Cassie is 18 months now, and becoming a lovely dog. As a small puppy she was a serious crocopup with all that entails and continued to be mouthy for sometime, she still is from time to time. She is also has been very exuberant and over friendly, and she has had 2 seasons and a phantom pregnancy in the last 7 months so quite the hormonal rollercoaster, and she gave me a hard time back in the spring with the whole mugging me episode, but we came through that by taking the "no interaction" road. I was advised by a behaviourist at that time to change her food, but only got round to it a few weeks ago, about the same time as her season started. After being daunted by the amount of choice, I finally decided that what I wanted was to eliminate was additives, and particularly "EU permitted" additives which apparently contain E numbers, rather than cut out grain or go to a very high protein or meat content food. She does seem calmer, far less excitable, in the main. My son, who hadn't seen her for three weeks, commented on it, unaware that I'd changed the food. I'm not going to make the mistake of thinking it's all plain sailing from now on, I know there's still plenty of high spirits and excitability there, it's part of her character, but it's far less explosive than it was. I shall have to see what the next few months bring. It's a job to tell if the change is due to maturity, food change, or the evening primrose she's on.
It's very easy to overlook the role that food can play in behaviour problems. Diet is always on my list to discuss with clients and people are always surprised in the change that a diwt change can bring. Really pleased for you that life is becoming easier with Cassie.
Sounds like Cassie is/has turned into a lovely young girl. Enjoy it and have fun, that is the most important part I think
I would imagine it’s a bit of all three but I am pleased for you that she is settling down. You have worked very hard with Cassie. Well done .
Like Atemas, I suspect all 3 are playing a part. Seems to me though that labs generally take quite a long time to 'grow'up' and can be hooligans in the process. Great to hear you are enjoying her so much now, you clearly love her and are trying everything to make life good for her
Bless her , she has had a hormonal rollercoaster to cope with ! I am a big believer that food can make a massive difference, physically and mentally too , but whatever the reason , enjoy her new calmness , good girl Cassie x
She certainly is growing up, but I too agree that food can make a difference. Cassie is really a lovely girl x
I it is really fun to follow others labradors and how they develop over time. It seems they truly are unique individuals. And I especially love to hear that someone is really enjoying the company of their labrador!
