HI Guys i seem to have a lot of questions at the moment i think reason being i took Milo to a pool party with friends and kids which didn't go down well. Milo dived straight into the pool with the kids (obviously he's a lab) chewed the kids ball (again a lab) and ran wild so had to be put on a lead amongst family and friends saying what an out of control dog i have not reasoning he's 4 mths old. Anyway question being Does professional training help?
Re: training Oh dear , poor you , but you said it, he is a Labrador and he is 4 months old , pretty typical excitable behaviour really He was facing two of the triggers almost guaranteed to get a puppy wound up , children and water . If you haven't got much experience of training , then yes, enrol him into a puppy training class , these do tend to be a little chaotic so try and chose a well recommended one ( ask at your Vets ) and one with fairly small classes too , he will not only learn some basics, but the socialisation will be very good for him, good luck
Re: training Did your friends kids run around, dive into the pool, and play with the ball? Of course they did. Are they out of control? Well, maybe, but the point is they are kids and, within certain boundaries, that sort of behaviour is to be expected. Its the same with young dogs. They aren't born fully trained and perfectly behaved anymore than kids are So, keep socialising him (perhaps make sure friends and family have reasonable expectations before visiting) and keep working on the training. Going to a professional trainer won't be a magic button that suddenly makes your dog perfect - but it will help you learn how to train your dog and it will be good for your dog to meet other people and other dogs (provided that the class isn't too big and likely to descend into a free-for-all). Good luck.
Re: training The first time I took my previous Lab to a pool party he bit and popped a large, inflatable dolphin. While a kid was riding it in the pool. Labradors will be Labradors Ongoing training (especially recalls in a billion different places) and teaching him to settle will all help with time. But there is no way that a 4 month old puppy is going to be quiet and demure at a party, so don't feel that you've somehow not done enough or weren't able to control him. Personally I think the other guests should've just delighted in the opportunity to see a young dog revelling in all the joy and pure excitement of life
Re: training Yes - just a young puppy having fun! As Kate has said, I would start by going to a puppy class where Milo can learn to be calm among distractions but where there are realistic expectations of what a puppy can manage. For future gatherings of the sort you've just had, perhaps give Milo a good walk beforehand, take a stuffed kong or two with you and keep him on a lead or long-line.
Re: training Yup, a 4 month of dog is out of control, it is a puppy for heavens sake Kids having fun in water of course he wanted to join in. Puppy classes are a great idea. You will both learn lots and meet other puppies. One of the big problems with young Labs is that they are big dogs and their misdemeanours are very noticeable. A little scrap of a black spaniel that went to the same puppy class as me lives very close and we see it frequently. When she jumps up and pulls at the lead it looks quite cute and amusing, when Molly does the same it looks quite threatening simply because she is so much larger.
Re: training Think in terms of a couple of years or even 3 years before the puppy side subsides. Make the most of it because it passes quickly. They are both nightmare and joy when they are puppies! Yes - puppy classes a good idea. Find one that only takes a few dogs otherwise there are too many distractions and it doesn't work so well.
Re: training I think I'd try to avoid very chaotic pool parties with lots of children for now, if possible, until Milo is a little older and has learned a bit of self-control around children. Of course he needs socialization with kids, but perhaps that wasnt quite the perfect scenario!!!
Re: training [quote author=Oberon link=topic=7757.msg108467#msg108467 date=1410337057] The first time I took my previous Lab to a pool party he bit and popped a large, inflatable dolphin. While a kid was riding it in the pool. Labradors will be Labradors [/quote] ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
