HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE PUPPY STAGE-LABRADOR EDITION

Labradors are considered one of the best breeds for first time owners .They are playful , affectionate , very calm and loving dogs . While you might already at least once experienced their lovely and grand presence ,lets know a little more about their puppy stage .By the way, consider this an ahead of time warning !! ,when it comes to Labradors ,the puppy stage never ends !!.

The Most Expressive Babies:

Labrador puppies are very expressive in their behaviour from a very young age .Their human loving nature makes them a curious breed to explore and connect more and more to their humans ,this specific trait make it easy for us to train them easily and also connect with them on an emotional level .This is the reason they are considered one of best breed for first time owners .

Puppy Proofing Your House:

Like babies puppies also need care and constant vigilance. They tend to eat whatever the stumble upon in their path ,just wanting to sniff and chew it off ,or simply because they are curious about it .Nevertheless it is important to take some safety measures before hand and make sure that your furbaby is protected from foreign objects to prevent them from getting hurt or sick.

Check out this article on  Complete Guide On How To Prepare Yourself And Your Home For A New Pet.

Initial Week Challenges To Expect :

Just like anyone these little puppies also take time to adjust to the new environment .Even though they are quick adapting in nature ,it is important for us to let them explore and adjust accordingly .There definitely will be moments when you will find yourself asking -How am I going to handle this ? But worry not ! once you start with their training and forming a proper routine everything will workout automatically. Training is very important for a dog ,without proper training ,your puppy might find themselves anxious and direction less .It is important to introduce them with some kind of training ,to make them more familiar with their surroundings.The best way to start is to potty /pee train your puppy.

Potty /Pee-Pee Training your puppy:

There is a thumb rule for their peeing schedule ,how much they can hold their pee or in other words how frequently they will pee .Now this is where you can  start the process of Potty Training right away , Yes! It is always advised to start basic potty training from day one.

There is a plus one rule with the number of times your pup will want to go to pee i.e. age in months plus one hour

For example ,if your puppy is say two months old then it is likely for it to go for peeing every 2-3 hours .The maximum in this case where it can hold is 3 hours (Of course you will have to be very vigilante to see how your puppy is as it may differ from breed to breed and age of the dog)  .Remember this rule can only apply till their age is 7 months old after that it will depend  entirely on how much your dog is trained and its schedule .

We used to set alarms ,especially at night so that we can take Theo outside in our garden area where we wanted him to pee

It just took around five days for him to start telling us if he wanted to go out.

You should always take your puppy out or to a designated place to pee every time after

1. They have woken up after a sleep
2. They have eaten.
3. They have played with you or outside
4. After walking.
5. Don’t forget to reward them with a treat every time they have finished their business.

The Biting Stage .Will It Pass?

You might be sitting under the warm afternoon rays of sunlight ,on your favourite couch petting your baby puppy ,giving them belly rubs ,trying to bond with them and suddenly you see them nibbling on your hands or trying to pull that sock off your feet .At first it feels just like a tickle but a few moments later you could feel their needle like small but sharp teeth  piercing your skin some times even causing some serious injury .

Well ! its not entirely the puppy’s fault ,they are babies they don’t know what they are doing its just like when human babies bite or cry  ,it’s the same with puppies ,they just want get rid of the pain they are experiencing because of the new teeth which are replacing the old ones remember when your first baby tooth broke and the pain you might have experienced when it was being replaced by the new permanent tooth.     

The biting stage passes once the dog has fully developed all their permanent teeth .As for Labradors ,the answer is Not Really! .They might stop with the hurtful biting but their playful personality needs them to find one or the other way to release their extra energy so yes ,always keep in stock the strongest chew toy you may get .

But it is important not to encourage this behaviour of hand biting as they can interpret it  as a new game to play with you and carry this behaviour in adulthood as well. Instead train and encourage them to play with chew toys and rope toys. As soon as you see them trying to bite you, respond with a NO! and divert them towards playing and chewing their toys . You can also give them chew sticks and dental sticks to ease the pain and also these helps in cleaning the puppy’s mouth. If you notice that the biting behaviour exists even after following the above methods, consult your veterinarian for more help.

Vet Appointments, Vaccine and Health Supplements :

Puppies need timely vaccination and constant health supplements .Ask your vet about these both to guide you through the right process according to the breed of your puppy

Homemade or Kibble (Dog Food) Diet:

Homemade diet is very good but can lack some nutrients ,that is why it is advisable to give kibble (Dog Food ) at least for the duration of their developmental stage ,that is at least until they are 10 to 14 months old .

Homecooked meals can be introduced slowly in their diet from as early as 6 months of age .Don’t forget to ask a nutritionist and your vet about the balanced nutrition and potential allergies your puppy might have depending on their breed ,age and size.

We give our Theodore ( He is a 2 and half years old yellow Lab) a mixture of homecooked and kibble diet .He is also fond of fruits and some vegetables especially Tomatoes .

Walking and Outdoor Activities:

Puppies are always ready to play at anytime and at anyplace . But it is safe to take them out doors after they have reached certain maturity and been vaccinated (3 months and above ) as their immune system is still developing and they are more vulnerable to catching diseases. Consult your vet and ask them when can you start taking your puppy out for walks and playtime. Start with short duration walks and limited play time ,always carry training treats with you as you will need it for leash training and rewarding your puppy every time to encourage them as they obey your commands.

Make Memories

Your puppy’s baby stage will fly very swiftly ,so make to ensure that every second  counts. Make the best memories with them ,relishing each moment where they grow from a  naughty baby to an even bigger naughty baby . As your furbaby can grow in size but they will always remain your forever little baby