Birth to 2 Weeks: The Newborn Stage

During the first two weeks of life, Labrador puppies enter the world completely dependent on their mother for everything they need, including warmth, nourishment, and comfort, as they are born unable to see, hear, or regulate their own body temperature. At this stage, puppies spend most of their time sleeping and nursing, slowly gaining strength while their mother carefully cleans them and stimulates them to eat and eliminate properly.

Human interaction should be calm and gentle, allowing puppies to become familiar with touch while keeping stress to a minimum, and it is important to ensure their environment stays warm, quiet, and clean so they can focus entirely on resting and growing.

2 to 3 Weeks: Eyes Open to the World

As puppies enter their second and third weeks, their eyes begin to open, revealing a soft blue-gray color, and their ears slowly start to function, allowing them to respond to familiar sounds such as their mother’s movement or gentle human voices. Their tiny legs grow stronger, and although walking is still wobbly and uncoordinated, puppies begin to explore their immediate surroundings with curiosity.

This is a wonderful time to introduce light daily handling, as gentle human contact helps build trust and confidence, while still allowing plenty of time for rest and bonding with their mother and littermates.

3 to 4 Weeks: Curious and Playful Beginnings

Between three and four weeks of age, Labrador puppies experience a noticeable burst of awareness and energy, as their vision and hearing improve and they begin walking more steadily. Baby teeth start to emerge, and puppies become more interested in their environment, showing curiosity about new sights, sounds, and textures.

At this stage, puppies can be gently introduced to a shallow dish of water and soft, moistened puppy food, marking the beginning of the weaning process, while playtime with littermates helps them learn important early social skills.

4 to 6 Weeks: Learning Through Play

From four to six weeks, Labrador puppies become more active, playful, and socially engaged, spending much of their time wrestling, chasing, and interacting with their siblings as they learn how to communicate and control their bite strength. Their coordination improves rapidly, and many Labradors begin showing early signs of their natural retrieving instincts through carrying toys or objects.

This is an ideal time to gently expose puppies to new surfaces, sounds, and experiences in a safe and positive way, helping them develop confidence while still relying on their mother for reassurance.

6 to 8 Weeks: Building Confidence and Independence

Between six and eight weeks, Labrador puppies become increasingly independent as they complete the weaning process and begin relying more on solid food for nutrition. Their personalities become clearer, with some puppies appearing more adventurous while others remain more relaxed and observant.

This period is especially important for socialization, as puppies benefit greatly from positive exposure to people of different ages, gentle handling, and short, calm interactions that help them learn the world is a safe and friendly place.

8 to 10 Weeks: Adjusting to New Homes

At eight weeks of age, many Labrador puppies are ready to move into their new homes, where they may experience excitement mixed with moments of uncertainty as they adjust to unfamiliar surroundings. Establishing a consistent routine for feeding, sleeping, play, and potty breaks helps puppies feel secure and understand what is expected of them.

At this age, Labradors are eager to learn and bond with their families, making it an excellent time to introduce their name, begin house training, and gently start basic commands using positive reinforcement and patience.

10 to 12 Weeks: Growing Confidence and Early Training

From ten to twelve weeks, Labrador puppies continue to grow stronger and more coordinated, showing increased confidence in their movements and interactions. Teething becomes more noticeable, so providing appropriate chew toys is important to protect both the puppy’s comfort and household items.

Short, enjoyable training sessions help reinforce good behavior while strengthening the bond between puppy and owner, and continued socialization with vaccinated dogs and new environments supports the development of a well-adjusted, friendly Labrador.