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Thread: help!!!

  1. #1
    Puppy
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    help!!!

    Hello, we recently adopted a 9 month old lab puppy. He has some behavior issues we are working on, but my husband wants to throw in the towel. Yesterday Lucky was outside with my 6 year old, I ran in for a second to get something. Next thing I know my son is screaming, I open the door and he is on the floor with the dogs chains rapped around him and Lucky on top of him. Then again today when we were outside playing with the hose, he got super excited and knocked him over with the chain, then as soon as my son was on the ground he got on top of him. Lucky didn't bite him. Just pulled on his pants, I was there this time to I put a stop to it quickly. My question is are these just puppy problems or is he showing signs of aggression? What can we do to help him? We all love him and he is already a big part of our family, but I can't have him hurting my son.
    Thanks,
    Megan

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    It is not aggression, he is being a typical, under exercised, untrained Lab puppy. Have you done any obedience training with Lucky? If not get signed up for a class ASAP! Is this puppy kept chained up, outside, all the time? If so that is a big problem. Labs do not do well left alone, outside. They really need to be with their family, inside. Outside is fine for play, walks, training and exercise.
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  4. #3
    Senior Dog charliebbarkin's Avatar
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    Chains?
    Charlie and Burton


  5. #4
    House Broken piccadilly's Avatar
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    Throw away the "chain" and train your puppy AND child.

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  7. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    WElcome to the board. Thank you for taking in Lucky. Let's try to ensure Lucky stays lucky and you do too, ok? So, first, these are normal puppy behaviours and actions. They are NOT signs of aggression. To be blunt, your problem is inexperienced owners compounded by having taken on a Lab puppy at what might the worst age for energy and some doggy teenage behaviour.

    You cannot, cannot, cannot leave small children with a big dog unsupervised. Some dogs are naturally careful around children, some are big blunderbusses. Lucky sounds like a blunderbuss. Add in the chain, yikes, and the fact you have not had the pup very long and it's a recipe for a hurt child. Many of us will not allow our dog to play with another dog when one of them is still on the leash due to the damage than can happen from the leash. There has been a dog with a badly broken leg amongst the group of us here. Your young child should not be near a chained dog whether you are with him or not, you just cannot react quickly enough.

    Please sign up for obedience lessons. They will teach you how to handle Lucky. They also give a dog the mental stimulation he needs, which will help use up some energy. A fringe benefit is they tend to bond you and dog.

    How much exercise does Lucky get off leash? It's important he have an off leash outlet. Walks on leash do little for a Lab's energy needs, though of course you need to do some training on leash for manners and control.

    Lucky is chained? Labs will do better as house dogs. They want to be with you. Personally I am not averse to dogs being outside but I'd prefer a kennel run and one that is safe from nasty neighbours, heat, cold, has water and cannot be jumped or dug out of. My childhood dog was chained and we had the nasty neighbour kids problem and I'd never do it again

    Some dogs really don't like a hose shot in their face. My Lab loves it, gets really excited and runs around like a madman. I'm no small 6 year old child but when he gets wild like that I am careful to be in a place he won't knock me over. But I love to see him have that kind of fun. Let Lucky off the chain when you play with the hose and enjoy the action safely planted up against a wall or tree.

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  9. #6
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    welcome to the board

    what you describe doesn't sound like a behaviroal problem. it's a lack of training and a new dog with no rules or boundaries (those take time I am not blaming you since you just brought him home!). It's up to the humans to guide the dog and set them up for success. If there are problems that occur whe the son is alone with the dog or exites teh dog then you need to seperate them unless you are there to control. the dog isn't looking to hurt your son he just hasn't been shown how to behave appropriately.


    you have adopted a dog at what is often considered that hardest age even when they hve had lots of great training and obedience for the first 9 months of their life. teenagers can be super hard and this is why you find so many of them being rehomed or in shelters.

    Sign up for an obedience class ASAP. Maybe even get an initial at home private session (even just a fwe to get you started to transition into group classes which are less expensive).

    If you son is too young to control the dog then you can't leave him alone with the dog (and not sure why the dog was on a chain? is it because you don't have a fenced yard so he is on a tie out?). at least for now until you get some training done (and your son should participate in the training).

    How much exercise adn what kind is the dog getting? Now, physical exercise won't fix anything but it will allow the dog to get rid of the energy so they can concentrate adn work with you. at that age they need an hour off leash (so if you don't have a fenced area you will have to brainstorm soe options, we can address that if needed in another post). walks are good but are warm ups adn mental stimulation - terrfic but don't tire out a dog

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  11. #7
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    i just wanted to add - remember this dog may have had no training, and has ZERO idea of what you expect. he needs guidance. patience. to be set up for success. he is in a new situations (not sure if he was from a pound or shelter but that is a very unsettling place for a dog too, and often they can come out particularly hyper as they haven't had regular exercise - depending on teh shelter). with new people, new expecations. He can't guess waht you want, and he doesn't speak english. It's up to the humans to guide him, training him, set boundaries and show patience.

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  13. #8
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    all my chili wants to do is play. play, play, play...once he had enough play then its sleep, sleep, sleep with a couple eats in there for good measure. if you are going to play, please do so without the leash/chain. dont want any injuries. also with a young child, it is a good idea to teach also. I taught my 3 year old niece to play fetch with chili at 9 months old so its possible to teach pups and kids together. I was always right there with my hand on chili's collar after the retrieve so he wouldnt accidently headbutt the baby/maintain safety space. I would never leave any pup unsupervised with a child.

    I recommend a family get together with a pro dog trainer so everyone can be on the same sheet of music.
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  15. #9
    Senior Dog Charlotte K.'s Avatar
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    I remember reading about the special event in Hatfield sponsored by K9GYM. You may wish to check and see if their training classes would be suitable for you.
    https://www.facebook.com/K9JYM
    There is also Lower Bucks Dog Training Club and others, I'm sure.

    Never, ever, ever leave a young child and a dog alone together without direct, eyes on supervision, let alone with one of them chained! The chain teaches the dog to pull and not much else.

    With consistency and training, this will get better. He sounds like a jovial, fun Lab! Thank you for taking him into your home.

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  17. #10
    Best Friend Retriever LucyTudeOn4Feet's Avatar
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    "...but my husband wants to throw in the towel." Sign up both for the obedience class, ASAP. Sign up for the beginning class set, and the next class set in succession (intermediate or advanced) now.
    Sounds like hubby could use some assistance with teaching a puppy, supervising, monitoring and proactively dealing with puppy energy in a positive manner, not by getting frustrated and quitting.

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