Crate Training

We highly recommend crate training for your puppy. For the first few nights, put the crate where you cannot hear the puppy cry (back room, garage). They are crying because they just miss their brothers and sisters. Crate training keeps your puppy safe and your house safe, puppies get into everything. 

The right crate to get your puppy is an expanding crate. If you give a puppy room to potty on one side of the crate and lay down on the other, they will never learn to hold their bladder. You need a crate that can expand with their size. They do not like to lay on their bodily fluids. Make sure to take them out to pee often!

The right Toys

NO STUFFED TOYS. They will eat the stuffing and it will cause digestive problems. Bones are also not recommended. Rubber toys, ropes, and tennis balls are the best. 

Disicipline

Be FIRM and CONSISTENT with discipline. Do not be afraid to use a fly swat to smack bottoms. REMEMBER….a 10 pound puppy jumping and biting will not be cute at 90 pounds. 

We do recommend them learning simple commands like sit and stay. Hot dogs are cheap and a really easy reward for dogs. Doing 10 minutes everyday will make a huge difference in a week! 

Potty Training

Choose a potty spot and potty word. Always take them to the same spot and use the same word. Take them OFTEN until they are a little older. 

Food and Diet

We recommend you feed your puppy twice a day - morning and late afternoon. Sometimes puppies get homesick and do not want to eat for a couple of days. Do not worry, they will eat when they are ready. 

We feed the off-brand version of Diamond Puppy Food. It is called Caliber and is the same thing as Diamond Puppy Food. Diamond Puppy Food is available at tractor supply. It is an excellent puppy food and we recommend you keep your puppy on this food. If you choose to switch, please do so gradually. A sudden change in food will cause diarrhea. You will receive a small bag of food, mix this with the new food until it is gone. 

Chewing

Labradors are known for chewing furniture and shoes. Deep Woods Off seems to help with chewing. Spray it where you do not want puppy mouths to go. They hate the taste and it will not harm them.

Travel Sickness

Sometimes a puppy will develop diarrhea when moving to a new home. If your puppy gets runny stools, you can feed 100% pure canned pumpkin mixed in with their food. This usually firms the stool back up and your puppy will love the taste!