Labrador puppy behaviour can look completely unhinged from the outside. Biting everything in reach, sprinting in circles at 11pm, falling asleep mid-chew, waking up and doing it all again. If you’ve just brought one home, you might be wondering whether yours is normal — or whether something has gone wrong.
Almost certainly, they’re completely normal. Here’s what to expect at each stage, what’s genuinely typical Lab puppy behaviour, and where the line is between “puppy being a puppy” and something worth addressing.
8–12 weeks: the new arrival phase
A puppy at this age has just been separated from their mother and littermates and is processing a completely new environment. Expect:
- Lots of sleep — 16–18 hours a day is normal and necessary. Puppies who aren’t getting enough sleep become fractious and bite more.
- Mouthing and biting — constant, and completely normal. It’s how they explored their world in the litter. See our biting guide for how to handle it.
- Short attention span — a 9-week puppy can focus for about 30–60 seconds. Training sessions should be no longer than 3–5 minutes.
- Toilet accidents constantly — expected and normal. Their bladder control is minimal at this age.
- Uncertainty around new things — some puppies go through a brief fear period around 8–10 weeks. Keep new experiences calm and positive.
12–16 weeks: confidence building
By 12 weeks most Lab puppies have found their feet in the home and their personality starts to emerge more clearly. This is when socialisation becomes most important — and also when the mouthing often intensifies as adult teeth start coming in.
- More confident and exploratory — they’ll test boundaries more at this age, including jumping up and pushing through gates
- Teething starting — chewing intensifies; provide appropriate outlets
- Better recall inside — but outside, distractions will overwhelm training unless you’re in a very controlled environment
- Starting to signal for the toilet — subtle at first; watch for sniffing in circles or heading toward the door
4–6 months: the testing phase
This is often when Labs become a real handful. They’re bigger, stronger, have more energy, and their impulse control hasn’t caught up yet. Common behaviours at this age:
- Jumping up with real force — a 4-month Lab can knock over a child
- Pulling on the lead — they have enough muscle now to make walks genuinely difficult
- Counter-surfing beginning — they’re tall enough to reach things now
- Ignoring known commands — especially outdoors; the environment is too stimulating
- Increased chewing — peak teething is around 4–5 months
This phase asks a lot of owners. Keep training consistent, manage the environment to limit opportunities for unwanted behaviour, and remember that this is temporary — not a sign of a “bad” dog.
6–12 months: the teenager
The adolescent Lab is one of nature’s great humbling experiences. A dog who was making solid progress suddenly seems to forget their name, ignores recall they’d been performing reliably, and discovers entirely new ways to be difficult. This is neurological — their impulse control takes a genuine dip during adolescence as the brain reorganises. It’s not personal.
What helps: more exercise to manage energy, shorter but more frequent training sessions, going back to basics rather than pushing forward, and a lot of patience. Labs emerge from the teenage phase well — usually around 18–24 months — and the training you’ve put in does stick.
Behaviours that are normal vs worth addressing
| Behaviour | Normal? | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Biting and mouthing | Yes, in puppies | Teach bite inhibition, redirect consistently |
| Zoomies | Yes | Let it run its course, manage the environment |
| Chewing everything | Yes, especially 3–6 months | Appropriate chews, management, enrichment |
| Not listening outdoors | Yes, at this age | Train in less distracting environments first |
| Growling over food or toys | Worth addressing early | Desensitise with positive methods; get professional guidance if persistent |
| Fear or aggression toward people | Not typical for Labs | Vet check, then qualified behaviourist |
My take: the first year asks more than people expect
Labs have such a friendly reputation that people are often surprised by how much work the first year is. The puppy biting, the adolescent regression, the constant supervision required — it’s genuinely demanding. But the breed’s warmth, trainability, and desire to please mean that consistent investment in the first year produces a dog who’s an absolute pleasure for the decade-plus that follows. The ratio is very much worth it.
People also ask about Lab puppy behaviour
Is it normal for a Lab puppy to be hyper all the time?
In short bursts, yes. But puppies also need a lot of sleep, and a puppy who’s hyper all the time is often actually overtired. Puppies who don’t get enforced rest tend to become progressively more frantic and bitey. If your puppy seems unable to settle even after activity, look at sleep quantity and crate routine first.
Why does my Lab puppy bite so much?
Because they’re a puppy — mouthing is how they’ve interacted with the world since birth. It’s not aggression. It does need addressing consistently, but it comes from normal puppy development, not temperament problems.
When do Lab puppies calm down?
The puppy phase (chaotic energy, constant mouthing, accidents) generally eases from around 6 months. The adolescent phase (selective deafness, testing limits) runs from around 6–18 months. Most Labs settle into a noticeably calmer personality by 2–3 years. Some high-energy individuals stay lively until 4 or 5.
My Lab puppy is scared of everything — is this normal?
Some fear is normal, especially around 8–10 weeks (a natural developmental fear period) and again around 6–8 months (a second fear period). Brief caution about new things is typical. Persistent, intense fear of many situations is less typical for the breed and worth working on actively through positive socialisation — and with professional guidance if it’s significantly affecting quality of life.