Hello everyone! I tend to be a lurker but I have a real problem today that I'm hoping some will be able to address or at least commiserate with me about. My husband and I have owned labs for 15 years. We've never had a problem like the one we have with our 6 month old, Ripple. He is a different kind of handful then we've had before. We also have a senior named who has a broken toe due to our male puppy. He just had his neuter yesterday and I now have a six month old and an 11 year old both with e-collars and having to be sequestered from each other and limited activity. I'm guessing many of you will understand this challenge. Something new with our boy though is that the vet tech told us he needs extensive, intensive training. It's hard not to take this personally because we've always had success on our own - with the help of puppy class and with private lessons. We have a trainer that we work with and have a lot of confidence in but I need some advice/thoughts/hand-holding on how to deal with this situation until January when he can start school. Thanks in advance to anyone who reads or responds! Peace, love, and Labradors!
Hi there, it sounds like things are a bit challenging for you right now. Are you able to keep them apart? Many people use baby gates to separate areas of their home. I'm slightly concerned about you mentioning e-collars. Use of e-collars is not approved of generally on this forum, and electric shock collars are banned in many countries, including parts of the UK. Where about are you based?
Hey there. I assume by "e-collar", you mean the Elizabethan collars (aka "cone of shame") rather than shock collars, which are also referred to as "e-collars"? Vet techs aren't behaviour consultants. Ignore him. Go with your gut. I had a vet (not just a vet tech) tell me that my puppy was naughty and needed firm handling when she was a tiny puppy and backed away from having eye drops. Until you can start "school", are you doing other training with your puppy? Things like working on impulse control?
I know exactly what is wrong with your 6 month old - his name is Ripple . Commiserations from another Ripple owner, although at two and half he is showing some signs of improvement.
Oh many thanks to all! I'm in the U.S. and as snowbunny suggested, I'm referring to the Elizabethan collar (cone of shame, lamp shade, etc.) The electronic collar market is thriving here, but I'll never forget the scorch marks I saw on the neck of a small dog of a very proud and only slightly concerned owner. I try very hard not to judge, but it made me sick. Anyway, yes baby gates - great idea and we've got 2 we're using. And to snowbunny, thanks for the ideas. We're doing some training, but I hadn't thought of impulse control per se. Any techniques you'd suggest? Also, I can't tell you enough how glad I'm am that you said to ignore the tech. And to Steffis, we're thrilled and amazed to meet another Chocolate Ripple. It's probably for another place than here in my forum post, but how'd he get his name? Ours is named for the Hunter/Garcia song "Ripple."
Well, basically anything that asks him do something contrary to what he would normally choose to do comes under the banner of "impulse control". So, if he likes to barge through doors once they're opened, train him to sit and wait until you have fully opened the door and send him through: Same thing for if he shoves his head in the fridge/dishwasher. Or if he tries to mug your hand if there are treats in it. Or if he jumps out of the car before you release him. Can he stay on his bed, or in a sit/stay while you drop food or toys around him, for example. Can he wait for you to release him before he runs up to other dogs or people? I'm not saying he should be able to do all of these in any circumstance at his age, don't worry! But they're all examples of things you could be working towards to build in impulse control. I always assume every Ripple is named after the chocolate bar
We have a chocolate bar here in the U.K. called Ripple . He's my 3rd chocolate, all named after chocolate food.
Hi there and welcome! I understand, as I had an elderly dog who was horribly mugged by our Poppy when she was a pup. To my mind, most six month old Labradors need extensive and intensive training, but while group training is useful and fun, there is no reason why you can't do it yourself. That is disgusting and horrible, no wonder you were upset
I love tug as an impulse control game. So actually tug for just half a minute then train a release cue ( initially by dropping your end and offering a treat as a swap) then restart the game. Repeat. Soon your dog will release without the treat because of the reward of the game restarting. Then you can start to cue release and ask for another behaviour ( like a sit or down) before restarting the game.
Oh dear, sounds awful, sorry I thought this is what you meant. I don't normally use the term e-collar for a "cone". My bad. Can't help you with the impulse control - my sedate girl turns into a whippet at a whiff of deer (or, in fact, a pile of fox poop or dead seal) Glad folk don't have to rely on me for advice
