Originally Posted by
dxboon
I would stop letting the puppy just lazily eat. Put the food bowl down for 10 minutes and then take it away. A puppy won't let itself starve, and will learn that meal time is for eating. Hard to tell condition from these photos. I like to keep my puppies plush -- not butterballs, but with some padding. Their immune systems are immature, making them susceptible to things. For a young puppy, getting a little sick or off their food for a short time can impact their body condition. With some reserves, I know my puppies won't be affected negatively if they lose some weight because of teething or a stomach bug.
I don't understand keeping lean puppies. You wouldn't tell someone that their human baby needed to be kept lean. If you want your Lab to grow up to its potential in terms of size, bone, coat, you have to feed it properly. Growing teeth and bones and a nice double coat takes calories. After the early months of puppyhood, when teeth are all in and the growth stage slows, then you cut back on feeding. You can always lean a dog out later, but you can't go back in time and regrow a puppy properly.