Five Yellow Lab Puppies Drifted Off in One Warm Pile on the Bed

Five yellow Labrador Retriever puppies are piled on a white bedspread, curled into one another like a living quilt. Some have their eyes shut and their chins on a sibling's back, while the lowest pup peeks out at the camera with sleepy eyes. Their cream-colored coats blend into the pale sheets, and the bed has barely a wrinkle except where the puppies have settled.

Yellow Labs range from pale cream to a deep fox red, and puppies like these start out soft and downy. Sleep is vital for growing Labs, and a cozy pile of siblings keeps them calm. If you have a litter or new puppy, give them a quiet, warm place with washable bedding. Beds are comfortable, but puppies can fall off the edge, so use a low bed or place a barrier. Accidents happen with young puppies, so waterproof covers help. Labs tend to be affectionate and love to be near their people, and a puppy who sleeps well will be easier to train. Short play sessions followed by naps are normal. Your vet can tell you how much sleep a puppy needs at each age and whether the bedding is suitable.

Five dreams are happening at once in this little heap. Everything is soft, quiet and warm, and the bed has never looked so full. If a paw twitches or a tail thumps, it is only a dream about chasing something very small and very fast through a green field.