some show
Well-Known Member
Wow, what a difference in just 4 weeks! What a gorgeous lad.
Puppy advice
- Thread starter Xmasha
- Start date
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
We’ve started puppy classes and he’s proving to be an absolute diamond geezer .I’m amazed at how quickly he picks things up . Just so keen to learn , especially as the training means he gets treats ! He makes us laugh everyday with his antics , such a clown. I’m definitely a lab convert now . 
He can sleep anywhere ! Who needs expensive beds ??
He can sleep anywhere ! Who needs expensive beds ??
ArklePig
Well-Known Member
An angel! So pleased to hear how well he's coming along.
Clodagh
Well-Known Member
He’s gorgeous.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
I love the way his skin is too big for him. He is gorgeous!
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
You can pull his skin right up ! Reckon you could make another pup with the spare
The only issue we have is taking him for walks down the lane . There’s 2 big GSD that we need to pass but they bark a lot so he won’t go anywhere near . He gets scared when he hears any dogs bark . Is this just a matter of time or should I do something to help him ?
He’s great when he meets other dogs it’s just the barking .
Christmascinnamoncookie
Fais pas chier!
Can you distract/treat him for focussing on you rather than the gsds? So,e times they take confidence from us ignoring the scary stuff.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Rather than treats, forget about feeding him out of a bowl for a bit. Take all his food allowance for one meal with you when you're going down the lane, in your pockets. Verbally mark and feed him for looking at/following you/forgetting about the barking. He'll soon get the idea.
You can do this for all sorts of training.
You can do this for all sorts of training.
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
Thanks both , I have tried treats , he just ignored them ( the only time he has ) he just wants to run back. Although I haven’t tried him before a meal . So will try that .
I did pick him up and walk him passed one day , I suppose the defeats the object ?
I did pick him up and walk him passed one day , I suppose the defeats the object ?
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Don't expect too much initially. Small wins with big rewards and build it up.
I'm not sure of the layout or if you must walk past every time, but you can play around with feeding before it gets too much, feeding once he is past, etc etc.
I'm not sure of the layout or if you must walk past every time, but you can play around with feeding before it gets too much, feeding once he is past, etc etc.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
No, my 1st thought was 'carry him past'. He will feel more confident if he is above them and will take confidence from you, as you walk past in a relaxed way.
He will soon learn that they don't harm him.
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
Great, I will do that a few times and see if he improves. Thanks Pas x
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Just don't wear a scarf!
I had to carry a Lab pup when taking an adult for a walk in winter. She got used to holding my scarf in the first few weeks and still wanted to do so as an adult, in fact for the rest of her life - and she lived to be 15!
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
How did I miss this thread he’s scrummy .
I would just pick him up and carry him past the barking dogs .
But then I like carrying puppies it’s a miracle Dram ever learnt to walk .
I would just pick him up and carry him past the barking dogs .
But then I like carrying puppies it’s a miracle Dram ever learnt to walk .
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
To get to the lanes we have to walk past /towards them as the house sits between 2 lanes . the other way leads to a main road .
This morning we’ve had a little win , I took more food and was prepared to pick him up . But his friend Bob the cat decided to come with us this morning and kindly showed him there’s nothing to worry about . A few treats after we went past and he was happy ?
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
I mean you can pick him up, but that won't last forever and it's better IMO for a dog to learn it can get through the stress to something pleasant on the other side as it has many other applications in life.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I disagree with the above he’s puppy firstly he needs to learn that you are always there ,when he’s overwhelmed that you will be there .
Then as he’s bigger and knows more of the world you can see where it goes perhaps food lures it will probably just happen as he gets older and more confident .
I do carry puppies a lot and that partly because I am so strict about exercise I want them in the world much more than they should be walking therefore I carry them .
Then as he’s bigger and knows more of the world you can see where it goes perhaps food lures it will probably just happen as he gets older and more confident .
I do carry puppies a lot and that partly because I am so strict about exercise I want them in the world much more than they should be walking therefore I carry them .
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Disagree away, Asha will literally be right there, what I have described isn't luring, and elevation married to stress isn't always a good thing one day Mummy won't be able to lift dog away from the stress and that's a bit unfair IMO.
one day Mummy won't be able to lift dog away from the stress and that's a bit unfair IMO.Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
I would never advise picking a dog of any age up because it felt threatened by a loose dog but would pick a pup up in the situation Asha described. However, good old Bob saved the day! And that is even better for the pup.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
My ultimate goal is that the dog learns to ignore or go through an unpleasant but not immediately life-threatening or dangerous experience and get out the other side to something pleasant and therefore gains confidence.
Elevation under stress can be destabilising as well as empowering, it just depends on the individual. I prefer to stay grounded ?
I'm done now promise ?
Elevation under stress can be destabilising as well as empowering, it just depends on the individual. I prefer to stay grounded ?
I'm done now promise ?
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I have never produced a puppy into a fearfull adult .
FestiveG
Over the hill and far awa
A lot of the differences in handling are quite possibly due to different breeds. I know all dogs are dogs, but we trained the rotters slightly differently from how we do labs. Our late father had trained all our family labs. when we got the rotters, the rule was no picking them up and putting them on your knee, he ignored that rule. I did explain that he really didn't want 16 stone of rotter sitting on him when they were grown up! He later found out that I was right and I have a photo somewhere to prove it?
