Guides for the first year with a Lab puppy, from routines and training to growth and weight. See whether yours is on track with the puppy growth and feeding calculator.
Labrador puppy teething often brings extra chewing, gentle or painful nipping, and a puppy who explores the world with its mouth. During this stage, your puppy may chew more, nip during play, or seek out furniture when sore gums need relief. Those habits can be normal, but sudden mouth changes, bleeding, swelling, or trouble eating
Last updated: October 2026 The right Labrador breeder questions help you choose a healthy puppy and a responsible breeder, not simply the cutest face in the room. Asking good questions early protects you from poor breeding, hidden health problems and sales pressure that can turn puppy excitement into stress. Before you visit any litter, also
How to choose a Labrador puppy from a litter comes down to a simple idea: you don’t pick the puppy who charges forward first. you choose the puppy who is healthy, well-socialized, and a good fit for your home and daily routine. Before you visit, make sure you’ve read our guide to Labrador breeder questions
Lab puppies thrive on routine — not because they’re rigid, but because predictability reduces anxiety and helps them understand what to expect from their day. A puppy who knows when they eat, when they sleep, when they go outside, and when they get stimulation is a calmer, more settled puppy than one whose day is
A Labrador puppy should sleep about 16 to 18 hours a day at 8 weeks old, easing down to around 12 to 14 hours by six months and 10 to 12 hours once they’re a grown adult. That number surprises almost everyone the first time they hear it. If your 10-week-old spends most of the
A Labrador puppy needs about 1.5–2 cups of kibble a day at 8 weeks, rising to 3.5–4.5 cups by 12 months, split into 4 meals at first and 2 by adulthood. The chart below shows exactly how much by age. A consistent feeding schedule does more than fill a puppy’s stomach — it’s the foundation
The first week with a Labrador puppy is one of those experiences that’s simultaneously wonderful and completely overwhelming. You’ve brought home this waggy, curious, sharp-toothed bundle — and suddenly you need to know where they sleep, what they eat, when they go outside, and how to stop them chewing the chair leg, all at the
