My experience with labs is first they are babies, to be treated as one, around 8-12 weeks. Then they are toddlers, they will chew on everything you own, especially if it smells like you, they do this first because they are teething and then because they love you so much, it is best to put your shoes in a drawer, keep headphones and telelphones out of their reach..remove anything wooden or leather, buy some bitter apple. by 5months to a year you have your hands full of a mobile active and curious child. You need loads of walks, fresh air and a zillion games of fetch this stage you should work each day for at least 20 minutes on obdience..not necesarily all at the same time, but make sure you do it every day. This is when you love them even when it is hard to, you do it because they love you so much. AFter the one year mark you repeat all of the above until they are 2. Then they start to settle down a little..by f our and five you have the best dog that has ever walked the earth and it was worth every moment of the first two years...then your dog gets older and wiser, you flow together like you were born together..then suddenly your dog is old. THere is a song about old dogs, children and watermelon wine. That is my experience with labs.