Puppy Nutrition

I am often asked, “What should I feed my Labrador puppy? What do you recommend?”

I’ve always researched dog food carefully — looking first at the ingredient list (meat should be the primary source), then the guaranteed analysis, and finally the overall quality, digestibility, and real-world results. After evaluating many options, we chose TLC Pet Food as our primary diet and NuVet supplements as the daily foundation for every dog in our program.

At Charo Labrador Retrievers, our mission is to produce beautiful, healthy, athletic, and sweet-tempered Labrador Retrievers that become cherished family members for many years. Nutrition is one of the most important tools we have to support that goal.

Why TLC Pet Food?

TLC is a meat-first, Canadian-made food formulated by professional nutritionists. The first ingredients are quality animal proteins (lamb meal, chicken meal, fresh chicken, and salmon meal). It includes ancient whole grains, beneficial fats (including salmon oil for DHA and omega-3s), prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, and natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin from green-lipped mussels. It is free of corn, wheat, soy, by-products, artificial preservatives, and fillers.

We raise our Charo Labrador puppies on TLC and continue our adults on it because we see the difference in coat quality, energy, digestion, muscle condition, and overall vitality.

Why NuVet?

Every puppy and adult at Charo Labrador Retrievers receives NuVet Plus (and NuJoint when appropriate). NuVet has been used by serious breeders and pet professionals for decades. It is manufactured in an FDA-registered pharmaceutical laboratory using human-grade ingredients that are cold-processed to protect nutrient potency. We value the consistent immune, skin/coat, and overall wellness support it provides from the earliest weeks of life onward.

The Bigger Picture on Pet Food Quality

Commercial pet food became widespread around World War II and was originally built around leftover grains and lower-grade protein sources. Many modern foods still rely heavily on inexpensive fillers (corn, wheat, soy) and lower-quality animal by-products. These ingredients can place extra stress on the kidneys and liver over time and are common triggers for allergies and digestive issues.

Dogs are genetically capable of living well into their teens (and sometimes longer), yet the average lifespan is often shorter. Nutrition is one of the biggest factors we can control. By feeding a clean, meat-first diet like TLC and supporting it with a high-quality daily supplement like NuVet, we give our Labradors the best foundation for long-term health.

Our Commitment

We feed TLC and use NuVet because we believe it gives our Charo Labrador puppies the strongest possible start and supports lifelong wellness in our adults. While premium nutrition costs more per bag than economy foods, dogs typically eat less of a nutrient-dense formula and utilize more of what they eat. The daily cost for an adult Labrador is often comparable to (or less than) a specialty coffee — and the long-term payoff in health and longevity is far greater.

Your puppy is worth the investment in quality nutrition.