The 6ks Paws and Hobbies

05/30/2026

Would you believe she had her first babies nearly 12 weeks ago, and that she's not a baby herself!? Me either. She is 2 yrs old! My Pais ♡

05/29/2026

Life around here lately with lots of boys! 🤣

05/18/2026

2 cute boys still here, and Miss Pepper is blessing us with more today! We are taking a break soon haaa!

05/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Fej6XTFKJ/

Labradors have a reputation for being endlessly energetic, but one of the biggest mistakes owners make is treating every stage of a Lab’s life the same.

A 4 month old puppy, a 2 year old adult, and a 10 year old senior do not need the same type of exercise, the same intensity, or even the same recovery time. And getting that balance wrong can quietly affect joints, behavior, weight, and long term health.

With Labrador puppies, more exercise is not always better. Their growth plates are still developing, which means repetitive impact and forced endurance can put unnecessary stress on their joints. Long runs, endless fetch sessions, or constant stair climbing at a young age may do more harm than good. What puppies really need is controlled play, short walks, training games, confidence building, and lots of rest.

Young Labs are usually the phase that surprises people the most. Around adolescence, many suddenly become stronger, faster, more impulsive, and far more demanding mentally. This is the age where many owners think the dog is “bad,” when in reality the dog is simply under stimulated. Physical activity matters, but mental work matters just as much: scent games, obedience, retrieval tasks, swimming, structured play, and learning impulse control.

Adult Labradors usually thrive with roughly 60 to 90 minutes of daily activity, but quality matters more than just duration. A balanced Lab routine often includes:

Walks with sniffing time
Retrieval or swimming sessions
Training practice
Off leash exploration where safe
Calm decompression after activity

And then comes the senior stage, where many Labs still want adventure even if their body starts slowing down. Older dogs often benefit more from consistency than intensity. Gentle walks, swimming, mobility support, soft surfaces, and maintaining healthy weight become far more important than “wearing them out.”

One thing many veterinarians emphasize with Labradors is weight management. Labs are genetically prone to overeating and obesity, and excess weight puts huge strain on hips, elbows, knees, and the spine. Keeping a Lab lean is one of the best long term health decisions an owner can make.

Exercise is not just about burning energy.
It shapes behavior, confidence, emotional stability, sleep quality, and even joint health later in life.

A Labrador that gets the right kind of activity usually becomes calmer inside the house, easier to train, healthier physically, and more emotionally balanced.

The goal is not to exhaust them.
The goal is to fulfill them.

05/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18BYNCspqU/

Managing your dog's bathroom schedule often feels like solving a puzzle, especially when you consider how much their physical size influences their needs. Smaller breeds generally process food and water much faster than larger counterparts, which is why a tiny pup under 25 pounds typically needs a break every 3 to 5 hours. Medium-sized dogs usually handle things a bit better, requiring a visit outside every 4 to 6 hours. Those larger companions over 65 pounds are usually comfortable waiting 5 to 7 hours between trips. Keeping these windows in mind helps avoid unnecessary discomfort or accidents in the home. Adjusting your daily clock to match their biology makes life smoother for everyone involved. It is quite rewarding to see how a consistent rhythm settles into place once the timing aligns with their natural pace.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day ladies!!!!!!!

Look at this adorable big kid puppy pile in the morning sun ♡ I love seeing no piddle puddles since I removed the potty box and moved their water outside a few days ago! They're pretty good babies for 9 weeks old 😍

05/05/2026

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTknhjckL/
Gave Topaz and Paisley a little blowout this afternoon 😆 Paisley is now mad at me, but that girl needed it lol

Check out Ashley’s video.

04/29/2026

3 black headed tris and 1 red headed tri ready to land on a couch this weekend. These kids are so smart and mostly using the bathroom outside for and the paper inside to p*e. 😍😍 I love having a doggie door for my puppers!

04/25/2026

Pepper's personality in one picture. 🤣 I was busy playing with the pups and look over to see her staring at me waiting for her turn. 🥹♡ She is an aunt to Paisley's babies. She also came into season early and Topaz proved himself once again. 🫢 expecting more 🐾babies mid May 😅
Topaz is on a timeout....
🐾❤️🤣🐾🥰🐾

04/23/2026

6.5 wk corgi pups!!! I'm really behind with this group! Sorry everyone! They just started exploring the outdoors and the doggie door. I had to make them a little ramp so they use it 😆 some still think it's too scary out there LOL

04/10/2026

Introducing individual babies!!! Almost 5 weeks old! ♡