Training, Care & Supplies
Raising an English Labrador into a calm, confident, and long-lived family companion requires thoughtful early healthcare, sound joint preservation, holistic nutrition, and the right puppy supplies.
Sterling Puppy Vaccination Timeline
Core immunization schedule administered prior to go-home
Neo-Par (Specialized High-Titer Parvovirus Vaccine)
At 4 weeks of age, maternal antibodies naturally begin to wane, leaving puppies susceptible to canine parvovirus. We administer Neo-Par, which is proven to stimulate active immunity in the presence of maternal antibodies without overwhelming immature immune systems.
1-DAPPv Core 5-Way Vaccine
The first core multi-antigen vaccination protecting against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus types 1 (Hepatitis) & 2 (Respiratory disease), Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
1-DAPPv Booster (Core 5-Way Immunization)
Administered at 8 weeks of age to ensure high circulating antibody titers against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus before your puppy transitions home.
Parasite Prevention & Deworming
Proactive protocols throughout the 8-week developmental cycle
All puppies are routinely dewormed starting at 4 weeks of age, repeated at 6 and 8 weeks using Panacur (Fenbendazole) and Pyrantel Pamoate.
Life's Abundance All Life Stages Formula
We exclusively feed and recommend Life's Abundance dog food. Unlike mass-market supermarket kibbles that sit in warm distribution warehouses for months, Life's Abundance is made in small, frequent batches and shipped directly to your door within 4-6 weeks of manufacturing. Once your puppy is assigned, you are given ample time to order online through our links and receive the food before homecoming (we also keep food on-site if you haven't pre-ordered prior to pickup). Maintaining your puppy on Life's Abundance dog food along with Life's Abundance Wellness Food Supplement or NuVet Plus® immune builder is required to maintain the validity of your Sterling Labs Health Guarantee.
Joint Care & Growth Plate Protection
Essential guidelines for safe skeletal development in growing English Labradors
English Labradors develop heavy bone structure over their first 18-24 months. Until growth plates fuse (around 14-18 months), caution must be exercised with physical exertion:
- The 5-Minute Rule: Limit structured leash walks to 5 minutes per month of age (e.g., 20 minutes at 4 months) up to twice daily. Free play on grass is always fine.
- Avoid Repetitive Jumping: Do not allow puppies under one year to jump out of high truck tailgates, onto slick tile, or repeatedly down steep flights of stairs.
- Keep Lean Body Condition: Excess puppy fat puts premature torque on developing hip sockets and elbow joints. You should easily feel ribs with light pressure.
Breeder Video: Puppy Training & Early Care (8–12 Weeks)
Practical demonstrations for handling, sound movement habits, and early development.
Recommended Puppy Supplies & Breeder Favorites
Recommended products we personally use and trust for our English Labradors
We frequently get asked by new puppy owners what supplies, gear, and nutritional products we recommend to prepare their homes. We have done years of extensive research comparing ingredients, safety records, durability, and biological benefits. Below is our official take-home shopping list.
1. Daily Nutrition & Feeding

Months 2 to 12Life's Abundance Large Breed Puppy Food
Your choice of puppy food is the most important decision you make for your new family member. We absolutely recommend continuing with Life's Abundance Large Breed Puppy formula for the first 6 to 12 months. Specifically engineered with balanced calcium and phosphorus for controlled skeletal growth.
- Shipped within 4–6 weeks of manufacture
- Guaranteed live probiotics & wholesome proteins
Adult Stage TransitionLife's Abundance All Life Stage Dog Food
After your English Labrador reaches 10 to 12 months of age, smoothly transition to the All Life Stage formula. Contains optimal omega fatty acids for a dense, lustrous double coat and antioxidant defense for long-term health.
- Zero corn, wheat, artificial flavors, or fillers
- Direct home delivery ensures peak ingredient freshness
Life's Abundance Companion Supplement for Large Breed Puppy Food
While quality large-breed puppy food provides the core baseline nutrition for growth, high-heat kibble processing naturally limits delicate, heat-sensitive compounds, and no single dry food formula can supply therapeutic levels of specialized wellness ingredients without upsetting dietary balance. The Companion Supplement for Large Breed Puppy Food is low-temperature manufactured and formulated directly around the tested nutrient levels of the kibble, rather than acting as a generic add-on. It bridges the gap by delivering concentrated joint-protecting agents (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and Boswellia serrata) and specialized elements—such as bovine colostrum for early immune resilience, algal DHA for brain development, and food-matched enzymes—ensuring fast-growing puppies receive optimal, targeted structural support without risking nutrient overages.
- Therapeutic joint protection: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM & Boswellia serrata
- Targeted immune & cognitive development: Bovine colostrum & algal DHA
- Low-temperature cold-processing preserves active enzymes and heat-sensitive nutrients
- Synergistically calibrated to large breed puppy kibble without risking dietary overages
2. Immune & Bone Fortification

