We have had our 8 week old lab puppy for almost a week now but we are having some problems with her.

Firstly she is always starving hungry. The vet told us that labs are always hungry but when she is not eating she gets wild (thrashes her head around and bites me in the face which I have tried to stop desperately.) I am giving her four feeds a day of half a cup full of BETA puppy food as recommended by her breeder but is this enough? What amount should she be eating? I have tried playing with her to keep her mind off food and I have tried keeping her calm and quiet on her own but neither work.

Secondly she is not sleeping very much. Just a half hour here and there but no longer. Then she wakes up and starts whining for food (shes not whining to relieve herself coz we have tried taking her out but she continues her behaviour even after she has toileted). How long should she be sleeping for? Does she need more exercise?

Are these problems that will get better when she settles in a bit more?

Any advice would be gratefully received!

In a week an puppy this age does quite a bit of growing - don't be afraid to increase the food available to her slightly. Puppies are very good at self regulating (just like babies) and will sleep and eat and everything else when they have to if allowed. Just make sure that she has somewhere secure to sleep, where she won't be disturbed by other animals/children, and that she has plenty of fresh clean water (especially important when feeding a dry food.......) Be aware that when she starts teething the hard food may be a bit too tough on her tender teeth and she may prefer it softened with a little water (warm is best, but don't leave it sitting too long - just long enough to soften the food).

I dont think you are giving enough, half a cupful is nowhere near enough imo for a meal. I have just had a look at my puppy complete and it says to feed a large breed puppy of that age 300-400 grams a day. This is 3-4 heaped mugfuls. I know different makes may recommend different amounts - have you checked the beta bag for the guideline of amounts to give? Personally I would get her off Beta and feed another complete puppy food. I read many posts on here about Beta disagreeing with some dogs, and them not developing properly. Burns is good, or Febo or Arden Grange, those are the ones I have used succesfully, there are many other good ones.

Has she been wormed properly? If she is hungry she will not settle as she is not happy.