Hi all! We have moved into our new house (about two weeks ago) and things have only very slightly improved with the puppy. He's been to two vets (one got nail clipping after hours and the regular one for his shots and deworming bc he had round worms even though he was supposedly wormed before we got him) both have said he isn't fully lab like they said he was... One saying Chow mix and one says sharpei mix. I am very concerned about aggression if he's part Chow.... His biting is a huge issue and he is starting to bark at us as well if we tell him no or pop him. He also isn't eating his dog food hardly at all unless I leave it down and he grazes all day. I have two older children and a 10 month old as I've said before and I definitely 100% regret having a baby human and baby animal together. It was a completely stupid idea. But now I just need to know how to get through until he's older and (hopefully!) Not biting and such .We are going to start the PetSmart class at the end of this month (can't sooner due to schedule) so hopefully that helps. Oh also the vet said she definitely doesn't think the birthday they gave me is correct. She says he's closer to 3 months not almost 4. So that's an issue as well bc he was taken too young. Just hoping it gets better..
Oh no I don't have much advice but I did want to say don't automatically expect the worst from a Chow. When I was a kid 2 of my aunts had Chows and they (3 or 4 dogs total) were the sweetest most easy going dogs ever. I know they get a bad rap as dangerous dogs and that may very well be true but it's not always the case.
Thank you. I'm just so worried about it with the baby but even the older kids as well I mean he doesn't look Chow to me but his tongue does have a good amount of black on it especially the bottom as well and he is somewhat fluffier than a lab would be. I am hoping the one who said sharpei is right instead. I go plan on getting dna testing when I can.. We wouldn't get rid of him bc of that but I definitely want to know bc it concerns me.
Is there any brand of puppy food y'all can recommend to get him to eat it at one time so I can take the food up?
Why does him being part chow concern you? Any dog that is thoroughly socialised should be completely fine. From his picture he doesn't look sharpei or chow to me, and that's quite a difference in dog breed for the vets to say. I'm also unsure why him grazing is a problem? And I don't know what you mean by 'pop him'. If he's only 3 months he's still very much a baby and all of the behaviour you describe is very normal. Patience and kindness are the best ways to get through the next year or so. Lots of training and stimulation!
He isn't socialized... We only have him no other animals so he doesn't really have an example of an older dog or "friends". He is around all of us and other people everyday but has only been around other animals at the vet. By pop him I mean if here is biting we do the loud yip noise like the vet suggested and if he continues I pop him on the nose like you pop a childs hand if they're touching something they shouldn't. Like one swat and say no really sternly. As far as the grazing the issue with that is if he's constantly eating then he will be pooping throughout the day and we aren't always here due to work. Everything I've read about house training says feed them at set times, then take up the food, then take them to the bathroom 30min or so later. As far as if he were part Chow the issue is aggression as I've always heard that my entire life that chows are mean and have known people attacked by them. I do not think he looks like one either but two different vets have suggested he is mixed with that or sharpei due to his face. Idk why. Anyway as far as the socialization I thought about getting a second dog (NOT a puppy..adopting from a place that has a legitimate history on them and one that's been around other dogs and kids) to be sort of an example to him and also a playmate since I can't always be due to the baby. But I'm not sure if that would help him or not. Like I say he's a sweet guy most the time and most of his issues are due to his age but some things do concern me that I hope go away with the training.
