Having had such a warm welcome when I initially joined the site and a whole host of advice, I did comment that I would no doubt be posting regularly. I'm 61 but young at heart and George is 12 weeks old. As a puppy he does like to sleep a lot. I understand he will do that. Presumably that will lessen as the weeks and months go by? I understand he is teething and will get bitely - he does just that - but that too will pass with time I have been told. Further, I understand that toilet training will take time and for now I must understand and forgive the accidents that occur indoors. I do and I will be patient with him. Also, I am aware that George will chew the crap out of most anything, from his toys to the furniture and everything in between. It is my responsibility to take steps to minimize the effects of this. How long this will go on for for I am not certain, but I understand that is what lab puppies do. On the odd occassion that he has actually peed on the pee pad I praise him and likewise when he poos in my back garden he gets a positive acknowledgement. I feed him at regular times and have now started to take him out for walks (daily basis and an approrpiate length/time for his age). However there are two aspects which I do not readily understand. First, after he has eaten his meals and had a drink, it takes about 10 minutes and then he goes into hyper mode. I have had a good conversation with staff at Pets at Home (UK) and believe I am on the correct track for what to feed him. But for between 60-90 minutes after eating, he does cause me a degree of alarm at times. He barks in what I would describe as an insistent way, growls, jumps up at me and attempts to bite whatever part of me he can get his teeth on. This manic behaviour then subsides and he jumps on the sofa for a sleep. Second, my sister has two labs (1 year old and 3 years old). We all thought it a good idea to introduce them to each other and thus start George socializing with other dogs. The two large labs are, I think, quite patient with George. What happens though is that George tries to bite them (has succeeded on a number of occassions). Both display their displeasure by seriously growling at him. Rather than back off (he is nowhere near their size) he gets even more aggressive in his behaviour to them, which leads to their growling become even more serious) and someone has to step in and remove George from what seems to be a growing confrontation. I must admit to being surprised by the above two points. This is not due to any lack of attention or affection given to George. My family members and I are very affectionate toward him and he gets regular attention. I cannot sit and cuddle him 24/7 as there are chores to be done and the like, but whatever is causing the above behaviours it isn't because he is ignored. (In truth, I often wonder if he might be bored sleeping like he does; I know many people who nod off when bored). If anyone would care to offer some comments/advice on the two issues I have highlighted, I would be very appreciative.
These two things are very, very normal. My Mollie was like this - totally loopy crazy at times and super full on with other dogs. The loopy crazy thing needs a decision - is he over stimulated and tired? Or under stimulated and needing some brain games/training? Usually, after food, they need a snooze but some, like Mollie, just don’t know how to settle - like some toddlers. Helping them by putting them in a crate with a Kong is the thing - you’ll soon know if he’s tired as zzzzzzzzz will follow. With some, the food gives them a burst of energy. Excercise just after food is not a good idea so brain work/training for 10/15 minutes will really tire him out. With the other dogs ALL is play on the part of George - just very inappropriate for dogs that don’t want to play. So keeping them separate when things are escalating if George doesn’t respond to growls is the way. Some pups read Dog language brilliantly (my Keir does). Some pups are clueless blundebusses (my Mollie was) and need help until they mature. You are doing great!
My lot often have zoomies after food time. It’s exciting for a Lab to eat and then they need a way to channel that excitement. You might consider scatter feeding instead, or feeding his meals in Kongs. That way he has to work for his food which will tire him out, and entertain him, too
Hmmm ... I have wooden laminate floors and a patio right outside my back door, so I might try the scatter feeding. I figure it can't hurt and we will see what happens.
To your first point, I remember my lab was an absolute demon in the mornings and in the evenings around that age. It's totally normal for Labs. He still does have a crazy half hour after he eats, he just gets amped up and doesn't know what to do with himself. I've started giving him a big hunk of raw carrot to gnaw on, which helps him calm down and is also good for his teeth and digestion.
I can recommend this -- Cassie nearly always has her tea outside, weather and conditions allowing, searching for her kibble amongst the gravel, she loves searching for it and can keep her occupied for 20 minutes or so. Also, when she was small I would put kibble in a milk container or little box to entertain he Agree with others, George is perfecting normal.!
Well, to be honest I kind of expected that people would say he was just being a normal puppy, but as an inexperienced puppy owner it is best to seek advice from other, more experienced dog owners. It will all take time and I knew that before I started. I have the time and the patience. I have always stuck by the motto "Short term pain for long term gain". (That sounds a bit clumsy, but I'm sure you all know what I mean). It is, in many ways, reminding me of my sons when they were babies. I am already experiencing what I have determined is "demand barking". I listen to the pitch and tone of George's various barks, and there is one type of bark he employs when he wants my attention. I wasn't quite sure at first and so responded with a variety of responses. It turns out that he stops this type of bark when he gets a sit down and cuddle on the sofa. I am not going to respond to that as and when he wants, as that would make life for me very difficult. I give him more than enough affection and attention, so I conclude that his just his way of pushing for it when he wants it. Being aware that a bored puppy will look for ways to "entertain" himself, I see I have to strike a balance between giving my attention to George as well as doing all the other stuiff that the day requires. Like many other first time owners, I was prepared for a lot but not for everything. We shall both have to adapt as we learn to live in harmony. My thanks to all who have responded so far.
