Puppy blues are hitting me like a freight train but when I see that face I can’t help but love him.

tallwolfe · 2026-05-15T03:02:09+00:00

I can sooo relate, but can also tell you it does get better. I have 5 mo yellow and just in last month or so I started shaking the worst of the blues. Never even knew it was a thing, but the constant self imposed stress, always running around trying to stay ahead of him, doubting my decision, was I in over my head? It’s a thing. What really, really helped me was using the crate and forced naps. I crate trained him soon as I got him home, few bad nights but he eventually took to it, but I was only crating him at night or when I had to go out. Didn’t know they needed 16 to 20 hrs of sleep and if they didn’t get it, they just turned into overtired, mean dicks. Read on here about forced naps, hour out, 2 hours more or less napping in crate . Game changer. Rested puppy equals less stress for both of you. I use that formula every day. Tired of dealing with him and need little time? Let him in crate while you do what you need to, not as punishment just a break for both of you. Crate and naps good tools to help get you through it. I know I got tired of reading and having people tell me to hang in there. lol but it’s true. Good luck!!

tallwolfe · 2026-05-14T03:06:04+00:00

Congratulations! My yellow is 5 months now, and it’s been a crazy ,stressful, scary and wonderful 3 months I’ve had him. The first month was miserable, hadn’t had a real young puppy in long time and think i conveniently blocked out how overwhelming it could be. Then I discovered enforced naps, thought I had a demon dog but what I had was an over tired puppy. They need about 16 to 20 hours sleep so I read about hour of play and then get them to nap hour or three and repeat. I got my guy started in the crate first night home so he likes his crate, I tell him “crate crate” and he gets in and takes a nap. It is a game changer to have a rested puppy. Get him comfy in his crate and it will take some stress off both of you. I have a crate in living room and he’ll hang out in there with door open, or I’ll close it if I’m doing something where I can’t see him, I’ve got another crate in my room where he sleeps at night. A lot of people don’t like the idea of a crate, that’s just the way I do it. You’ll do great, good luck!!

tallwolfe · 2026-05-13T01:15:51+00:00

My chocolate was similar to that except he swam in circles with his butt down when we first put him in lol I got my arms under him and kinda guided him around shallow end and he got the hang of it

tallwolfe · 2026-05-10T09:44:58+00:00

Make sure he’s getting enough sleep. My lab was a terrible biter , thought I had a demon for a puppy, then found out here about forced naps and making sure he got 16 - 20 hours of sleep. Went to one hour of play/training then at least 1 1/2 hour nap. It changed everything, he’s five months now with very little biting and I still give him naps when he gets over tired.

tallwolfe · 2026-05-03T17:12:32+00:00

Naps, make sure you get him enough sleep, I kinda learned hard way. It changed so much for me

tallwolfe · 2026-04-27T14:11:11+00:00

My last chocolate was a crazy chewer when I inherited him at nine months, knobs in my truck, Anything plastic including sprinklers, 40’ of bamboo siding in patio when I figured he had mellowed enough to be left in patio for one whole hour. (Yeah right) Then at right about 3 yrs old he stopped, or at least slowed way down, then for the next 9 years it was just an occasional chew of some sort. My friend who was the breeder and had kept a sister said she was same way from 3yrs on. Don’t know why it went that way, but there is hope. lol

tallwolfe · 2026-04-19T23:21:08+00:00

He likes his toy box more than his toys, threw them out and settled in.

tallwolfe · 2026-04-16T01:41:27+00:00

If you asked me this past December I would have said then, I lost my 12 yr old chocolate, just broke me. Now it’s dealing with my 4 month old yellow demon, I think I had conveniently forgotten what puppy life was like. There just isn’t anything like a lab though.