Well is he out walking? He'll meet other dogs out & about then. Socialising is really just getting them used to the world around then - noises, smells, places. I used to carry my pup around - the supermarket, down busy roads so he got used to all of it. Most aggression comes from fear. He's still pretty young so you have time to get him out & about to prevent any fears from developing. When he's biting - I wouldn't pop him on the nose. He's only a baby playing. I just withdrew all attention for a few seconds then when he was calm started play again. They soon get the message. Making noises or tapping his nose will probably just rile him up more which is why he's barking. How long is he being left? My dog needed the loo every 30 mins or so at that. I've never heard about withdrawing food with toilet training - only if they're being fussy eaters so I'm not sure if that's a thing. I definitely wouldn't get another dog- even older dogs require a large amount of time. Dogs don't look to other dogs for company generally, they'll both want your attention so it would just be double the work. Are you doing training with him now? At that age you can do lots of a few minute training sessions, keeping them really short. We went to classes but we still do training every day to keep his brain active and it really helps tire them out. A tired dog is generally a well behaved dog
We haven't taken him on walks, he doesn't really walk well on the leash yet.. Kind of looks at you like a cat on a leash like what the heck do I do lol. He's been to PetSmart a couple times but not to a park yet bc he's not had the third shots. He's sometimes not left at all , like sometimes we are here the whole day one of us or the other and then some days we work at the same time or have an not overlap of several hours. He doesn't use a crate he's just out in the house or in the kitchen during those times.
When he's in a bitey mood try distracting him with a squeaky toy instead of popping him on the nose. He isn't meaning to be naughty, he's learning through his senses and playing as he would with his siblings, although the 'bitey-tasting' sense isn't very human-friendly! There's no guarantee that an older dog would necessarily set the right example or would even want to be a playmate initially - you may well find that you've got even more problems to contend with. Your puppy might not even need to play as much as he does at present - it's a good thing to teach him to relax and just chill out too, rather than feeling that he needs entertaining. Short walks and ten minute training sessions are fine for a puppy of his age, with plenty of rest in between. Although his Petsmart class will be longer than that, for much of the time he will be having to wait for his turn, so learning to sit and wait would be a good thing to train before your begin the classes. Good luck with the classes. PS Having just seen your last post, perhaps try introducing a crate where you can teach him to relax (with a frozen Kong). If he learns to adopt it as his 'den' it will give you peace of mind, knowing that he's safe and happy while you're busy with the children. If you prefer not to use a crate, then consider a pen instead.
Do you have a friend with a dog with a calm disposition, maybe? I think play dates with larger, calm dogs do Moose a world of good. Here at home he only has Miley (chihuahua) who does not appreciate having him around one whit, tho when they are outside and she's not guarding everything in the house (me included) from Moose, they get on fine. I caught them sleeping on the dog bed on the deck together today. Believe it or not, adult labs are very kind dogs. I think this puppy stage just knocks all of the naughty out of them! I can honestly say, Moose has been the most challenging, and possibly the most intelligent (my Golden excluded) pup I've had and I've had poodles, chihuahuas, beagles, st. bernards, cattle dogs, dauchsunds, goldens, jack russells and even a greyhound (res, I rescue every dog I see). I do believe it will get so much better in a few months.
Well we ended up getting the second dog.. a hound being rehomed due to having a newborn :/ and at first she made a huge difference in his disposition.. she is extremely calm and laid back and also responds to basic commands. He too started to follow her lead but I think now he is approaching adolescence and becoming worse than ever. He's always in her face when she doesn't want him to be .he is constantly biting on or scratching all the kids and myself and even bit my husband on the hand enough to draw blood today when he reached to get him out from under the bed. House training isn't working. At all. He will walk outside for ten minutes, come in, and poop or pee. And he is going way more than I think he should be in a certain amount of time. I just don't know what to do for that..I know there's no quick fix but he has to stop going in my house!!!!! I want to get him fixed asap as I hope that will help some issues but really won't in terms of destroying everything ( can't tell you all how many cords he's chewed in half in recent weeks...) I just don't know what to do or if it will even get better until he's like.. Two.
