I'm sure others did...but did you wonder at any point during puppy growing up years (mine's 6mths) whether your dog was going to turn out a well-behaved dog? And did they?
We got Obi when he was 9 months old and quite a handful and I wondered that on about 5000 separate occasions. And, yes, he did grow up and he is now a very good dog. Not perfect, but very good and easy to live with. The bits that aren’t perfect are perfectly manageable. You see a lot of whirlwind young Labradors. You see a lot of sensible grown up Labradors. They’re the same dogs.
Absolutely this! Don't despair OP, your Lab is still very young. Carry on with training and everything you learn on here and I'm sure your puppy will turn out just fine. I've had plenty of moments like that, I think 6 months is a hard time, it seems they'll never grow up doesn't it? I had to take myself in hand a few months ago and tell myself I'm old enough and had enough dogs to ease off the pressure and let her grow up. And at 19 months today, there is every sign that is beginning to happen.
Benson was an enormous challenge as a pup, he ate shoes, boots, sandals and even brand new shoes NOTEVENOUTOFTHEBOX...he ate cheques, cushions, dog beds...counter surfed, no recall..jumped up... pulled on the lead...was so convinced he was deaf actually asked the vet was there anything wrong with his ears. Took him to agility to try and improve our "bond" together...they actually knew Benson already.."Oh hello, the disobedient one? With no recall?" Yup...that's Benson. He drove me to despair...rocking on the floor one day wondering how on earth I could explain to OH that that very important cheque he was expecting...well we have to take Benson to the bank instead... Don't start me on food with him...as a youngster, he took a chunk out of a huge chocolate cake MIL had made...while she was trying to cut it at a birthday celebration...had to take him to the vet because he ate 3kg of puppy food in one go...oh that happened twice, he stole a bowl of muesli my OH had left on the side, almost forgot that vet trip. Fast forward and he is four. I can't even start to think of life without him. He is my rock and I absolutely adore him. He still counter surfs though, and I have to watch the post..but overall he is a really good boy. All the training has paid off, I can take him anywhere, including working on a shoot. Pubs, hotels...I get lots of compliments regarding what a calm, lovely boy he is, both out on walks and at home. He likes to enthusiastically great folks visiting, and insists on them having a full facial including ears. Wouldn't change him for the world.
My three dogs can all be challenging in their own ways, but they're also all just brilliant. I think I've been lucky (or maybe just worked super hard) and I've not really noticed a "teenage" stage with any of them. Luna is still very much in puppy mode, and that can be hard work, but it's just normal puppy stuff, like grabbing things for attention, counter surfing (because there is always stuff to take , normally the washing up sponge or a teaspoon). It's nothing I worry unduly about because she has a good "give", but it can be a bit tiresome sometimes. I know she'll settle down, and already has, massively. At the beginning of our time here in Spain, she'd take any water bottle that was left out, even the full 8 litre ones, and systematically destroy it. I can't remember the last time she did that. All of this stuff passes and, even if it might not happen as quickly as we'd like, it is the stuff that we look back on fondly. If she was a robot, it wouldn't be anywhere near as much fun. My other two have had more troublesome issues; barking and lunging at kids was a big one, many forum members will remember. We worked through that and now they studiously ignore children when we see them. For the most part, they are wonderful, well behaved dogs who are bonded really strongly to me and my husband and love spending time with us - and us them. They are not automatons, so on occasion they ignore me in favour of something else when I ask them to do something, but that's just normal. And I'll always be a bit more on edge in social situations with them than I am with Squidge, but we just work through those situations when they arise. It's part of who they are, and it's my job to keep them safe and happy. I think we can expect too much of our dogs, wanting to rush through the developmental stages to get the finished article, and sometimes forget they're animals with their own individual personalities who have every much right to express themselves as we do.
Mines 18 months now and I used to look at the older calm Labradors and think one day.. maybe? Stanley is lovely and friendly and he definitely has a sense of humour - he's like tigger crossed with the Tasmanian devil. I've sort of given up hope of the nice calm Labrador that will sit quietly and greet people calmly. But that doesn't matter now - because I adore him as he is. And if what he is now is all he'll ever be that's just perfect for us, I wouldn't change him for the world
In a nutshell. And the thing with Labs is that they seem to reach adult size physically so much in advance of their minds ! I was watching my neighbours terrier the other day leaping and lunging and carrying on much like Cassie a few months ago, she's a couple of months younger , but because she's tiny everyone just laughed and actively encouraged the behaviour. They wouldn't with a 28kg lab.
Relax, your dog will get there. Try to enjoy their puppyhood, it really does not last that long. May seem like forever though! There is a lot of adjusting and learning occurring with you and the dog. Imagine how difficult it is for them to train us! They cannot give us treats to make us do anything, they cannot speak, can't run down to the store and buy a clicker or whistle. But they still manage to get us trained. Murphy is all proud of me now. No longer does he have to come over to my chair and start licking my arm to go out and play. All he has to do is sit up and give me "the look" and sure enough I have learned to go out and play with him. He knows it is very important for me to get plenty of exercise. When I am reading in the evening all he has to do is pick up his blue blanket and show it to me. Then it is time for the blue blanket game. Eventually we all settle down into a pattern of sorts. There is a clue there, a big one. For the most part you want an orderly rhythm in regards to your dog. Changes to that rhythm can be viewed as surprises for the dog and provide some variety. Murphy knows what is supposed to happen about when. But when I suddenly surprise him by going for a walk in the middle of the day he just loves it! In my view, not having an order to life can cause a lot of anxiety for both parties. Murphy knows that when we are done playing he can come in and relax and does not have to track my every move, we won't be doing anything for a few hours unless I come to get him for something special. We have just come in from playing. He has plopped down in front of the fireplace. I can move around the house and he will just sort of keep an eye on me as I come and go. But in a few hours, if I get up he will sit up, cock his ears and let me know, hey, it is time!
My boy is now 21 months old and he has a definite personality - he is comical, stubborn, loving and just completely nuts at times. He has the basics down pat, his recall can be shaky if he gets it into his mind that there is something that needs Lab Testing, he has given me heart failure but I would not change him one dot. We are still working on his training and I have not exactly given up on thinking about the perfect chilled dog - but where we are now we can go and have brunch with him sitting and laying under the table without a peep, and he does settle down in the evenings - this picture was taken about 5 mins ago - he has a new favourite place to chill! This is along the top of the settee, with his butt on my shoulder and his head on my OH's shoulder!
