Labrador at the age of 4 months: what does it look like and how to keep it?

The Labrador is a favorite dog of fishermen since the 19th century due to its innate ability to swim perfectly. They helped people by pulling nets out of the reservoir. Today this breed of dogs is no less popular, which is due to its unique loyalty and visual appeal. For these reasons, people very often want to have such a pet in their home.

If you are determined to have a Labrador Retriever, the best option would be to purchase a four-month-old puppy. During this period, the Labrador must have the following external parameters.

• Puppy coat. The undercoat should be fairly thick, yet smooth to the touch and outwardly smooth, reminiscent of silk; the hair itself is stiff on contact.
• Tail shape. One of the most important parts of the dog, which is directly responsible for swimming. Thus, when the dog is moving, the tail should not be higher than the level of the body. It should be short, but thick at its base, gradually tapering towards the tip.
• Eyes should have a clear color, there should be no shroud.
• Puppy face has a friendly "smiling" appearance, in the girth its size should be about 25 centimeters (an error of 1 cm in both directions is permissible), length - from 7 to 8 cm.
• Big head, in girth, the norm is 39 centimeters, while the dog must have a long neck.
• Chest girth about 62 cm.

It should be borne in mind that girls are different from boys, they are somewhat smaller than the opposite sex. Therefore, when choosing a puppy, consider this factor.

First of all, the dog must know who is the boss.

In addition, at 4 months of age, the puppy must respond to the nickname given to him, while following the previously established feeding regimen. Initial skills should also include the ability to walk with the owner on a leash, being friendly to other animals on the street and more; the dog should not interfere with the owner when trying to take care of himself, if necessary, ask for a walk in order to maintain cleanliness in the house, not to show a reaction to a loud sound.

It is very important that during this period the puppy learns to execute several obligatory commands.

• "A place!" - the Labrador must remain in place at the first request of the owner.
• "Fu!", "You can't!". Tasting the treat is a good test. Place a piece of your favorite food in front of the dog and say "No!" or "Fu!" - if she does not touch food without your permission, then the command is learned well.
• "To me!".
• "Walk!".

The last two are not worth explaining, everything is clear from the names and it is easy to check.

All representatives of this breed are distinguished by their quick wit, however, each dog has an individual character.

For example, puppies copy the customs of their owner, to whom there is a close affection... In other words, they work like a mirror. The puppy's psyche is stable, however, you can notice the strong excitement of the baby in anticipation of walking.

A four-month-old healthy puppy is active and friendly towards humans. For example, a well-bred dog has the following three characteristics:

• ready to serve the owner;
• very active;
• likes to explore everything.

Starting from the moment of birth, a normally developing Labrador retriever increases its body weight by at least two kilograms every month. Thus, at 4 months, a healthy puppy looks vigorous, weighs about 18 kilograms, while its height reaches 46 cm.

The dosage of this or that food depends mostly on the personality of the dog. Choosing what to feed your dog is a matter of trial and error.

The most balanced in terms of vitamin and mineral composition are premium and super-premium ready-made feeds.

However, if you are an adherent of "natural", pay attention to what should be introduced into the pet's diet, and what should be discarded.

An adult dog should consume the following foods per kg of body weight:

• proteins - 10-15 g;
• carbohydrates - 3-5 g;
• fats - 1-2 g.

The puppy's diet should be tripled due to the need for vitamins for full development. Therefore, starting from 4 months, various supplements are required, which include glucosamine and chondroitin for the formation of cartilage tissue and a normal coat. Also, the diet should contain calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D.

The peculiarities of this breed should be taken into account. For dinner, portions of food should be larger, which is due to the special activity of the stomach with a large secretion of gastric juice starting from noon, the peak of activity falls at night.

There are a number of products that are strictly forbidden to use for a four-month-old Labrador, and, in general, for any dog:

• raw dough;
• bones;
• pasta, legumes such as peas and beans, bread, potatoes;
• sweet;
• various seasonings that enhance the taste;
• spoiled food.

Thanks to an innate desire for cleanliness, caring for a dog is not burdensome. The host will need to do the following:

• the coat needs to be brushed 2-3 times a week;

• bathing with shampoo should be carried out every 30 days, however, the street dust should be washed off regularly, while drying the wool;

• claws are trimmed as they grow back;

• if you notice that the dog often scratches his ear, which at the same time smells bad, you need to visit the veterinarian, at least once a week you need to clean the ears;

• do the same with the eyes: using a napkin dipped in tea, wipe them from dirt;

• the dog needs to brush its teeth every day.

What needs to be prepared in the house for a Labrador puppy can be seen in the following video.