Terry Albert - Your Labrador Retriever Puppy Month by Month: Everything You Need to Know at Each Stage of Development

Publisher:Mike Sanders

Associate Publisher:Billy Fields

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Second American Edition, 2016
Published in the United States by DK Publishing
6081 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250

Copyright 2016 Dorling Kindersley Limited
A Penguin Random House Company
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Published in the United States by Dorling Kindersley Limited.

ISBN: 9781465451064

This digital edition published 2016
eISBN: 9781465451071

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This book is dedicated to my friend and mentor, Liz Palika. Thank you so much for your friendship and inspiration over the 25 years weve known each other. Terry

Introduction

Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular dog breed in America for more than 25 years, and with good reason. Bred to work at a hunters side and patiently wait long hours for the chance to retrieve a bird, these same qualities make Labs a great family dog. These dogs are trainable, eager to please, and want nothing more than to spend time with you, whether youre throwing a ball or just relaxing by an evening fire. Never much of a watchdog, a Lab loves everyone he meets.

Labrador Retrievers are high-energy dogs who love to work, which makes them excellent competitors in a variety of dog sports. These same traits make them ideal dogs for helping people in many different roles: assistance dogs for the physically disabled, search-and-rescue dogs, therapy dogs, and more.

All this talent and energy bundled up in a small puppy requires loving care, guidance, and discipline so hell grow up to be a well-behaved member of society. This book helps you reach that goal and have lots of fun with your Labrador Retriever pup along the way.

In This Book

Each chapter in this book covers a month of your Lab puppys development. You learn what you can expect from your pup and how to deal with each stage of growth. Its easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges of raising a Lab puppy, and we hope this book helps you through the first 12 months of this big adventure!

First you find out what goes on at the breeders and how her care affects your puppys future. You get tips on choosing the right breeder and puppy for your family, and you learn how to prepare for his arrival and make him comfortable in his new home.

Then we explain the various aspects, month by month, of your puppys physical development, health care, nutritional needs, grooming, socialization, behavior, and training. And we end each chapter with a special section dedicated to building your friendship with your new Labrador Retriever puppybecause after all, isnt that one of the most important things?

Although no two Lab puppies mature at exactly the same rate, the process is the same. If your pup grows faster or slower, it doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong. Hell catch up or slow down and turn out wonderfully normal.

The Extras

Throughout the book, we share additional information to help you raise your Labrador Retriever puppy. Heres what to look for:

DOG TALK

These sidebars offer definitions of words you might not know.

HAPPY PUPPY

Look here for ideas on raising a happy and contented puppy.

TIPS AND TAILS

These sidebars share hints and helpful advice on dealing with the challenges of puppy raising.

Acknowledgments

It takes a village to raise a Lab, and it took a village to help me write this book. Special thanks to my advisers, Barb and Don Ironside and Deb Eldredge, DVM, who offered valuable input and carefully reviewed every word. Also thank you to the many breeders, trainers, and other experts who shared their knowledge and experience with me: Susan Eberhardt; Pat Hastings; Pat Schaap; Sarbit Singh, DVM; Heather Luis; Nina Mann; Melanie Montiero; Lorna OConnor of CCI; Fran Scarinci; Christine Rinaldi; Cary Saunders; and Nancy Shahan-Wall. Terry

The Littermate

Welcome to the first 2 months of your Labrador Retriever puppys life! Even before your puppy is born, hundreds of outside factors influence her future health and happiness.

In this chapter, we follow a litters physical and mental development from birth through the first 8 weeks. You learn how the mother dogs health care, nutrition, and temperament affect her puppies. You also discover that the breeder plays a crucial role before, during, and after birth. The breeder also starts socializing the puppies before they go to their new homes.