Four Yellow Lab Puppies Packed Into One Wicker Basket

Four yellow Labrador Retriever puppies are packed into a big woven basket, their fur a little tufted and damp as if they've just been dried off. They lean on one another, the front pup with his chin on the rim and his ears relaxed, and the rest peer out at the camera. A sofa, a plant and a throw blanket make up the cozy living room around them.

Puppies have an instinct for cozy, enclosed places. In the wild, dogs' ancestors slept in dens, and a basket gives the same feeling of safety. Labs, being very social, like to snuggle up with their siblings and their people. If you want to give a puppy a basket for naps, choose one that is sturdy and large enough for him to stretch out. Wicker can splinter if chewed, so line it with a soft blanket and check it for damage. Teething puppies chew everything, so provide plenty of safe options, such as rubber toys. A warm, quiet place helps puppies rest, and good rest is important for growing bodies. After a bath, dry puppies thoroughly and keep them warm. Ask your vet if you have any questions about care.

With four in a basket, no one is going anywhere. They look like a delivery of sunshine. Eventually one will climb out, shake off, and bound across the room, and the others will wobble after him in a fuzzy yellow line.