Help!!!! Hi, I'm new to this so please bear with me! But I'm trying to get some advice and help with my 20 wk old chocolate lab! We had him at 8wks and he came from a first time breeder but seemed well set up! From the outset he had been quite quiet but put it down to being a newborn as such, however we have now had him 12 wks and he is the most abnormal puppy I've ever known! Toilet training was relatively easy and he's been house trained since 12 wks. He obeys basic commands, sit,stay wait etc. he's slept thro the night since 8wks, he was crated but we have now removed it as wonder whether it's making him more unsociable. The biggest problems are that he still sleeps about 18hrs a day, he doesn't want to go for a walk, so much so we now call it a dog drag!! He is NOT lively in any way, he just sleeps or lays in his bed!! He hasn't attempted to chew or destroy anything, he doesn't bounce or jump around, just plods, he wonders around downstairs but made no attempt to venture up the stairs. When entering the room, he doesn't jump up to greet you or get excited, most times he doesn't even get out of his crate!!!! He doesn't play, and hasn't from day 1, we try every day to interact and encourage him with a variety of toys but he isn't interested and just goes back to his bed! Whenever we do interact with him all he wants to do is bite us, to start it was puppy biting but now it's going beyond that especially as he is now getting his big teeth!!so much so my kids don't want to try anymore! He just seems so quiet and actually looks miserable, all the time!!! If he is awake he just sits looking at you with his head down. The best way of describing him is he is like an old man trapped in a puppy's body!! The only thing that moves him is food!!! He has been checked at the vets several times and I have had a full set of bloods done which have ruled anything physically or medically wrong. I've also had a dog behaviourist visit, when he was 13wks old, his words were we've struck gold as he's so good, but in all honestly it doesn't feel like that as he's not a normal puppy he's not what we wanted and don't know what else to do or try, I actually wish I'll wake up to find him bouncing off the walls, but can't see that happening!! Any help gratefully recieved as reaching the end of tether, he is by no means the dog we thought he would be as when you say choc lab puppy to people, most say 'ru mad ' they r bonkers!! And I wish he was!!! Thanks for reading and I hope to hear bacj
Hi Kate and welcome to the forum from me and my 15 month old choccie girl. Firstly I'd say with out a doubt not all choccie labs are bonkers I know plenty who aren't mine included. When she was a young puppy she slept for a long time, was easy to toilet train. She has never cried once during the night from day one. She loves training although isn't always that quick to grasp things. Sometimes it's a case of "oh Mabel the lights are on and no ones home" then she gets it and we are well away. There is also the definite crocopup stage when biting is almost unbearable but that will pass. He does sound incredibly quiet maybe a trip back to the vets, is there a different vet you can see? and maybe a different behaviourist. Like everything in life there are good and bad in all professions. I'm really sorry I don't have any concrete advise for you, I really can't come up with any answers, there are some very experienced forum friends whom I'm sure may have some friendly advise. Good luck, do you have any photos (it's always lovely to see other peoples dogs) and what's his name. Please let us know how you get on.
Hello there, and welcome. I would have said get a vet check, in particular for his joints. But presumably you've done that... I don't think it's a problem that your dog is quiet. It does sound like a problem that your dog doesn't seem to want to interact with you or go for walks. How are you training your dog? I mean, what methods are you using? Do you go to training class? If your dog doesn't like going for a walk, does he get any exercise?
Hi Claire, Thanks for replying. His name is Rolo as he's chocolate and he was the last one !!!! He is a lovely boy and yes it is altho the lights are on but no ones home, we call him special!!! I've got a 2nd behaviourist coming on Friday, so hoping she can help as don't want to give up on him but just don't know what else to do. He just seemed so unhappy and unhappy with life, it's altho he'd depressed, which can't be so surely as he's had a good life with us so far and been treated very well! And is much loved, he's just not the bouncy bundle of fluff we expected! Thanks for you advice, will keep you posted. Thanks again Kate x
Hi there, I looked into training classes and even had the trainer come on a home visit but said it wasn't worth taking him yet, as he won't do anything she gave me some pointers about the walking so I've perceived and taken him 3 times daily for the last 7wks, just short walks around the block, he seems very nervy and just doesn't go even with the offer of food!! There has been very little improvement. I've been doing some home training with him,when he's awake! which is going well and he does seem to be learning so I know he's not stupid! The vet has done all the normal joint checks and had a full set of bloods checking for everything they even had him for the day to observe and can't find anything wrong, she did say he was very usual and has e mailed a specialist in Liverpool for advice, just waiting to hear back from them. He doesn't get any exercise by his choice as I would love nothing more than taking him out!! If I throw a ball in the garden for him he just runs round with his tail between his legs bum down and runs inside, will keep trying tho don't want to give up on him yet!!!
Every dog has a different personality, that is for sure! And it is possible that you have got an extremely laid-back dog! Which is not really a bad thing....however, I agree with Julie that the lack of interaction or desire to go for walks is a concern. Could it be that he is uncomfortable with the lead when you go for a walk? Some dogs don't like the feel of being pulled by their collar so if that is the case then if he associates that with going for a walk he is not going to want to go. There are other types of equipment to use, say a harness that fastens on the back, so that might be an idea. If you say that food moves him, have you tried doing any clicker training? That is a great way to get a bond going with your dog. There are some great articles on the main site about clicker training, I would encourage you to give it a try if you haven't already. My pup tends to be on the laid-back side of the scale, so I know what you mean about having a dog that you would love to play with but isn't interested. But that being said after I introduced the clicker and treats for fetch he got more interested in the game and will play a bit with me (rather than running around trying to play keep away, which is what he really loved to do when we first got him at 9 months old), and he will enjoy a little tug game with my hubby now and then, and he will gently squeak his toy when he gets excited. He is not a wild crazy dog by any stretch of the imagination! So maybe you have one of those too. However I do agree that more investigation into this would be a good idea. I am interested in your daily routine with him and your training that you do, as well. More info will help us to help you a little better, hopefully!
