I just wanted to say, as Ive read quite a few things, about expectations of our PUPS ! They are pups till they are eighteen months old, and will not outgrow some delightful playful pup charecteristics until this age, as they finish growing at this age too. I am very far from perfect with regard to training Otis, and have loved that he has outgrown his nipping, but he is still a playful dog, that can get very excited. I have been lucky Otis has always naturally walked to heal, however we came out of a lovely time in the park yesterday, and he was biting his lead, the way i found to calm him was to hold him against me, and stroke him, then we could walk nicely on, it worked for me. I had to remind myself that it was a puppy thing, as was the fact he chewed up my bra yesterday, agghhh ! xxx
Re: Still pups remember ! Thanks Maggie - I sometimes get intimidated by stories on this message board of how well everyone's pups are doing (walking nicely to heel, ignoring other dogs, perfect recalls.....) when Pongo is such a very, very long way from that. I need to remember he is still less than 6 months, and that he hasn't had a lot of experience of some things (because we live in the middle of the country, so he is not often on lead or with other dogs) and that he has a lot of growing up to do! He is a lovely, gentle, calm, sensible puppy dog (most of the time!) and it will all come in time.... Rosie
Re: Still pups remember ! Ah Rosie,even the best behaved dogs get the devil in them at times,I'm sure . Pongo sounds a lovely natured dog and I'm glad Otis wasn't too much of a monkey for you yesterday! When I Used to get teary about Dexter pulling me ,Chris used to tell me that one day he will be old and slow and dawdling along by your side and you will look back on the pulling days and want them back for all the world ( well,I wouldn't go that far ???) but I know that he is right.Enjoy them ,every age they are at because we don't have them forever x
Re: Still pups remember ! I think it's probably natural that we tend to get more "hurrah, my pup did really well today" posts than "he still hasn't got x, y, z". People will tend to post about a little celebration of something achieved (or a dramatic nightmare : ) rather than the very slow, day on day, tiny improvements that is the reality of trying to bring up a well mannered pup.
Re: Still pups remember ! This has been a very useful thread for those of us with slightly older puppies. It is good to know we are not the only one. Molly has just turned 8 months and is some ways deteriorating. I have to remind myself that she is still a pup. Problem with Labs is that they are so big (especially if you had a smaller dog before) that it is easy to forget that they are young. My trainer reckons the worst time is 10 months. Puppy brain and nearly adult body. Really looking forward to that
Re: Still pups remember ! Its funny I remember Otis being quite a handful at eight months, he seemed to regress a bit, xx
Re: Still pups remember ! [quote author=Dexter link=topic=6213.msg81484#msg81484 date=1401008034] Ah Rosie,even the best behaved dogs get the devil in them at times,I'm sure . Pongo sounds a lovely natured dog and I'm glad Otis wasn't too much of a monkey for you yesterday! When I Used to get teary about Dexter pulling me ,Chris used to tell me that one day he will be old and slow and dawdling along by your side and you will look back on the pulling days and want them back for all the world ( well,I wouldn't go that far ???) but I know that he is right.Enjoy them ,every age they are at because we don't have them forever x [/quote] This is so true! A few years ago when my beloved old springer became ill and could only manage a few yards walking slowly next to me I would have given anything to see her little backside disappearing over the horizon with me in hot pursuit just one more time. I remind myself of those thoughts whenever Alice or Caddie have a bit of a 'springer moment'! :
Re: Still pups remember ! Oh yes! ** Boogie reads this on return from a muddy walk with memories of two big paw prints slap bang in the middle of a man's white shirt! **blush**! Tatze says "who, meee?"
