as the bitch received during lactation. From 2 weeks into pregnancy, our expectant mothers are fed 'Royal Canin Labrador Puppy' food. Introducing a new brand of food If you are wanting to introduce a new brand of food to your puppy, then blend it gradually with the existing brand in increasing amounts over 3 days. This should prevent food rejection and any kind of gastric upset. It is best to choose a diet designed for large breed puppies. Selected commercial feeds should contain a limited percentage of filler compounds. Pawlinglabs uses Royal Canin Labrador as our preferred option. Growing labradors Labrador pups have a very steep growth curve, and their total daily energy needs do increase as they grow. Calculate the amount of puppy food that will satisfy that need. The feeding guidelines on the commercial pet food label provides an estimated quantity of feed for several different ranges in body size. These instructions will give you an estimated starting point for the particular brand. Medium or large? Medium breeds should be transitioned to an adult diet by 12 months of age, while large breeds between 14 — 18 months of age. Mature female labradors are medium and weight approx kg. Mature males are large and weight approx kg. Their calcium and energy content should not exceed that level recommended by a registered nutritionalist. Sound skeletal development Sound skeletal development in labradors is produced by the interaction of genetic, environmental, and nutritional factors. The phase prior to weaning and the growth phase, up to 14 months are integral to sound skeletal structure. Don't take your young pup on extended distance walks and certainly not 'running' until at least 18mths of age. You must avoid stairs and slippery floors for the same reasons. Their growth plates are set at about mths of age. Feeding and Overfeeding Large breeds like Labradors are the most susceptible to skeletal disease. Feed consumption, nutrients balance and feeding methods influence our ability to produce sound skeletal development and eliminate skeletal disease. Appropriate food consumption and nutrition plays a critical role in bone development. Overfeeding will not increase or benefit the growth rate of young and growing labrador puppies. And it does not correlate with optimal adult size. However, it does increase the risk of skeletal abnormalities. The vast majority of skeletal disorders occur in large breeds including labradors and they are associated with consumption of table food and an excessive intake of a commercial food and supplementation. The large breeds like labradors are limited in their ability to cope with an excess of minerals such as calcium. The result of this over consumption is abnormal bone development and skeletal disorders. Nutritional management will be critical in the to prevention of bone and joint diseases. In most cases, skeletal disease can prevented by appropriate quantities of feed in a regulated diet with optimal nutrient levels. A complete and balanced commercial diet is essential. Dietary deficiencies will be of little concern if your labrador pup is fed with a complete and balanced commercial diet. Brands like Eukanuba and Royal Canin are specifically formulated for young, growing labradors. There is real potential for harm by over feeding and giving additional supplementation. Housing safety and activity levels Housing safety and activity levels are under the your influence. Nutrition is also under your control and it is the single most important factor affecting the development of the musculoskeletal system. Energy, protein, and calcium are the critical nutritional components affecting skeletal development. However, if they are given in excess, they will be detrimental to normal bone and joint growth. Most pet owners feed commercial dog food. These prepared diets are balanced and complete. Pawling Chocolate and Black Labradors. Lab puppies are energetic little learners eager to run, swim, and fetch. Although active, they also tend to overeat and gulp down their food. They can benefit from the right growth formula to provide immune system support, healthy growth, weight management, and digestive care as they take on puppyhood. Royal Canin Labrador Retriever dry puppy food is tailor-made nutrition created just for your pure breed puppy. Whether you have a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or Black Lab, this exclusive breed-specific diet is uniquely formulated for your Labrador Retriever puppy with specific nutrients to help them thrive. The unique donut-shaped kibble is specially designed to help your fast eater slow down and actually chew. An exclusive mix of antioxidants and vitamin E supports their developing immune system and keeps their body growing strong. Calcium and phosphorus support healthy bone structure, while a balanced energy content helps them maintain an ideal weight. Once your Lab puppy is over 15 months old, transition them to Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult dog food for precise nutrition into the adult years. Read more Promoting pet health and wellbeing Creating value for our entire ecosystem Committed to become certified carbon neutral by Cookie Settings. The source of protein matters when considering a high-quality diet. FATS The rest of the diet should be made up of fats, carbs, and vitamins. Labs need to have a correct protein -to-fat ratio, where protein takes the lead. Dogs tend to convert fat into glucose, so this is an important source of energy. Dogs rely mostly on protein and fats, but carbs are necessary. That said, a low carb diet is best for puppies. However, you still need the right percentage of carbs, since this gives your dog the sensation of being full. These include starches, fibers, and sugars. Try to opt for more complex carbs like starchy grain and veggies because these are easier to digest. Your Lab puppy will thrive when his or her diet includes: Vitamin B12 especially during puppy development , Vitamins A and E, C, Vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium, Potassium Each of these required vitamins and minerals contributes to a healthy, happy, and energetic puppy. They also help offset issues like obesity. Vitamins A and E are important because they help your dog burn calories and promote eye and skin health. Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus, on the other hand, are part of a trifecta that works to strengthen teeth and bones. Potassium is a heart health-preserver. Labs with poor genetics are especially prone to orthopedic issues. Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are common health problems for this breed. Glucosamine, an amino-sugar, together with chondroitin sulfate, helps replace and support naturally degrading cartilage during old age. Recently,"grain-free" foods are being championed as a preferred and even high-quality form of dog food. That's, not the whole story. An investigation launched by the FDA revealed that there are potential links between a form of canine heart disease and grain-free foods. So far, researchers have provided an update to this researchers have provided an update to this research staring that the issue may not just be grain-free diets. Grain-free may be part of other trends knows as "BEG"- boutique companies. Puppy diets don't' need to be complicated. They also don't need to include ingredients that humans might enjoy. Enjoyment doesn't necessarily bring any nutritional value to your puppy's development. Keep it simple, using the guidelines for fats, proteins, and carbs above and don't shy away from food with grains in them. It's not their presence that's a problem it's often the ratio. There shouldn't be more carbs or grains than protein. Nor does including only legumes, seeds, lentils, or chickpeas as the primary ingredients make the food more superior. It's perfectly healthy to include complex carb sources like starchy rice and other grains. Grain-free isn't and shouldn't be a qualifying factor for your choice in puppy food. Feeding Your Puppy Kibble Kibble is dried, pelleted food that stores well is easy to eat, and is pre-formulated with everything your puppy needs to thrive and grow in his early developmental months. There are plenty of popular brands that don't measure up to the Snowy Pines standard. That's why it's so vital for you to learn how to read puppy food labels. Puppies should stick with "puppy stage" food, while adults should stick to bags marked "adults. Instead, your dog should have regular bowel movements, allowing them to absorb all the nutrients available. You should also keep in mind that caloric intake is calculated a little differently for puppies. Kibble diets are measured by how many calories the proteins, fats, and carbs represent for each gram. For puppies, this should be 3. Sticking to these ratios will help ensure your kibble choice is a healthy one. It's also important to note that kibble calories are often higher when compared to wet food. If it's high-quality wet food, it won't have as much fat to preserve it, which means fewer calories. You may have to supplement with dry food, especially if you're trying to keep the calories of carbs, proteins, and fats in the right per-gram ratio. How often and what time to feed I will show you the best puppy foods, whether dry, wet, or raw, and look at food safety, together with schedules, quantities and even a handy puppy diet chart. Best Puppy Food for Labs The best Labrador puppy food provides a diet that is nutritious, healthy, and tasty. So, what is the best puppy food for your Lab? Puppy kibble or dried food is the most popular option. Kibble is complete and can give a perfectly balanced diet. Puppy kibble and tinned dog meat combined is another common choice among puppy parents. Feeding your Labrador puppy on home cooked food or on a totally raw diet is also possible. Raw puppy food is growing in popularity, and there are pros and cons to raw feeding your puppy. People often feel very strongly that one way of feeding is better than another, and you can always find evidence to support your view. Dog breeders, veterinarians and even nutritionists have their own strong views. The dire consequences they list for not listening to them can have puppy owners very worried. The truth is that there is no good quality evidence showing that kibble is better for the long term health of your dog, or that raw feeding is better. There are risks and benefits to both, and the main thing is to ensure that your dog has good quality food to eat. Puppy kibble suits some better, and raw puppy food is better for others. Puppy Kibble for your Labrador Puppy food made into pellets is called kibble. An airtight plastic container or tin will do the job, although you should make sure it is food grade quality. Puppy kibble is the best way of feeding your Labrador according to most breeders and your veterinarian is most likely to support this method of feeding. Good puppy kibble will contain every nutrient your Labrador puppy needs in order to grow and remain healthy. The kibble pieces will be tasty, good for keeping teeth healthy, and free from additives that can provoke allergies or stomach problems. Labrador puppy kibble only needs to be fed next to water. Puppy kibble from a reputable manufacturer is intended to be a complete and balanced food. But some owners like to mix in canned dog food or even scraps of raw food with kibble. Your puppy is likely to get an upset stomach or to not have the right balance of nutrition when fed this way. Whether you decide to feed only with kibble or you want to mix it up, pick a good dried food manufacturer and stick with them. Feeding your Labrador puppy raw food has its benefits and drawbacks. One of the downsides is that there is a lot to learn. Here is a link to the articles you need to help you decide whether or not raw feeding is for you: Although I like the raw diet for my dogs, most puppies fed kibble go on to have long and healthy lives. Whatever puppy food you choose, the most important thing is portion control. How Much to Feed your Labrador Puppy? People often tell me how much their puppy weighs, and ask how much puppy food they should give him. Your Labrador is particularly at risk if they grow too quickly. The following diet chart is for kibble fed puppies and does not apply to raw fed pups. It gives you an idea of how much to feed your Labrador puppy Lab Puppy Feeding Chart The Lab puppy feeding chart below is only a very rough guide. The quantity of food you need for your puppy will vary depending on your puppy and on the brand of food you are feeding him. Labrador puppy food must be aimed at medium to large breed dogs. Check the pack carefully and look at the dietary charts. Ideally, you want the optimal protein content and the lowest amount of additives. Part of this always comes down to the cost. The healthiest puppy food is usually the most expensive and may not be affordable for some families. The Cost Of Puppy Food Some puppy food brands are more concentrated than and contain