The First Year of a Labrador Retriever



Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2009

by
upstatelabradors

The Labrador Retriever is a cunning, well balanced dog with remarkable senses. The Labrador is a loving companion which strives to fulfill his or her master's every need. Labradors are excellent hunters, swimmers, guards, companions, family members all combined into one awesome dog. At birth this puppy is already a miracle of nature with no sight or hearing for 2 more weeks. The little puppy will search all around for his mother and will finally connect with her building one of the greatest bonds imaginable.

After 2 weeks waiting for the eyes of the puppies to finally open. You find yourself with your "fingernails chewed down to the nubs of your fingers" and you may notice some of the puppies with blue, brown, and green eyes. Every time you look at your puppies you will say to yourself "I hope they stay that color". In the end they normally do not, but that does not matter because now you have new members in your family. No one puppy will look alike(unless they are twins) each puppy will be different shade of chocolate, yellow, and black.

Now, it's time to start all over again raising another family because the little puppies are just like children. You have to feed, wash, give them their medicine, make sure they are dry and warm, etc. So, you can see that puppies are just like taking care of a baby. Now we are at week 3 of life this is time for the introduction of food and first round of worming. They are various types of puppy food and wormer you can purchase. Ask your vet or do some research to choose what's right for you and your puppy.

Week 4, the little angles are really wearing out the puppy food now 2 times a day once in the morning and once in the evening. Now the puppies have doubled if not tripled in size. Week 6, time to gather all of the "children" up for a visit with the vet to get their DHLP/Parvo, worming, and first examination by the veterinarian. Week 9, another round of DHLP/Parvo and the first round of Bordetella vaccine intranasal with another worming.

Week 12 is a repeat of week 9. Now you can relax "whoops" wrong answer there is no such thing as relax. Taking care of puppies requires work and dedication. Its all so rewarding this is your best friend we are talking about here.

Every day the puppy depends on you for food and water. There is also the task of a normal routine of medicating for heart worms and gastrointestinal worms, which can be a common problem in dogs and puppies if you do not stay on top of it. You do not want a problem with these devils so ask your vet for advice on how to stay on top of this possible health risk of your puppy. Fleas and other parasites can also be very malicious to your pet, so be sure to include prevention for those as well in the puppy's health plan. Also, take the time to properly bathe and groom your companion. A good brushing out should be a daily event for you and you dog and should also be pleasant and relaxing.

Wouldn't you know it a whole year has passed by. You two are best of friends chances are your buddy is pushing around 55lbs. to 85lbs. now and has graduated to a good choice of dog food. The little puppy has grown so big in that short length of time. At the age of 1 year old it is time for another trip to the vet for his or her annual DHLP/Parvo vaccination, physical exam, annual Bordetella, rabies vaccination, and heartworm test. Guess what? You will continue this process year after year.

AKC Lab Puppies

AKC Labrador Retrievers


William Williford breeder of AKC Championship Labrador Retrievers; also field rep. of Lifes Abundance Health Pet Food


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