Sorry I cross posted with you! It does sound like he has some fear issues, so perhaps that is what is going on. There are people on the forum who have dealt successfully with those kinds of issues in their dogs, so hopefully you will get some good ideas from them. Good to have another behaviourist have a look. The "bum tuck" you describe is typical lab crazy behaviour, so that's not necessarily a bad thing.... There's some life in that puppy, after all!
I have a choccie girl and for many months worried that my girl wasn't 'normal' compared to other posts here on the forum. She was so easy, no biting, easy toilet training, relaxed being in a crate. Learnt all the basics easily and on and on so you don't have a dog that is that unusual. My only concern would be the lack of interest in playing or exercise. You say he loves food so have you tried hiding food for him to find or the mind game type treat toys? He sounds fearful about going out, do you take him out a lot to socialise him when he was little so he got used to the big wide world?
Hi Lisa, Thanks good to know that the bum tuck is normal and good as was thinking it was him being scarred!! I really wouldn't mind if he was just laid back but it seems more than that he's too laid back, he looks miserable and that makes me sad, as I want a happy contented dog who loves living with us!! I'm not asking or wishing to change him and make him something he's not. I'd just like a little bit of enthusiastim from him that let's me know he's happy, rather than just sleeping in his bed!! Thanks for all your advice tho it's really helping!!
Well it's good to follow your instincts and try to get to the bottom of it. I hope the behaviourist will give you some ideas - it's really hard for us to give you concrete suggestions if we can't see the dog in the context of his home and family, especially in these instances where the behaviours could mean different things. Do keep us posted!
Hi and welcome to the forum. I don't have mad crazy dogs, but I do have dogs that like to interact with me and have some "va va voom". I can understand why you're worried. It's great that you're trying to get to the bottom of this by ruling out any medical issues etc. I really would recommend doing a bit of clicker training. Start with something easy, like a hand target, which is fun for the puppy. You'll need to understand the use of the clicker and how to charge it first, so give these articles a read: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/clicker-training-whats-it-all-about/ (follow the links in the article, too) http://www.thelabradorsite.com/ten-great-reasons-to-start-clicker-training/ - shows a video on hand targeting It's a great way to build a bond between you and your puppy. Good luck and let us know how you get on
Hi all, Thanks so much for all your tips and advice have taken everything said on board!! I have a 2nd dog behaviourist coming tomorrow, so let's see, in the meantime I shall keep perceiving, as want my Rolo to be happy!!!! Have also just ordered a clicker, think it's defiantly worth trying as he is very interested in food, so clicker and treat training might help his enthusiasm!!! Thanks again and shall keep you posted. Kate and Rolo x
Wow, quite the lab you have. Then number 1 behavioral issue among dogs is aggression and your Rolo is way way at the other end of the spectrum. Count your blessings? Maybe not. If he were a human he'd probably be diagnosed with depression. Trust that isn't what your hired behaviorist will say. Good luck.
I hope things go well with the behaviourist. He does sound kinda nervous at times.... Doesn't sound like a simple matter of being quiet and laid back. You obviously care very much about him and I'm sure he loves you back just as much, even though he's not the demonstrative type.
@Kate B Good luck with the behaviourist today. Let us know how you get on Just for info the most common behaviour problem, at least in the UK, is barking followed by chewing ......
Good luck today with your puppy and the behaviourist. Remember you are doing everything you can think of to help your puppy, he's a very lucky boy to have you and I'm sure he loves you deeply.
Hi all, Thanks for all your comments and support. The behaviourist came and she's really wasn't quite sure what to make of our little Rolo! She says he is a submissive dog and wondered whether something happened with the litter to make him so quiet from the start! Ie rejected, she is going to do some work with us to try and get him to interact more, ie toy games and training and we are trying hard with him daily to build up his confidence and get him enjoying being with us, altho she did say she thinks he is happy almost to connect which is why he's happy laying about!!!! she has given me some pointers regarding the walking and they do seem to be helping, we don't go on a dog drag now just a slow amble, but it's a start and when he is in a field or park I can let him off and he wonders about tail up and has even had a couple of mad run arounds, so we are making progress. I have started taken him to her puppy classes to see if that will bring him out of himself a bit more, but it's still early days! We are also trying him on a different food, he was only a cheaper brand working dog food( as this is what the breeder had him on) but are slowly introducing a better quality food, u never know it might help, at this point anything is worth a try. He remains quite at home, still not much activity with playing but I am trying everyday with some training and chasing around with a ball and toys, altho it seems to be me doing most of the fetching and chasing, Rolo just watching me!!!! Lol" I would love to know what he is thinking!! He is such a lovely boy and I'm doing all this because I want him to be happy with his life with me and enjoy living with us, I just wish he would show us a bit!!! I think he is just a little old man trapped in a puppy's body!!! Certainly not what I expected from a chocolate lab, but I adore him non the less!!! But I will keep percerviving to ensure he has a fulfilled and happy life with us!! Thanks again for your comments, will keep you posted as to Rolo's progress. Kate x
Thank you for letting us know how you and Rolo are getting on. The walks are sounding a lot more positive, particularly with the mad run around , so the exciting play you try to engage him with will slowly make a difference as well. It's good that you are attending the puppy classes as the interaction could help him.
Thank you for the update, Kate. Your little Rolo seems to be making progress which is a good thing, slowly slowly does it. Sounds like you're getting plenty of exercise entertaining him
