Labrador Puppy Care Guide: The First 90 Days

Weeks 8 – 12: settling in

Your Labrador puppy will arrive between 8 and 10 weeks of age, fully vaccinated for their stage, dewormed, and vet-checked. The first two weeks are about safety, routine, and bonding — not training. Keep the house calm, the schedule predictable, and the visitors limited.

• Sleep: Puppies sleep 18–20 hours a day. Use a crate or pen for nap blocks so they don't get overstimulated.
• Potty breaks: Every 30–60 minutes during awake periods, plus after each meal, drink, and nap. Always carry them outside until they understand the door.
• Feeding: 3–4 small meals a day on a quality large-breed puppy formula. See our feeding guide for portions.
• Handling: Touch every part of the body daily — ears, paws, tail, mouth. It pays off at the vet for life.

Weeks 12 – 16: socialization window

This is the critical period. Every new person, surface, sound, and environment your puppy experiences before 16 weeks becomes "normal" for life. Don't waste it.

• Aim for 100+ new people across the period.
• Visit at least 5 different surfaces (grass, gravel, tile, sand, wood).
• Expose to traffic, vacuum cleaners, kids, hats, umbrellas, men with beards.
• Start a positive-reinforcement puppy class.

Vaccinations and vet checks

Labradors finish their core puppy series around 16 weeks. Your Everhome Labradors puppy comes with a complete vet record. Stick to the schedule your veterinarian provides — don't let your puppy walk in high-traffic dog areas until the series is complete.

Crate training

The crate is a safe space, not a punishment. Use it for sleep, meals, and short alone-time blocks. Build duration slowly: 5 minutes, then 15, then 30. Most Labs are comfortable in a crate within 2 weeks.

The first night

Expect crying. Place the crate next to your bed for the first 2–3 nights so your puppy knows you are there. Drop a hand into the crate for reassurance, but don't take them out unless they need to potty. Most Labs sleep through the night within a week.

Exercise — the right amount

The rule of thumb: 5 minutes of structured exercise per month of age, twice a day. A 3-month-old gets 15 minutes morning and evening — and that's plenty. Over-exercising a growing Lab risks lifelong joint problems. Free play in the yard is fine; long forced walks and stairs are not.

What to buy before pickup

1. Crate (large enough for the adult dog — block off the back half for puppy use).
2. Stainless steel food and water bowls.
3. Large-breed puppy food (we will tell you what they are eating).
4. Flat collar, leash, and ID tag.
5. Two safe chew toys (Kong, Nylabone).
6. Enzyme cleaner for accidents.
7. Soft brush — Labs shed.

When to call the vet

Same day for: lethargy, refusing food for more than 12 hours, vomiting more than twice, blood in stool, swollen abdomen, difficulty breathing. Within 48 hours for: mild diarrhea, soft poop, single vomits, minor limp.

If you have any health concern in the first 30 days, contact us as well — that's what the health guarantee is for. See our bringing-home guide for the 30-day routine.