a higher proportion of proteins, essential oils, and other nutrients. The absence of these fillers means that you can often feed lower quantities of more costly food, making them less expensive than they first seem. You might also find that cheaper brands make your puppy poop more due to those extra fillers going straight through him. While some brands are beyond the budget of many families, it is usually good to buy a premium brand. High Quality Brands of Puppy Food Some brands of puppy food have developed a reputation for producing a high quality product and have many devoted supporters, including breeders that have fed them to generations of puppies. The best food for Labrador puppies to consume in their first two to four months of life is milk from their mother. This specialised care is usually left to trained breeders or veterinarians, who are knowledgeable in caring for pups with no mother to nurse from. If you have recently brought a Labrador puppy into your family, they are most likely older than 8 weeks, and so have started to eat solid foods. You can do this by mixing some dry food with specially formulated puppy milk to form a soft mixture. You can feed your puppy this mixture three to four times a day. Over time, you can reduce the amount of milk you include in this mixture, until they are at the point where they are happily eating dry foods. Read on to learn how much you should feed a Labrador puppy as they get older. In their four months living with you, and once they are weaned off milk, Labradors are likely to reach almost half their adult weight. They will reach their full adult weight by the time they are 6 to 7 months old. With this rapid growth can come some risks. Labradors can be susceptible to bone growth disorders, like hip dysplasia and joint abnormalities that can start in puppyhood. Once your Lab puppy hits 6 months, their growth begins to slow down. Once puppyhood is over, you can move to feeding your lab twice a day instead of 3 or 4 times. Labs are still very active in their adolescent years, and so should be fed with this in mind. The transition from puppy food to adult food should happen at around 15 months. This is because, being a breed who grows very quickly, you want to ensure that you are feeding them according to their large breed needs. You need to take special care when considering what you should feed your Labrador puppy, as they require different nutrients compared to their adult counterparts. It is also dangerous for a puppy to overeat. Labradors are large breeds, which means they need plenty of nutrients and calories as they grow to ensure they go from being active puppies to healthy adult dogs. Labrador puppies need to eat food that is high in proteins and fats. Carbohydrates are also essential for supporting your active pup. Aside from nutritionally complete dry puppy food, Labrador puppies can benefit from the extra protein that raw meat can provide them with, such as lean beef, turkey, chicken, or fish. The amount of food you give your Labrador is determined by their weight, energy levels, and age. For most adult Labradors, around 1, to 2, calories per day from high quality food sources is ideal. Female Labradors, who tend to be around 5 to 10 kilos lighter than males, may need less food, as will less active dogs. Dogs who need less food, whether they are less active or simply older, will usually still need around 1, to 1, calories per day. You may want to alter the amount of food you are feeding your Labrador based on how calorically dense their food is. Adult Labradors should be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Their daily allotment of food should be split evenly between these two meals. For most dogs, it is recommended that you exercise your dog before meal times to assist with potty training. However, some dogs may benefit from exercise after eating: especially high energy Labs with a lot of energy to burn off. You should also try to give your Labrador a high quality food that is specially designed for large breeds, especially if they are very active. For example, less active senior dogs will need to eat less food as they will not be burning calories as quickly as a lively little puppy will. Senior dogs may benefit from a higher fibre and lower calorie diet. Your dog may also develop chronic or short term medical conditions that require specially formulated food. For example, Labradors can be particularly susceptible to obesity. As a breed, they tend to be one of the most commonly obese dogs in Australia. This is due to several factors, including a genetic predisposition to unhealthy weight gain and a famously large appetite. However, plenty of Labs suffering from obesity are simply overfed and not getting enough exercise. Choosing a low carb diet is crucial to preventing obesity in your Labrador. If you are unsure about what you should feed your Labrador, you should always consult your vet. They will be able to determine if your dog is suffering from any chronic health issues, and they will be able to create a nutritional plan to help keep your dog healthy and happy for many years to come. Wet food for Labradors is often high in protein and fat, and is better at keeping your dog hydrated than other food sources. Chewing on dry food can be especially good for teething Labrador puppies. A raw diet can be a good option for your Labrador as you have more control over the kinds of food and amount of nutrients your pup is consuming. For this reason, raw diets require a lot more work on your part as an owner. Whatever you decide to feed your Labrador, all dogs need a similar ratio of nutrients in their diets. Different dog breeds will need different kinds of nutrient support as they go through the various stages of their life. It can also be easy to overestimate the amount of food your Labrador needs to stay fit and healthy — especially if they are skilled at begging! You need to make sure that your dog is eating the right amount of food for their breed, their size, and activity level. You should also avoid foods that, while delicious for humans, can be harmful or toxic for dogs. Foods like onions, nuts, alcohol, cooked bones, and artificial sweeteners are commonly included in dinners meant for humans, but can cause serious health issues for your Labrador. No matter how old your Lab is, it is important to keep to a consistent feeding schedule. A feeding schedule can help you keep track of any changes in behaviour around food that might signal illness or physiological stress.