Hi, so my girl is almost 5.5 months but in the last week she has been quite bold with my husband and I. For example she has ripped my coat in loads of places while out walking snd can bark or growl at me while doing same. She also bites her lead s bit and this generally coincides with the coat biting and jumping. I took her on a lovely woods walk this morning and she rolled in something smelly so I just gave her a bath when I came home. After the bath I decided to brush her with a furminator brush and she went mad trying to bite the brush then was barking st me and a big nippy. I then got up and proceeded to try and get her to go into her crate as a timeout/calm down, I know some won't agree with this but I seldom do this. I was calling her name and directing her to bed jn s firm voice and she barked and growled at ne a lot. Her stance was a bit off putting, ears back, tail down. It was s little scary tbh. Once I lowered my tone z bit she seemed OK but when I once again directed her to bed, she barked, turn she came over nuzzled into me and gave ne her paw. She never went jn the crate and I was afraid to push it when she was being a bit aggressive. I'm wondering if it's to do with her age or my training or both. She's normally got a lovely manner and loves meeting people snd dogs when out snd about. She would never bark at anyone but my husband snd I. Any advice or tips welcome.
Welcome to the world of Labrador ownership ! Perseverance is the key thing. Remember that everything is new to her. The barking is just her way of communicating with you and getting a reaction. There's a fine balance of your time and time together and this will come but, no pun intended, it'll take time. Tone of voice is very important. Make it clear that a stern No (rolling in injectable things, example) is different to a less important type no. When she is ' bad' make voice reprimand instant and when she is 'good', loads of love and cuddles. Early days, early days !
My Sophie is 5.5 months and has turned into a disobedient brat! Lol she doesn’t sit anymore on first command, doesn’t listen, started mouthing again after she stopped for almost 6 weeks. I read somewhere that this is the age where they start to want some independence and they test their owners as well to see what they can get away with. I read consistency is key and not giving up on training or your expectations. It’s been rough. She’s been sitting on the first command since 9 weeks and today, it took 4 times saying it and me pushing her butt down to get her to do it (took 3 minutes). Not so Fun adolescence!