Re: Still pups remember ! Thank you Maggie, for starting this thread, as a newbie to labradors, well keeping dogs, I am finding it a real challenge with our 7 month old pup Benson, he will do lots of very basic things well, without proofing. With distractions everything unravels, right now I don't actually expect too much of him, but we are doing lots of training, I know it is just going take time and patience. Got a bit upset today about it, training well playing with Benson in a big dog walking area, recall games, clicker training lead walking. A group were heading in our direction, some off lead an couple on lead, approx 5 dogs in total. Benson was popped back in lead when we spotted the group. A lovely spaniel came towards us friendly and tail wagging, so I let Benson of the lead. Benson said hello happily, and then headed excitedly towards the group, we headed off toward them also, seeing they had a couple of on-lead dogs. Benson was very interested a dalmation on a harness and on-lead she started shouting at me angrily to call my dog back, I said calmly, no..he won't respond because he is too young and in training, she was furious with me! We were literally only a few seconds away from her! I honestly don't know what else I could have done, I was not prepared to call Benson, as in mind it would have reinforced a negative response to our recall command. These things happen don't they? Dogs aren't miraculously trained to recall at 7 months?
Re: Still pups remember ! These things definitely do happen and hopefully most people will accept an apology and quick effort to come and get your dog. You're right in that recalling when you don't think they'll come really doesn't make any sense in terms of training the dog, only in making the other person feel like you've made an effort. I used to call out "I'm coming to get him" and then explain that our recall was still a work in progress. For his own well-being though if there are dogs about that are on-lead you might want to hang on to him even with the temptation of a friendly spaniel to play with, just in case they really shouldn't be approached. Don't let it worry you
Re: Still pups remember ! [quote author=bbrown link=topic=6213.msg81552#msg81552 date=1401020393] For his own well-being though if there are dogs about that are on-lead you might want to hang on to him even with the temptation of a friendly spaniel to play with, just in case they really shouldn't be approached. Don't let it worry you [/quote] Yes, we are certainly going to take that approach, and just keep him on lead in future. It just isn't really worth any possible aggro. We did hurry towards her, well hubby was running to the rescue!
Re: Still pups remember ! [quote author=Beanwood link=topic=6213.msg81614#msg81614 date=1401031459] [quote author=bbrown link=topic=6213.msg81552#msg81552 date=1401020393] For his own well-being though if there are dogs about that are on-lead you might want to hang on to him even with the temptation of a friendly spaniel to play with, just in case they really shouldn't be approached. Don't let it worry you [/quote] Yes, we are certainly going to take that approach, and just keep him on lead in future. It just isn't really worth any possible aggro. We did hurry towards her, well hubby was running to the rescue! [/quote] Poor Benson was probably confused by all the excitement as he was just toddling around saying hi to everyone ;D
Re: Still pups remember ! [quote author=Dexter link=topic=6213.msg81484#msg81484 date=1401008034] Ah Rosie,even the best behaved dogs get the devil in them at times,I'm sure . Pongo sounds a lovely natured dog and I'm glad Otis wasn't too much of a monkey for you yesterday! When I Used to get teary about Dexter pulling me ,Chris used to tell me that one day he will be old and slow and dawdling along by your side and you will look back on the pulling days and want them back for all the world ( well,I wouldn't go that far ???) but I know that he is right.Enjoy them ,every age they are at because we don't have them forever x [/quote] Your absolutely right, Hattie is almost 7 years old and still very much a young dog at heart, but one day …. :'( And as for Charlie well he has most definitely kept us on our toes and he is 3 1/2 years old I wonder if one day we will look back when we have a beautifully behaved boy trotting by our side and never running off and say "do you remember" : I think you all do a great job with your pups I was always told when a puppy reaches 1 year old it's a young adult ??? xx
Re: Still pups remember ! Great thread. I have a Mal who finally grew up and stopped being a pup at 7. He is the most delightful old boy now but wow have we had some fun with him along the way. My little Meg is so far the dream little pup, however I am bracing myself for her adolescence when I know the challenges will start and go on for some considerable time. That said I love a young at heart dog and really don't want them to grow up fast. It just goes too quickly. I guess we have to take a breath and enjoy every stage and challenge.
