Hello

[MeganWUlery]

Hi. My name is Megan. My husband and I just got our first pet Cocoa yesterday. He is a 6 week old chocolate lab. I joined this forum to learn more about labs and how to take care of Cocoa properly. We love him so much already!!!!

[deidra]

Welcome! hope to see pics of the little guy soon Also good luck with the puppy. labs can be mouthy little puppys.

[Tanya]

welcome to the board!
Only too bad you didn't find us sooner - definately read up on nipping and proper socialization as your puppy was brougth home two weeks too early. in some states it is illegal to bring a puppy home before 8 weeks of age, but what is done is done, you can only move forward and love that little puppy!

Definately make a vet apt right away, but keep him in your arms when you go in to the waiting room.

[Sophiesmama]

Welcome...Tanya is right, hold your puppy at the vet. So many diseases, especially parvo can be contracted at the vet. We have our Sophie, 16 weeks and also a chocolate. They are wonderful pets!

[silverbyrd21]

welcome! we need pics ASAP

[MeganWUlery]

Cocoa pictures by MeganWUlery - Photobucket

[MnMsMom9902]

What a cute puppy!

In one of the photos, it showed someone giving Coco a bath. Please note that Labradors is one of the few breeds that should only be bathed when the dog gets into something really nasty (like rolled in poop, dead animal remains... in other words, NASTY stuff). This is because their coat contains a natural oil that helps repel water. Washing strips their coat of this natural oil. Normally a good scrub with plain cool water is good enough. And when you do need to bath them, be sure to use a mild dog shampoo.

[MeganWUlery]

That was from the day we got him! He had been outside with the other puppies and we wanted him to smell good! We have tried very hard not to bathe him a lot! When we do we are using a puppy shampoo. When he gets old enough we want to begin to use flea and tick shampoo, is this a good thing to do? Also, how do you keep him clean if you can't bathe alot? I just don't like the idea of having him go outside and then come inside dirty and not bathing him(call me a neat freak)!

[bett]

they keep themselves clean. mine get a bath, about once a year and they dont smell.(unless they're out in the rain and then they smell like wet dog, until they dry)
too much bathing ruins their coat, and skin, and is totally unnecessary.