It doesn’t matter how many pups you have, you can never be prepared for everything as they are all different You are right about not giving attention when he’s demanding it. In fact, any time he demands it is the time to simply turn your back. Then he’ll learn that good, quiet behaviour gets attention. This took Mollie Moo some months, but she got there in the end! .
I used to put all Red’s kibble in a feeder ball when she was young - she had to move it for the kibble to come out. If you have a large clear floor surface, using one of these is great - eating, exercise and getting tired out all in one go .
When Inky was about this age, l was wondering if I had made the right decision getting a puppy (I was 60). I got the Happy Puupy Handbook and found it really helpful and reassuring in that what I was going through was normal. It also gave me an idea of what to aim for at least!
I do have to spend some time each day at the computer. Forced to take early retirement after a stroke, I have a reduced pension and thus have to earn a few pence on the internet. That said, I have set my computer table up in the living room next to the sofa. So, I apportion my time on the PC and with George. When I am on the PC, he is still in the room with me. I thought that would be OK, but he seems to think I am his exclusive entertainment complex, and at present that means sitting on the sofa while he cuddles up. (I would understand it if he were left alone while I spent time on the PC in the study, out of sight and sound). Given that he is properly watered and fed, walked, given time to run in the garden and given one-on-one play/affection time with me, I thought he would have been satisfied to know we were in the room together; but as said above, you can never be 100% prepared for all eventualities.
Oh yes, he's still just a baby and when he's awake that means he wants attention. I work from home but in those first few weeks, very little work gets done, and not for want of trying! When puppy's awake, you have to be keeping a close eye out for calls of nature, so it's just not possible to do anything. Luckily, they sleep a lot, so take that opportunity to do your work. In time, he'll learn that you being on your computer means you're boring, but for now, don't expect to get much done!
You sum it up well; I prerpared beforehand for my productivity to plummet during the first month or two, but there are certain "jobs" that must be done each day. He's had a good walk today and after a little tantrum is now fast asleep on the sofa. Good for me as I got one of my "must do" jobs done. Good for him, as later he is off to meet his labrador cousins again and a ton of energy is expended dusing those meets. I do recognise and understand he is just a baby but it is a fact of our life together that he is going to have to get used to me being on the PC from time to time, albeit in the same room. I am learning about him, but as he hasn't learnt to speak yet , can I take it he is learning about me?
I also got anew puppy (Joy) when I retired at 60 and although I've had several Lab puppies before I found I had forgotten what hard work they are. In answer to your question 'Can I take it he is learning about me?' I would say a definite 'Yes'! Do not despair! Up until a few weeks ago we hit the same problems at certain times every day, particularly when I was busy cooking the evening meal (barking at me, me taking her out incase she needed a wee, her not doing a wee, just playing, therefore it taking far longer to cook than usual. Also dong the same when I was having my breakfast.) For about the last 3-4 weeks she either goes to her crate when I'm cooking, or sits in the kitchen in the hope of me dropping something. The breakfast thing stopped happening about two weeks ago. She just seems to have finally worked out that this is the routine and to have adapted to it. So I think that all the time she was following me everywhere she was learning about me, and now we've kind of worked each other out and are settling in very happily together. Joy is now 7 months and is truly living up to her name. You have so much to look forward to!
Hi and welcome. Back in the early days we used a Kong Wobbler to feed our pup. We still use it when we have company for dinner. He goes out on the balcony and has at it. Keeps him busy while we eat and reduced the after dinner silliness you’re experiencing now. We divided his dinner in half and filled it twice for longevity and it worked a charm. We’ve since mat trained and with age he’s grown out of that stage but we still bring it out once in a while. He’s 18 months now.
You have had some really good advice here - one thing I used to do with Bailey was take some of his kibble and an old muffin tin and twelve tennis balls. I would put a bit of kibble in each "hole" in the pan and then cover it with a tennis ball. It was, at one point, the only way to get him to eat the dry food (he was incredibly fussy and really did not like dry food, but hated it when we made it wet, even with broth or gravy). He had to lift off the tennis balls to get to what he thought were treats, then he got to play with the tennis balls. Every now and then I bring out the muffin tin and the tennis balls and he gets so excited - these days I put small pieces of cheese and some broken up dog biscuits in them, or cut up hotdog sausages or a few other treats and I have to be quick to pick up the tennis balls as he can strip one in seconds these days! I do have to do some of my admin work from home each day - when Bailey was smaller I got most of it done while he slept, but I went through a phase of him climbing onto my lap (I have a laptop that I work from so am sat on the settee - no room for a proper computer station unfortunately) and putting himself between me and my computer, pinching my mouse, putting his paw on the keyboard and trying to rip up my paperwork . I trained him to go to his bed and trained a settle - not a five minute job, but one that I had to do. Nowadays he is happy to lay on the settee next to me either curled up against my legs or with his head in my lap while I work. It does eventually come, but I think more with maturity than anything else. It certainly sounds like you are doing a fantastic job and yes we have all been there and asked a lot of questions
