Week 4: Playtime, potty time & pyrantel, oh my!

At four weeks old these pups are thriving. These five Red Fox Labrador pups have transitioned from sleepy newborns to playful, curious personalities with strong temperaments. They are growing steadily, beginning the weaning process, excelling with early potty habits, and calmly tolerating weekly nail trims and routine care. With their blocky builds, healthy weights, and stunning red coats, this litter is developing beautifully as they move closer to their forever homes.
A red labrador puppy lies comfortably on a red blanket.

Table of Contents

** Note: All pups from this litter are currently reserved.

Red Fox Labrador Puppies Growing Strong

As we head into Week 4 with our Fall 2025 Red Fox Labrador litter, it is amazing to see just how much these puppies have grown and developed. Born to Charlie on November 2, this litter of five is quickly moving from sleepy newborns to curious, playful pups with big personalities and strong temperaments.

If you’re following along week by week, or eagerly awaiting pickup day, here’s everything you’ll want to know about how they’re doing at four weeks old.

More Playtime, Less Nap Time

This week marked a big shift in their energy levels. The puppies are now spending much more time awake, playing with toys, and interacting with each other. Their social skills are blossoming right alongside their physical growth, and it has been so fun watching them wrestle, pounce, and explore their pen.

We’re also happy to report that their potty pad training is going incredibly well. These pups are already showing signs of cleanliness and routine, even overnight. We’re genuinely impressed with how few accidents we’ve had in the pen.

Weekly Nail Trims and Calm Temperaments

One of the highlights of the week was giving each puppy their weekly nail trim, or as we like to call it, a little “mani pedi.” All five pups sat still and tolerated the process with ease, which is a great indicator of their temperament and how well-adjusted they are becoming.

We start trimming their nails almost immediately after birth, and not just for neatness. When puppies nurse, they push their paws into mom’s belly. If their nails are sharp, it can cause scratching and even infection. Keeping their nails trimmed helps protect both mom and pups, and introduces them early to being handled.

Each puppy also had their dewclaws trimmed, and even during that process, they stayed calm and cooperative. This kind of early grooming exposure sets the foundation for great behavior later on, whether as a family companion or a future hunting dog.

Deworming Time (Not Their Favorite Part)

While nail trims were a breeze, their second dose of Pyrantel (a routine dewormer) was met with a little less enthusiasm. The medicine is sticky and, based on their reactions, probably not very tasty. Most of them tried to spit it out, especially Aqua, who gave us the classic “yuck” face. Still, it’s an important preventative step in their health routine, even if they’re not fans of the flavor.

Growing Pups, Healthy Weights

Here’s a quick snapshot of their weight progress at the four-week mark:

  • Blue is currently the biggest of the bunch
  • Red and Orange are not far behind
  • Aqua is one of the smaller boys
  • Purple, our only female, remains the smallest but is doing great


All five puppies are thriving, and it’s been exciting to see them fill out and develop that classic blocky Red Fox Lab build.

Weaning Begins: Less Milk, More Mush

Charlie is starting to nurse a bit less as the puppies gradually begin transitioning to puppy mush. We’re feeding them more each day, and soon they’ll be fully weaned. This is always a bittersweet time, watching them grow more independent from mom, but also a big step in preparing them for life in their forever homes.

Sweet Faces and Holiday Vibes

To wrap up the week, we included some still photos in our video so you can get an up-close look at each puppy’s face. These pups are not only healthy and strong, they’re absolutely beautiful. We also added a small holiday touch to this week’s video to celebrate the season and thank everyone for following along.

We hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Stay tuned as we head into Week 5, where the puppies will continue gaining confidence, exploring new experiences, and getting closer to becoming the perfect companions you’ve been waiting for.

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White handwritten text on a very light gray background reads, "Join our 'pack' today" with an arrow curving to the right, inspired by the warmth of a red fox labrador.