Can puppies take joint supplements? Lab puppy glucosamine question

Breeders often recommend starting joint supplements early for Labs because of the breed's hip predisposition — but the recommendation varies a lot depending on what product and what life stage. Your puppy is still in the growth phase at 1 year. What's the breeder suggesting specifically?

Your instinct to check is sound. At 12 months, a large-breed Lab is still finishing skeletal growth — his joints are actually more sensitive to nutritional interference at this stage, not less. I wouldn't start a standard adult joint supplement until he's fully grown, typically around 18 months for a large Lab. What I would do at this stage is focus on controlled exercise — no long forced runs, no repetitive jumping — and a high-quality large-breed food with appropriate calcium-phosphorus balance. That protects his developing joints more effectively than a supplement at this age. At 18 months, if you want to start him on something preventatively, YuMOVE Young & Active is the right entry point — it's formulated for dogs in exactly this transition.