House training takes a long time for some dogs...we weren’t fully house trained until she was 6 months. It also comes down to management by you...he has to go out every 20-30 mins. We introduced a cue word and within a few weeks she would pee on command (we still use it before car rides and before bed to make sure she goes at age 2!). We also brought her out on leash to go to the bathroom to ensure she wasn’t playing about. Getting a dog spayed or neutered is not a cure for anything - that is solely down to training. You need to be working on training daily...it stimulates them mentally and helps tire them out as well. A crate would be very helpful to give the older dog a break, potty train and teach downtime to the puppy. It will also keep him safe from chewing cords etc. Biting is also very common, especially in lab puppies. I think most people with labs have had a bleeding incident or two! My dog was not all that bad for biting but I definitely bled a few time from those sharp puppy teeth. Make sure you withdraw attention when the pup bites. It’s also important that the kids are being consistent with training not to bite as well. Any time the teeth make contact, play stops for a few seconds. Your pup is super young and it takes awhile for them to ‘grow up’ but bad behaviors don’t go away with age generally, only training. Your classes will help a lot to give you the tools to train at home. Good luck!
Too be honest I wouldn't even know where to start training him. He responds to sit that's about it. My kids definitely are no help and if anything make him worse. And then they don't like him bc he jumps up on them or nips at them. I honestly wish I could find him another home that would be a good one for him. Moving into a new home with an un house trained puppy, while having an 11 month old baby, is probably the stupidest thing I've ever done to be honest.
I'm so sorry to hear how much you are suffering, and I wish I could offer advice but we are fairly new puppy owners ourselves so I will leave the advice to the many experts on here. We almost gave Maxx back to the breeder as we were in complete despair - torn clothing, bleeding hands and wrecked furniture and plants. But we don't have children so I can't even imagine how much more difficult it is for you. But now, at 6 months, we have a lovely dog who whilst still naughty is light-years away from that awful, nipping crocopup. We adore him and he now brings so much joy into our lives. I don't know if time is something you have but it will get better. Please don't beat yourself up, you did a wonderful thing giving the puppy a great home but dear God Labrador puppies are very very hard work Our baby gates were a god-send. You can put him in 'time out' (for him and yourself) where he can't run away or get into mischief. I don't know if that is an option for you? They were about $120 AUD on ebay
I wish I had a breeder to return to:'( we got him off of Craigslist from someone who said he was pure lab(he wasn't) and said he was 8wk(more like 5-6 at that time) so no recourse. We have a gate set up at both entrances to our kitchen but honestly wish my daughter especially going in and out so much..it is no help..and then the other dog can't really get to food and water. I would like to think it would get better but I honestly don't even know. I spend so much time defending him to my husband and kids but truly it's like having a fourth, furry, bad/destructive, child. I just want to cry because we did it to ourselves but it is so overwhelming and was totally the wrong choice at this time in our lives.
Kids definitely get them more excited. My OH has a daughter who was 10 when we got our puppy...she definitely bit at her clothes and her far more than us...something about kids. But we kept them apart and we made sure the puppy was away from her when she didn’t want puppy bugging her, we didn’t allow any running or screaming whatsoever...anything to make her more excited. We asked her to stand still and removed the pup. We got her involved in training and she loved taking pictures and giving treats. I honestly think a crate would be a lifesaver in your situation.
Why did you get a second dog? You’re obviously in over your head with first. And if your new floors are more important than your pet then perhaps He needs a new home. I apologize for my bluntness but I’ve been wanting to reply to this thread for a few days but not really knowing how. There are tons of very experienced members in this forum and I’m certain they have read your requests for help but haven’t chimed in yet which also suggests they don’t know to approach your quandary. Forget where and how you got your puppy, you have him and need to take of this tiny dependant creature. Everything you mention can be dealt with if you educate yourself on how to communicate with your puppy. Even the most difficult dogs who have been taken from their parent too early make it just fine worth the correct guidance. Get busy reading positive reinforcement training techniques. Total recall and the happy puppy handbook are great places to start. Tackle each issue individually and understand that he is normal and just needs you to show him how to behave and communicate effectively. Getting a second dog suggests to me that you want someone else to solve your issues. Buck up and take care of business. He is depending on you.
