Introducing the newest addition to the family – a baby Labrador! This little one is sure to bring joy and plenty of wagging tails into your home.
Whether you’re an experienced dog owner or a first-time pet parent, there are some things you need to know about taking care of a baby Labrador.
From feeding and exercising to training and bonding, we’ve got all the tips you need to make sure your furry friend is happy and healthy. Keep reading for more information!
Labrador Types and Coat Color
Labradors are classified into two breeds: English Labradors and American Labradors. The English Labrador comes from English-bred stock.
The English Labrador is generally shorter and stockier. The American Labrador is taller and more athletic than the British Labrador. The English Lab temperament is calmer, whereas the American Lab temperament is much more energetic. Otherwise, they are very similar.
There are three types of Labradors: black Labs, brown Labs (also known as chocolate Labs), and yellow Labs. Black labs are the most common and popular, followed by yellow Labs. Chocolate labs are typically considered to be the rarest of all Lab colors.
Interestingly enough, silver labs also exist, but they are not officially recognized by the AKC because there is some debate over whether or not they should be considered a separate breed altogether.
Silver labs are just as intelligent and loving as any other Labrador. They make excellent family pets and, with the proper training, can be just as good at hunting or retrieving birds as any other color of Labrador.
Newborn Labrador
Welcoming a new baby Labrador into the world is always an exciting time. As soon as they’re born, they’ll start to wriggle around and explore their surroundings.
Labrador puppies are generally very active and love to play with each other. They’ll also be suckling on their mother for milk, which is essential for their growth and development.
Your newborn Labrador will need to be close to its mother in the first few weeks after birth to stay warm. They won’t have much fur yet, so they will rely on their mum’s body heat to help them regulate their temperature.
Labrador puppies are born with soft, fuzzy fur in a variety of colors – black, yellow, chocolate, charcoal, silver, and champagne.
They can’t see or hear anything because their eyes and ears are closed after birth. They can’t walk yet either. But that doesn’t stop them from being playful and cuddly!
When the puppies are young, they spend most of their time getting milk, snuggling with each other, and snuggling with mom, too. They gradually start to explore their world as they get older and stronger.
And when they finally open their eyes and ears, the world is a whole new place for them to discover!
One week old baby Labrador
The little Labrador puppy was so excited to be finally home with its mom and dad. It had gained a healthy amount of weight during its first week of life and was now looking a bit bigger.
Its front leg muscles were slightly more developed, allowing it to pull itself towards its mother for milk.
It would still spend the majority of its time sleeping, cuddling, and nursing. But it was also starting to explore its new surroundings and cry to attract its mother’s attention when it needed something.
The family loved spending time with their precious new addition and were so happy that it was healthy and thriving.
Two week old Labrador
During the second week, your baby Labrador will start to open its eyes, though it won’t be able to see much.
Your two-week-old baby Labrador will still be unable to regulate its own body heat, so it will require the assistance of both you and the mother dog in this relationship.
Three-week old baby Labrador
Your baby Labrador will be able to stand and crawl during the third week. Your pup’s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose are all open by now so it can see what is going on around them while they’re still in utero!
The developing muscles enable this furry friend as well gain control over their movements which should make sitting up pretty straightforward for most Labsby end of next month (or earlier).
Five-week old baby Labrador
The Lab can now interact with toys and other dogs just as well, making it more likely for this type of canine behavior.
It will become more receptive to human interactions, allowing it to be handled more frequently. This reduces the chances of it becoming afraid of humans later in life.
When it bites too hard during playtime, its mother and siblings will begin to teach it to bite inhibition by vocalizing loudly.
Weaning should be well underway, with the infant Labrador consuming solid foods on a daily basis.
It will now be able to bark, and it may be very loud!
Diet
To ensure your baby Labrador’s continued growth, it is critical that you provide him with a healthy diet.
Proteins, fatty acids, and vitamins will be critical for your new family member’s health, especially given its energetic nature.
There are numerous dog foods available that are specifically formulated to match the needs of your puppy, or you may prefer to take the raw food way.
The portions you give your baby Labrador will vary depending on the type of food offered, but they will normally require three to four meals per day.
As a larger breed, they require a lot of food to mature properly. However, it is critical to follow the suggested serving sizes to avoid your baby Labrador becoming obese.
Summery
Your new Labrador puppy may struggle to settle in at first. This is normal because it is a big change, but if you are concerned about its behavior or if it is still unsettled after a long period of time, you should contact your breeder.
If you give it a good diet, an exercise regimen, and lots of love, it should be able to adjust to its new family fairly quickly.
Have fun with your new Labrador puppy!
I appreciate that you explained that in general, labrador pups are quite energetic and like playing with one another. My boyfriend is looking for Yellow labrador puppies for sale to give to me on my birthday. Thank you for the tips in your article, this will be helpful to me once we find a labrador puppy thanks!