Bringing Labrador Puppies Home
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 It is important to recognize that many of the foods that are good for humans to eat
may be harmful even deadly for an animal to ingest. We must remember that animals,
including Labrador puppies, have different metabolisms than we do which makes it
hard for them to properly digest a wide variety of foods.
Below is a list of the common food items that can pose a risk to the health of your
puppy, and should, under no circumstances, be given to a dog to ingest:
•Bones from Fish, Poultry, or Meats
•Cat Food
•Chocolate, Coffee, Tea or Caffeinated products
•Citrus Oil and Extracts
•Fat Trimmings
•Grapes and Raisins
•Hops
•Human Vitamins and supplements with Iron
•Large amounts of Liver
•Macadamia Nuts
•Milk and other Dairy products
•Moldy or Spoiled foods
•Mushrooms
•Onions and Garlic (powders, raw or cooked)
•Persimmons
•Pits from Peaches or Plums
•Potato, Rhubarb, and Tomato Leaves, Potato and Tomato Stems
•Raw Eggs
•Raw Fish
•Salt
•String
•Sugary Foods
•Table Scraps
•Tobacco
•Alcoholic Beverages
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When you bring your new puppy home there tends to be a lot of excitement, but it is
very important to remember that your home may not be 100% ready for this new
addition. Your new puppy will be quite small in size but will still be able to get himself
into mischief. Labrador puppies are like babies and love to play with everything. This
means that things low to the ground will need to be considered. Labrador puppies
tend to want to put everything into their mouths. Items like electrical wires and cords
will need to be secure for safety.
Both outdoor and indoor plants can be very harmful to your puppy. Aloe Vera,
Eucalyptus, and Baby's Breath are all extremely toxic and harmful to pets. It is
always best to check with your local veterinarian about potentially dangerous local
foliage before you bring your puppy home. The vet can tell you which plants you
may need to remove from your home. Check for your specific geographic area;
Another large concern for your puppy can be cleaners and poisons. Many people
have cleaners and bug sprays on low level shelves in their homes. Just like you would
toddler proof your home, with puppy proofing, you would want to make sure these
items are placed out of the way and on a higher shelf. This is important because
virtually all of these are considered to be poisonous to a Labrador puppy.
It is best to remove all objects from the floor and lower areas of your home. It is
recommended that you get down to your puppies level and see what they see. This can
help you spot any problem areas and issues that you might have otherwise
overlooked.
Do not leave your puppy unattended outside, especially if you have a balcony or
porch, puppies have the ability to sneak through the bars or find small openings in
shrubs or fences. They can slip right through before you even have time to notice they
are gone.
Always keep in mind, your new Labrador puppy will act like a toddler exploring
their environment and surroundings. A good rule of thumb is that your puppy is like
a small child; anything that could be harmful for a child will probably be harmful to
your Labrador puppy.
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Labrador Puppy Vet Visits
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Labrador puppies will have received some immunizations from their mother's milk.
This will provide a base for very strong and healthy puppy. The puppy will still need
the standard immunization shots or vaccinations from your veterinarian to help your
puppy build up immunity to certain canine diseases. Your puppy will need these
vaccinations at least every 3-4 weeks starting at 6-8 weeks of age.
When we send our puppies home they will have had at lest the first sometime second
shot given. You will have to continue the protocol. These vaccinations will be a series
of 3-4 (at least) shots until the puppy is around 16-18 weeks old. The last round of shots
should be given after the puppy reaches the 16 week mark. The shots that are given
early on include; Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus, and Parainfluenza Combo .
During these early weeks you should keep your puppy away from strange dogs to
reduce the risk of your puppy becoming infected with diseases. If you have another
dog in the home or know of another dog that you are certain has all of its shots and is
free of any diseases, then you can certainly let new puppies play and become
acquainted with the other dogs. The same goes with humans. Just like a baby, you
should tell anyone who wants to hold or touch the new puppy to wash their hands
before interacting with them. This is important because the new puppy is just building
up its immunities and can catch a virus very easily. After the first few rounds of shots
you can slowly let Labrador puppies interact on a more normal basis.
Do not take your puppy to public places until puppy has received full set of shots. Also
when puppy visits the Vet, please keep the pup safe in its carrier sent home with it. At
the Vet many sick dogs are taken there. So it not a safe place for a puppy to be. The
puppy will be much safer if it is kept in the carrier until its examination. Then placed
back in its carrier after the examination. All of this may seem like very stick
instructions. But please keep in mind these Viruses can very well be deadly to a
puppy.
Your new puppy when sent home it will already have been dewormed at the age of 4, 6
, 8 weeks. But Intestinal parasites are naturally occurring in dogs, this is why your vet
will suggested keeping your dog on a preventive like Heart Guard, or Safe Guard and
it is not unusual.
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Below is a picture of an "Safe" area you can make for your puppies.
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We try to train our puppies to go potty on pine shavings.We do not use potty pads for our
Lab breed, simply because it is messy and the pups tend to trear the puppy pads apart. We
use the pine shavings in a large 2x3 or 3x4 box. Normally the pups will use it like a litter
box.
You can create a safe area for your puppy, for when you are not home or for when you have
arends to do around the house and you will not be able to supervise your puppy.
Try to provide plenty of safe puppy toys for you puppy, so he will not get bord.
Please remember bringing home a puppy is like bringing home a 6 month old baby. Puppies
will pick up things left on the floor and try to eat them.
Also chew on thing left in there reach.That why it is best to provide a safe play area for
them.
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FEEEDING YOUR PUPPY
When a puppy leaves our home it will be eating 3 times a day.
3/4 to 1 cup each time.
Once a day I mix soft can food( 2 spoons) with
PLAIN yogaurt (also 2 spoons) with their dry kibble.
We normaly use Kirkland Puppy Food from Costco (chicken flavor, yellow bag).
If we are using a differt brand of food we will advise.
weight :> 10 to 20 lb > 8 to 12 weeks old > 2 1/2 to 3 cups
weight :> 20 to 35 lb > 3 to 4 months old > 3 to 4 cups
weight :> 40 to 60 lb > 5 to 7 months old > 3 1/3 to 4 1/2 cup
( at this age you may feed then 2 xs a day)
Weight :> 60 to 80 lb > 8 to 12 months old > 3 2/3 to 4 1/3 cup
(at this age you may feed them 1 to 2 times a day)
TAKE PUPPIES OFF OF PUPPY FOOD AT THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS
AND PLACE THEM ON AN ADULT FOOD.
Change food gradualy, introduce new food 10% a day.
For example first day 10% next day 20% and next %30
until the puppy is eating %100 adult dog food.
Note: Kirkland puppy food is concidered a high premium dog food.
It has same ingredients as Purina Pro Plan.
#1 ingredient is Chicken.
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NOTE : Please read our health guarantee before picking
up your puppy. This guarantee will be sent home with
you. And you will fill out a copy for me to keep.
Thank You!
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IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFULLY BREEDING A PUREBRED LINE,
PLEASE HAVE YOUR DOG SPAYED OR NEUTERED!
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You can Spay or Neuter you pet as soon as 4 months old! You will be giving your family a great
gift by neutering your male at 4 months of age! You will completely skip all the bad hormones,
he may not even begin to lift his leg to mark!
Imagine a child skipping the terrible hormones of the teenage stage in his life.
That is what you will save your puppy from. ;)
Note: My puppies are sold as pets will be sold with a spay/neuter agreement, limited AKC
papers will not be given till proof of spay/neuter have been received by me.
Unless otherwise agreed upon.
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