SaulMar..welcome to the forum. Your puppy is being normal, follow the rules mentioned by CatThief,and be consistent and patient. Look through the various articles on the labrador website for other tips that will help you through and continue to stay in touch here on the forum. It will take awhile, but you will get through this stage.
Hi, We have a 13.5 week old lab and I know I shouldn't complain as reading other people's posts we are extremely lucky. Bella is pretty laid back, she doesn't chew anything aside from her toys, she loves everyone and is pleasure to be around APART from waking up every morning at 5am and barking until my husband eventually goes down at 6.20 and takes her for a walk. She doesn't need the toilet as she can hold it now till 6.30 but even though we have been ignoring her for over a week now there has been no improvement in the consistent barking. She never barks at any other time. Last night we started using an alarm clock in the hope that it will act as a command for when we come downstairs, will this help has anyone done this? Or have any other ideas? I have MS and the lack of sleep over the last five weeks is now starting to impact me so really need a solution or need to know how long this type of behaviour will last for - we've had a dog before! Any advice will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Is there something which is waking her at that time in the morning? Is daylight waking her early? I think I would go down, wait until there's a pause in the barking, slip her lead on and take her out for a wee and then pop her back to bed with as little interaction as possible i.e. no greeting etc. as that will reward the barking. Others may have better suggestions but it's something I haven't had a problem like this with Juno.
Is it the light or the birds maybe waking her up? Make sure the crate is covered so its nice anddark, and maybe play a bit of white noise near the crate to drown out the birds!
Hi and welcome! The trouble is, to her mind Bella is being rewarded for her barking. She believes that, even though it takes over an hour of barking, in the end you listen to her and get up to take her out. You need to break that cycle. I think I would try to pre-empt it - go down at 5:00 just before she wakes, take her for a wee, don't play with her at all and interact as little as possible, then pop her back in her crate, maybe with a pre-prepared kong, and go back to bed for an hour. Do that for a couple of days, then start extending the time before you go down. Never, ever take her out of her crate while she is barking or whining - that is rewarding the behaviour you don't want! As already said, wait for a pause in the barking before getting her out, if you do have to go to her. Good luck, you will get this sorted - let us know your progress!
When you come downstairs potter round, make a brew, read the paper, whatever it takes - then let her out when she's settled. All three of mine gave a 'hummmmphgrumph' noise and laid down when they had given in to the fact that they were not coming out 'till they were quiet - even though they were utterly thrilled to see me. It's hard to do, but well worth it! I can come down and see to the puppy and Tatze will wait patiently for her turn With tiny pups I set the alarm and come down before the puppy wakes. It's currently set at 6:30 for Twiglet, but it started at 5am and I put it back by 5 minutes every couple of days But as soon as I know they can hold their wee I do the pottering about thing. It works.
I want to thank catthief and Cornelia, it really has help alot. But for some reason when I say ouch or yelp he gets crazier and bitier. Do yall know why? I've heard that he might think it's a squeaky toy other say it cause thats what he did to his litter mates to show who is stronger. The time out has really help and I'm always praising when he licks me instead of biting. Thank you guys, really appreciate it
So glad to read through some of these posts. Our Cashel is 13 weeks old. I call him my labragator. His teeth are quite sharp and he loves arms, shoelaces and anything we wear that moves. Skirts, basketball shorts, etc.... We have had some setbacks potty training, most likely because I can't get my husband and adult children to follow the protocol. I am going to call a family meeting to review the potty training resources on the site. My neighbors have a six year old son who becomes very excited around the puppy. My husband let the little boy take the leash which did not end well. He was wearing those shiny basketball shorts and the puppy went after them. He ended up getting him with his teeth and he ran crying into his house. His parents are afraid of dogs and immediately came out to ask if the puppy was up to date on his shots. I think I am going to print out the article on normal puppy behavior just in case! I feel bad for the little boy and I hope he will not be afraid of the puppy now. He has drawn blood from my arm and it is really painful On a good note, he made a puppy friend today! He played very nicely with an 8 month old yellow female. She was great with him! We have not had much luck with the older dogs in the neighborhood. Puppy classes start this week. He is also doing a group obedience class. I am looking forward to letting him socialize a bit more in a setting with dog trainers close by. He also took his first swim in the lake this weekend. After a few minutes of sniffing, he took right to the water. He even retrieved dummies in the water and brought them back to me! So I have to take the good with the bad! I just need to think of how I can make amends with the neighbors so they don't continue to be afraid of him. I don't think they know a lot about dogs
Young puppies are such hard work but it is made harder if family don't stick to the rules and small children and puppies are always an area of concern as puppy nips can really hurt and can be quite traumatic for a small child. I would print off articles for your neighbours regarding this puppy biting stage and talk to them about it. perhaps introduce them to Cashel when he is nice and quiet and sleepy and particularly their little boy and encourage him to approach Cashel and stroke him in the correct way, together with the things to do if puppy starts to nip. I'm sure it will all work out as long as your are consistent with Cashel as puppies seem to come through the various stages even if all the family aren't consistent with approach, consistency just speeds the process . Do you have a copy of the Happy Puppy Handbook? It is so useful for information and to refer to for advice. I made my husband read it before Juno came home with us to try and ensure we were on the same page. Seeing it in print seems to have more effect than telling someone the same information. You could also encourage your children to read it, even your neighbours if it helps them overcome their fear of dogs. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Oh gosh, SaulMar, it is quite possible that the "ouch" sound is creating more excitement. Since the time out is working well, try using just that. It sounds like your puppy is getting the message from you by ending play. Mom and littermates don't always make a yelp, but they will definitely always move away and ignore.
