“I suggest visiting a class before to see how it is organized and safe.” 8. “A puppy class can be valuable to socializing and learning good manners,” she says. For your puppy’s safety, Barkley recommends making sure any puppy obedience school or program you select requires all enrolled dogs to have their shots, too. Starting at around four months - after your pet gets the first round of puppy vaccines -you can advance beyond the basic training you’ve already begun. While your dog may be gracefully walking around inside and outside your home, Barkley doesn’t recommend having your puppy using the stairs until about four months and up. “They do have to be taught to swim, so they can’t just be thrown in a pool with no way shown to them to get out safely,” she explains. Straub Benedict teaches her Labs to swim starting at about three months. These early months will be filled with plenty of learning and development. She recommends about five minutes of activity per month of age and discourages taking puppies to dog parks at this stage. “Dog walks are fun for puppies, but they can tire quickly and might stop where you are, hoping for a ride home,” explains Barkley. “I like to let a puppy be a puppy for the first six months, then we start basic training,” says Straub Benedict.īut now is a good time to introduce fun games like fetch for playtime and short walks on a leash. At this point, strenuous activities - such as jogging or more advanced obedience training -should be avoided, explain both breeders. “They can start learning basic obedience and parlor tricks as soon as they are in their new homes.”įor potty training your puppy, she recommends taking puppies outside first thing once they wake up and then again every half hour, using treats as a reward to keep them motivated. “Labs love to please and are quick learners,” says Barkley. The good news is that Retrievers make for great students. It will take some effort to help your Lab become house-trained. You should only need to bathe your Lab puppy about once a month, she adds. In terms of baths, Labs are easy to groom. She recommends making this combo of nail trimming, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing a weekly routine. Barkley adds that this is a good time to clean your dog’s teeth and check and clean your dog’s ears. Lab puppies’ nails should be kept short (see our guide to trimming your dog’s nails safely). Groomingīarkley and Straub Benedict both recommend getting into good grooming habits right from the start. “Supervise the two to be sure they are not too wild and that the older one is being kind to the puppy.” 3. “Feed them first, then the puppy, ideally in a crate,” she explains. Her advice? Make sure the older dog knows they’re the top dog. (See our guide: How to introduce puppies into homes with senior dogs.) If you don’t want to spend a lot of time with your dog, get a cat.” Barkley says that new Labs should be carefully introduced to other dogs in the house, if applicable. “Socialization is number one,” says Straub Benedict. “Some house plants need to be moved from the area where the puppy goes.” 2. “It’s also important to learn about foods and plants that are poisonous to Labs,” she added. She recommends putting items you don’t want your dogs to chew away and out of sight. That’s why she recommends stocking up on chew toys as a healthy alternative to other household items your puppy may decide to teethe on instead. “Chewing is a constant concern for the first year,” says Barkley. Similar to how we baby-proof our homes in anticipation of the arrival of a new baby, Lab families should plan on puppy-proofing your home, before your new dog joins the family. When welcoming a Labrador Retriever into your pack, be prepared for these first key milestones, starting right when your new puppy enters your home. Key Milestones: 8 WeeksĪt eight weeks, it’s safe for Lab puppies to leave their mothers and litters and become a member of your family. So what are the key milestones and firsts to prepare for as you welcome your Labrador Retriever puppy into your home? We talked to Cathy Straub Benedict of Cabin Labradors and Betty Barkley of Breton Gate Labrador Retrievers, both of whom have been breeders for more than 35 years. There’s a lot to love, and for first-time Lab owners, there’s a lot to get to know - especially over the course of the initial months of your puppy’s first year of life. Friendly, active, and outgoing, Labrador Retrievers regularly rank among the most popular dog breeds.
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