Not sure what is normal for my first puppy!

I was looking after my son’s 18 month old lab last weekend while they were away. I was surprised how much she slept in between walks and play sessions.

For anyone who wants to routinely weigh their dog in between vet visits I noticed branches of Pets at Home have a weighing machine free for customers to weigh their dogs. Its the same as the weighing machine in our local vet practice.

Your puppy is gorgeous Gelisajams 🐶

We have a nine month old puppy, our first dog since childhood, they do make you worry. By my limited understanding, sleeping a lot is a sign of a happy dog. Ours went off his wet food quite recently and is now preferring dry, although we still offer wet food. He has been weighed a lot at the vets as he was very ill when young, the vets are always happy for us to pop in for a weigh. We too have a paid plan which involves check ups, I find that really helpful.
Because he was ill as a puppy I have had to train myself not to worry if he doesnt eat all his food. I think you sound a lovely owner. GSM is right Iam64 knows a lot about dogs!

V3ra

^last week he actually lost .2 kg.^

I read it as 0.2kg

My father-in-law over-walked one young puppy he had (a Labrador, I think) and it suffered joint problems. The poor man was so upset as he hadn't realised it was possible to do harm in this way ☹️

Pheeeew, yes, my bad. 200 gr- still significant for a small dog- but yes, thank goodness.

We have a 13 month lab whom we got at 8 weeks and puppies should sleep a lot just like babies. Ours has a sleep after his morning and afternoon walk . Also puppies like children have growth spurts and lose it especially if they are running around more .
I’ve always had labs who love their food and finish the bowl in minutes, so I can’t comment on the food issue .
Your pup looks gorgeous. Enjoy him . Puppies are hard work but a year or two on and you’ll have a very loyal friend .

Lovely looking pup. You have done the correct thing by going to vets. My dogs also sleep loads. Enjoy your pup.

Thanks everyone. 🐶🐾

Good advice from Iam64 and others

My father-in-law over-walked one young puppy he had (a Labrador, I think) and it suffered joint problems yes, I've heard that too.
He's still growing and at six months perhaps he doesn't need quite so much walking. I agree about the sleep too, they do sleep a lot at that age.

Perhaps worms were the problem and now he's been wormed he should start gaining weight again.
If you're still worried, take him to the vet, presumably you've taken out insurance.

If he’s tired a lot, maybe change to two walks and scatter of a few treats on the garden for him to find and a play?

You don’t say how long you are walking him, so it’s hard to say if he’s getting over tired.

I’ve fed raw, and do now but I feed a pup a good quality kibble plus raw in appropriate amount. Just my opinion.

Can you walk in at your vets and get him weighed? I’ve done it with all mine, then asked them to add it to their records.

You sound a lovely dog owner, and your dog will be a wonderful companion and a credit to you.

My daughters Mini is the opposite in that she can’t seem to keep the weight off her although she eats hardly anything (she is 4 though). Please be aware that Minis are prone to pancreatitis and need to be on a low fat diet. They are lovely little dogs, though.

I would always advocate a word with the vet if worried about weight loss. But my experience of my male poodle growing up was that when he became 6 or 7 months old he very often went off his food, he sometimes wouldn't eat for a couple of days and he lost weight. The vets couldn't find anything wrong and put it down to his male hormones as he was maturing. It turned out to be true because as soon as he was neutered he changed and became interested in food again. I have 3 dogs at various stages of life and they all sleep (often with one eye open) lots during the day, to be honest I don't know what else they would if they are not being walked, played with, fed etc. It's not as if they can read a book or watch TV is it?

I’d say he’s being overwalked. Puppies only need short walks and spend hours sleeping, it’s quite normal. He looks beautiful by the way 😊.
Enjoy many wonderful years with him.

It took 18 months (& many conversations with different vets) for us to find a food that didn't upset our cat's stomach. Talk to the vet about your concerns.

If you have any concerns, ask your vet.

Yes puppies sleep a lot, they also tend to want to eat lot's and can get tubby. If yours was a normal weight and has since lost I'd suggest checking with the vet in case they've picked up parasites, teeth are ok and get a general once over. They do go through adolescence but imo get naughtier not sleepier.

You should be taking him to the vet, that's what you SHOULD be doing instead of asking on a forum.
Let's all put on veterinarian hats on and "guess" for you.

Puppies (and dogs), sleep a lot, can be suddenly fussy with food and you are doing everything ok, lucky dog and well done you

JdotJ

You should be taking him to the vet, that's what you SHOULD be doing instead of asking on a forum.
Let's all put on veterinarian hats on and "guess" for you.

Very harsh !! Puppy is clearly not unwell or injured !! Lots and lots of experienced, lifelong dog owners on this site, including me !! He’s still growing and dogs, like humans, go throw different growing phases

I took him to the vet yesterday. Slight temperature but not enough to worry about. Blood and urine tests done and all came back ok. Vet said he was in excellent condition. Vet gave him an injection to stimulate his appetite and some probiotics. Cost me an arm and a leg but probably not worth claiming on his insurance!

Puppies are just babies sleep eat and repeat lol enjoy him before he gets to the chewy stage with his teeth. My dog used to sleep a lot when she was a baby then run around eating my toilet paper if someone hadn’t shut bathroom door she would be in there playing with it I spent more time wrapping them up than using them lol she was a Wolfe spitz I bought her when I lived in Germany and she lived until she was 16 broke my heart the day she left me. Puppies are like babies weight goes up and down you will soon learn if she isn’t well and you need a vet. Enjoy

One of my Cockers became sleepy after a long walk in the park .

I thought that she'd just exhausted herself as she was so playful -more active than any of my other dogs .

A couple of hours later - panic set in .

I couldn't wake her up .
I had to call out the vet ( luckily a friend of mine , who wasn't worried about the late call )
She said , I don't actually know what's wrong with her - but her vital signs are failing and she's dying .

She set up an IV with antibiotics and steroids and I was up all night with her in my bathroom on the floor .

She lay listlessly on my lap .

I woke up the next day when she licked my hand as she began to recover .

My advice is this - if you have any doubts about your pet - seek advise from a professional as soon as possible .

Sorry :
Advice not advise !

I love my dog, but got him when he was 2 so never had the puppy stage. Sounds like fun.

You sound like a lovely sensible owner and all I would add to the wisdom already here is make sure you have some sort of policy for insurance and also ( if you can manage it) a care policy with your vet so worms and fleas are sorted properly and the puppy gets an annual health check.

I'm not an expert but have had several dogs including current 2 year old lab. My personal opinion is he's having too much exercise. Just let him sleep as much as he wants. He's a baby.

Congratulations on getting a beautiful pup, also on raw feeding. I do although I cheat a bit and use a complete.
I wonder if 3 walks are a lot ? The rule of thumb was always 5 minutes a day for every month of the puppies life. Not sure how long for, presumably until they are fully grown.
At 6 months he’s at the gangly teenaged stage. Still growing into his shape.
Continue to enjoy there’s really nothing better.

My Westie is quite elderly now but she sleeps almost all the time. I am elderly too and of I sit down she lies down and sleeps, my westies were both rescue dogs and took a little time to settle into my routines but once they were comfortable they did spend lots of time sleeping. As others have said speak to your vet if your worried.