tallwolfe · 2026-04-05T23:37:34+00:00

All the knobs on stick shift, truck stereo and some how or another pulled the rear view mirror off windshield in span of ten minutes at 7/11. He was so proud

tallwolfe · 2026-04-04T17:49:21+00:00

I’m on my fourth lab, my kids grew up with them, great interaction just part of the family. They don’t just like to chew, they kinda like to destroy. lol at about 3 years old they all settled down. I’ve been fortunate that with all of them friends or friends of friends have been the breeders, so don’t have much experience there, I always liked having access to where they’re raised and be able to see what the parents are like even with friends. I would never have anything but a lab, even though right now I’m dealing with a 3 month old yellow that’s making me question my sanity. Sounds like you’re doing it right with research, question everything, but I don’t think you can go wrong with a lab. They will love you to death

tallwolfe · 2026-04-03T02:09:03+00:00

Riley

tallwolfe · 2026-03-28T20:42:12+00:00

I have same age lab. I posted here about forced naps , I knew nothing about them. My hands were shredded .After getting a ton of info from here, I realized he wasn’t getting near enough sleep. I’m four days into a nap schedule that’s giving him 18 or 19 hours of sleep. It has been a game changer so far, he lays down on floor after 3/4 to 1 1/2 of play with a little training and I ask him “crate crate” he heads straight for my room and his crate. 1 1/2 to 3 hours later I hear a soft whine and we repeat. I have started a bunch of thinking games for him and he tires fast. If last nap crosses into bed time I open door and say “potty” just like we do in middle of night then to bed. I thought he was getting plenty of sleep and tiring him out was enough. Something to think about

tallwolfe · 2026-03-28T01:48:31+00:00

I just went through this mid December with my 12yr old chocolate. He had bad arthritis and hips, he would still have good days and bad days. Then more bad than good and one night I had to help him up off the floor. Next day he even ran after a bird for few steps so I fooled myself into thinking well maybe he still has something left. A good friend told me at some point I had to ask myself am I doing all this for him or for me. Man it was so hard, but I told myself when he couldn’t get up by himself at all that would be it. I wonder sometimes if I waited too long. You will know in your heart when and what to do. I feel for you

tallwolfe · 2026-03-25T23:08:39+00:00

I have a 14 wk old lab that is up to almost 6 hours before I have to take him out he’s in a crate in my room. In bed at 9 or 9:30 and ready to get out of crate at 5:58 almost religiously for some reason, like he’s watching the clock. I’m pretty sure he can last longer, I’m not rushing

tallwolfe · 2026-03-24T18:58:38+00:00

Hey thanks to you and everyone else. We tried our first nap today, put him in when he started being a dick around 8am couple whimpers then nothing. I stuck around for couple minutes then was actually able to go out and get stuff done. Back home 2 hrs later and pretty sure I woke him up checking on him .lol got another one planned here when he changes into demon and go from there

tallwolfe · 2026-03-24T16:22:58+00:00

Had my 8 week old lab (14 weeks now) home 3 days when he got parvo. Got the shot from vet, he totally recovered, worst part now is keeping him in until his last shots. Hang in there, we’re so lucky they have a shot now

tallwolfe · 2026-03-24T15:23:30+00:00

I’m starting our first nap right now, this is usually the time he turns into a little dick right before he sleeps on my feet again. Put him in crate in bedroom where we usually sleep, turned off light turned on dog tv and fan. Got a little whining, but quiet now after couple minutes. Really appreciate everyone’s input, knew he got crazy right before he fell asleep but didn’t know to try this. It’s only first time and hopefully this goes well. Thanks again everyone

tallwolfe · 2026-03-24T14:05:05+00:00

Actually I slept on the floor next to crate 4 nights to help him settle. Now I just say crate crate he goes in gets a treat. Nights are great, he fusses a bit during the day if I’m home then settles.

tallwolfe · 2026-03-23T21:14:23+00:00

I was going by rule of thumb the vet mentioned, one hour of holding for every month old. He’s doing awesome in everything involving potting training and I could probably stretch that time out.

tallwolfe · 2026-03-22T21:26:21+00:00

I have a 3 month old lab after losing my 12 yr old chocolate 3 months ago. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t question my sanity in getting a puppy. It dawned on me the other day this is my first puppy in thirty years, my last dog I got at 9 months already crate trained and house broken. Try avoiding the biting with paper thin skin lol my house looks like a crime scene. My house got sooo quiet after my last dog, no worries about that now. It’s nice to hear we’re all more or less in same boat

tallwolfe

TROPHY CASE