Hello friends, A merry Christmas to you all. Hope you and your pups have had a lovely time. I've a few questions I hope you can help me with... I've posted on here a few times regarding my rascal Rufus. He was an extreme bitey puppy from about 3months to 5 months, around a few weeks of no biting then crocopup re-emerged. (thanks for all your advice it really helped!) The biting is less frequent at 6 1/2 months but still happening. It now only happens with me when we're training using treats. It's almost as if he's saying come on, give me the treats!!! So much so that when we're at the park I only treat now and again, and he's beginning (as long as no other 4 legged friends are around ) to recall to a whistle. It's so frustrating when he starts the biting...any ideas what to do? It happened today when I did a bit of training with him in the house and I just stopped the training and led him to the kitchen for a bit of time out. He's not aggressive over his food bowl, but can be a little possessive over a chew... Another question, Rufus chipped his baby canine tooth, it's not fallen out (all the rest have, and his adult teeth are through) The vet said she'd need to take it out and suggested that when we have him neutered she do it then. She said we could go ahead with neutering any time now... I want to wait a bit, but I'm worried about this tooth. Anyone had a problem like this? Last question (promise!) Rufus had started to chill out more at our house. He'll just take himself off to a cosy spot and have a wee snooze. He's exercised well and I try to play with him/do a bit of training a couple of times a day and socialise him with new places/people. He also has lots of toys and gets two stuffed frozen kings a day. I'm worried that he's a bit bored at home? I'm a full time teacher so I'm off just now, but usually he goes to my parents house during the day. He was there yesterday morning whilst I was at a hospital appointment, and my mum said he was on the go constantly (having lots of fun) Is it normal for them to chill out a bit more as they get older? Not that I'm complaining. Just finding it strange that I'm not constantly having to watch the pesky pup! Thanks for all your posts/advice. So helpful xx
Hi @Katrina Johnston , have you done any of the exercises around working with food? You can certainly find them in the Labrador Handbook if you have that, or on the mainsite. The one I did with Cassie was to hold some treats in your closed hand and don't open your hand until they sit down or look away because they can't get it, then slowly open your hand and if they look or try to grab the food close your hand. Once you can open your hand without them eating the food you can gently feed them with your other hand. That's a rough outline anyway, it teaches them to take food in a more controlled way. Yes, if he was bored he'd be looking for something to do
There’s another thread at the moment on a puppy canine tooth that hasn’t come out - you might find it useful for your situation https://thelabradorforum.com/threads/residual-tooth-help-in-6-month.22288/
Dogs learn to relax at home because it's all familiar and comfortable. When they go some place they don't see everyday it's all fresh and exciting again and gets them energized. So it's not surprising he's more of a handful at your parents' than at home. If you can afford it, a day or two a week of doggy daycare does wonders for socializing, relieving boredom, and getting that energy out. We sent our previous lab to daycare while we worked, once or twice a week. She'd be so happy and exhausted afterward she'd be relatively mellow for the next couple days. So maybe daycare a day before going to your parents' would make it easier on them.
Nibbler had a tooth that was sticking out next to one of his new teeth for about a week -i had made an appointment but it eventually came out when he was playing with a ball on a walk - I missed it or would have kept the tooth. He did let me wiggle it loose - it was one of the lower canines so easy to play with.
