New dog owner

Firstly, congrats on the pups, but you are going to ave your hands full with 2 puppies and esp littermates so you need to be prepared to put in a lot of training, socialisation and patience.
Experienced dog owners rarely recommend to get 2 pups at same time and even more so when they are littermates as they can develop a condition called littermate syndrome where they form a strong bond with each other and find it hard to bond with their owners so just be prepared for lots of hard work with them.

R.e. dog food, any dog food that is found in supermarkets isnt very good quality and is the equivalent of feeding mcdonalds to dogs. Its just full of low quality ingredients and fillers and not much of the nutritious stuff.
Tinned food is even worse as its made up of mostly water so has no nutritional value to a dog as its made up with the crappiest bit of meat so try and stay clear.

The best thing is to go to your local pet shop or vets and get a good quality food there. There are lots, eg Burns, Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved, Arden Grange, Red Mills and so on. Plenty to choose from.
Best to get a big bag, 15kg, as it works out much more economical in the long run.
When you get a good quality food just feed the dry on its own. It doesnt need to be mixed with anything. If you start mixing it with other stuff the dog can get fussy so best to just feed the complete dry food by itself.
You can, as a treat mix in a tin of sardines or tuna if you like every now and again.
With the pooing, you can start anytime to train, but you will obviously have to wait until they are over all their vaccinations before bringing them outside or up the field which wont be for a few weeks yet as they are only 7 weeks now.

Regarding breeding, i highly advise you get both dogs neutered as soon as you can. Males is usually from 6 months onwards. With bitches it can range as they can come into heat anytime from 6 months and vets generally wont spay when they are near a heat or have just come out of a heat as its too risky.
Yes, that is an old wives tale about breeding. It amazing how some people still think. Theres absol no need for a bitch to ever have pups so i would get her done as soon as shes old enough too.

Hope this helps, just shout if you want anymore info:)

Hi Op,

Best of luck with the two new pups, but I don't think you realise what you've gotten yourself in for!!!

A couple of points...
you say you'll fence in an area for them when they're older, are they left loose at the moment to wander? I probably picked you up wrong, but puppies can easily wander under cars / get stolen etc. so it might be a good idea to build that run now so they don't go missing.

Also, with regards to their 'organic life', I know what you're implying, let them be dogs, but a wandering dog can easily get into danger. Its perfectly legal for a farmer to kill your dogs if he 'thinks' your dogs are worrying hes sheep. As in, the dogs can just be sitting watching the sheep from a distance and he can shoot them, ans some farmers happily will.

Also, you mentioned that you have kids. A dog left to its own devices can kill birds and small animals, not very pleasant for your kids to find.

Labs are big dogs, and by 6 months of age they will easily be able to knock your kids over / scrawl them when jumping up.

Your pups are young so it's the perfect time to get set up for your lives together in the future.
I really am not judging you as I don't know you at all and am only going by two posts across the internet, so please please take this as friendly advice (and feel free to completely ignore my ramblings if you choose), but your current situation scarily reminds me of many many posts we see here from new dog owners who say 'everything was great at the start, cute puppies, kids loved them, but now 1 year later we have to get rid of the dogs because ... they are gone wild / dont listen to a thing / destroy the garden / hurt the kids etc.

You should use this time, while they are young, to put a plan together for their future.

1. You should be very careful with your kids around the dogs, the dogs can hurt the kids/ kids can hurt the dogs very easily. You should teach your kids how to play nicely, play fetch, handle them nicely etc/

2. Dogs are dogs as you say, but they are also domesticated, and most would choose cuddling on the sofa over chasing birds any day. Do you plan on letting them inside at all?

3. You should start training your dogs now. Have one on one sessions with the dogs individually, teaching them 'sit' 'down' 'come' etc now so they both bond with you and use their brains. It will give you a sense of achievement and set you up for well behaved dogs in later life.

4. You should never let them jump up on you, starting now. This is especially important with the kids. At the mo I bet the puppies jump up, and the kids sequel and give them loads of cuddles. Cute now but picture a full grown lab jumping on your kids! No longer cute! You should start with teaching the 'sit' command, then teach your kids to teach the dogs 'sit'. Next, any time the puppies jump up, COMPLETELY ignore them. You (and the kids) should stand perfectly still, turn your face upward, and keep your arms up around your chest. This will show the dog that jumping means the end of fun. When the pup eventually calms down and stops jumping, ask the dog to 'sit' then come down to its level for cuddles.
DO THE SAME WHEN THE PUPPY BITES/PLAYS USING ITS TEETH.

If you put the time and effort into training now, you'll have much happier dogs when they are older, dogs that you can be proud of!!!

Also, if you build them a run / fence off the garden that will be great for them when you are out of the house, but would you conceder keeping them in the house? Thats where they'll be happier and they will stay clean there. You could fence off an area / keep them in the utility room until they are calmer.

You should also bring them for short walks (once they've had all their vaccinations) to train them to walk on the leash and socialise them around other environments. Its so important to give them positive interactions with other dogs people animals places smells traffic etc while they are young to avoid irrational fears when they are older!!

Last of all, enjoy them when they are young, they grow soo bloody fast! At least you get a few years of cuteness out of kids, with puppies it seems more like weeks!!

If you have any questions / want any advise you can email me on info@creedonsdoggiedaycare.com