Bringing home a Labrador? From exercises to diet tips, here’s a complete guide

Bringing a new Labrador puppy into your home can be a remarkable experience. However, it can also be quite overwhelming. Caring for a Labrador puppy requires a commitment similar to raising a human child. However, the rewards are well worth the effort. Not only do families adore Labrador puppies, but this amazing breed is also making its mark in a number of fields as assistance and search and rescue dogs. Labradors are among the most popular family dogs because of their charming, loving personalities. Their distinctive qualities allow them to thrive in a variety of environments and be used as family pets, service dogs or even hunting dogs.
If you’re considering adding this incredible breed to your home but unsure about how to care for them, fret not. HT Lifestyle has reached out to industry experts to provide you with a comprehensive guide. (Also read: Heatwave ahead: Tips to take care of your animal companion during harsh summer )
“Due to poor breeding practices, Labradors are predisposed to hip and joint issues. The number of Labradors being diagnosed with hip and joint issues is on the rise. Later on, in life, it is common to see spondylosis/spondylitis which may be a cause of pain, paresis and paralysis. The PennHip method can help diagnose this in the early stages, and in some dogs, early surgery is also quite helpful. Alternative treatments also include Tuina Anmo massage combined with acupuncture which gives good results. Bone stock given for a period of 3 months at least also helps,” says Veterinarian Dr Brijeshraj.
As the growth plates of puppies are not fully fused until they reach full maturity, Dr. Brijeshraj advises on a list of do’s and don’ts to prevent damage to the hips and joints of Labradors.
1. Allow access for free play on natural surfaces like mud and grass
2. ⁠ No agility at all until at least 6 months of age.
3. ⁠Proprioception exercises are recommended for balance
4. ⁠These obedience position training exercises should be done on a mat.
5. ⁠Fetch should be done on a runner or carpet for traction
6. The puppy should be taught to lie down in a settle position
7. Do not encourage the pup to jump on and off sofas, bed, ledges etc
8. Stairs should be avoided
Manjula Engineer, Trainer and Behaviourist further breaks down, simple own weight-bearing exercises to help the pup build muscle strength in the hip and back legs:
1. Start with a step that is an inch high. Can be a hardcover book, a plastic upturned tray, etc. Lure the pup to place his front two paws on the step. Holding a treat in front of his nose, let him stand for about 5 seconds. Treat and release. Repeat 5 times. This puts weight on his hips and back legs to strengthen them
2. Place the pup in a stand position by holding a treat in front of his nose. With your other hand firmly lift one paw and hold for 5 seconds. Cycle through all four paws lifting one at a time.
3. Placing a treat in front of his nose, lure the pup’s muzzle in a curve to meet his hip. Hold 5 seconds, treat and release. Then repeat on the other side.
4. Place the pup in a sit and lure his face up stretching the neck and again putting weight on his hips.
5. Teach the pup a follow me in a figure eight configuration.
On the other hand, Anjali Kalachand provides nutritional and other tips for maintaining a happy and healthy Labrador. Emphasizing the significance of feeding a meat-based species-appropriate diet to all dogs, she highlights its importance particularly for dogs prone to joint issues.
1. Meat protein helps improve the connective tissue and build the muscles which help support the joints.
2. Keeping your dog lean is very important if they are predisposed to joint issues so as to not weigh down the joints with excess weight. This is more easily achieved via fresh meat-based diet, because we have control over ingredients and can easily avoid the starchy carbohydrates present in processed food
3. Did you know that some bones like chicken feet are a rich source of glucosamine and chondroitin? Very often, glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are administered later in life when dogs are diagnosed with joint issues – feeding a constant source of glucosamine and chondroitin in your pet’s diet can help prevent resorting to these supplements. Therefore, feeding raw meaty bones (these also come in dehydrated format) can help naturally boost your pet’s diet in glucosamine and chondroitin, which are essential to joint health.
4. Bone broth, is another essential addition to the diet, again it is a rich source of glucosamine, chondroitin, gelatin, hyaluronic acid – all essential for bone and joint health.
5. Joint issues are often associated with inflammation and pain. We also recommended feeding foods and adding herbs/spices that have natural anti-inflammatory benefits:
6. My own dog has recently been diagnosed with mild arthritis and both his hips and was presenting with a recurrent limp over a period of a few months before we figured out what the problem was – along with all the above, we also did the following which helped greatly for pain relief: