Yes, labs shed a lot. Regardless of color, size or appearance, your lab will shed. Some may shed less than others, but nonetheless, your lab will leave their hair everywhere. You can help eliminate some of that extra hair by regular brushings.  

The American Kennel Club recognizes black, yellow and chocolate labrador colors. Red and ivory or off-white labradors are considered “yellow” because yellow labradors can vary widely in their coloring.

Labs do bark but generally not excessively. The breed isn’t necessarily known to bark but depending on the training level, the personality and the environment, labradors will bark.  

Unfortunately, yes. Most puppies will chew either on what you have provided to them or what they find on their own! As puppies grow, their “puppy teeth” will fall out to make room for permanent adult teeth. Chewing is part of that process and it also provides some mental stimulation. Helpful hint: hide all your favorite shoes 😉  

The answer to this question is relative to what you would consider “expensive.” The typical cost we see for labrador puppies ranges from $400-$3,000 with the low price point being non-registered labradors who may or may not be fully purebred whereas the highest price point will generally get you a 2-3 year old, purebred, fully trained labrador. 

 

Yes—labs are great family pets. They are a loving, social and adaptable breed. Labradors do have a lot of energy, though, so be prepared to play! Also, it is important to train your lab—or have them trained—to avoid bad manners like knocking children over in their playfulness.  

Labrador retrievers weigh, on average, 55-80 lbs according to the American Kennel Club. 

Based on our experience owning and raising our own family dogs, here are a list of necessities for raising your puppy:

 

A Local Veterinarian

Your puppy will need regular vet care. Generally, this requires a yearly visit for a general wellness exam, heartworm preventative and flea/tick preventative. Your puppy will have been vet checked including distemper, dose 1 of dewormer and a vet exam. You will need to bring your puppy in again around 12 weeks of age, but your vet will make the recommendations for the exact timing for your puppy’s next vaccinations and deworming. Each vet has slightly varied recommendations.  

 

Kennel/Crate

Ideally you want to start the puppy in a smaller crate than the size they will eventually need. The idea is puppies will avoid peeing or pooping in the place they lay. Using a smaller crate will lessen the chances of this happening ; however, you’ll find that they will still make a mess until they are fully potty trained.  Buying multiple crates gets expensive, but there are crates that come with dividers, so you could look into something similar to this Midwest Crate on Amazon.

 

We personally use plastic Vari Kennels and Wire Crates with no specific preference for one or the other. Our dogs like both. Wire crates are convenient because you can get them with a side door and front door.

 

Heartbeat Pillow

I have not personally owned a puppy heartbeat pillow but friends and other breeders recommend them. I say, it can’t hurt! Here is one on Amazon but there are others you can explore for price and quality: puppy pillow.

 

Puppy blankets/towels

You’ll want something soft for your puppy to lay on but also something that is easy to wash for when accidents happen. I use older blankets or towels—sometimes I’ll buy some new towels or blankets at the dollar store.

 

Collar and Leash

Your puppy will come with a collar that won’t last much past 8 weeks because they are growing! You’ll want an XS size collar and whatever leash you prefer. With that said, I recommend using the leash right away just to practice so your puppy gets comfortable with it. (check sizing in inches on the collar as some size “Small” collars might fit depending on the brand)  

 

Food

Our adult dogs and our puppies eat Diamond Naturals and we usually order it through Chewy.com. We also purchase the food at Fleet Farm, Runnings and our local feed store. The puppies are specifically fed Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy. Here are some other foods to consider as well: NutriSource, Purina Pro Plan. I look at the ingredient list when I’m selecting a food.

 

Treats

I’m going to leave this up to you and your vet! We use plain ol’ Milk Bones for our dog treats as well as the ones that come in the “Bark Boxes” we have delivered monthly (these boxes are so fun!).. There are different types of “training treats” available that are a good size for teaching puppies to listen to your commands.

 

Toys!

There are numerous kinds of toys out there these days! You’ll also find plenty of varied opinions on what is “ok” for a puppy and what isn’t (specific to chew toys). We still give our dogs small rawhides (not puppies) but we watch them to make sure they don’t choke. There are also plenty of alternatives to rawhides as well. We sometimes purchase the Kong brand toys, but they aren’t as tough as you would think. We do have a Bark Box subscription for a “super chewer” and the toys from this box are extremely high quality and worth the price. Otherwise, I’d visit your local pet store or read online.

 

Kuranda Bed

This is not a necessity, but they are our favorite! These beds are so sturdy; you will not be able to find a bed that lasts longer than this brand. You can also replace the fabric if/when it does wear out. We’ve had our original Kuranda bed for 13 years while replacing the fabric just one time. Check them out!