🐾 How to Care For and Whelp Labrador Puppies

From the Whelping Box to Their Forever Homes
By Eden De La Fuente – Trainer at Rocky River Retrievers

Bringing Labrador puppies into the world is one of the most beautiful, exhausting, and rewarding parts of dog ownership. I’m Eden De La Fuente, trainer here at Rocky River Retrievers, and I’ve had the privilege of helping with dozens of whelpings over the years — and trust me, no matter how many times you do it, it never gets old.

If you’re preparing for your first litter — or just want to see what goes on behind the scenes here at the farm — this guide will walk you through every stage of caring for and whelping Labrador Retriever puppies the right way.

🏡 Step 1: Create a Safe Whelping Environment

Your momma dog (a.k.a. the dam) needs a calm, quiet, temperature-controlled space weeks before delivery. We recommend a dedicated whelping box with sides tall enough to keep puppies in, but low enough for mom to get out comfortably.

📌 Pro Tip: Line it with absorbent bedding and introduce the mom to her whelping area about a week or two before her due date so she feels safe and familiar with the space.

🎥 Watch: How to Set Up a Whelping Box at Home

⏱️ Step 2: Know the Signs of Labor

Dogs are pregnant for roughly 63 days, give or take a day or two. As the due date approaches, watch for:

Drop in appetite
Restlessness or nesting behavior
Clear discharge
Drop in body temperature (below 99°F is a strong sign labor is near)

When contractions start, your girl will likely begin to pant heavily, circle, and dig at her bedding.

📌 Important: Be ready, but calm. Have clean towels, gloves, heating pads, and a scale nearby. Keep your vet’s number on speed dial, just in case.

🐶 Step 3: Assisting the Whelping Process

Most Labrador moms are naturals, but you should always supervise the birth in case intervention is needed. Puppies usually come out one at a time, 30–60 minutes apart.

You’ll want to:

Make sure each puppy is breathing and warm
Rub them with a towel to stimulate circulation
Ensure the mom licks each one clean and severs the cord
Replace wet bedding as needed

🎥 Watch: Live Labrador Puppy Birth & Whelping Tips

🍼 Step 4: Caring for Newborn Puppies

The first few days are critical. Puppies are born blind, deaf, and totally dependent on their mother. They need:

A warm environment (keep the room around 85–90°F the first week)
Round-the-clock nursing
A clean, quiet space with minimal disruptions

Monitor their weight daily. Healthy puppies should gain steadily — if any pup isn’t gaining, supplement feeding may be needed.

📌 Trainer’s Tip: Let mom handle most of the care early on, but gently handle the puppies for brief socialization to get them used to human touch.

🍽️ Step 5: Weaning and Early Training

By 3–4 weeks, those tiny babies start to toddle around and explore. This is the perfect time to:

Begin weaning with soft, soaked puppy food
Introduce a low, shallow water bowl
Start short social play sessions
Provide enrichment toys for mental stimulation

At Rocky River Retrievers, we start early potty training and confidence-building around week 4. By 6–7 weeks, they’re well on their way to becoming well-adjusted, curious, and happy pups!

🎥 Watch: Weaning Puppies and Introducing Solid Food

🧬 Bonus: Vaccines, Deworming & Vet Visits

Puppies receive their first vet check around 6 weeks, including:

First round of vaccinations
Deworming (we typically deworm starting at 2 weeks and repeat every 2 weeks)
Microchipping, if part of your program

These vet visits are vital for keeping the litter healthy and ready for adoption when the time comes.

🏡 Saying Goodbye (and Preparing Families)

At around 8 weeks, most puppies are ready to go to their forever homes. It’s bittersweet, but incredibly rewarding knowing they’re going to families who will love them as much as we do.

We always send them home with:

A blanket with mom’s scent
A bag of their current food
Their health records
And a little piece of our heart ❤️

Final Thoughts

Whelping and raising Labrador puppies is a big responsibility — but also a tremendous gift. Watching these little lives grow, thrive, and bond with families is why we do what we do.

If you’re considering breeding or want to learn more about how we raise our puppies at Rocky River Retrievers, reach out. I’m happy to share tips, resources, and stories from the whelping box!

Warm noses & wagging tails,
— Eden De La Fuente, Trainer at Rocky River Retrievers

Ben Tanner