Hi. I'm a first time Lab owner, our Chocolate lab is a big healthy lad and after 6 weeks of having him home with us he's finally found his voice. He's not a constant barker/crier and generally uses it to let us know he needs to go out or wants us to play. Recently he's discovered that he can just about reach the dining table when stood and can obviously smell and see the food we eat as a family. I have to tell him off and after maybe the 15th try he will get it but then he sits there pretty much shouting and begging for our food. I try to ignore the behaviour so I don't encourage him to carry on hoping that no attention will send him away, I feed him his food in the kitchen at the same time as we eat so he has his own foods. I just wondered if someone can tell me if I'm doing the right thing or if I'm training him all wrong in this area. I'm a first time puppy mummy. He does well in other areas though and his only 2 down falls are his nipping and his attempts at begging for food. I can already see him being a counter surfer in the future so I really would like to stem as much of that behaviour as possible. Thanks
Try not to tell him off. Instead, give him a Kong filled with his food, soaked and frozen - he’ll soon settle at meal times then. Mine still have a Kong - when I’m dishing up, Tatze (5 years old) goes and sits by her bed ready. It’s become a routine And welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Keir from Manchester UK Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab and she's four years old. Tatze means 'paw' in German. Keir is my fifth Guide Dog puppy, a yellow Golden Retriever/Flatcoat cross and he's five months old. Kongs being prepared -
Thanks for that, I'll give it a try. I'm also a Manchester girl, We live in Bury. Ned is a fabulous pup and if we get it ready ght with his training he will grow up to the perfect family member.
Hi @Katie Anderton , welcome to the Forum and congratulations on getting a Labrador, what is his name? I have Cassie who is 19 months, you've already had good advice from Boogie I know, but one the thing I found helped was teaching her to go to her mat or bed. You might find a link on the mainsite or maybe @snowbunny can point you in the right direction. Cassie goes to her bed now as soon as food goes on the plate
