I recommend Nutro Lamb and Rice Large Breed formula. Keep it available at all times to prevent the "wolfing down food" syndrome. Feed this until age 10 months or more. No table scraps. No treats as rewards for behavior. Occasional Milk Bone type treats (but not as rewards) for dental health.

I use tattoos for my adult dogs for ID, but we are rather isolated here, not in a metropolitan area. Probably the sub dermal microchip is best if you live in a family populated area.

Any collar is OK as long is it isn't a chain or choke chain. Puppies can get the chains caught, get stuck and strangle to death.

Same comment for leashes. And don't let him roam around with the leash on, dragging it around as some books foolishly recommend. He can get it caught and die.

For flea treatment, the monthly topical drops are probably the best. Get them from your vet. The pet store varieties are less effective. I prefer Frontline, it is available on the internet.



I recommend crate training for dogs the will be house dogs. Buy the largest crate. VariKennel makes a 700 series (extra large) that's a good size. If your local pet supply doesn't carry the really big ones you can get one here
http://www.jefferspet.com/ Click on the crates and kennels link. This size kennel will be like a room for a puppy, and when full grown will be the right size for a bed. When you travel take the kennel along, and his bed is ready wherever you go. Never punish by putting him in the crate. Keep it as his safe place, and he will not object to going in it. Crate training also makes housebreaking easier. Dogs do not like to soil their beds. After being in the crate for 3-4 hours, when you get him out, go immediately to the area you want him to use to relieve himself. Wait with him for success. Be consistent in this routine, and he'll get the idea quickly. Keep an eye on him while he's out playing. If he starts to search for a "spot", take him again to the place you want him to use. It's also better to reward him for doing it right "Good Boy" and scratch the ears, tummy, chest, etc. rather than to scold him for mistakes.

Bathing is a no-no. Labs have an oil coat on the skin. If you wash it away with regular soap baths you'll end up with skin problems. A soap bath maybe twice a year. The rest of the time, just hose him off with water. Water is fine. Chlorine is not. No extended swimming in a chlorinated pool. Damages nails, coat and skin.

And spend lots of time with him. The more time you spend, the better companion he will become. Enjoy!

DIET . . .

I feed Nutro products exclusively. For my puppies I use Nutro Natural Large Breed Formula, and for my adults I use Nutro Natural Lamb Meal and Rice. I have used many foods, and for me, the Nutro has performed the best. Second choice would be the Iams brand, and third choice Eukanuba. I am very leery of the pet food chain (not mentioning brand for obvious reasons) that recommends exactly the same formula for all ages, just adjusting the amount fed. I strongly feel that nutritional requirements vary greatly with age, and I am absolutely sure that the large breed formulas are necessary for healthy bone development in large breed dogs.

I use on demand feeding for my puppies. That is, the food is available all the time. I just keep the dish filled. I do this for 2 reasons, the first is that puppies need all the nutrition they can get. Everything is growing. The second reason is to avoid developing the habit of wolfing down the food. If you feed on a schedule, the puppy gets hungry between feedings, and when food becomes available, he will eat all of it, beyond the point of hunger satisfaction. I feel it is much better if when he gets hungry he can go to the bowl and eat anytime, and stop eating when the hunger is satisfied. It becomes a self limiting behaviour, and if properly exercised, weight control will be pretty much automatic.

If you have other animals in the house and feeding on demand can't be arranged, then 3 feedings per day until age 4 months, 2 feedings a day until 8 months, after which one feeding a day is adequate if necessary to fit your schedule, although 2 would be better. When puppy is about 10-12 months I recommend switching to the adult formula.

What about treats? Well, I don't feed my dogs treats from the hand. Anytime you do this you encourage a "mooching" pooch, one who may expect and beg for treats. If that behaviour is OK with you, then go ahead, but if it's not, then not ever doing it is the best approach to avoiding the behaviour. When I do feed a treat it is generally a hard chew, mostly for dental health, and I put it in the food dish with the kibble.

and EXERCISE! (of course).

So what is good exercise? Those of you who have visited my kennel have watched my "Thundering Herd", and know exactly what good exercise is. I throw the tennis ball in the back yard, as hard and as far as I can, and all my dogs give chase. I keep it up until they start coming back slower. My "old man" Bud will go stick his whole head in the water bucket, a good sign that it's quitting time! That's good exercise. Twice a day.

For puppies it's a little different. Because of the rapid bone growth these dogs experience, the soft thick growth layer can be injured with jerky, stop and go exercise. If you have water access, swimming (throw the ball in the pool) is great. It's a smooth motion exercise, good for both muscle tone and heart/lung (aerobic) exercise. If you don't have a pool, pond, lake, beach, etc. running will be OK if it's done without a lot of stop/start jerky motion. Jogging is good. Start slow and short with a 4 month old puppy. He shouldn't go more than 2-3 minutes at a time, walking and playing between sessions. Keep it fun for both of you. Slowly work up to times and distances he is comfortable with, and when he's a year old it'll be you that stops first. Playing fetch is a natural to most of these puppies, just take it easy, don't throw hard and far, and again keep the sessions short and playful and as mellow as possible. Be sure to watch for any signs of lameness, or limping for no obvious reason (like he got his toes stepped on), and if that happens a trip to the vet is in order. And always remember with the little ones, they are still babies! Don't over do it.

David Swiggum, Owner 949-485-9361 or dswiggum@colusanet.com