Why is my Labrador puppy lazy?

If your Labrador puppy is lazy you might want to know why and if there is anything you should do about it. In this post, I will show you some common reasons why Labrador puppies can be lazy and what you can do about it.

So, why is my Labrador puppy lazy? Possible reasons are not getting the right diet, illness, hot weather, not getting enough exercise, depression or it might be the case that it is naturally not very active. It is also important to consider that Labrador puppies do sleep for up to 18 hours daily.

Your Labrador puppy might be being lazy for many reasons and it could be due to a combination of them. However, there are a number of things you can do about it and there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause.

Why your Labrador puppy is so lazy

Below are some common reasons why Labrador puppies can be lazy and what would make them more likely to be the reason why yours has been being lazy.

It’s bored

The cause might be that it is bored. This would be more likely if it doesn’t get the chance to be active very often and if it suddenly becomes very energetic when it is about to do something exciting such as when it’s about to play or go for a walk.

It’s not getting the right diet

It might be the case that there is an issue with the diet that you are feeding it. You might be feeding it the wrong foods or the wrong amount. This would be especially likely if it started being lazier when you started feeding it differently.

It would help to consult with your vet when you see them next on the diet it is getting and whether or not you are feeding it the right foods and in the correct quantities. It would also help to make sure that no one else has been feeding it.

You can take a look here to see everything that you need to know about what you should be feeding your Labrador puppy.

It has depression

Dogs can get depression, like humans do, and it could be the reason why your Labrador puppy has been acting lazy.

It is not likely that depression would be the reason if it is a healthy Labrador puppy in a healthy environment. However, it would be more likely if it has not always been so lazy. It would also be more likely if it suddenly became lazy after something happened such as if it lost a friend, you moved home or a family member moved away.

Nature

Labrador puppies naturally sleep a lot and it is normal for them to sleep for between 15 and 20 hours per day. This is because they are growing fast when they are puppies and they grow while they are sleeping.

Illness or injury

Illness or injury could be causing it to be lazy. This would be more likely if it has become fatigued suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of being ill or injured such as being fatigued when awake or vomiting. If it does seem like illness could be the cause the best option would be to take it to a vet.

Hot weather

If your Labrador puppy has suddenly started being lazier as the weather has become hotter it could be because of the weather. This would be more likely if it is lazier when it is hot outside. In this case, it would be important to give it lots of access to shade, water and a cool room. It would also help to exercise it in the mornings or evenings when it is cooler and the sun is not directly overhead.

Not enough exercise

Labradors are a breed that is meant to get a lot of exercise on a daily basis. If your Labrador puppy is not getting much exercise it could be causing it to behave abnormally. It is normally recommended for them to get at least an hour of exercise per day as healthy adults.

It is debated that, as puppies, the amount of exercise they should be getting should be limited since they are still growing. It is generally recommended for them to get around 5 minutes of exercise per month of age up to twice daily (source).

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider about your Labrador puppy being lazy.

If it has always been lazy

If your Labrador puppy has suddenly started being lazy, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it.

If it did start being lazy suddenly it would make it more likely to be due to things such as a change in its diet, becoming ill or the weather getting too hot for it.

Whereas, if it has not started doing it suddenly it would be more likely to be due to its nature especially if it is not lazy when it is awake but it just sleeps a lot which would be normal. However, it could also be that you have always been feeding it incorrectly or that there is a more serious issue.

When it becomes less lazy

It would also help to consider the timing of when it becomes lazy since the timing could also have something to do with it.

For example, if it starts being lazy after being fed it could be that it’s being fed too much or that it is being fed the wrong foods.

How to get your Labrador puppy to be less lazy

Below are some options you have when trying to get your Labrador puppy to be less lazy.

Make sure its diet is right

As mentioned above, if your Labrador is not getting the right diet it could be what is causing it to be lazy. If you want to get your Labrador puppy to be less lazy and for it to be as healthy as possible it is important to make sure that it is eating correctly.

You can look here to see what you should be feeding it.

Take it to a vet

If you cannot figure out why your Labrador puppy is lazy, it is fatigued while it is awake, it has been showing signs of illness or it has become lazy suddenly the best option would be to take it to a vet. By doing so you will be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular Labrador and to rule out medical causes.

Keep it cool

If your Labrador puppy has started being lazy as the weather has gotten hotter it would be important to help keep it cool. You can do this by giving it access to lots of shade, water and cool areas. It would also be important to avoid letting it be out in direct sunlight for extended periods since it could cause it to get heatstroke.

Give it toys to play with

In addition to the above, you could also give it things to play with to help keep it stimulated. Things that you could give it would include toys or puzzle games designed for dogs.

Allow it to sleep

It is usual for Labrador puppies to sleep a lot when they are puppies because they are growing fast and they need sleep to support their growth. As a result, it is important to let it sleep whenever it feels the need to sleep.