NuVet Plus® Canine Immune & Joint Support
NuVet Plus provides a cold-processed formula of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that help bridge nutritional gaps during rapid puppy bone growth. Supplementing with Life's Abundance Wellness Food Supplement or NuVet Plus® is a critical condition for maintaining your Sterling Labs Health Guarantee validity:
3. Walking & Leash Training Gear

EzyDog Quick Fit Dog Harness
We prefer using a harness rather than a neck collar for training young puppies because it eliminates strain on their delicate trachea and cervical spine. When shopping for a harness, you want wide, padded chest webbing that does not force you to contort or pull puppy paws through loops.
The EzyDog Quick Fit uses an innovative one-click buckle that slips easily over the head and clicks shut in seconds. (Tip: Puppies grow rapidly, so plan to adjust sizing as your Labrador matures).
4. Labrador Grooming, Floppy Ear & Dental Care

Revitalizing Shampoo
Labradors love swimming and water! When water alone won't get them clean, this is our favorite shampoo. Formulated not to strip natural weather-resistant oils from their double coat, leaving fur soft, clean, and smelling wonderful.

Ear Care Formula
Floppy Labrador ears naturally trap humidity and debris after water activities. This gentle, non-irritating botanical formula works with your dog's natural biology to soothe canals and dissolve excess wax buildup.

Bee Clear Dental Hygiene
Simply add to your pet's drinking water daily! Delivers a fast-acting one-two punch: breaks down plaque and tartar buildup, then creates a protective coating on teeth that maintains a healthy oral pH balance.
5. Wholesome Dog Treats & Training Rewards

All-Natural Bully Sticks
Free-range, all-natural wholesome chews available in water buffalo, beef, and pork in multiple sizes. A long-lasting, fully digestible alternative to hazardous rawhide that satisfies your Labrador's natural instinct to chew while helping scrub teeth clean.

Ugly Bones™ Dental Treats
The ultimate teeth-cleaning dental treat engineered to combat plaque, fight tartar buildup, and freshen breath. Crafted with unique ridges and nubs that massage gums and reach deep between teeth as your dog chews. Available in multiple weight-matched sizes.

Premium Cow Ears
A savory, low-fat chew to indulge your Labrador's natural chewing instinct safely. Exceptionally gentle on sensitive tummies, naturally flavorful, and 100% free from harsh chemicals, bleach, synthetic additives, artificial colors, or preservatives.
6. Home Stain & Odor Elimination

Bio-Base Biodeodorizer Spray
This spray is nothing short of miraculous during puppy house-training! Rather than merely masking odors with heavy perfumes, it utilizes viable bacterial cultures that biologically digest and break down organic protein, urine, and odor-causing debris. Safe to use on carpets, tile, bedding, laundry hampers, and crates.
7. Pet Health Insurance & Go-Home Protection
Trupanion Medical Insurance for Sterling Puppies
New puppy owners receive an exclusive Go Home Day Offer from Trupanion to jumpstart medical coverage for your pet. This special coverage ensures your new family member is protected against unexpected illnesses or accidents right from the start.
Immediate medical coverage with no waiting period.
No caps on payouts for the lifetime of your pet.
Pays participating vet clinics directly at check-out.
📌 How Activation Works:
The Go Home Day offer is valid from 24 hours before to 24 hours after your puppy leaves our kennel. Your exclusive Sterling Labs breeder offer code is provided in your take-home binder upon pick-up.
Sterling Labradors is an authorized independent field representative for Life's Abundance (#20243705), partner with NuVet Labs (#29076), and partners with Trupanion for complimentary 30-day go-home medical insurance. We only endorse products and services that we trust and believe in for the lifetime health and vitality of our dogs.