Like @Johnny Walker , I'm concerned for you and your pup. Getting a second dog to try to 'cure' the first one never ever works. You may feel now that you have no choice but to keep the second one, but please don't expect him to train the puppy or somehow socialise him. Now you simply have TWO dogs to train and socialise. Socialising him means getting him out in public around different people and different situations to build his confidence. No puppies automatically walk well on leash, this also has to be taught. And please, please don't 'pop him' on the nose. All that teaches him is to be afraid of you. Re: being a chow or shar pei mix, he doesn't look it from his photo, but he could be mixed with something. Doesn't really matter, he's a very cute little boy. The black tongue doesn't mean much - my boy was a Rottie mix (likely with Lab) and had a big old black spot on his tongue. It's pretty common in mixed breeds. Chows or shar peis aren't more inherently aggressive than any other breed. The ones I've known, however, have a tendency to be more independent - I've heard their people refer to them as 'cat dogs'. This is meant from a good place so I hope you don't take it the wrong way, but right now you have a decision to make. It will take more work to get your puppy confidently developed into a wonderful adult companion and member of the family. He will need positive training, socialisation, appropriate exercise...all of this takes time. Not one weekly session of classes at PetSmart, but time put in every single day, multiple times per day. If you don't take the time, you will have a dog who risks eventually being banished to the back yard, not being included in family activities and could grow increasingly frustrated and destructive. Speaking as someone who has seen a lot of dogs come into rescue, the time to make the decision to re-home your dog is when they are still young, cute and trainable - for you, that means right now. It is so sad to see a dog of 3,5,7 years come in and see all that potential wasted. I've heard quite a few times, "I never really wanted him, I just got him for the kids and now they're in school so he needs to go". It is a sad life for the dog and a much harder adoption prospect. If you decide you can't handle your puppy at this time of your life, it would be kinder to find a good reputable private rescue organization that fosters dogs in volunteer homes (NOT an animal shelter/pound/animal control) and discuss options with them. Many groups will support you to essentially foster your own puppy while using their contact network for the search for a new home. In general, healthy Lab and Lab cross puppies are very adoptable. And if you're thinking right now, "How dare this woman who doesn't even know me suggest I re-home my puppy!", then maybe your decision isn't all that hard and it's just time to learn how to raise a puppy and put in the work. It is hard work and it is frustrating - there are tons of threads here on the Forum of people pulling out their hair and wondering why they ever decided to welcome a landshark into their homes. There are also threads of those same people coming back a year later to say how much they love those same dogs once they make it out the other side. But it is a lot of work, so only you can decide if it's something that makes sense with your very busy life.
I've felt regret like you @Puppymom and quite honestly, the ONLY thing keeping me going, is this forum and people who have felt similar to myself and now couldn't live without their dog. At times, I feel I don't like Loki and other times I feel quite the opposite. One thing members of this forum have taught me, is that it's a process and it gets better. I HAVE to believe that. I booked puppy classes that start next week, I've taken him for a pamper session for puppies and groom him a few times a week to try and strengthen a bond. It IS extremely hard work but I reckon if it was impossible, people wouldn't have dogs or refer to them as their best friends once they're grown. If you're able to, hang in there. If not, make sure he goes to an exceptional home with an experienced person who has the time for him x
I seriously considered giving my puppy to my boyfriend's mom because quite honestly, I hated him when we first got him. I couldn't stand the sight of him and I would constantly think about how much I regretted getting him. I took care of him, but I didn't love him. But he was an animal that I made the choice of getting and he was my responsibility. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out for everyone the way it did for me, but I love my puppy now. The struggles I had with him have made me love him even more because I can't imagine what I would feel like 10 months later if I hadn't taken the time to raise him. You have to realize that all the work people put into puppies is the reason why they end up with well-behaved dogs. I don't mean to sound mean but a puppy isn't just going to be naturally well-behaved without guidance...and that guidance surely isn't going to come from another dog. I believe that if you set time aside for your dog every single day, multiple times a day, you will notice that your puppy grows. It is worth it. It is wonderful when he nails a new trick or can now "stay" while you walk into another room. If you really think you can't do it, then others have said, make sure he goes to a home where someone will be able to give him the structure and socialization he needs. Puppies don't come easily. But I think its worth it for you to try.
