Hey Everybody! I need some advice with my Labrador Mix. I got Cesar at 3 months old. I have been through two trainers and no results yet. Now at 10 months he’s becoming extremely mouthy. Just today on a walk, he randomly jumps up, starts biting the lease, and biting me. I’m so over these bruises. I love him, but I’m growing tired. Any advice?? Ciera
Hi Ciera, welcome to the forum! Sorry to hear you're having some trouble, I hope you find the help you need on here
Hi @ciera, happy to offer suggestions. Some Labs can be a real handful. But I think our advice would be better focused if you could supply some more information. Can you tell us please what you have tried to do so far? Does the behaviour occur everytime when you take the dog for a walk? Did the trainers' suggested remedies result in any improvement? Have you attended obedience class? Regards Michael
Hi Michael thank you so much! Yes, he’s a real handful. Especially at 81bs. So after Cesar uses the bathroom, we walk a couple of feet and then he randomly starts attacking the lease. With attacking the lease, he growls and bites me throwing me around (he might think he’s playing). In those moments I do my best to stay calm and tell him to settle down. When that doesn’t work, I try to hold the lease away from my body to stop getting injured so much. I wait it out until he’s in a sit position then try to walk again, but that doesn’t work. So I have to grab his gentle leader head collar and walk home. In the house he does the same time. He nips (extremely painful), jumps, & barks when he does not get his way. Both trainers said to “create boundaries” and that Cesar doesn’t have manners. So I say “back” when he’s in my bubble, “off” when he counter surfs” and “leave it” when he tries to take items. I have treats available and give to him when there’s a behavior I like. I also try to “submit” him when he’s being bad, but he thinks that’s a game too. He doesn’t take me serious. I must look weak. The last trainer had the red aresol spray can to redirect his attention which worked (for the trainer only). Cesar also like to take things he’s not suppose to and run. I know for his breed, exercise is important. I take him on long walks and to the doggie park. Chew toys (Bully Box) he has so many. I really hope you all can help. It’s to the point where I feel myself getting afraid of him. I know this sounds super silly, but it’s also to the point where I just cry because I feel like I failed him and myself. I truly appreciate the help. If there’s anything else you need to know or videos of walks I can do so.
Thanks @ciera for the detailed answer. I would enrol in an obedience class, in which the instructor will spend a bit of time teaching you how to positively reward the dog for desirable behaviour. I think the advice about submission is flawed as it is grounded on faulty research on wolves. i suggest you ask the class instructor whether you can audit a lesson. Look for an instructor who emphasizes postive reinforcement, timing, fairness in terms of expectations, and how to deal with distractions. Buy a tug toy that you can hold with straps at each end, clear of his mouth. It will only be used by you. Don't leave it for the dog to play with. Teach the mine and your game. Now when he gets mouthy redirect his mouth to the tug toy. If it helps let him carry it when you walk with him. Try to use the tug toy rather than placing your lead in different position. You are going to try to extinguish the lead as an ersatz tug toy. And redirect his mouthiness to the tug toy. I would also put him on a long line some of the time. If he is up to playing with a solid rubber ball without becoming too boisterous, then play a game with him of retrieve. The idea is to expend some of his energy in a desirable fashion. If he checks in then mark and treat. Ask the instructor to show you how to use a tug toy as a reward. Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
Hi @ciera, I had to interrupt my email: my labs wanted to go out. Don't turn retrieve into a game chasing him. Put away the items until you have a good retrieve on cue. And finally and most importantly do not be too hard on yourself. Some dogs are a nightmare. The chocolate Lab in my avatar was such a dog. I have had seven labs. I was not prepared for her despite having dogs all my life. With persistence, patience and a lot of work, she has turned out to be the sweetest dog I have ever had. She is so gentle and loving. She is nigh on 13 years old, almost crippled with joint problems. And the crazy first year with her is a long distant learning experience. I have been richly rewarded by her being part of my life.