SaulMar....we tried many sounds including ouch and it did just create more excitement. Time out works the best...and a whole lot of patience on our part that she will eventually out grow it.
Twiglet is now in full crocapup mode. Skinny jeans are the only clothes she doesn't hang off, so they are all I wear. Yelping 'ouch' means nothing to her. So I carry puppy toys on my person at all times to swap for my arms and legs. I need to be especially aware when she's galloping up behind me as her teeth sink into my calves, no warning - it hurts and draws blood owch! I get caught out because I so easily forget! I turn round, stand still and have a toy at the ready. She's also very soon distracted by food and a little training of the 'sit' 'down' and 'look at me' which we are working on at the moment.
We just got a black lab puppy. She is seven weeks old. She is actually my son's (he is 14 and my father got it for him because my son loves dogs so much). She is the cutest little thing and very loving. I'm just trying to adjust, like I'm sure she's trying to adjust. In the past we have had a beagle (which we still have, he is 9), and Vizslas (they both died when they were 12). I'm exhausted already and she's only been here a week. She just a baby and still has potty accidents (and occasional poo) in the house. For the most part when she goes outside, though, she does her business. Because Vizslas were always on the ribby side, I'm not sure how a lab puppy should look weight wise. To me she looks a little thinner than when we brought her home, but I'm not even 100% sure of that. I think I'm just a lab mom, or grandma as my son calls me when talking to his dog, who needs assurance I won't lose my mind through this puppy process...lol. Please tell me the chewing (which I try to stop by offering her a chewy and a toy), nipping (which I try to stop by leaving the room and not giving her attention), and the whining when my son leaves the room will stop...I'm exhausted and it's already been a week. She's to little to put out in the kennel with the beagle right now. I detest the kennel/cage in the house, but we have to use it for now, until I feel she's old enough to spend the day in the kennel when we're gone. Poor little thing. She did manage to find a flipflop I'd lost four months ago and had turned my house upside down looking for, so she must have special powers...lol. Anyway, I'm out of my element here with a lab, so please tell me it will be ok...lol...
Hello and welcome; you are in the right place to chat about Labradors generally and especially about puppies. Yes, they are very tiring but of course the pup belongs to your son so he's doing all the work, right? The best thing you can do about the weight question is to ask your vet; we usually say that a new pup needs to be checked over by a vet a day or so after she comes home and your vet will be telling you when to get injections etc. So, I would pop to the vets for all of that if you haven't already. I don't think a 7 week old pup should be ribby so maybe your concerns are right. Why not increase the food slightly if you are worried until you can see a vet. I wouldn't advise leaving a puppy for very long, even if it's inside, but you don't say what amount of time is involved. I think getting The Puppy Handbook would be good for you and for your son; it has lots of guidance in an easy to read format.
Hi everyone, I got a yellow Labrador at about 7 weeks (although I think he was separated from his mother earlier than that) and now he is just over 4 months. He was ok the first few days, then after he settled in, the biting and nipping took over. We have tried various techniques eg yelping, turning away and ignoring him, nothing has changed. Now he is quite a big puppy, and my children are always being targeted by him. Usually he would just be sitting after his breakfast, my daughter would be maybe making breakfast and he would suddenly attack her legs. He has bitten my whole family, blood is usually drawn with each bite. I am especially worried as my daughters can handle themselves (11 &12) but when he gets vicious they get very scared, especially if they are trapped in a room and can't get out. We have tried to teach him bite inhibition, and indeed he does mouth gently at our hands so we know he can control his bite. Please help!
Hi Kirsten Welcome to the forum. I think all first-time lab owners, myself included, are surprised that a breed that is so gentle and good-natured when mature can produce such biting little monsters as pups. However, rest assured that it is a phase that they all go through and it will pass. In the meantime continue with the techniques that you have been using - be consistent.
kirstencastella Hi and welcome to the forum. Your pup isn't being vicious, he's just being a pup who hasn't fully learnt his bite inhibition at the moment . If he was separated from his mother early as you suspect and then separated from his siblings at 7 weeks he hasn't learnt as much about bite inhibition as he should have so unfortunately you and your family replace mum and siblings but you don't have the sharp teeth. Always have toys to hand to distract when he starts to nip, encourage some retrieving by tossing the toy away for him to run after, it may help. This phase will pass
@ kirstencastella he isn't attacking and he isn't being vicious - it's simply his way of playing! Read this thread through and you will find countless Lab pups being just the same. My Twiglet (Guide Dog pup) draws blood at least once a day when I am off guard! Have a toy in your pocket at all times to put in his mouth. Twiglet is worst in the morning just after getting up, so I hold a toy by my legs when I'm walking along to get in her mouth before it's my leg!
Hi everyone, Thanks for all the nice replies! I'll be sure to try distract him with one of the many toys lying around the house! I was just a teensy bit worried but now I am very reassured that my puppy Casper is just exhibiting normal puppy behavior.