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
The really silly thing about that is that he wouldn't have picked up his own Labs and sat them on his knee!
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
Although I suspect that Bob has ulterior motives. Feeding Stirling to the GSDs ??
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
To some extent it just takes time and repetition. My Lab was terrified on her first walks. It borderline looked like animal abuse, me "forcing" the poor thing to leave the property. Looking at her now, or even shortly after, you would've never known that she was so fearful! I didn't use much food with her, we just walked a wee bit further everyday before turning around. Much like a homebound horse, really.
I've always loved Labs and thought them to be brilliant, and they are, but my Cane Corso pup is the love of my life and much smarter then my Lab, bless her ? and she was also fearful on her first walks and froze when dogs would bark. She was so petrified she wouldn't even take a treat/food. So I once again did what I did with my last one. Slowly increased our distance every day, and used other things as a lure. She has other dog friends around here and I asked the owner to stand on the corner just up the road with them so that pup would be interested in proceeding forward and perhaps want to go past the barking dog(s). This worked. As did walking her with the other dogs, and using OH and the Lab as lures/confidence givers. Just as I might use a more experienced horse to guide a young green one out hacking.
Obviously if you don't have other dogs at your disposal, this won't work.
I did make her work for her lunch and tried to find the most high reward treats for stressful or difficult tasks. Fresh cooked meat (turkey) and some cheddar were hits.
I've always loved Labs and thought them to be brilliant, and they are, but my Cane Corso pup is the love of my life and much smarter then my Lab, bless her ? and she was also fearful on her first walks and froze when dogs would bark. She was so petrified she wouldn't even take a treat/food. So I once again did what I did with my last one. Slowly increased our distance every day, and used other things as a lure. She has other dog friends around here and I asked the owner to stand on the corner just up the road with them so that pup would be interested in proceeding forward and perhaps want to go past the barking dog(s). This worked. As did walking her with the other dogs, and using OH and the Lab as lures/confidence givers. Just as I might use a more experienced horse to guide a young green one out hacking.
Obviously if you don't have other dogs at your disposal, this won't work.
I did make her work for her lunch and tried to find the most high reward treats for stressful or difficult tasks. Fresh cooked meat (turkey) and some cheddar were hits.
BallyJ
Well-Known Member
Can't believe I missed this! Stirling is absolutely gorgeous!! Love the photo of him upside down on his bed.
Looking forward to more updates! As we collect our Lab puppy in 2 weeks time, this thread will be a nice reminder of what we have to come!
Looking forward to more updates! As we collect our Lab puppy in 2 weeks time, this thread will be a nice reminder of what we have to come!
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
So pleased your girl has improved. I’ve followed your posts about , she’s absolutely gorgeous!
We don’t have any dogs around us for now , but a friend is about to get a rotti , so all being well we will be able to go out with her
Oh wow !! Another lab puppy . More info required ! What colour and type is she ? Can’t wait to see photos x
BallyJ
Well-Known Member
HHO Collective could never have too many labs!
she’s the niece of our current lab so couldn’t pass up the opportunity! Another Red (yellow) Bitch, working like. We’re planning on calling her Moss, Currently she’s 7 weeks so we’re playing the waiting game before we can collect her!
Will post photos once she’s landed
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
HHO Collective could never have too many labs!
she’s the niece of our current lab so couldn’t pass up the opportunity! Another Red (yellow) Bitch, working like. We’re planning on calling her Moss, Currently she’s 7 weeks so we’re playing the waiting game before we can collect her!
Will post photos once she’s landed
The waiting takes forever doesn’t it ! A week feels like a month .
Wonderful that she’s related to another of yours . I totally get that , I was thinking if the breeder had another litter I’d love another .
I Love her name , can’t wait to see the photos ?
Xmasha
Well-Known Member
Stirling has graduated from puppy class today . I’m super proud of him as he’s really taken so well to the training . He’s very focused on me and try’s so hard . So we will be carrying on and having a go at the bronze level starting in March . Which considering I’ve had so many people tell me that chocolate labs are nuts just shows how wrong people can be 
On the way home we popped into the local pet shop as he obviously deserved a treat ! Anyhow there was a bit of an altercation with another dog . Owners said he was friendly and could he say hello . No problem I said . Dog then went for Stirling and ended up catching my leg . I just felt the teeth on my jeans . Fortunately Another friendly dog came in and said hello , which was great as it showed Stirling wasn’t upset .
There’s no way Stirling upset this dog as he was tired from puppy class . So it was totally unprovoked.
Can you more experienced dog owners give me some tips as to what I should look for in other dogs body language so I don’t let this happen again .
On the way home we popped into the local pet shop as he obviously deserved a treat ! Anyhow there was a bit of an altercation with another dog . Owners said he was friendly and could he say hello . No problem I said . Dog then went for Stirling and ended up catching my leg . I just felt the teeth on my jeans . Fortunately Another friendly dog came in and said hello , which was great as it showed Stirling wasn’t upset .
There’s no way Stirling upset this dog as he was tired from puppy class . So it was totally unprovoked.
Can you more experienced dog owners give me some tips as to what I should look for in other dogs body language so I don’t let this happen again .