@ciera just wanted to offer my support, seriously adolescent dogs can be such a handful! Really they can...I am fostering one at the moment, and honestly had forgotten what a complete pain they can be so you have my total sympathy! Don't beat yourself up, you are doing all the right things in terms of trying to keep Cesar occupied and entertained. You just need to tweak your training slightly. It doesn't help that you have been given outdated and quite frankly unhelpful advice by two trainers. Do a bit a research and try and find a "force free" trainer. I think a behavourist might be a good bet too, just check their credentials first. Young dogs do need stimulation, however it is very easy for them to get over threshold, and at this point they simply cannot listen to simple cues like "sit" . This is when you see the biting/lunging behaviour occur. I am honestly feeling your pain here! With the young foster I have currently, I take him to quiet places, never a dog park, and we play short focus games, keeping a good distance between us and other dogs. Very good advice from @Michael A Brooks, regarding toys ,I always carry a long tuggy tucked in my pocket, as the biting episode I experienced on the leash recently, is one I care not to repeat! I also carry a few treats in my pockets. Some of the focus games we play are hand touch simply means nose touching my hand, and a dynamic hand touch, nose touching a moving hand. You can practice in the house, then garden before moving outside. Magic hands, catch the treat and chase the treat. I use a clicker to mark the behaviours I want, and use food as a reinforcer. Teaching calm behaviour is also something you can do in the house, garden, quiet carparks etc. Actually all these exercises I have mentioned are very tiring for a young dog, so don't think you need to spend hours at a dog park or walking the block! I have added some links below you may find useful.. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/absolutedog/absoluteDogs+FOCUS.pdf Good luck, and keep going, I know it can be demoralising, but it will be worth it in the end.
Thank you so much Michael. I’m going to look into another trainer in my area and pray that this works. I’m also going to the store tonight to get a tug toy for walks. I will most certainly keep you updated with Cesar. I really appreciate the advice you just don’t understand!!
The community on here is awesome! I’m going to watch that video right now. Taking notes and applying today. Tonight I will have treats and a tug toy available for tonight’s walk. Thank you so much!!! ❤️
Hi @ciera, here is a link to the sort of tug I use for rewards. It's made from french linen. https://www.caninetrainingsystems.c...rench-Linen-Tug-3quot-X-10quot-with-2-Handles I don't know anything about the seller. I just used the image as an example of the style I had discussed. I use a longer one that the one depicted, Good luck
So, some dogs get super excited after doing a poop. Seriously. When off-leash they may run around and do zoomies. I've no idea why they do this, maybe they want to celebrate having done a satisfying poop. Who knows. But if they are on leash, that energy has to go somewhere... I would recommend using a metal clip leash - simply because dogs don't like to mouth metal and I think you will instantly get less mouthing of the leash if you have a metal compared to a fabric one. You can probably switch back to a fabric one in a few months time once you've broken the habit. I do mean a clip leash that clips onto the dog's collar/harness etc, not a choke chain, though - just to be clear. It sounds like maybe he's not getting much exercise, if you are only walking him on leash and if, after he's pooped, you are basically heading right home again? The lack of exercise or stimulation will only be contributing to the problem, causing frustration, high energy and boredom. Do you have any off leash areas you can walk, perhaps using a long-line if you don't have a reliable recall? He needs to be able to run and sniff and be a dog. A dog park is often not a good idea, because they can actually be over-stimulating for many dogs and not a great choice for hyper or excitable dogs. If you don't have off-leash areas, you can try to use a 5m long-line in a park that allows dog on leash, so he gets more of a chance to sniff around. Hide some treats on the ground, for him to sniff out and get him using his nose - sniffing is very tiring for dogs, mentally! At home, instead of giving him food in a bowl, sprinkle it in your yard and then release him to go 'Find It' and allow him to sniff out each bit - anything involving his nose and sniffing behaviour, is going to be naturally calming. He is just trying to play with you, at these times, and seeking some stimulation. Do you have some tug toys? Can you direct the biting and energy into a productive game of tug? You can then even use this as a reinforcer later... Ok, so forget this advice from both trainers. You don't need to make your dog 'submit' to you, you are not going to bully him into complying - can you see how your relationship with your dog has been affected by this advice? You already label yourself as 'weak' because of it... Instead of thinking about what you DON'T want your dog to do (bite, jump, etc), think about what you DO want him to do, and reinforce that. Sit is an excellent behaviour to work hard at, because if a dog is sitting, he is not jumping or biting. Have some treats in your pocket ALWAYS around the house, and every time you see your dog sitting (for whatever reason, wherever), go and give him a treat. Even if you didn't ask him to sit. The more you reinforce sitting, the more it will happen, and you will end up with a dog which comes to sit in front of you when wanting attention - rather than jumping on you and biting you. It sounds like you need quite a bit of training help - where are you based? A good force-free training class would be an excellent idea. It doesn't sound silly, but it does sound like you need some support with what's going on... A great trainer and some peers (at class) going through similar stuff with adolescent dogs, would be a good help to you.
Hi Ciera, and welcome to the forum. It's not silly to feel overwhelmed when dealing with a large and boisterous young dog. Take heart as many forum members have been where you are and come out the other side smiling You've had some great advice, let us know how you get on and do ask if you have any more questions!
